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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 (2.9%)
270 Winchester
11 (8.1%)
7mm-08 Remington
2 (1.5%)
7mm Remington Magnum
22 (16.2%)
7mm PRC
7 (5.1%)
308 Winchester
4 (2.9%)
30-06 Springfield
25 (18.4%)
300 Winchester Magnum
24 (17.6%)
300 Weatherby Magnum
12 (8.8%)
300 Remington Ultra Magnum
8 (5.9%)
338 Winchester Magnum
6 (4.4%)
35 Whelen
4 (2.9%)

Total Members Voted: 136

Author Topic: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?  (Read 5354 times)

Offline The Big Game Hunter

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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

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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

Online wadu1

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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"

Online JWBINX

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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?

 


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