Calibers for Elk

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Many of our ancestors did starve, and when THEY had a chance to get better weapons, they did!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rock Home Isle]

I've killed most of my elk with either a .50 calibre smoke-pole or a .270 Winchester. Really any of the calibres that have been mentioned would be great on elk, it all has to do with shot placement. Put the shot in the boiler-room and down they go every time. But if you are really worried about being under gunned and feel strongly that you need more power and efficiency, then get the 7mm Magnum loaded with 160 grain bullets. It is awesome elk medicine without the great recoil. Or pack a .300 WSM loaded with 165 gr Barnes TSX's...it'll do the job in spades, and again it doesn't have the recoil of a full blown .300 Mag.

[Lloyd Smale]

Nothing wrong with a 308. Ive shot a pile of deer with one. But contrary to what some will post ive shot enough deer to know that the 06 hits them harder and the 7mag hits them even harder yet. Youll always find some to say that the 308 is as good as a 06 or the 06 is as good as a 7mag and the 7 mag is as good as a 300 or the 300 win is as good as the 300 ultra. Looking at that id have to come to the conclusion that the 308 is as good as a 300 ultra. Aint happening. Like i said i get a chance to shoot lots of deer each year and i pay attention to what works best. Either the 06 or the 7mag smack deer harder at 300 yards and at 400 the 7mag has a definate advantage over the 06. I dont care what kind of numbers you can get from balllistics tables. I base my statement on watching deer die and ive got 2 of each of those three calibers so im not one beating my chest on how i was intellegent enough to pick the right one.

[sidewinder319]

Wyoming Coyote Hunter has this nailed down.  His post is very good information for anyone planning an Elk hunt. If you are headed for the High Lonesome and you are worried about a few extra pounds on your rifle. Just diet and drop a few pounds off your butt. The extra rifle weight is great when you are at 9,000' and your heart is pounding like a jack hammer.  The big rifle will settle on the target much better its worth it.

[T.R.]

I've had very good luck with my .308 carbine and FEDERAL 180 gr. ammo.  Works fine for moose, too!
 
TR
 

[Big Tom]

I have to add 2C here...
I have hunted Elk in Wyo and Colorado... both Guided hunts from very experienced men. They both
suggested a caliber .270 up that I could comfortably/accurately shoot. I opted to use a .300 Wby w 180gr partitions. My std deer rifle is a .280 Rem. I believe either to be sufficient with the right load n bullet. The .300 had a factory muzzle break and did not kick bad at all.
That was 20 years ago...now I wouldn't hesitate to use the .280 w 160gr Partitions. Shoot what you can handle and shoot accurately out to 300 yds...

[Rock Home Isle]

I have to add 2C here...
I have hunted Elk in Wyo and Colorado... both Guided hunts from very experienced men. They both suggested a caliber .270 up that I could comfortably/accurately shoot. I opted to use a .300 Wby w 180gr partitions. My std deer rifle is a .280 Rem. I believe either to be sufficient with the right load n bullet. The .300 had a factory muzzle break and did not kick bad at all.
That was 20 years ago...now I wouldn't hesitate to use the .280 w 160gr Partitions. Shoot what you can handle and shoot accurately out to 300 yds...

Very sound advice. 
 
That is a great calibre range for elk. Shooting a rifle whose recoil you can control, and still shoot accurately, is such good reasoning. In todays market, premium bullets have become so much more advanced, its just amazing, and using a premium bullet is icing on the Elk Hunting cake.

[kmittleman]

Thanks for the advice all. Although it's pretty close to the .308, I ended up getting a Ruger Hawkeye SS in .280. It weighs around 7 lbs and I figure I can handload some 160 accubonds for it. Others have said when that handloaded, the .280 comes close to a 7mm mag. That said, anyone have any good 160 gr load for a .280?    I will probably bring both guns though.


