Deer / Elk / Etc. Caliber Choice?

[Thatoneokieguy]

My wife used to use a 243 savage because it was easy to tote. After chasing quite a few blood trails, she switched to a 6.5 creedmoor. Alot better results. I use my 6.5 creedmoor or my .308 for coyotes and deer and have always been pleased. I gotta admit though, I'll always regret selling my 25-06 .

 

[TwoShoots]

There's only one real way to hunt elk.

If you don't go that way, the 300 is the next best option. They're big, tough animals and while you can bring them down with a .22, there's no reason to make them suffer or chase them through 40 miles of brush while every other hunter in the vicinity shoots them as they run by. It's pretty often you'll get several people on one kill because of undersized ammo.

 

[PopsHomer]

Do you think a 308 could put an elk down?

Absolutely!!

 

[TedKennedy]

My one and only Elk was with a .303 Enfield, which I also used for Deer until I got a .308

My first elk was with a surplus .303 Dad had purchased around 1960 for 18 dollars, still in the brown paper. When I got drawn for Wichita Mts, in 1988 I was considering buying something other than my 30/30. (young and poor, so it was hard to consider)

Dad said "you take that .303 and kill an elk with it and I'll give it to you". I did and he did.

RIP Dad.

 

[DreamingMan]

You will never have issues trying to find ammo for .30-06, .30-30, .270 or .308.

I would go .30-06 for deer and elk. Deer only, .270.

Yep. I agree about these calibers of ammo.

I'll probably never go elk hunting again. However, I got my .270 (150 g) to work immediately and efficiently a few years ago. That being said, the same .270 (usually 135 g) has the same efficiency on deer in Oklahoma.

Do not hurry your shot, place it well and 90% you won't have to chase the animal far or at all.

FWIW, I think at 30-30 does a fine job. I just don't have one or I would probably be singing its accolades. Less $, less kick. Someone mentioned a fine Zeiss scope (or similar) earlier; that is one of the best recommendations you could take regarding optics. Also, serval hundred dollars on binoculars. I use Nikon Monarch 8x? and 10x?

Good luck and be safe

 

[prh79]

I moved from out west and had already built my hunting rifle for that area. We have to shoot ridge to ridge typically. I started with a Tikka T3x in 300 wsm. First thing I ordered was an XLR chassis since factory tikka stocks are pretty bad. I had Hells Canyon Armory put their carbon barrel on it a few years later.

I’ve taken several whitetail with it at sub 100 yards - just lung shoot them.

I’d rather have overkill on whitetail than be under gunned on elk! I shot a big 6x6 in Colorado at just over 600 yards this year with it. We saw tons of elk but the terrain won’t let you get closer. You shoot ridge to ridge.

I put a NF 2.5-20 on it in ffp. The 2.5 reticle is impossible to see but I love it b/c it allows a massive FOV. On the shot I’ll quickly turn the scope down if I need to relocate and fire away. Hunting suppressed allows that since the animals can’t locate exactly where the sound came from.

I took several years to build the rifle. It’s the only hunting rifle I use. If I where mainly hunting around here I’d get something much different.

 

[ScottsLife]

Do you think a 308 could put an elk down?

I know for a fact a .308 will put down an elk.

 

[Dmc707]

Do you think a 308 could put an elk down?

Yes


(Although my rifle for this kind of work is a 300 weatherby -- the closest on your list to this would be the 300 Win Mag )

 

[WoodsCraft]

30-06 has been killing Elk and every thing else for a long time and will be nicer to your shoulder than a magnum over time , but my 300 H&H has taken more than a few Elk.

 

[RidgeRunner45-70]

Having hunted mule deer and elk in Colorado and Wyoming for nearly 60 yrs, I started with the 30-06 and finished the last 30 yrs or so with the 7mm Remington Magnum.