Deer / Elk / Etc. Caliber Choice?

[Ryan500L]

Agree to a point, but the only time I've ever been scope bit was on a Zytel stock Ruger M77 in 30-06. That thing wopped me like my big bore guns lol. Shot it a couple of more times just to see if it was me the first time or not. That thing kicked lol. My .280 in a Ruger M77 wood stock is nothing like that 06, virtually the same case, and just 10gr bullet difference. Probably just the stock.

Crazy now how people pay 3 times what they cost new for a Ruger with one of those stocks!

 

[dennishoddy]

I’ve killed 10 elk with a 30-06 and my hand loads of 165 Barnes TTSX bullets. Never had one take more than a few steps before falling over.

 

[dlbleak]

Crazy now how people pay 3 times what they cost new for a Ruger with one of those stocks!

That’s the first ‘real’ deer gun I ever bought. My son has it now and it has taken a lot of deer for both of us.

 

[SoonerP226]

Do you think a 308 could put an elk down?

A .308 is basically a modernized .30-‘06, and .30-‘06 is generally considered to be capable of humanely bringing down any game animal in North America. The main reason some prefer .300WinMag for elk is its better ballistics at longer distances, and you might have to settle for a longer shot in elk country.

 

[Survivor]

For someone that does not reload I would suggest the 270 or the 7mm rem mag.
But I would first look and see how available ammo is for those 2.

All the rifles i have seen shot with store bought ammo the 270 and 7mm mag seem to be the most accurate. These were older rifles though.


308 store ammo in all my 308 rifles is not accurate enough for me to want to take a 200 yard shot.
If your shots are under that it may not be an issue.

Or maybe step up to trying many different brands of ammo until you find what your rifle likes best.

I reload my own ammo and would not hesitate to take elk with my 243,308, 6.5 cm, 6.5x55 or my 30-06.
I have a relative that exclusively uses 7 mm rem mag and store ammo on elk every year in Colorado.
There are 2 guys in his camp that use the 30-30 every year and always get their elk and those 2 guys stated 250 yards is the max range for them on elk and the 30-30.

Know your rifle and put the shot where it needs to be and do not take a willy nilly shot.

Friend of mine wounded dozens of whitetail deer with his 30-30 because he would not wait for a good shot.
He would always end up calling me to help find his deer. It got old and after 8+ years of that I finally convinced him the bad shots are just wrong and the deer will return later for a better shot. Especially if you are not busting through the woods looking for the bad shot one.

Practice at the distance you expect to shoot a critter and do not rely on computer generated drop.
You may get the drop right but that does not prove if your gun or you are accurate at longer ranges.

You may know all this stuff.

4-14 scope or even 3-9 would be fine as long as it is a quality scope with clear glass.

You could have more power and think it is all good but if the glass is washed out or glares badly then all bets are off.

Many times shooting at paper at 500 yards my little .243 Mossberg with 3-9x50 Tasco has outshot the heavy barrel .308 with 6-24 scope.
That is an older Tasco and it stays on target and stays clear.

Not a scope issue just stating things I have experienced.
Did I need a lot of power? No. But I did need an accurate round.

In the field hunting I have dialed in more magnification to get on a deer and after the shot i look and see what I dialed up to and it has never been more than 10 power.
Those longer shots were 350 yards which is not a long shot by many peoples standards.
Most of my shots are under 100 yards.
If you hunt thick brush you will like the lower power.

Video below is a .243 with 105 gr vld.

Very true and I totally agree with you.