Author Topic: Elk hunting with a .308 (Read 1832 times)

Empty Quiver · « **on:** October 20, 2009, 08:30:51 AM »

I need someone with experience on the subject to discuss. Bullet selection, range limits, shot placement, etc. I am getting plenty of you're crazy to take a .308, and about as many it's fine within its limits. Problem is no one has actually used one, just the third person accounts. One fella had used a 7-08 and was happy enough and figured the .308 should be no worse.

dukkillr · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2009, 12:43:05 PM »

1) It doesn't matter what caliber you are talking about, someone will always claim, "It's enough as long as you pick your shots." For instance, if you ask me, "Can I use a .22lr for elk?" I would tell you that you can, as long as you pick your shots. The shot you need to pick is one of those point blank, back of the head type shots... Probably in a high fence... but sure, the .22lr will "get the job done if you do your part..."

2) Read here:
http://montanaelkhunting.blogspot.com/2009/07/7-08-elk-rifle-wannabe.html
http://montanaelkhunting.blogspot.com/2009/07/308-highpower-isuzu.html
http://montanaelkhunting.blogspot.com/2009/07/308-7mm-08-243.html

3) I have never understood the need to be cute, or find a minimum caliber. As an able bodied male it is no issue to use a 30-06 or .270, either of which are unquestionably better on elk than a 308. I'm not saying you need some tooth jarring ultra-mag, but I'm also not advocating pushing the evelope the other way.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2009, 02:16:53 PM »

That is the sort of info I'm looking for. I am shooting a .300 WM and see no reason to change. A hunting buddy has a .308 and doesn't want another rifle if it is unneeded. I tend to agree with that thought as an Elk hunt is likely once in a lifetime thing for him. Borrowing a more suitable rifle is an option, he would just as soon use his own if it were addequite. Thanks for the links they were helpful.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2009, 02:40:14 PM »

Here is the comparison chart from federal between a 308 and a 30/06 shooting a 180 grain nosler partition. Funny federal doesn't even have a load recommendation for a 270 as someone suggested? The ballistics between 308 and /06 are so close that no elk will know the difference!

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/compare/rifle_compare.aspx

and check out hornady's line of light magnums.

http://www.hornady.com/media/Light_Mag_Heavy_Mag_Ammo.pdf

The ballistic chart is at the bottom.

If your friend is a good shot with his 308 he will kill the elk he shoots at, if he is a bad shot, he will not.

Just as you with your 300 whizbangmagnum !

Hodr · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2009, 11:43:17 AM »

Went out with my brother in law last month on the Mogollon rim in Az. New .308 handi rifle fired in with a red dot sight. 170 grain round nose soft point at aprox. 160 yds, one shot behind front leg slightly turned away took out 1 lung and exited to somewhere on down range. Ladyelk went less than fifty foot and stumbled then rolled into ravine. Maybe the fall killed her as some folks will tell you .308 isn't enough to use for elk.

My bother in law uses .270 but is waiting to see if I can trip another elk into a ditch next year. Then he promises to tell me if a 308 will work on elk. I value the man's opinion and expertise, he has two 6x6 elk racks just from bow season years past but like me he is getting older and is starting to do a little bit more hunting at Safeway.

blindhari

jrfrmn · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2009, 04:41:26 PM »

If you or someone you know is good at reloading, You can load a .308 to match factory loaded 30-06 rounds. A 165 gr boatail bullet is the same in either round. Put more powder in the .308 and it is equivalent to a 30-06 factory round. I don't see anything wrong with a .308. Load the round you need for what you are hunting.

Quote from: Empty Quiver on October 20, 2009, 02:16:53 PM

That is the sort of info I'm looking for. I am shooting a .300 WM and see no reason to change. A hunting buddy has a .308 and doesn't want another rifle if it is unneeded. I tend to agree with that thought as an Elk hunt is likely once in a lifetime thing for him. Borrowing a more suitable rifle is an option, he would just as soon use his own if it were addequite. Thanks for the links they were helpful.

torpedoman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2009, 05:42:51 PM »

308 wont work? i sometimes wonder were all these bullet proof critters are coming from. Then i wonder what all the ancestors used to kill these critters.

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2009, 09:55:39 AM »

The issue of being undergunned is largely a persons mindset. If you believe you have an adequate weapon and are effective with it 95% of the time you won't have any problems. If you feel undergunned it will reduce your confidence and your skills will suffer, effectively causing you problems. I'd personally be fully confident with a 308 out to 300-350 yards. Anything further I would just pass or get closer. Many guys don't want to have to pass or get closer so the "big" guns are their crutch.

Ladobe · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:23:02 AM »

Quote from: Empty Quiver on October 20, 2009, 08:30:51 AM

... I am getting plenty of you're crazy to take a .308, and about as many it's fine within its limits...

Ignore 'em. Plenty of gun for elk (even moose) if like with anything else you hunt you place your shots. When I started rifle hunting elk in my teens it was with a Winchester 94 30-30 just like the rest of my family used for everything. It got the job done good'nuff. Graduated to a 270 Win about 10 years later and it was excellent for them. I also used handguns, but that's another story.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2009, 11:55:32 AM »

I have no elk hunting experience but plenty of 308 experience. I have butchered at least 20 deer shot with Remington factory 308 caliber 180 grain ammo, it TEARS THEM UP.

