Author Topic: elk rounds? (Read 859 times)

huntinhick · « **on:** August 31, 2005, 04:05:59 AM »

Hello all,

I am planning my future barrels. I was thinking of a 375 JDJ but after a call the TC I might have to change my mind the person I talked to said the recoil was real rough and said I might want to consider the 375 win. any thoughts? anyone have and expriance with the JDJ rounds? maybe we could use the 30.06 as a base line for comparing recoil as I am real used to that one.

thanks

Carl

tcman · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2005, 09:58:45 PM »

Just curious...you wanting to bag an Elk or turn it inside-out when ya shoot it?

If'n ya wants to bag one, a 25-06 or 270 will do just fine....if ya want to turn it inside-out...your on the right track with your original thoughts on caliber choice.

huntinhick · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2005, 09:25:57 AM »

No just want to bag one...I usually hunt with a 30.06 and I am just trying to find a contender barrel that will kill elk out to maybe 200 yards. I have thought the 309 JDJ would be good but being new to elk hunting I am not sure what is best for the contender, I would like something around 308 performance. I was thinking the 375 JDJ cause you can get it form the factory for like $215-$250 makes it a little more reasonable than a custom job.

carl

conrad101st · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2005, 12:22:51 PM »

I kill them with 300 mag. My brother uses 7 mag for elk. They are very tough and many shots we take are 300 to 450 yards because you can generally cover bowls, ridgelines, power lines and canyons. If you hit them, they seem to just stand there stupified, but I usually fire at least three shots just to anchor them. I.E., we fire till they drop. And no I'm not spraying and praying. I'll hit chest every shot. You do not want an elk to run because they will generally head for the nastiest steepest blown down timber and you will curse the day you were born as you hike out hindquarters over deadfall in the dark at 12,000 feet. However, I'm no expert, I've only killed three in the last 5 years. Go high, get there early and let the lazy road hunters push them up to you.

rocky_taco · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2005, 01:39:23 PM »

I've shot 3 with a 308. The longest was a laser ranged 355 yards. All were one shot with 165 nosler partition and 46.5 of 748.

TCBrian · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:03:42 PM »

I am assuming you have a contender carbine and not an Encore, since you mentioned those two cartridges.
I have a contender and use the .375jdj in the rifle configuration and recoil is stout, but not that bad. Considering how light the rifle is, a good elk cartridge is going to kick, no way around it. The .375 JDJ in potent medicine for heavy game with the right bullet and would be a better choice than the .375 win if the range might be out there a little. I would say that the recoil of the .375 JDJ in my contender rifle is on par with a 300 win mag in a heavier rifle. Stout, but by no means bad, and worth it, considering what a light weight handy rifle the contender is in that configuration. Would I enjoy shooting it on the bench for long periods of time, no way.

If you have an encore, then your choices are limit less and anything from a 7-08 on up should suffice, depending on the size of the Elk, range shot and bullet selection.
Elk are tough as hell and I agree with the shoot till they drop theory. I shot one with a 30-06 3 times all in the chest just to make sure. As said, they live in nasty country and chances are that if they run off, many hours will be added to the recovery time. Id rather have enough rifle, but not so much rifle that I am scared to shoot in accurately. That is a choice you will have to make. I think if you can handle hot 30-06 loads in an average weight gun, the .375 JDJ will not be hard for you to handle. If you have an Encore, then I would probably choose the trusty old 30-06,its hard to beat.

Good hunting,
Brian

huntinhick · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2005, 06:54:08 PM »

Brian.

Thank you for the info, that was what I was looking for something to compare it to. I did not want to get a barrel and dies then be so surprised with the recoil that I disliked it. I went with the G2 carbine because of the weight. at just over 5 pounds it is hard to beat. I am assuming that you do not have a muzzle break. what did you scope yours with?

carl

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2005, 08:18:02 AM »

I don't know weather you are shooting an Encore or Contender, but I have a 416 Rigby for my Encore and the recoil is tamed by a mercury recoil suppressor and a simms pad. I can shot this gun all day. I know the 375 JDJ does not have the recoil of the 416 Rigby.

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2005, 10:44:21 AM »

The .375 JDJ would be ideal for your stated purposes. The .309 JDJ is basically identical in ballistics to the .308 Win. But does require a custom barrel from our sponsor SSK Industries.

palgeno · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2005, 01:10:08 PM »

I shoot .375 JDJ's in both 14 " magnaported pistol length and 20" non-ported carbine length barrels. I'm using G2 frames now and both pistol grip and carbine stock are of laminated wood instead of the lighter rynite. Both are quite tolerable. The shorter ported pistol barrel is, naturally loudest. Neither is punishing with full power loads. But then you are going to use it for hunting, aren't you? How many rounds in a row do you need to fire? From the bench while sighting in you may find some discomfort---but one round will do it when hunting and firing from field positions. :grin: pg

huntinhick · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2005, 02:10:01 PM »

Graybeard,

tell me more about the 309 JDJ please. I was planning on 3 barrels to start with (I have already bought the gun minus barrels) 223, 7/30 and the 375 JDJ. If the 309 is a really good choice I might talk myself into a custom SSK barrel. what is the recoil and performance differences between the 309 and 375?

huntinhick

TCBrian · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2005, 06:33:45 AM »

I do not have a muzzle break and would not put one on for hunting. I don't want the extra muzzle blast and as said the 375 JDJ is not that bad to shoot in rifle configuration. I have the walnut stock with standard recoil pad and it is shootable, but not pleasant from the bench after several rounds. For hunting, you wont even notice the recoil. If I want to shoot from the bench all day, I will shoot my hornet barrel, 357 barrel or one of my much more mellow bolt rifles. The 375 is for hunting purposes only.

I scoped mine with a 3-9x42 Alpen Apex. My wife knows the poeple over at Alpen and so we thought we would try one of there scopes. We also bought a new spotting scope from them and both have excellent glass for the money and seem to be of leupold quality for less money. So far, it has held up to recoil, but I will have to see how it does after several hundred rounds. I planned on mostly 100 yrd average shots on pigs and bears in fairly think cover, so I went with a 3-9 to be able to pick my spot behind the shoulder better in all light conditions, but if you are going to hunt elk you could probably get away with a fixed 4 power with no front bell and it would make the gun even lighter and more handy for woods situations.

Good hunting
Brian