Deer / Elk / Etc. Caliber Choice?

[ErichS]

Looking to do some deer hunting and have read reviews on a good all purpose hunting, long range gun (Tikka T3X Lite). Just don’t know which caliber is best for Elk + Deer. Below is the photo in which calibers this firearm comes in. Opinions on what is best?

Additional Question: Will a 4-14x44 scope be sufficient?

 

[retrieverman]

I was talking to my youngest son yesterday, and he is looking to buy a new deer rifle. I told him that if I was buying one today it would be a Tikka T3 Lite in 308 and would be topped with a first gen Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44mm. I have no intention to hunt elk though. If I was, I’d probably step up to a 300 Win Mag.

 

[Hangfire]

My first deer rifle was a pawn shop Marlin 336 chambered in 30-30 with a mounted old steel tube Weaver 4X....killed several deer with it.

Gun magazines of the day convinced me that the 30-30 didn't kill deer dead enough and that a 30-06 was what I just had to have so I traded off the Marlin and picked up a bolt 06'.....took several deer with it also but I never much cared for the thump.

Not really interested in elk and with deer in mind, although a 7mm08 is certainly capable with the right bullet, I got to reading about the 7mm08 pretty hard and bought one and have never looked back....very accurate and easy on the shoulder.

 

[ErichS]

I was talking to my youngest son yesterday, and he is looking to buy a new deer rifle. I told him that if I was buying one today it would be a Tikka T3 Lite in 308 and would be topped with a first gen Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44mm. I have no intention to hunt elk though. If I was, I’d probably step up to a 300 Win Mag.

Do you think a 308 could put an elk down?

 

[wolfkpr]

Anything in what i call the “ ‘06 class of cartridges”- which starts at 7mm-08, and includes .270 win, .280, .30-06, 8mm mauser. ( and includes other rounds with similar power) My default has been .308 ( which is 80 ft/ sec slower than .30-06 in factory loads and prob 150fps slower in handloads). This means in factory loads the .308 hits the same as the ‘06 - if the .308 is a little closer range.. but we now have loads like hornady superformance (150gr@3000fps in .308) that blur these lines. We’ve only shot a couple elk with .308, but results have been great. Pick any cartridge in that class of power, but pick something where ammo is common and available- so prob .270, .308, or .30-06. Tons of deer and elk killed every year with all 3.

 

[wolfkpr]

Oh and the single most common scope size for deer/ elk is probably the 3-9, but as long as your min power is not higher than 4x, and its not too bulky- it’ll be fine.

 

[swampratt]

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.

 

[Okie4570]

From the choices in that pic you posted, regardless of cartridge chosen, get the 24.4" barrel, you might as well get the extra 100fps out of whatever you chose. 7mag or 300mag from the choices there. You can use a .308 or 2506 for elk, but there are better choices.

 

[ErichS]

Anything in what i call the “ ‘06 class of cartridges”- which starts at 7mm-08, and includes .270 win, .280, .30-06, 8mm mauser. ( and includes other rounds with similar power) My default has been .308 ( which is 80 ft/ sec slower than .30-06 in factory loads and prob 150fps slower in handloads). This means in factory loads the .308 hits the same as the ‘06 - if the .308 is a little closer range.. but we now have loads like hornady superformance (150gr@3000fps in .308) that blur these lines. We’ve only shot a couple elk with .308, but results have been great. Pick any cartridge in that class of power, but pick something where ammo is common and available- so prob .270, .308, or .30-06. Tons of deer and elk killed every year with all 3.

I appreciate the info! I will look between the 30-06 and .308!

 

[ErichS]

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.

Thank you!