Is a 308 Enough for Elk ?

[kynardsj]

I know a 308 is a great and very popular round, but to others that have hunted elk, is a 308 with the proper bullet enough gun for a clean kill on one of these big critters ?

[mcwoodduck]

This one has been asked a Dozen times.
The answer in short is Yes.
With any of the big game rifles you can kill anything with a proper shot.
There is a rule of thumb that you should have 2,000 foot pounds for large game like elk.  And 1,000 for Deer sized big game.
the 308 Win easily hits the one ton of energy but will limit the distance of your shot to 200 + yards.
Heck on my first elk hunt I was armed with a 338 Win Mag and my buddies brother in law shot one at 60 Yards with a 30-30 and it was DRT.
The world record Elk was killed with a 30-40Kraig that is real close to 308 Win.
I like 308 and it is my go to hunting round for most things.  I went with a 338 Win Mag as my elk rifle because I do not get a lot of time to hunt and I did not want to pass up a 300 + yard shot if that was my only oppertunity.

[RON17T]

According to my friend who shot 5 of them with a .308,yes it's enough.

[Default_Required]

Was enough for a 1400 lb. American Bison There is more then a few reason why its so popular .

[dukkillr]

Sure it's enough, but there are better choices.

[Hodr]

I have a really good brother in law who hunts everything over rabbit with a 270.  After I thought I had a heart attack chasing an elk on the Mogollon Rim, I gave away almost everything including my 30-06.  Silly me it was diabetes.  I bought a 308 H&R (cheap) and put a red dot on it (even cheaper).  At about 150/160 yds Lady Elk walked in front of me.  last year one round on a quartering shot, she took a step and a half before she fell.  175 ? grain corelok was all it took,  in low behind the front shoulder and out the chest and on into the big woods.  So the brother in law walks up, takes a look and tells me how lucky I am that she slipped and broke her neck, after I stung her with a little 308.  I had so much fun I went out and found 2 more handis at an estate sale.  This year I am taking along a 45-70 18" barrel and a box of Buffalo Bore. 

blindhari

[Lloyd Smale]

ill go with the short answer. YES

[Land_Owner]

I don't know that caliber, but I think if you club them with it, it will do just fine...

[Hodr]

Took the last set of Lady Elk ribs and some sausage out of the freezer for dinner with a neighbor.  Courtesy of a single shot, breech loading, Handirifle in .308.  My goodness gracious, does that gun know how to set a table.

blindhari

ps  my wife added salad and a 4 layer desert

[Land_Owner]

I haven't eaten yet and that sounds GOOD!

[kynardsj]

Reason for the question is that a .308 is the longest range caliber I own. I have a 454 Casull rifle and pistol, a 460 S&W Magnum and a 500 S&W Magnum pistol for sheer knock down power. Am thinking of adding a 20 inch 500 S&W mag barrel to my Encore collection and just not worry about not enough power for a clean kill on big critters.

[Swampman]

Sure it's enough, but there are better choices.

I agree I'd rather have a .30-06 but the .308 will work with a well placed shot.

[Default_Required]

KYNards,

 Give the Hornady "Custom" line of .308 ammo a look, They use the Inter-Bond ( not the Inter-Lock) round in it. It has been quite a performer in both accuracy and expansion at range. And if you too are a reloader then those bullets are available to us as well, The Partition line of bullets have a hell of a reputation for game taking, And that Rep has come from the proof bein in the pudding.

 I'm sure that there are no shortage of good ammo/bullets to choose from. But the two I mentioned are the ones I have the most experience with in the Big Game catagory.

[Rock Home Isle]

I know a 308 is a great and very popular round, but to others that have hunted elk, is a 308 with the proper bullet enough gun for a clean kill on one of these big critters ?

The .308 Winchester is a very effective elk round. I've seen some nice mossy horned bulls dropped to this chambering.

I've also used this calibre on several occasions. I keep my hits in the heart/lung and limit shots to ~300 yards or less.

