collapse

Advertisement


Poll

What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge? This can be the cartridge you've had the most fun hunting with, the one you've had the most success with, or just the one you think is most effective. Please choose one.

243 Winchester
5 (3.7%)
6.5 Creedmoor
2 (1.5%)
6.5 PRC
4 (3%)
270 Winchester
11 (8.2%)
7mm-08 Remington
2 (1.5%)
7mm Remington Magnum
21 (15.7%)
7mm PRC
7 (5.2%)
308 Winchester
4 (3%)
30-06 Springfield
24 (17.9%)
300 Winchester Magnum
24 (17.9%)
300 Weatherby Magnum
12 (9%)
300 Remington Ultra Magnum
8 (6%)
338 Winchester Magnum
6 (4.5%)
35 Whelen
4 (3%)

Total Members Voted: 134

Author Topic: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?  (Read 4871 times)

Offline The Big Game Hunter

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2013
  • Posts: 294
    • https://www.facebook.com/biggamehuntingadventures
    • Big Game Hunting Adventures
  • Groups: SCI, RMEF
What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« on: September 28, 2025, 11:33:23 AM »
This can be the cartridge you've had the most fun hunting with, the one you've had the most success with, or just the one you think is most effective. Regardless of your reasoning, please just choose one. Feel free to post and tell us why you made your selection.

Offline MightyWhite

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 161
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2025, 12:00:05 PM »
I hunt with a 300 win mag..found a good handload that it loves..very confident at 400 yrds with the accubonds..had it for 25 yrs or so…taken quite a few animals with it

Offline wadu1

  • Grumpy
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+31)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 7353
  • Location: Tacoma
  • RMEF, DU, NRA, PFE, NWTF
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2025, 05:26:27 PM »
Mine is not on the list 9.3X62 the closest is the 35W
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Offline JWBINX

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 546
  • Location: washington
  • Groups: LIFE NRA, RMEF
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2025, 05:36:05 PM »
Very hard to beat a .338 Win mag with 225 or 250 gr Nosler Partitions!

Offline D-Rock425

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 13289
  • Location: Lake stevens
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2025, 06:46:31 PM »
I've only witnessed 1 elk being shot with a rifle so I voted for that cartridge.

Offline Stein

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 13155
  • Location: Arlington
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2025, 07:14:14 PM »
30-06.  Now that I think about it, that is my answer any time a question about a rifle cartridge comes to mind because it's what I have in my safe and I've never convinced myself to get anything else.   :chuckle:

Offline ASHQUACK

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 1035
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2025, 07:14:46 PM »
Neither of my 2 favorites are listed either, 7stw or 338RUM. I've personally killed more elk with the 338 than anything else.

Offline High Climber

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 1076
  • Location: Rathdrum ID
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2025, 07:21:03 PM »
Never hunted elk with a rifle, but if I ever do it will be with my .300 win mag

Offline EnglishSetter

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2024
  • Posts: 474
  • Location: Winlock
  • Groups: NRA
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2025, 08:13:17 PM »
I have to go with 300 WM or 338WM cuz that’s what I have and chose them for the opportunity of elk.  Elk opportunities were slim and none where I lived prior other than an out of state outfitter.

The 300 is a model 70 classic w/boss. The 338 was my dad’s pre-64 model 70 in .264 WM.  He killed most everything with that from deer and pigs to jackrabbits. Shot the bore out of it. This summer I had it rebored to 338 WM. 

In today’s world with ability to run a suppressor, a short barreled 300 WSM appeals to me.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2025, 09:34:14 PM by EnglishSetter »

Offline buglebuster

  • ELKOHOLIC
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 3683
  • Location: yakima
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2025, 08:28:32 PM »
147 gr ELD-M out of a 6.5 PRC

Offline kselkhunter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 1655
  • Location: United States
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2025, 08:47:59 PM »
I love my 35 Whelen for elk.

Offline fowl smacker

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 2244
  • Location: Castle Rock
  • Groups: DU, Delta Waterfowl, RMEF, Friends of the Cowlitz
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2025, 09:30:20 PM »
Whichever one you can shoot the best.  All those calipers will kill an elk with good shot placement and the right scenario.  Having said that I really like the 7 PRC.

Offline Angus

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 1375
  • Location: Kelso, WA
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2025, 10:10:45 PM »
I haven't rifle elk hunted since the 90's, back then I used a .300 WM and killed a cow with it at almost 400 yards, definitely right gun for the job. Since then I've bow hunted elk but should I ever draw a MS elk tag I'm sure my .308 I currently deer hunt with will handle the job just fine. Back then I also hunted the east side of the state with a lot more open country, now I elk hunt the westside, not a lot of opportunity to reach out and kill something where I hunt.

Offline GWP

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+27)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 1819
  • Location: Big Sandy-By Westport
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2025, 07:31:49 AM »
Interesting list. No big bores?
45/70.
Cuterebra are NOT cute!

Offline The Big Game Hunter

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2013
  • Posts: 294
    • https://www.facebook.com/biggamehuntingadventures
    • Big Game Hunting Adventures
  • Groups: SCI, RMEF
Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2025, 10:40:55 AM »
Mine is not on the list 9.3X62 the closest is the 35W
I've hunted a lot using and taken piles of game with a 9.3x62 (deer, hogs, a black bear, Cape buffalo, zebra, impala, and even an elephant), but have never used it on elk.
Can you tell me more about your experiences with a 9.3 on elk?

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Roosevelt Elk. Please nudge me in the right direction. I feel hopeless. by hunter399
[Today at 04:13:41 AM]


Hunting late season, where would you go? by Kc_Kracker
[Yesterday at 11:40:47 PM]


Afraid of the Wasteways by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 11:06:30 PM]


Upland bird carry options by McQuackin
[Yesterday at 09:50:25 PM]


2025 deer, let's see em! by redi
[Yesterday at 09:29:16 PM]


Stillaguamish 448 QD rifle tag by jason stevens
[Yesterday at 08:00:42 PM]


F150 Ecoboost Guys by elksnout
[Yesterday at 07:51:18 PM]


Drew Pogue Quality by bigmacc
[Yesterday at 07:31:36 PM]


As He Lay by str8meat
[Yesterday at 06:14:34 PM]


Moose's 2025 Upland Season by EnglishSetter
[Yesterday at 05:21:39 PM]


Any MT deer updates? by bustedoldman
[Yesterday at 05:05:58 PM]


My Wenaha bull by Pathfinder101
[Yesterday at 03:52:32 PM]


Manastash snow level by Angus
[Yesterday at 03:09:55 PM]


“Frosty” 3 Year Story of my 2025 General WA Mule Deer Hunt by wafisherman
[Yesterday at 03:05:56 PM]


Thermal Optics Setup for Predators by Zardoz
[Yesterday at 03:04:47 PM]


Late season east side elk by gaolista
[Yesterday at 02:25:14 PM]


Montana Bull Elk "Recovery" by Pathfinder101
[Yesterday at 12:31:07 PM]


"Border Lands Conservation Act" courtesy of Mike Lee (R-UT) by High Climber
[Yesterday at 12:20:31 PM]


Grouse hunting Near Yakima by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 10:17:52 AM]


Bear Paw Outfitters Idaho Elk and Deer Hunt Units 77,78,79 by Mtnwalker
[Yesterday at 10:15:36 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal