Author Topic: what caliber is better for elk (Read 3973 times)

msorenso · « **on:** May 11, 2005, 03:39:39 AM »

What caliber would better fro elk 270 win or 308??

Robert · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2005, 05:43:53 AM »

Depends...both are about equal fps with a 150 gr bullet. The 270 has more sectional density with the longer bullet....more penetration...but the .308 will have more shock at intermediate range.... The .308 with a 180 gr bullet at closer range would outperform the 270.....but then the 270 would perform well downrange.....but then...so does the .308. Toss-up. I would feel good with either one inside 200 yds....I would feel better though with at least a 30-06.

poncaguy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2005, 07:22:19 AM »

270 WSM!

SuperstitionCoues · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2005, 08:17:40 AM »

I'd go with a 270 WSM or a 7MM WSM myself. A 140 to 160 gr boattail in the 7MM WSM should give you all the power you need at any reasonable distance (0 - 500 yds).

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2005, 08:47:10 AM »

Quote from: msorenso

What caliber would better fro elk 270 win or 308??

Both will work but in my opinion they are both somewhat limited range wise(200 yards or less). I would opt for a .270 or 7mm WSM for the added velocity/penetration they offer. Lawdog

EsoxLucius · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2005, 11:01:45 AM »

The one you shoot the best with an appropriate load.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2005, 11:06:52 AM »

I would have to go with the 308 Win. But personally I would use a 300 Win Mag.

roper · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2005, 01:09:04 PM »

Neither, Might be ok on deer but not on elk IMO. Good 300wby,300mag,
30-338 mag should do it, why be limited to range. I've always figured maybe have alittle more rifle than needed. In the 30 pluse elk I have taken I've only used a mag rifle but have used a non-mag on deer. I wouldn't feel comfortable using a standard caliber for elk plus having no first hand knowledge. When I lived in Calif I took alot of deer with a 243,270,284,7x57,7x57AI,30-06 and 7 mag but once I moved to colorado and we had a combination season got to using a mag for everything. Now that we don't have to hunt in the same season for deer and elk makes it easy have just a deer rifle. I've got a 6.5x284 that I may use this year for deer and a custom 300wsm that may work. I know there is lots of fans of the 270 and 308 and were I hunt they just wouldn't work.

Slamfire · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2005, 07:17:38 PM »

Quote from: msorenso

What caliber would better fro elk 270 win or 308??

One of the dirty little secrets of elk hunting is quite a bit of it takes place at short range. Elk like to get into the black timber durin' the heat of the day, and as long as the lead cow is alive the herd will follow her through her favoirte passes between drainages. Up close and personal, cartridges like the .308 don't suffer from lack of power. Now all you have to do is learn how to walk up on bedded deer and you're all set.

roper · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2005, 06:53:46 PM »

Quote from: Slamfire

Quote from: msorenso
What caliber would better fro elk 270 win or 308??

One of the dirty little secrets of elk hunting is quite a bit of it takes place at short range. Elk like to get into the black timber durin' the heat of the day, and as long as the lead cow is alive the herd will follow her through her favoirte passes between drainages. Up close and personal, cartridges like the .308 don't suffer from lack of power.

Your secret has been out for along time! Alot of guys hunt the dark timber most make a blind off those well traveled elk trails. Here in Co you find those blinds all over. Pretty hard to sneak up on an elk in the dark timber need some weather for that and I agree a 308 would work. I don't like to hunt the timber but will say one thing those timber bucks sure get big. I like to catch them out feeding or moving in open country before they get into the timber. All it amount to is just a different style of hunting and rifles. You get to hunting an area for so long doesn't matter what state or whatever your hunting you get to know how they travel I find knowing the country is more important than anything and how to read the weather conditons. Were I hunt we have an elevation difference of between summer and winter range of about 5000ft but the distance to get there is in miles.

lowertroll · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2005, 01:34:52 AM »

Shot several elk in those calibers. One with 130 Partition/270, two with 150 Solid Base/270 , one with 165 Partition/308 and one with 180 Solid Base/308. These are my go to guns out west. :-D :-D :-D

Ramrod · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2005, 07:04:13 AM »

In my opinion, there is no animal on the North American continent that can not be killed inside of 300 yards with a well constructed 180 grain bullet at 2600 fps. muzzle velocity. (Like the .308). Too many hunters have done it for too many years for me to think otherwise.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2005, 07:08:31 AM »

You know there is a difference between "caliber" and "cartridge". Seems you are asking which is the best cartridge or rifle chambering for the job. Caliber is which diameter bullet.