-Kevin

I have to add 2C here...
I have hunted Elk in Wyo and Colorado... both Guided hunts from very experienced men. They both suggested a caliber .270 up that I could comfortably/accurately shoot. I opted to use a .300 Wby w 180gr partitions. My std deer rifle is a .280 Rem. I believe either to be sufficient with the right load n bullet. The .300 had a factory muzzle break and did not kick bad at all.
That was 20 years ago...now I wouldn't hesitate to use the .280 w 160gr Partitions. Shoot what you can handle and shoot accurately out to 300 yds...

Very sound advice. 
 
That is a great calibre range for elk. Shooting a rifle whose recoil you can control, and still shoot accurately, is such good reasoning. In todays market, premium bullets have become so much more advanced, its just amazing, and using a premium bullet is icing on the Elk Hunting cake.

[Ranch13]

Good deal, the 280 is a great do it all cartridge, just as the 308 is.
 You may want to get a Lyman 49th reload handbook or get one of the 280 load books that contains data from nearly every manufacturer. Another place to gather up a goodly amount of tested data is a subscription to loaddata.com

[Rock Home Isle]

Thanks for the advice all. Although it's pretty close to the .308, I ended up getting a Ruger Hawkeye SS in .280. It weighs around 7 lbs and I figure I can handload some 160 accubonds for it. Others have said when that handloaded, the .280 comes close to a 7mm mag. That said, anyone have any good 160 gr load for a .280?    I will probably bring both guns though.


-Kevin

The .280 Remington is a great calibre. You are going to really enjoy that gun.
 
I don't have a .280 Remington anymore, but I do have the reload data from when I did shoot that calibre. This was a very accurate load for the gun that I had:
 
Projectile: 160 gr A-Frame or 162 gr BTSP (Same load for either projectile)
 
Powder: 52.0 gr IMR-4350
 
Cases : Winchester Cases. (Full Length resize, trimmed to length & necks turned)
 
Primers: Winchester Large Rifle Primers
 
Out of my 24 inch barrel, this load put the round down range at a smooth 2835 fps. Its not a ripping round, but it sure was accurate. I didn't take any elk with my .280...always semed to draw blackpowder those years...but it did rake in a few nice muleys.
 
Follow standard reloading practises and start out a few grains under, an gradually work your way up...ENJOY. 
 
 

[Rock Home Isle]

Good deal, the 280 is a great do it all cartridge, just as the 308 is.
 You may want to get a Lyman 49th reload handbook or get one of the 280 load books that contains data from nearly every manufacturer. Another place to gather up a goodly amount of tested data is a subscription to loaddata.com

That is great advice. 

[Rick Teal]

Since you've already made your decision, my opinion is moot, however I'd tend to go with the camp saying your .308 is plenty of gun, and none of the cartridges you're contemplating add much to what you already have.  That being said, had I been drawn for elk this year it was my intention to carry my moose gun - my .35 Whelen.  I would have taken along my 8mm RemMag as a backup and special use gun in case I found good hunting ground that would require a 300 yd+ shot.

[Rock Home Isle]

I was at Walmart tody and the Hodgdon's 2012 Annual Manual is out. Lot's of reloading data in there...but it look's like their showing my load as being above their listed maxium. So I went and checked my others sources and found that I'm 1/2 a grain above maximum in the Lyman Manual, but in the Nosler Manual I'm fine...and the Nosler manual also show's a higher velocity than what I get with my Chrony.
 
Dagga Tse Dagga Da....

[Rock Home Isle]

Since you've already made your decision, my opinion is moot, however I'd tend to go with the camp saying your .308 is plenty of gun, and none of the cartridges you're contemplating add much to what you already have.  That being said, had I been drawn for elk this year it was my intention to carry my moose gun - my .35 Whelen.  I would have taken along my 8mm RemMag as a backup and special use gun in case I found good hunting ground that would require a 300 yd+ shot.

I've taken elk with a .308...it's all where you place the shot. The .308 is an excellent elk cartridge.

[bigswede]

To the OP, go buy yourself a 460 Weatherby magnum and be done with it.  There will be no doubt in anyone's mind if it is enough gun to put down an elk.

