Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: The Big Game Hunter on September 28, 2025, 11:33:23 AM

Title: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: The Big Game Hunter 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.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: MightyWhite 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
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: wadu1 on September 28, 2025, 05:26:27 PM: Mine is not on the list 9.3X62 the closest is the 35W
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: JWBINX on September 28, 2025, 05:36:05 PM: Very hard to beat a .338 Win mag with 225 or 250 gr Nosler Partitions!
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: D-Rock425 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.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: Stein 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:
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: ASHQUACK 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.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: High Climber 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
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: EnglishSetter 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.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: buglebuster on September 28, 2025, 08:28:32 PM: 147 gr ELD-M out of a 6.5 PRC
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: kselkhunter on September 28, 2025, 08:47:59 PM: I love my 35 Whelen for elk.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: fowl smacker 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.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: Angus 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.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: GWP on September 29, 2025, 07:31:49 AM: Interesting list. No big bores?
45/70.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: The Big Game Hunter on September 29, 2025, 10:40:55 AM: Quote from: wadu1 on September 28, 2025, 05:26:27 PM
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?
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: Rat44 on September 29, 2025, 10:49:47 AM: I have owned and used 308,45/70,35 Remington and 30/30 on big game in the past along with the 30/06.
I only own 2 centerfire rifles now besides a 17 Hornet.
They are both 30/06.
It just seems to work on everything .
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: birddogdad on September 29, 2025, 12:00:15 PM: not on the list..... 375 H&H
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: Kingofthemountain83 on September 29, 2025, 08:18:11 PM: 243... Best elk cartridge ever made!!!
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: The Big Game Hunter on October 01, 2025, 09:46:55 AM: Quote from: birddogdad on September 29, 2025, 12:00:15 PM
not on the list..... 375 H&H
I'd love to hear more about your experiences with the 375 H&H. I've hunted Africa with that chambering multiple times with good success and I also used it to take an American bison, but have never killed an elk with mine.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: The Big Game Hunter on October 04, 2025, 06:43:29 AM: Quote from: GWP on September 29, 2025, 07:31:49 AM
Interesting list. No big bores?
45/70.
Tell me more about your experiences elk hunting with a 45-70. Roosevelt Elk in Western Washington?
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: Farmer72 on October 04, 2025, 10:36:58 AM: Didn't expect it on the list but a few elk have succumbed to my 8mm Rem Mag. So it is my favorite.
Title: Re: What's your favorite elk hunting cartridge?
Post by: Sakko300wsm on October 04, 2025, 11:00:41 AM: Obviously 300WSM is one of my favorite rounds , but the last couple yrs my CA 6.5 PRC has been putting the hammer down on the elk and deer