Robert · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2005, 08:05:09 AM »

Just for the record...I have shot Elk inside 200 yds with a 300 Ultra-Mag straight through the lungs, and had them just stand there like nothing happened...and then run 2-300 yds. A 30-06 drops them faster because the bullet has more retained energy (shock) in the animal with the lower velocity. I have no doubt that a .308 or even a 300 Savage would work great inside 200 yds.....further with a clean shot.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #14 on:** May 12, 2005, 09:59:06 AM »

I've never killed an elk with either one but of the choices, I'd say, .308. Makes a bigger hole. As posted, a 180gr bullet @2800fps is an excellent start to putting and elk in the freezer.
The comments about the dark timber are correct. I killed 12 elk in 15 years and didn't shoot a one at much over 100yards.
I killed my first one with a 200gr Speer Hot Core from a 30-06.

kudzu · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2005, 04:40:41 PM »

I myself will be going on my first elk hunt this year - will take my 7mm ultra mag. I have loaded for it 150gr sciroccos. will this be sufficent or should i make up a load with a heavier bullet. ( 175gr barnes or partition).
the guys i'm going with said to expect or at least be ready for a 3 to 4 hundred yard shot. The sciroccos shoot very well out to 500.

Will also be taking my new 270wsm with the 140 accubonds or 130 tsx or 130 scirocco, or 150gr partitions, or or or. still working on this one.

poncaguy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2005, 05:00:40 PM »

I like the 270WSM with the 140's.............. :lol:

Slamfire · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2005, 05:10:12 PM »

Roper that's the first time anybody's quoted me BEFORE I made a statement. :-D
I called it a secret because everybody wants to talk about the 700 yard shot across the basin. :wink:

RupertBear · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2005, 10:55:59 PM »

.308 or 300 winmag. I don't consider the .270 as anything more than a varmint round, and that's from experience.

CowboyEngr · « **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2005, 09:21:09 AM »

Both are fine elk cartridges. Given good shot placement and reasonable range, the elk would react and go down the same. A "magnum" would extend the range a little, but most people think they can shoot further and better than they really can. I would recommend a heavier end Nosler or equivalent in either though, but I would also recommend that in a 300 Wby. too!

jro45 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 17, 2005, 11:43:17 AM »

I would use the 300 Win Mag.

Gregory · « **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2005, 12:43:26 PM »

Quote from: RupertBear

.308 or 300 winmag. I don't consider the .270 as anything more than a varmint round, and that's from experience.

Are you a friend of Elmer Kieth? I believe he said that same thing a time or two.

Ramrod · « **Reply #22 on:** May 17, 2005, 01:49:44 PM »

Quote from: Gregory

Quote from: RupertBear
.308 or 300 winmag. I don't consider the .270 as anything more than a varmint round, and that's from experience.

Are you a friend of Elmer Kieth? I believe he said that same thing a time or two.

Elmer may have said that, but Jack O'Conner proved him wrong many, many times.

msorenso · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2005, 05:31:28 AM »

270 just a varmit round???right!!! I have proved that wrong many times as well

Buckskin · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2005, 07:29:05 AM »

You can kill an elk with a well place rock. Its not the gun, its the guy behind it. Both would be fine if your not willing to take a long shot. If you have the stones to try a 4-500 yard shot then you will need to MAG it up a bit. Its a pretty big animal.

308 Hunter · « **Reply #25 on:** May 26, 2005, 06:15:27 AM »

Both of the rounds will work. Jack O'conner used the 270 many times harvesting Elk, moose and such. I would prefer the 308 with 178 gr. hornady A-MAX bullet and I would not have any second thoughts about shooting far as 300-350 yards with this round. It's clocking out at a little over 3000 fps and 3456 foot-pounds at muzzle.

jdt48653 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 26, 2005, 02:13:23 PM »

308hunter
those 308 specs are kicking butt

for a 178 gr piece of lead!

308 Hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** May 26, 2005, 05:29:10 PM »

Yep, and got those specs out of the 2002 shooters bible, (not from a source no one else can access)!

Slamfire · « **Reply #28 on:** May 27, 2005, 05:55:41 PM »

Quote from: 308 Hunter

Yep, and got those specs out of the 2002 shooters bible, (not from a source no one else can access)!

You can find topographical errors in just about every publication. :-D

147 Grain · « **Reply #29 on:** May 28, 2005, 07:51:34 AM »

I'm with Lawdog on this one on a tough animal - like elk:

Choosing the .270 Win due to a higher SD 150-gr. bullet for much needed penetration and higher velocity as a bonus.

A .308 Win shooting 150-gr.'s is too light for elk and caliber, but in the .270, the smaller diameter changes things a lot.