Hunting Elk and Deer Calibers

[sampson]

Eh I'm not gonna let Joe Biden influence my caliber choice. I like the other points made though.

[CO Hugh]

I have a 270 WBY and no problem for Elk, I don't think a regular 270 Win is bad either. I have seen and used 30-06 and 308s for them. Bullet construction is probably the most critical. I am partial to barnes bullets.

[Shooter45]

I believe firmly in ethical hunting and fast kills. The worst thing I see and continue to see is wounded animals. It happens, but people take shots they shouldn't at distances they shouldn't and/or use a caliber/projectile that is not built for elk. I've hunted elk since I was 14 and started with a 30.06. When I was 15 I moved up to a 338 Win Mag that I am very comfortable with out to 500yds for a hunting shot. I use a 200 gr. Barnes X Bullet that does wonders on elk. I knocks them down hard and fast. Guys use a 243 and yes it's legal I just don't believe it's sustainable for an ethical kill. However, it depends on your ranges.
Most often where I hunt you can glass out to a mile so you need to be capable with further shots. I think anything from a 270 up is good for elk with a well constructed bullet that is bonded or known to hold together. HITS count the most over everything else. 338 is big for deer but I would use it if I had a combo tag.

[TheBelly]

Bullet performance and where it pokes the hole in the beast are all you need to think about.

I took my last deer with a 155 gr solid going 2800fps from my little .308. It DRT’d that deer from about 290 yds.

[buckshotbarlow]

you guys have this all wrong...minimum caliber regs say 50bmg, optimal is a 20mm...

[Bailey Guns]

No way, Mark.

30.06 is the least accurate, least effective caliber ever made. Invented by the allied forces in 1930 to be issued to cowards, and the French. It is still the preferred hunting caliber of Joe Biden and the entire Chinese communist party.

It doesn’t have to be factually correct... if it feels right.

I somehow get the impression you actually believe all that...

[spqrzilla]

I've been using a .300 WSM in a Tikka T3 for awhile now. Mostly because I like the ballistics at the longer ranges which are possible in the areas I usually hunt. I would be tempted to replace it with a 6.5 cartridge as I like the bullets in 6.5 a lot but this little Tikka is extraordinarily accurate and does not lose zero.

[00tec]

you guys have this all wrong...minimum caliber regs say 50bmg, optimal is a 20mm...

You saying I need to finish my 1.75" cannon? It's smoothbore though, gotta figure out a way to get accuracy up to minute of elk.

[Lars]

The perfect caliber has a lot to with with what you can shoot comfortably. It doesn't do any good to shoot a .300 win mag or .338 if you always flinch and don't hit where you are aiming. Shot placement is more important than a .284 vs. .308 dia projectile. I have used everything from my .257 weatherby, 7mm rem mag, .270 weatherby, .300 weatherby and my 30-378 to take elk with. The common factor between all these rifles is the bullet, I shoot nosler accubond in every one of these. Bullet chose in relation to the game being taken is paramount.

[Shooter45]

I've got a FN SPR in 300 WSM that I plan on using for antelope in December. I'm shooting a 178gr Amax with 64gr of IMR 4350 at a muzzle velocity of 3081. I've got high hopes for it but really want to see how the Amax really reacts on soft targets.