holy cow that's giving away Weatherby ammo. where did you see that?Quote:
Originally Posted by SigsRule
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holy cow that's giving away Weatherby ammo. where did you see that?Quote:
Originally Posted by SigsRule
[Coffee]Quote:
Originally Posted by TennVol
I've seen texas sized deer (I'm in Texas : ) ) run for almost a mile after being shot with a 7mm weatherby mag. Good shot placement, excellent bullet performance.
I've dropped both of the deer I've shot with my 16" .223 remington.
Nothing magical about .30 caliber. I'd bet lots of money that no one here could tell the difference between the wounds of a 30-06 and a 270.
If you can bow hunt an elk. . . . There really isn't much you can't use. Just use the right bullet. Learn how to shoot. Not just once a years come deer season.
Granted, I'll take my 7 mag to hunt elk. . . . but I just like sore shoulders.
I didn't see it mentioned already, but the law in CO says:
1.CENTERFIRE RIFLES
a. Must be minimum of .24 caliber (6 mm).
b. Must have a minimum 16-inch barrel and be at least 26
inches long.
c. If semiautomatic, they can hold a maximum of six rounds in
the magazine and chamber combined.
d. Must use expanding bullets that weigh minimum 70 grains
for deer, pronghorn and bear, 85 grains for elk and moose,
and have an impact energy (at 100 yards) of 1,000- . pounds
as rated by manufacturer.
There is no such thing as too big a caliber for elk, but there is plenty of calibers too small for them. Anything that reliably puts the meat in the freezer, and I do not mean using a 223 and popping the critter in the neck. If your shot is off a little, well, you just wounded an animal, and showed a lack of respect towards hunting. Plenty of calibers will kill elk reliably. 45/70 with good loads will drop them at less then 100yard with authority. 375H&H will put them down at nominal hunting ranges.
The most important thing is to pick a gun you will shoot, and shoot alot, and accurately.
Caliber aside, shot placement is in my opinion the number 1 most ethical thing to take into account. If you can't make a good shot, don't.
270 Wby
280 (7mm) remington or larger. You can load 175gr bullets in a 280 rem and have proper energy retention out to almost 300 yds. Longer shots to 400 yards will need a Magnum round (270 mag or larger) to get the energy retention. The 190 - 220 gr bullets in a 300 magnum (wby or win) will let you stretch out over 500 yds with proper energy. (If you are skilled enough to make that shot).
For black timber hunting(150 yds or less) a 35cal or larger lever gun round will do well.
alot of variables, terrain you are hunting, distance you are comfortable shooting etc etc
12 gauge slugs :)
Sorry I'm from the midwest where rifles kill amish.
thats funny. the good news is the amish wont come looking for you. But seriously I see they asked if anyone has any first hand accounts of using a mosin on an elk. I also curious to here if anyone hasQuote:
Originally Posted by bogie
Yeah one of my best friends growing up started out with a Mosen to hunt dear and elk. You have to look a little harder to find good hunting rounds but they are out there. His old man was a hand loader too and would make up some lethal rounds for it. I was no problem to shoot out to 250 yards with it, iron sights. It was designed as an 800 meter rifle. We all had to make our bones with old iron sight guns before we could get something nicer. Of course we were only 13 or 14.
Nothing wrong with iron sights that the way it should be when you first start
I've been hunting elk with a .308 for 40 years, long before it become the fad and I've lost count on how many I've put down with one shot. When you hit 'em, they go down!
7.62 x 39 is NOT suitable. THe mosin is a suprisingly decent rifle and IS suitable with soft point amunition. You have to match your bullet to shot placement. A soft bullet like the interbond or cheapo 7.62x54 soft point -heart lungs. Puts em down right now. Hard bullet like the barnes- shoulder also puts em right down. 6.5s too light IMHO
Mininum- 270, 7 mag better, 3006 better 30 mag best.
So .50BMG is good to go? 700 Nitro Express? 120mm main gun from an M1 Abrams? I can personally tell you that .50API and 105mm from an M60 tank do not leave much left from cows. (Open range cattle on a firing range at night back before thermal sights, using IR illumination, the old azimuth/elevation days. Getting into the M1 was like heaven)Quote:
Originally Posted by streetglideok
I always have to smile when I hear about all the 'hand-held artillery pieces' so many people recommend.
I'm originally from western Montana and we, my dad, brothers and I, always had our tags filled during the first week. Biggest caliber in the house was .30-06.
I grew up around a ton of 'old timers' that only owned .270's and their back yards were filled with stacks of racks.
Personally, I've taken 1 bull and 1 cow with a .243, several bulls & cows with .270, a couple with .308 and a few more with my .30-06.
This coming season I hope to take one with a new Quigley Sharps in .45-70.
As others have said, shot placement is the most critical part.
Sure I have a brother that now uses a .338. But it still takes him 2 or more shots and usually at least one shoulder or rump roast is gone.
But that is the beauty of America (at lest for now). We can differ and have the ability and freedom (at least for now) to make choices based on our own needs, abilities and wants.
