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 (5.3%)
6.5 Creedmoor
1 (1.1%)
6.5 PRC
4 (4.2%)
270 Winchester
8 (8.4%)
7mm-08 Remington
1 (1.1%)
7mm Remington Magnum
18 (18.9%)
7mm PRC
3 (3.2%)
308 Winchester
2 (2.1%)
30-06 Springfield
14 (14.7%)
300 Winchester Magnum
19 (20%)
300 Weatherby Magnum
7 (7.4%)
300 Remington Ultra Magnum
4 (4.2%)
338 Winchester Magnum
5 (5.3%)
35 Whelen
4 (4.2%)

Total Members Voted: 95

Author Topic: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?  (Read 2766 times)

Offline The Big Game Hunter

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2013
  • Posts: 293
    • 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: 160
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: 7334
  • 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: 537
  • 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: 13274
  • 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: 13137
  • 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: 1004
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: 1072
  • 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: 422
  • 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: 3657
  • 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: 1652
  • 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: 2228
  • 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: 1373
  • 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: 1800
  • 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: 293
    • 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

Selkirk GMU 113 Moose by Pathfinder101
[Today at 11:51:31 AM]


I broke down and bought a by wafisherman
[Today at 11:27:14 AM]


2025 Mt. St. Helens success? by Nate p
[Today at 11:00:36 AM]


Picked up a grapple for the Tractor... Hoo boy! Good fun ahead!! by EnglishSetter
[Today at 10:58:40 AM]


Westside Muzzy Elk Habitat Help and Rut Help by Buckhunter28
[Today at 10:55:46 AM]


What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge? by The Big Game Hunter
[Today at 09:46:55 AM]


Winterizing a travel trailer? by MADMAX
[Today at 09:27:21 AM]


Blue Tongue and EHD outbreak in NE Washington by bearpaw
[Today at 07:38:03 AM]


Roadless Rule Public Comment by bearpaw
[Today at 07:02:46 AM]


Douglas 108 Moose tag by bearpaw
[Today at 06:24:16 AM]


Smoked Tuna by Seth
[Today at 04:58:41 AM]


Mathews Creed- RH 65lb by Boze84
[Yesterday at 10:16:52 PM]


Calling Cougars? by rainshadow1
[Yesterday at 08:55:24 PM]


Autotricker V4 combo by mb
[Yesterday at 08:31:55 PM]


Spots around Union by ASHQUACK
[Yesterday at 08:19:34 PM]


Pheasant Release Program by Torrent50
[Yesterday at 08:09:54 PM]


Knight discontinuing Ultralite muzzleloader by Wa hunter
[Yesterday at 07:56:47 PM]


Sighting in - confused by jstone
[Yesterday at 07:23:08 PM]


Raccoon was to close to my chickens by JDArms1240
[Yesterday at 07:14:43 PM]


2 Hand Calls for Sale by rainshadow1
[Yesterday at 05:49:14 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal