What is the average distance for modern shot elk.

[jackelope]

I agree with Jackofalltrades.

[NWBREW]

Boy, Lots of opinions, evereyone has one. Those scopes you are looking at are decent scopes. I agree with TaT that you have   time this year if you are NOT NEW TO SHOOTING. (If you are new to shooting or have not done it a while  ) Get it set up and start sighting and practicing with the gun you will be shooting. The sooner the better. I also agree with Jackofalltrades that a 3x9 should be all you need here in WA. Its all I use for big game in WA. and never had a problem.      Oh and the farthest shot I've ever killed an elk with is about 95 yards- 2 shots with a Rem. 270 right in the boiler room. I loved that gun.

[Curly]

Looking at Leupold VX-2 and Busnell Elete 3200  3x9

Both of those scopes are great choices.  3-9 X 40 is a great all around choice.  Not much need for anything else for elk hunting.  

And while it is a bit late in the year, if you have a lot of shooting experience with your other rifles, I think you'd be fine to get a new .270 setup for elk hunting this year and still have some time to practice a bit with it.

[Dadbear]

Does a "modern shot" elk taste any different than an "old-fashioned" elk? 

[jeepasaurusrex]

Jeep, is that a typo about the 180gr in a .270?

I can see a 160gr in the .270 but 180???

Your right, 150gr is what we shoot. Damn typos... I only had 1 cup of coffee at that point. 

[woodswalker]

what are you gonna do with that 8-32x scope when your bull appears at 20 yards? shove the rifle down it's throat? cuzz all you're gonna see is brown when you put the scope up on him.

 

sight down the side of the barrel at that range.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Or affix bayonet!   

[halflife65]

sight in a couple inches high at 100 will put you at zero at 200(or close enough) and buy a 3-9x scope.

Exactly.  I hunted with a .270 for years and sighted in the same way.  I just put a Leupold Vari-X II 3X9 on it and went to town.  Make sure to use 150 gr bullets (unless you are handloading and have some other options).  I always used the old standby Federal Premium Nosler Partitions.  I've shot elk from about 100 yards to about 400 yards.

After that, I got all fancy with my scope and rifle, but I noticed that it didn't kill them any deader than the old .270 with the old Vari-X II.  Now I just try to get them with a sharp stick...

[coachcw]

I sugest that you buy a 4x12 leupold, and shot a fedral premium 150. 1.5 high at 100 yard and you'll be good to go to 300 good luck.

[Remington 243]

I just asked for some shooting distance averages.. hehe
Not the history of all your exsperences and science of weapons and ammo..
Geeess
Thank you anyway,, its all good .

[Curly]

Under 200 yards on most shots.

[LongTatLaw]

Jackelope,  3-9 is plenty at 20 yards but if he is to plan to shoot 20 yards buy a bow

i hunted Western WA's thickest stuff for 3 months straight in 2007 with a 6-20 x 50mm...the same one I hunted the SE for 10 years. I walk around with it pre-set at 10-12 power...

Ive never dialed it down even for a 30 yard kill on my bear or 15 yard shots on deer in GA, NC, MS....

Ill walk around Western WA with my 8-32x 50mm set around 10-12...  if u think a deer is safe at 20 yards send me to ur honey hole...  
The only reason Id switch guns is if I KNOW all Im gonna do is bust brush for 30 yard shots...then Id turn to the slug gun (which has a 3-9x40 )

Its mostly preference 243...and most would agree with these boys that 3-9 is plenty...   I just know that a larger target image increases my accuracy.

None of these boys would argue (I THINK) that a rifle planned for mostly 300 yard shooting could stand more than 3-9 power.

The longer the shots planned...the more important a high magnification is...  thats not opinion.

did we ever hear where ur hunting?

[dbllunger]

Shot a lot of elk from around 100 to over 400.  MPBR (Maximum Point Blank Range) is the only way to sight in any rifle.  You have to determine your kill zone.  I use 12" for my elk rifles, and all are sighted in very very close to 4" high at 100yds.  Have not missed yet.   All you have to know is your reticle height over the bore, bullet weight, and true chronographed velocity.  Bullet BC is nice, but only shows a difference if you were shooting a super high or low BC.  MPBR is not the reason for hitting what you shoot at but it really helps.  Oh yeah,...... you better have your (dope chart) trajectory taped to your rifle so you know exactly where that bullet will be during flight. 

[Buckmark]

The general distance of every animal i've shot is from where i'm standing to where the animal is standing.
The scope discussion and zeroing in discussion is cracking my up though..

[coachcw]

The average distance is how far You shoot , Ho cares how far our average shot is , the info was for what youyr shooting my friend . If you want to hunt elk with your deer gun its all good , but rember in this state you need to knock them down quick or some shot chasser will come hang tag. Still good luck pal.