What gun for elk?

[rock]

I am gonna be hunting the Siouxon this year for elk. I have the following guns, 12 gauge mosssberg with slug barrel, 300 savage, 50 cal muzzeloader inline.
I can put scopes on any of them. All the shots except for very few times willl be under 150 yards.
I I will be hunting the regualr firearms season. I can shoot any of them with accuracy.
Thanks

[h20hunter]

300 Savage. I don't think you have range needed on the 12 gauge if you have to reach a bit. Not a muzzy hunter so don't have much info on it.

[deerdog]

 Both the 300 savage or  50 cal muzzleloader will get the job done. So I would think that it would be which ever one you fell most comfatable with. Not sure where you are hunting for elk, so maybe its legal to hunt elk there with a shotgun but its not here so no input on the 12 gauge.  Good luck!!!

[bobcat]

It's legal to hunt elk with 12 gauge or bigger shotguns, and slugs. If you have an accurate shotgun with a scope, you should be fine out to 150 yards, about the same as a muzzleloader. I would probably go with the 300 Savage though. You're still limited on your range. It would be best with any of those choices to keep your shots to 100 yards or less. Just because with the rain, and the brush, a wounded elk can be really hard to find.

[Curly]

12 ga slug would be a good choice.  I'd prefer it over the muzzleloader.  (12ga is legal BTW)

That said, I'd go with the .300 Savage.  150 gr bullets at 2600 fps will do just fine on elk.

[rock]

I am most familair with the muzzelaoder and 12 gauge. Since i am goin during regular firearms i can use a scope and 209 primers. The area i am hunting is very very sttep with small cuts in areas. I like the 12 gauge because of quick follow up shots. The 300 savge is a lever action.
Thanks

[GoldTip]

The 300 savage is far from a long range caliber, but it will cleanly take elk to 150yards, that would be my choice of the three you mention.

[bobcat]

I would definitely consider using the shotgun if you can shoot it accurately. You will put a much bigger hole in an elk than you would with the 300 Savage, and that will provide a better blood trail to follow, if necessary. If you're more familiar with it and not so much with the rifle, then I would just go with what you're most familiar with and probably have the most confidence in.

[rock]

Thats what i was thinking also there is a restricted firearms area close the GMU were hunting. So it would be nice to have that option. But then there is the question of what slug to use. Any suggestions?

[bobcat]

What slugs do you normally use? Whatever shoots good in your gun is what I'd recommend. I don't think you need anything special for elk. I would imagine that just about any 12 gauge slug would do the job just fine on an elk.

[Armadillo]

tirdy aught six 

knockin the wind out of em since 1906

[rock]

I used winchester's they work good for deer. Should i go up to a 3" sehll though?

[elkoholic]

this should work....

acctually all the guns you have would work just fine...

[THEBUGLER]

I put a scope on my 12 gauge and could hit a paper plate at a hundred yards.

[GlennGTR]

300 Savage will take elk cleanly out to 250 yards if you do your part and choose a good load. There tends to be a lot of folks out there that think a bullet has got to reach the speed of light in order to be worthy of elk hunting. My 308 win will drop elk with ease and the 300 Savage is close to it in the balistics department. Shot placement and bullet construction are far more important than blistering speed. If you shoot a 150 grainer, make it a partition, A-frame, Barnes, or Trophy bonded bullet. Get a good quality 3-9x40 on that rifle and you are set for anything in the lower 48. Good luck on your hunt and stay away from those with a bad case of magnumitis.