[RevJim]

 Smart choice in getting the .280. If it were "mine" and it had at least a 24" barrel, I would have to ream it out to .280 Ackley Improved ( just because I am an Ackley freak,ha) I had a .280 Remington Mountain rifle once, reamed it out to the Ackley, and only gained 50fps out of the 22" barrel,so it was a bust, but a longer barrel is worth it. However, with today's modern powders and premium bullets ( I am also a Barnes TSX freak!) a standard .280 is a great one to load for. I used the 150 Ballistic tip for deer and the Speer 160 spitzer for elk. My friend killed a huge cow elk with a neck shot using this rifle/160 Speer. She was DRT with massive damage, and the bullet may still be going! Today, I'd use the Barnes 140 TTSX on everything. I shoot that particular bullet over 3600 fps out of my 7mm RUM ( my long range rifle) and with its muzzlebrake, it's like shooting a .280, very sweet, but its a heavier rifle than my now "go to" elk rifle, a Model 700 .35 Whelen Ackley Improved ( early season , its in its synthetic stock. Late season, its a wood stock, much warmer to hang onto,ha) I shoot the Barnes 200gr TTSX at 2950 fps. It replaced my .338 winmag which I used for years, another great round for elk for sure, but is harder to hold onto in a light rifle. I have a great hunting buddy who has used a little Browning BLR in .308 since high school ( '70) out here in Utah who uses the 150gr remington factory Corlokt load on everything. Mulies, elk, even cow buffalo. I have other friends who use .270's succesfully, and others who use bigger callibers. Personally, I think you made a wise choice, a very good round indeed. Pssst....ream it out to the Ackley Improved later, when you are more experienced in handloading...it's a beautiful round, ha.

[wyohandi]

The 280 is one of those calibers that alot of manuals only list 40-45k pressure loads for.
Check the pressure in the data there is no reason it can't be loaded to 30-06 pressures in a bolt gun
the nosler data is loaded to those specs. As far as velocity every gun is different, I have a 300saum
that shoots max load velocities with 1gr under starting load charges.

[Lloyd Smale]

even 06 ammo is loaded to some lame pressures. A 280 in a bolt gun can safely be loaded to 270 or 7mag pressures. I had a ruger #1b that had a 26 inch barrel that would easily push a 145 speer to 3200 fps. Thats riding pretty close on the heals of a 7mag.

The 280 is one of those calibers that alot of manuals only list 40-45k pressure loads for.
Check the pressure in the data there is no reason it can't be loaded to 30-06 pressures in a bolt gun
the nosler data is loaded to those specs. As far as velocity every gun is different, I have a 300saum
that shoots max load velocities with 1gr under starting load charges.

[T.R.]

Elk are not armor-plated at all.
 
TR
 

[T.R.]

I've killed three bulls with 30-30 and five with .308 rifles.  None got away.  Longest shot was approx 225 yards with .308.  I prefer 180 grain Remington core-lokt or FEDERAL Fusion ammo.
 
TR
 

[Hodr]

Let's start with, "I am not  a trophy hunter".  I put in for a cow elk tag here in Az and almost always get drawn.  Only reason I go is that I have the best brother in law I have ever heard of and he is crazy for hunting.  With my cow tags I generally wind up hunting within 30 minutes of my sister's house, and generally wind up with an elk which I give away to those up there on the Mogollon rim who really need the meat.  That said I have been succesful with a 308 Handirifle out to 200yds quite consistently on the lighter cows.  As I am getting older and chasing elk through the hills is starting to hurt, I set up in brush last year off a cattle tank and took the largest cow ever with a chopped 20" barrell, 350 gr Buffalo Bore 45-70 at a magnificent range of under 40'.  My brother in law has every taken every big game animal in Az with the exception of big horn sheep.  He uses an old 270 remington with an even older scope and has taken elk out to 400 yds with ease in my prescense.  I have also seen him shoot coyote that far out with the same gun.  He has one 165grain load for bob cat to Buffalo and for him it works.  I have a varmint rifle, a plinking rifle, a short range rifle and am fairly good with each.  He has far more rifles and calibers than I do but always takes that old 270 remington with which he just doesn't miss, ever.
 