Cheese

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:48:41 PM »

The world record Rocky Mt Elk was shot with a 30-40 Krag.
Shoots the same 308 caliber bullets but slower.
So I would say the 308 Win will take elk when using proper designed bullets.
My friends brother in law shot a nice 5X6 with a 30-30.
Just keep your shots with in your shooting ability.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2009, 05:51:12 PM »

Sounds as though the 308 is the near equal of an '06, especially if you match bullet to bullet. I knew on paper they were twins, but had heard differently in camp. It's nice to get a more diverse group of opinions. Would you feel a good bonded bullet, say 165gr would be a good place to start? I figure accuracy would be more important than weight in the end, but heavier being better, all other things being equal. Again thank you for the input.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2009, 06:09:18 PM »

In some cases there are reloading recipes that have the 308 out proforming the 06 with 165 grain bullets.
Higher speed with less powder= less recoil with the rifles being the same weight.
The 06 starts to pull away when you get into the 180 to 220 grain bullets.
There are guys that will swear by one over the other and vise versa.
Wooters Vs. Cooper
Short action vs. Standard. 22" vs. 24" barrels.
I happen to be one of the 308 fans. I own a couple 06 rifles but they are back up rifles or for loaners.
The game will not know the diff between either. Both throw the SAME bullets at almost the same speeds.
Chevy Vs Ford.
Both have fans that would rather sit at home then hunt out of the other.
Same goes with the 06 and the 308
If you are confidant your rifle will fire and hit what you are aiming at, at the range.... Hunt with it.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2009, 07:16:50 PM »

the .308 will work just fine i prefer the .30-06 but i like heavy bullets pick a good 165 grain bullet and have at it

mjbgalt · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2009, 07:46:08 PM »

look at ballistic charts, the .308 and .270 in general run neck and neck.

the .308 can handle heavier bullets...

why the heck would a .270 be a better choice?

hell i know a lot of people use a .25-06, and that's definitely not a fire-breathing magnum.

lucky guy · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2009, 06:27:19 PM »

I've taken two with my 308. A 305 pt bull (180 gr partition) and this season a 500-600 lb cow (165 partition).Both under 100 yds so no real test of long distance shooting. You are not undergunned out to where the bullet slows below about 1800 fps (about 350 - 400yds) if you're shooting partitions, they won't open up below 1800. But there is alot of drop that far out too. With the Federal HE 180 gr partition load zeroed at 200, it drops 17" at 400.

The question is how far is your friend willing to shoot at an elk? How far away can he hit the vitals under hunting conditions, shooting position, etc. If he's only gonna shoot out to 300 yds, the 308 in either 180 or 165 is good imo, and it is a hold on with only about +5 to -6" out to 300. Between 300 -400 only if he's a really good shot, and beyond 400 it runs out of velocity.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2009, 06:00:24 AM »

I'm gonna say 300yds would be a pretty fair poke for him. The question arose because one of our hunting party is of the opinion that the 308 was not suitable for Elk. He is very opinionated, but is pretty smart on many things. I have looked at the ballistic tables and in my mind it was pretty much the equal of an 06. His experience was from nearly 20 years ago, I'm gonna guess the bullets weren't of a premium design and were asked to do too much. He's not really a fan of the 06 either now that I come to think about it. 300 mag or bigger is his opinion on the subject.

lucky guy · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2009, 06:07:16 AM »

No difference in the 30 06 for 165's, only 100 fps for the 180's, not enough to worry about.

Load up a quality 165 or 180 gr bullet like a partition or tsx to 2600 fps or a little more if you can get it, and go get em! If you don't reload the Federal High Energy 180 partitions are the ticket. More important for him to practice from shooting positions for those ranges. They're big animals, but easier to miss at 300 than we like to think. (Experience speaking here

)

Good luck with it!

mannyrock · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2009, 06:17:35 AM »

The vast majority of stuff you hear from guys in "camps" is total and absolute BS, from people that are either drunk or desperately trying (for manliness purposes) to justify the caliber they use. That is why I gave up on hunting clubs and camps years ago, and go it alone. I've got better things to do than to listen to idiots talk during my time off.

The .308 is totally fine on Elk, provided you use a premium bullet (preferably 180 grains) and keep your range to 250 yards or less. 300 yards may be pressing it.

Is the regular .30-06 good enough for Elk. Yes, no question. Well then, duh, if you buy one of the High Energy rounds or Light Magnum rounds in .308, which gives you virtually identical ballistics to the .30-06, then how is it that the .308 isn't good enough?

And, for about the first 30 years of the 20th century, the .300 Savage was regarded as a great Elk cartridge. It is about 10% LESS powerful than the .308. So
how is it that the .308 is no good on Elk.

Ballistics charts don't lie.

Mannyrock

Tonk · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2009, 04:33:11 PM »

I certainly see no problem with using a .308 Winchester to elk hunt with, as long as you have good bullets in the proper weight and I like 180 grain bullets and upward for use on elk, especially bull elk. I favor the 30-06 over the .308 but make no mistake, the .308 can do the job.

Mack in N.C. · « **Reply #20 on:** December 19, 2009, 04:27:13 PM »

never hunted elk and may never because i am po ..but anyone who says a .308 wont kill and elk is crazy..........a .308 with a good shot is better than a 300wsm with a bad shot...and it doesnt cost you 60 bucks a box..............if and when i ever do go i will be toting my trusty ole .270............except i will resight it in for 150 grain bullets instead of the 130's i shoot now..............the guy with the 308 he knows, will be better off than most of the guys with these new whiz rounds they havent shot as much............ nmack