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smallest elk caliber? |
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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I'm hopin' so. Actually I haven't used it that much in the past number of yrs. This yr I'll be hunting some wide open spaces that I use to hunt so.........................
Edited by 300S&W - June/10/2011 at 12:10 |
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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hunterwingler
Optics Master Joined: April/03/2009 Location: Idaho Status: Offline Points: 1420 |
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100gr montec from G5 & my Bear Charger Bow :-). like i have said in other post its shot place meant. Ive known ppl that have used a 22 mag to kill an elk. |
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I wasn't upset about the black cat crossing my path this morning but mouthing "your fu@#ed" as he passed was just rude.
If Guns kill people mine are all defective |
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budperm
Optics Retard show me your sheep!! Joined: January/01/2009 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 31710 |
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Thats Purty country there!
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"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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Just keep in mind that if you take a shot @ 500 yards and it is poorly placed (could be wind, could be the animal moving) with the bullet's diminishing energy it could be a big problem. If the elk got into cover and wasn't wounded fatally, you might not ever find it. Even after a few hours on a warmish day it most of the meat will be worthless. Consider also that you'll need to have a better than average scope and a really good
idea of range and ballistics out past 350 yards. Most of these cartridges will be
dropping 5, 6, 7+ inches every 25 yards after that. Will you have a good idea of where to hold if the animal is 20 degrees uphill @ 450 yards?
That said, you could use a .270, 7mm-08, .308 or .30-06 reasonably out to 300-350 yards and be pretty certain of a good, clean shot. Beyond that would depend on conditions, ability and knowledge, perhaps offset somewhat by a more powerful cartridge. |
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Reaction time is a factor...
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I'd have no hesitation to use a .308 on elk. Basically, anything a .30-06 will do, a .308 will do almost as well until you get to bullets weighing over 180 gr.
I just like 7-08 better due to better BC at distance... and because it's cool.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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This is an interesting thread.
The 500 yard requirement limits the "minimum" choices, IMO. I think the normal "minimum" calibers for elk are totally out of the picture with that outside range requirement. These include .243 Win (not optimal at any range), and any of the .25s. These calibers will kill elk reliably at modest ranges, and excellent marksmanship. I think the .260 would be my minimum, given the OP's requirements. 7-08 is absolutely up to the task, and is one of the greatest all-around game cartridges available. 270 is no problem either. 280 and up are fine. Like Ted said, the bullet is the key. A tough bullet with good BC should be chosen. I load my 7-08 with 140 grain Barnes TTSX, and would be absolutely confident in the bullet putting down the biggest bull with that load, even out to 500. |
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-Matt
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ckk1106
Optics Master Joined: December/14/2007 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 1439 |
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I killed a cow elk at 305 yards with a 270 win using 150 grain nosler partitions and max load of RL 22. Bullet didn't pass through, but did the job. I probably wouldn't take a shot that was longer than that.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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I feel relatively certain that you could kill them with a .243 using a Barnes bullet or a Nosler Partition with good shot placement but it certainly would not be my first choice. Ive always been told that 30-06 is the minimum for anything that will likely kill you back given the opportunity and elk and moose do occasionally stomp someone which leaves me wanting .375 H&H but I'd have no problem using my 300 WSM or 300 WM. I know a guy here who shoots them every year with his 270 and he kills them all the time. Sometimes you just have to kill them with what you have, its been done for a long time with flint spears and stone tipped arrows.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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25-06
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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+1 With a 115gr Nosler Partition at 3200fps. Never tried it but wouldn't be afraid to.
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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<.243 is all good. Shot placement is always the key to taking any game clean. Larger calibers buy you range and a bit of shooter-error, but not as much as most believe.
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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Dyelynn
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/07/2011 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 231 |
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first i'd like to address the "shot placement" statements.
I guess I took it for granted that any hunter would be aiming for vitals, or (if so inclined and prepared for it) the head... with a reasonable expectation of hitting what you're aiming at. a poorly placed shot, or a shot taken with ignorance or unfamiliarity of the rifle, scope or combination of them both is not at all what i had in mind here. I think .243 and 25-06 are the smallest calibers i saw mentioned. Question for those that mentioned these, what would your max range be on an elk given your "best bullet" with these rifles? Honestly, i thought i'd get the .270win as the smallest viable (subjective) for elk, so i'm pretty surprised to see all the smaller calibers in here. I guess my next question should be "what would your largest caliber be for small black-tail"... although i think with so many non-magnum options and stuff 30.06 and under, i don't really need it. thanks for everyone's input :) |
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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I have taken cow and bull elk with the equivalent of a 7-08 out to and just beyond your max distance you gave.
260 Rem would be another. FWIW-I have a friend that has taken several bulls with the 6XC. Not my idea of an elk cartridge, but if you wreck the vitals, he is dying. I guess I would be more interested in what you do have, and what kind of field shooting skill you have with the guns you own? E |
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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308 Sav
Optics Journeyman Joined: July/18/2010 Location: Kentucky Status: Offline Points: 362 |
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if you adhere to 1500 ft pounds for elk
243 100 g 200 would be a stretch I say a 308 with a barns mrx you could go 475 so depends on your range and where you hunt. I would take a 243 to 200 and feel comfortable. But I would use my 308.
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Gerald Baker
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i would take an elk at 350-400yds with a good quality .257 diam bullet. the 25-06 doesnt lose much out there.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I don't, and I'm not sure where they came up with the number. It is the damaged tissue that kills the elk, not the energy. Ask a bow-killed bull.
I think I would feel OK with a Barnes out to 300 or so. The 25-06 being better. Of course, the Elkinator is a 300 RUM.
Fifty. I really think great blacktail/elk combo cartridges would be 7-08, 270, 280, 30-06, and any 7 magnum or 30 magnum. |
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-Matt
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Dyelynn
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/07/2011 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 231 |
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I thought the 338wm was the elkinator :p
is that so you don't leave anything to clean?
i've been eyballing the 7mm rem as my target caliber for a while, but figured it'd be a nice topic of discussion here :) |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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There is only one Elkinator: http://www.opticstalk.com/swarovski-z3-412x50-brh-reticle_topic27412.html
A 7 Mag will do everything you want. That is a great choice. a 140 grain or 160 grain Accubond would be just about right. |
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-Matt
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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Absolutely, a 7mm rem mag is a great choice for blacktail and more!! I think I mentioned using one to hunt blacktails in No. Cal for years now (in the past, so has my brother and a couple of cousins). My next rifle for deer hunting will probably be a 7mm-08 to compliment my 7mm. |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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