Hodr

[D Fischer]

I seriously doubt you could talk me into giving up a 9lb 308 and using a 6# magnum. I don't remember when all this lighter than light stuff with rifles started. In my youth 7 or 8 pound rifles just weren't to bad to carry. Now I'm 66 and they are still not that bad. If carrying a 7 or 8 pound rifle is going to bother you that much, you need to be in better shape. Someone mentioned the 243 as a starting point for elk, I would not agree with that but do agree it can be done fairly easy. The bottom of the list for me for any game over deer is a 6.5 caliber rifle with a min  140gr bullet. My though is that you have to use a cartridge large enough to shoot a bullet of sufficient weight to penetrate on whatever shot your thinking you might consider. In bullets to things cause good penetration, speed and weight. But eve with the weight, you still have to be able to drive the bullet fast enough. And with the speed, you need to have a bullet that will stand up to the speed without shedding weight needed for penetration. If you could shoot a say 130gr bullet from a 243 at maybe 2600fps, I'd say it would be a good cartridge for elk. On the other hand, it you shoot a 130gr bullet from a 300 mag, I'd say you have a problem.

the difference between a good cartridge and a not so good one is the ability of the cartridge to drive a bullet of sufficient construction fast enough to penetrate the vitals. That is where the 338 and above really shine but I have used them and don't care much for recoil anymore so for elk my mind drift's to lesser cartridges. My last elk was killed with a 6.5-06 using a 140gr Hornady Interlock. Range was about 40yds and the elk was running. I would have taken the same shot with my 6.5x55 but not with anything smaller.

[D Fischer]

Thanks for the advice all. Although it's pretty close to the .308, I ended up getting a Ruger Hawkeye SS in .280. It weighs around 7 lbs and I figure I can handload some 160 accubonds for it. Others have said when that handloaded, the .280 comes close to a 7mm mag. That said, anyone have any good 160 gr load for a .280?    I will probably bring both guns though.


-Kevin

I have to add 2C here...
I have hunted Elk in Wyo and Colorado... both Guided hunts from very experienced men. They both suggested a caliber .270 up that I could comfortably/accurately shoot. I opted to use a .300 Wby w 180gr partitions. My std deer rifle is a .280 Rem. I believe either to be sufficient with the right load n bullet. The .300 had a factory muzzle break and did not kick bad at all.
That was 20 years ago...now I wouldn't hesitate to use the .280 w 160gr Partitions. Shoot what you can handle and shoot accurately out to 300 yds...

Very sound advice. 
 
That is a great calibre range for elk. Shooting a rifle whose recoil you can control, and still shoot accurately, is such good reasoning. In todays market, premium bullets have become so much more advanced, its just amazing, and using a premium bullet is icing on the Elk Hunting cake.

I've used the 280 some and really like it. Also used the 7x57 and 7mm Rem mag a lot. The bullet I favored in the 7mm mag was an old 160 gr Speer hot core. In the 280 I favored the 145gr Speer Hot core. I never considered hunting elk with the 7x57 of the 280 because I had the 7mm mag. The point here is the bullet. The old Speer hot core was to my mind a tremendously under rated bullet. It held up well in the 7mm mag and was very accurate. It also shot very well in the 280 and the 7x57. The nice thing for me was the design of the bullet, hot core. I have recovered a number of those old bullet's and one thing that stands out in all of them was they retained a min 85% or their weight and, important, the core's never shot loose from the jacket. With that in mind, I would have no problem suggesting a bonded bullet of 160gr for the 280 rem. Well i would be suspicious of the Nosler bonded bullet. Only because it, according to Nosler is designed to shed 30% of it's weight, same as the partition. But I doubt it would come apart. You can buy bonded bullet's and pay as much as you like for them but any of them would work well in my mind if they shot well in my rifle. For a lot of years i have been a Hornady freak, so I would choose the Hornady inter bond. I don't think Speer makes the hot core anymore or I would also try that bullet.

