What gun for elk?

[Wanttohuntmore]

300 savage with 165 grain bullets, or 180 grain.  If less than 180, stick with premium bullets (ie partition, accubond, barnes, etc.)  With 180's, you could use the corelokts, they even hold together at 3000 fps.  It'll work easily out to 250 yds.  I'm not a fan of shotguns or muzzies, though use them on occasion when required.  They'll shoot good, but just don't have that static shock reaction I get from high power guns... 

[colockumelk]

It doesn't matter what gun you use.  From what I have read you want about 2,000 foot pounds of Kenetic Energy.  So take whatever rifle you have and look at a ballistics chart and see how far out your gun still has 2,000 foot pounds of Kenetic Energy.  Then limit yourself to that yardage. And then practise and practise at the range over and over and over again.  Don't just go out the weekend before the season starts to make sure that at 100yds your gun is still on from last year.  (At least as long as you have sandbags and a bench)  I hate those guys.  That is unethical especially since those are usually the ones taking 400 yd shots at groups of elk with their magnum loads.  Sorry about that rant.  I know archers that do it to, drives me just as crazy.  Basically just be a good shot and be competant with whatever weapon you use and you'll do fine.

[argosinu]

Either is enough to kill if you hit the elk right.  Choose your most accurate gun; let the lead do the rest. 
Shoot straight and have fun!

[Curly]

300 savage with 165 grain bullets, or 180 grain.  If less than 180, stick with premium bullets (ie partition, accubond, barnes, etc.)  With 180's, you could use the corelokts, they even hold together at 3000 fps.  It'll work easily out to 250 yds.  I'm not a fan of shotguns or muzzies, though use them on occasion when required.  They'll shoot good, but just don't have that static shock reaction I get from high power guns...

Unless Rock reloads, he's probably stuck with factory loads and 150's or 180's..............150 gr will probably be easier to find.  I'd choose whichever shoots best in the rifle.  Probably not going to find Partition, accubond, or Barnes in factory ammo.  As much as I hate soft points and Cor-lokt bullets, I think they may be ok even in the 150 grain load since velocity should be under 2600 fps at the muzzle.  I guess my point is, if the 150's shoot a lot better than 180's than go with the 150's even though they aren't premium bullets.......just try to get a broadside shot through the lungs.

Rock, just get a few boxes of ammo and put a scope on that rifle ASAP and start shooting.  BTW - is your 300 Savage a model 99?

[rosscrazyelk]

.338 mag with 210 nosler.. Deadly ,  will knock a elk on its ars at 400..

[rock]

300 savage with 165 grain bullets, or 180 grain.  If less than 180, stick with premium bullets (ie partition, accubond, barnes, etc.)  With 180's, you could use the corelokts, they even hold together at 3000 fps.  It'll work easily out to 250 yds.  I'm not a fan of shotguns or muzzies, though use them on occasion when required.  They'll shoot good, but just don't have that static shock reaction I get from high power guns...

Unless Rock reloads, he's probably stuck with factory loads and 150's or 180's..............150 gr will probably be easier to find.  I'd choose whichever shoots best in the rifle.  Probably not going to find Partition, accubond, or Barnes in factory ammo.  As much as I hate soft points and Cor-lokt bullets, I think they may be ok even in the 150 grain load since velocity should be under 2600 fps at the muzzle.  I guess my point is, if the 150's shoot a lot better than 180's than go with the 150's even though they aren't premium bullets.......just try to get a broadside shot through the lungs.

Rock, just get a few boxes of ammo and put a scope on that rifle ASAP and start shooting.  BTW - is your 300 Savage a model 99?

Yes it is. My great grandfather bought a LONG time ago.

[Curly]

Savage 99's are very valuable rifles.  Very collectible.  I recently got one from my father-in-law (250-3000 Savage).

[Magnum_Willys]

Your odds of getting a shot in the Souixon are slim - why bust your butt to get a shot and then have inferior equipment?  Trade one of those for a 30-06 at least or a .338 if you could.  You might go ten years between shots - you gonna risk that on a shotgun when you don't have to? 

It used to be guys who hunted hard in that unit got a shot every year or every other year at worst.  no more.  You can go five years or more without a shot.  Don't waste it. 

[Bob33]

I've killed a few elk with a 12 gauge and slugs.  In general slugs are much slower than a rifle bullet, and have low ballistic coefficients.   They do not have the same shock effect as a faster bullet but can punch a large hole in an elk.  My advice is to test some in your shotgun at 150 yards and see if the accuracy is sufficient (5 of 5 shots in an 8" circle is a good test).  Very few shotguns can shoot slugs well at that distance. 

[rock]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Now it looks like im coming out for early muzzeloader season.

[cem3434]

Do you have a rifled barrel for your shotgun?  If you do, try a Remington Copper Sabots because I can shoot about a 4" group at 150 yds with mine.

If not, then definetly go with the 300 Savage if your not going to invest in another gun.  Like others have suggested, you should sell or trade one of your guns for a 30.06, 300 wsm, 300 wm or a 338 wm.  These calibers are capable of effectively killing anything in North America.

Since you have a shotgun and muzzleloader, I would suggest getting rid of the 300 savage if your going to get a new rifle, so you still have other options on future hunts and you dont have to go buy another gun. 

[runningboard]

Yes it is. My great grandfather bought a LONG time ago.

don't listen to those that think you should sell your 300 Savage for this reason alone!
many, many have fallen to the 300 Savage and 30-30's over the years so that would serve you well as long as you don't try shooting beyond the rifles or your capabilities. I know people will ask, "how many elk are wounded by 30-30 & the like & never recovered each year?" my response is, about as many that are wounded by magnums that people can't shoot well due to recoil & thus can't hit an elk in the vitals.

[carpsniperg2]

Anyone of them will kill a elk just fine with the right bullets and right shot placement.

[3dsheetmetal]

Really dosen't matter what caliber you use, shot placement is everything.

[dad98684]

i have hunted that unit and the lewis for years, killed a few deer and elk in there. not a single shot over 120 yards. very brushy,  i have used 30-06, 300 win mag, both worked fine. but my 45-75 barrel with 4x scope is what i have on now. more then enough range, and can get thru the vine maple & alder they seem to like hiding in. for you if you can shoot a slug out to 100 yards, and put it where you want it, your 12 ga is fine.