[Sweetwater]

The old "I'd rather have a 30-06" again. I just took a look in the Speer #12 manual. Why? Quick comparison. My Dad put 4 elk in the freezer with his 30-06, 180gr Noslers and IMR 4350 at 2570FPS. Distances were from 65 yards to 275 yards. According to Mr Speer, they loaded their 308W with 180gr bullets to over 2600fps in their lab when they wrote the manual.
Yes, I know the 30-06 can be loaded with 180's approaching 2800fps, but what's the point. Elk "hunting" can be "up close and personal" or it can be a practice in "long range" shooting. I doubt if an additional 100 yards of distance in Dad's elk would have changed anything. Those elk were trounced where they stood. So, I guess out to around 1/4 mile, a 308W properly loaded and in practiced hands should be quite up to the task.

[Swampman]

The .30-06 handles bullets suitable for elk much better than the .308.  In fact it handles all bullet weights better.  The .308 will work but it's not a .30-06.

[243dave]

Swampman,  I know you are a die-hard 30-06 fan.  But please don't expect people to believe that "the 30-06 handles bullets suitable for elk much better than the 308."  The 150 fps that a 30-06 can give when loaded stout with 180gr bullets is an edge but it won't be a noticable gain in killing power or even trajectory till around 400yds.  The 06 is as fine as a cartridge a man can own but there is no magic in any cartridge.  IMO if a fellow wants more range over a 308, get a 300mag.  If you want more power than a 308, step up in caliber and case capacity to a 338 or a 35 caliber something for a real gain.   Dave       

[roper]

Reason for the question is that a .308 is the longest range caliber I own. I have a 454 Casull rifle and pistol, a 460 S&W Magnum and a 500 S&W Magnum pistol for sheer knock down power. Am thinking of adding a 20 inch 500 S&W mag barrel to my Encore collection and just not worry about not enough power for a clean kill on big critters.

You own  308 and thinking of adding 500 S&W as an elk caliber.  I guess you answered your own question

[Swampman]

IMO 150fps + is a real gain.  A stout 165 in the .308 would be my choice.  In the .30-06 the 180 is the best for everything that walks in NA.

[dukkillr]

This thread is about the suitability of the 308.  If it becomes yet another debate about the greatness of the 30-06 it will be off topic and I will lock it.

[mcwoodduck]

Sure it's enough, but there are better choices.

I agree I'd rather have a .30-06 but the .308 will work with a well placed shot.

And 06 will work with an ill placed shot?
There is almost no difference between the two when it comes to effects on game.
The added 100 Feet per second speed that the 30-06 has over the 308 in Factory loadings  has minimal effects on drop out to 250 yards. Point blank Range (where your bullet drop will not be greater then the kill zone of the animal.  Bullet drop (heck I sight in my 308 for 200 yards) would be an inch to three, based on where sight in your rifle and the kill zone on an elk is bout 5"
If you are looking to step up and gain more distance any of the short mags (300 WSM), short belted mags (300 Win Mag), or the full mags (300 H&H or WBY) would extend your range using the same bullet your 308Win is shooting only faster and there fore lowering the bullet drop over longer ranges as well as hitting with the 2,000 Foot pounds or more at those ranges.  Of course the 300 WSM, and the 300 Win and H&H are only 200 -250 FPS faster than the 30-06 and would not extend you point blank range too much more.
Do not over think this.  your 308 will work fine with in the limits.  To change from a 308 to a 30-06 does not make sense for the added 100 feet per second.  I have a loading manual that shows the 165 grain bullet going faster out of a 308 Win case than the same bullet and powder load leaving a 30-06 case.
So let's see with hand loads 308 Win can obtain faster speeds,  The smaller case is more accurate, more efficient case, and can be made into lighter rifles( Depending on Action- single shot rifles will weight the same, long action bolt rifles will weight the same but short actions are lighter than standard actions)  The 308 barrel lengths are 20 -22 inches and the 06 are 22- 24"  Again heavier rifles. With the premium bullets you can go lighter and wring out all the ballistics of the smaller case while carring lighter ammo. All the things a mountain hunter wants.  Not sure why you would want a 30-06 over a 308, but to each his own.
 