As for powder, I don't recall what I used in the 280 or the 7x57 but the 7mm mag got N205 and you can't get it anymore. use a fairly slow powder to push a heavy bullet. Just guessing, I'd start at RL19 and work from there.

[T.R.]

.308 is a keeper!
 
TR
 
 

[fatercat]

257 weatherby is plenty. if if was grizz i would go with my heavy rifle--the 30-06. both goes plum through and kills hell out of em..

[cwlongshot]

Elk are not armor-plated at all.
 
TR
 

GREAT PIC!!

CW

[Lloyd Smale]

alot of it comes down to the individual. Alot of guys just arent willing to put in the time to master a harder kicking rifle and shouldnt be using it. Personaly i dont have any more trouble shooting a 338 then i do a 2506. I can shoot either just as accurately. But I do realize that alot cant. No doubt a 308 will kill an elk. Theres no doubt that somewhere in time an elephant has fallen to a 308 and even some lesser rounds. Theres also no doubt i this guys mind that a little more power can be benifitial and is rarely a detriment if you can shoot one well. I look at it kind of like this. Ive spent my life accumulating guns. I have many  bolt action rifles and hunting elk is something not done in my back yard and isnt a thing where id go out to shoot a cow for meat. So when the chance comes im not going to take a gun that is borderline. Im going to take a gun that if anything is more then what i need. Cant see where where doing anything less makes sense.

[pastorp]

Well this has been a fine read. Good luck on your hunt. I believe you made a good choice on caliber and buying a lighter rifle. 

Regards,

[mcwoodduck]

Good luck on your hunt.
We all know that it does not take a lot to kill an Elk, Guys are hunting them with arrows and they have far less energy than a 30-30 or even the 44 Mag pistol.   
I think a rifle and caliber choice will matter on a few things. 
Guided or un guided.  A guide will be able to get you closer and give you more oppertunity to see Elk, knowing the area.
Amount of time you have to hunt.  If you can only hunt a week then a caliber and rifle combo that will give you the most oppertunities  will be best. And that may be a belted mag for the longer range and less bullet drop.   
Recoil and weight of the rifle.  The lighter the rifle the more the recoil with the same weight bullet and speed.    Throwing a 150 grain 30 caliber bullet at 3000 FPS or a 280 bullet the same weight the same speed the recoil will be very similar, the one winning that uses the slightly larger powder charge.
And finally terrain will distate the the caliber.
I went with a 338 WM. the recoil is not too much for me with 225 grain bullets out of a Win M70. 
The round is  pretty flat shooting out to 350 yards ( max distance where I feel comfortable hitting an animal) in case the oppertunity arises for a long shot in an open field or from hillside to hillside.
The caliber is good for a short range shot in the woods and the heavy bullet will transfer a lot of energy to knock the elk down.
The Scope On the rifle is a 4.5 to 16 power, a little too much on the high end but the low end works for close shots.  I think a 4-12 X40  would be a better choice.  I say 40mm objective becasue most rifle scabords are built for a 40mm scope and if you are going on horse back either you will need ot bring your own sacbord if you go over the 40 - 42mm scopes.
With all that said. 
If I were you.  I would take the 308 as well with a good 165 to 180 grain bullet and zero it to 200 yards.  just in case. 
In one reloading book I have seen a loading for a 308 that has the bullet going faster than the equal loading  in a 30-06 case by a few FPS.

[cabledad]

Don't talk about Elk hunting you will make me leave in the middle of the week. I have been Elk hunting 21 times my favorite rifle is a Remington 7 mm mag with a leopold 3x9 scope using 150 grain remimgton factory ammo.  I have only shot 1 elk 3 times because I was scared of losing him 6x6 .Lots of hogs White tail,turkeys a buffalo cow 3 years ago,I sited it in 35 years ago fixed the trigger and took it hunting. Never changed anyting since. Wished I was younger.