30-06 is the way to go. 45-70 with Hornady Leverlution I think 200 yards
Bah! I'd take a 7 mag over an 30-06 any day. Much better ballistics, and plenty of energy for the beast, out a good ways away. The 30-06 is a fine caliber for elk (as is the 308win). I just disagree with your ordering there.Quote:
Originally Posted by xring
Though I agree with your extremes. 270 minimum, 300mag is excellent (what I shoot for elk). Though if I didn't have the 300mag, I would be OK with a heavy load in my WBY 257 mag, probably more so than a 270win.
I'm hoping to use my grandfather's very early model 70 in 300 H&H to take an elk this season. He lived in Florida, and bought it specificaly to come to Colorado to hunt in the late 40s. I believe its been a safe queen ever since that trip. Unfortunately he died a few moths ago.
I'm sure a magnum is more than enough for an elk, I would be comfortable with .308 or .30-06.
Im sorry for your loss. I understand that its nice to hunt with a heirloom.Quote:
Originally Posted by armstrong001
You probably already know this but early model 70s tend to have substantial collector value to the extent that very few of them are in the field for fear of loss of value. Your choice, it may be worth more to you to use the gun
I will be using a 6.5x55 Swede with 140gr soft point
I appreciate the advice, but the value is only there if you plan on selling it. Now don't get me wrong, I won't be carting that rifle up and down mountains, beating the hell out of it. But I would like it to see some action for probably the first time in 50 years. I think my grandpa would've liked that.Quote:
Originally Posted by xring
I never get tired of this discussion...Quote:
Originally Posted by trailgunner
+1 I heart that roundQuote:
Originally Posted by raymill
270 and up shoud be fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by trailgunner
A good placed shot is better than anything. No matter the caliber
.243 is the smallest caliber you can legally use here in colorado for big game. I have taken many elk with a .243. Shot placement is everything, knowing your limitations as well as your firearms' makes for a successful hunt. Bullet selection makes a world of difference between gutting an animal or tracking an animal.
This^Quote:
Originally Posted by Song Dog
What matters more then anything else, is shot placement. Doesnt matter if its my 300rum, 375H&H, 45/70, or 30/30, poor placement will net the same results. Shoot whatever caliber you feel most comfortable with, and shoot it often. 3 shots to sight it in this october does not qualify either,lol. Though I wouldn't use a 243, a good shot with a 243 is better then a mediocre, or average shot with a 300win.
I shot my first elk with a .270 I don't think he ran more than 30 yards before he piled up. Like every said shot placement is key.
I ended up getting a 30-06 for my hunting rifle caliber of choice. Reasons being that you can be in the middle of nowhere, and somebody will stock 30-06. ANd it is a proven cartridge. Blah blah about ballistic this and super flat that. Know you rifle, know the cartridge, and most importantly, know your limits.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colorado Osprey
Sorry but I would never ever spend that kind of money for 308. African big game cartridges are exotic in my book. So are Lapua and Norma 308. To each there own though.
Smallest broad-head used has been a 100gr'rQuote:
Originally Posted by trailgunner
smallest is 270, cartridge is a 270wsm, 130gr sst
biggest is a 54 hp black powder
The 270win/wsm works, and smacks em good. I now run a 300weatherby after my uncle gave me his Ruger #1. My 270wsm is now my deer buster.
I've used my Remington 700 BDL in .308 for everything, for years, using one single load - a 165gr Sierra Game King HP loaded to 2650fps, which roughly duplicates the performance of M118LR that I used in high power competition for years. I limit my shots depending on what I'm hunting, but I know that load and what that load is going to do. My last Elk was a big cow at 350 yards, and even at that range it put her down on the spot. But I hit her in the right place to do it.
7.62x54R is a full power load, equivalent to a .30-06 and with the right bullet will work just as well if you have the sights to do it. Same with 8mm Mauser.
I know Colorado law says that 6mm is the smallest that's legal, but the thing I think a lot of people don't think about is their shooting ability. Sure, it may be legal to shoot an Elk with a 6mm but if a person's ability isn't up to the task all you wind up with is a wounded animal most likely going off to die a painful, lingering death. I would say the smallest caliber I'd feel even close to comfortable using would be a 6.5, and even then if I was using a 6.5x55 I'd keep my shot closer than if I was using my .264 Win Mag. I think 7mm is the smallest most people should consider, and .30 would be better. I think your choice of an '06 is a good one, and you're right - you can get ammo for it everywhere. Same holds true for the 7mm, but the 7mm-'06 argument is just like the 9mm-.45 argument - everyone has their own opinion.
Best thing is just as jmg8550 said - Know your rifle, know your cartridge, and know your limits.
It's all about shot placement. I've always used a 30-06. Last year I bought a 300 win mag from a farmer back home. So for the first time I will be using a 300 to hunt elk this year.
Good Luck.
A 30/30 will kill an elk, if used within reason, and within range. The whole thing boils down to, if you are one of those guys who picks up your rifle to shoot 3 shots before season, then carry it in the woods, it doesnt matter what you shoot. Poor shot placement will always trump a big gun's oomph. Spend time at the range, and get some practice in.