[Hodr]

Thanks dukkillr,
 I like 30-06 also but if I wanted to read about it, I would have gone to a forum/post on 30-06 to read about it.  If you can't answer the question from experience, why try to sidetrack a subject.  Borders on rude where I was raised.

blindhari

[Swampman]

I answered the question based on experience.  I hunted with and prefered the .308 for 30 years.

[kynardsj]

Guys,

I appreciate the answers I've gotten and see that if need be my .308 will do just fine. Now we can end all the discussion about which is better....308 or 30-06 in this thread. Moderator, lock it down anytime you see fit.

[243dave]

Kynardsj,  Let me appologize for getting caught up in the silly debate.  I shouldn't have got off topic.  I'm no elk hunter and have no experience with anything bigger than a whitetail(just like some of the other experts here) but I'd take my 308 with 180gr premium bullets after any elk and not feel like I need a bigger gun.  But If I lived out west and done a lot of elk hunting I'd probably opt for something a bit more powerful.  I'm the kind of guy that likes exit wounds and broken offside shouders.   Dave     

[roper]

Both gun clubs I belong to here in Co about 6wks before season the ranges are open to the public one range is on contract with DOW other is run by members both clubs have member help guest sight-in members  provide rifle rest,targets,spoting scope etc one club has a member who a gunsmith he tighten mount etc free of charge to help out.

You get to see all kind of calibers the 270,30-06,338mag7mag,300mag and 300Wby are real popular next you see the RUM,WSM etc for some reason alot of the retired military guys see with 308.  These are locals not somone from out of state.   

[Sweetwater]

My previous post was meant to show how a 308 was every bit as good as "the other" by virtue of experience, given "the other" was handloaded to less than 308 top performance. The bottom line is the 308 handles a 180gr totally adequately to the task. Most of my pals who use 308's opt for the 165gr and even the 150gr Nosler Partition have brought home the trophy. My choice would be the 180gr Nosler Partition. One needs to get away from paper ballistics and do some shooting. Your 308 is fine. The main thing is to know your weapon and be able to put a decent bullet in the right place - it's all about placement.
Carry your 500 S&W IF you want to and a sidearm backup is a good thing - sometimes things go wrong with your main weapon.

[Hodr]

Swampman,
First of all if I have upset you I apoligise, fully and completely.  I was not questioning your experience or expertise.  I have one, I repeat one elk in my resume.  Perhaps a one shot drop on a once in a liftime shot got the better of me.  What I was hoping for was more detail or the stories behind elk taken with a .308.  Compared to quite a few here I will never be, take your choice:
a pistolero
a great (even average) hunter
a varmint hunter
a good teacher/writer.
What I am is person who spent the majority of his life raising a couple of kids.  Before I was married and after the kids were grown I have been able to pursue my love of firearms, wood crafting and cooking.  I can understand a view point that says this or that is better,  but I would really enjoy the details of success and disapointment in how you came to that opinion.
Again if I have offended any here, I apoligise.

blindhari

[kynardsj]

Truth is that if I lived out west and hunted elk on a regular basis I would own a 300 Winchester mag but I'm an Alabama guy thinking of going out there with a rifle I already own. Thanks again for all the input.

[Lloyd Smale]

like i posted earlier i believe the 308 is good enough for elk. It is a good round but it is not equal to an o6 anymore then an o6 is equal to a 300 mag. If a man wants to shoot 180s and feels there nessisary for elk then id step up to an o6. they do handle them better. 2600 out of a 308 with them is a top end load and an 06 will do 2800 with them with a bit of room to spare. Personaly most of my use with both are covered by 150s and in that case there aint much differnce. I chuckle when i see guys post that my3030 is as good as a 300 savage then it goes my 300 savage is as good as anyones 308 then the 308 guys claim there as good as an o6 then the o6 guys claim there as good as a 300 win mag. I guess from that a guy should figure that the 3030 is every bit as powerful as a 300 win mag. Bottom line is both are more the capable of taking elk sized game with 150-165 grain bullets. If something like brown bear or moose was on the agenda id rather an 06 shooting a 180 partitions just as fast as i could load it accurately.