Deer / Elk / Etc. Caliber Choice?

[retrieverman]

Do you think a 308 could put an elk down?

Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to use my 165 gr Corelokt handloads on elk, but like Okie4570 said, there’s better options if using factory ammo.

 

[retrieverman]

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.

I know a guy with significant financial resources that can have anything he wants, and he uses a 7-08 for everything. He does quite a bit of elk hunting and has killed a bunch with that caliber.

I actually have a 7-08 Encore pistol barrel on my eBay watchlist right now.

 

[wolfkpr]

Do keep in mind, if your elk hunting ideas include the Wichita mtn Refuge draws, or Ft Sill elk hunts- then exclude the 6.5mm’s and 25-06 from your considerations- as both the refuge and Ft Sill have a .270 caliber minimum for elk.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

My choice for the best all-around cartridge for North America would be the -06. Mostly because there's a huge variety of ammo and bullet weights available, and ammo can be found at every little mom and pop shop in hunting territory. The variety of ammo makes the caliber sufficient for pretty much anything you'd like to hunt.

 

[undeg01]

If I am going for elk only, I am going to take a bigger caliber money gun that is sure to get the job done, so from your list, that would be the 300 Win Mag.

However, if I were to only have one gun/caliber, I am very partial to the 308. I have a hand load with 178 gr Hornady Eld-X that is super accurate and am confident would put an elk down. My son in law shot a deer with it last year at 240 yds and you could put your fist in the exit wound. Heavy bullet, deep penetration and catastrophic devastation to the vitals. With the 308, you could have a heavier load like that for elk and a lighter load for whitetail.

 

[undeg01]

If you wanted to go with something a little more than 308 but less than the belted magnums, the 270 short mag would be a good option, however I think you are somewhat limited on bullet options for the heavier, long range bullets in 270 without reaming a longer throated chamber. That was the whole reason the 6.8 Western (270 caliber) was developed.

 

[Jgibs0321]

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?View attachment 529357

Define “Long Range”?

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?View attachment 529357

My definition of long range hunting and a general hunting rifle, Id take a 308 (which is currently my precision bolt action rifle) and shoot any deer sized game within 600 yards, Elk within 800 yards (if the wind wasnt too wild and the conditions were really favorable and very particular bullets if hunting animals bigger than deer)

But a 7 Mag or 300 Win would be more efficient on the bigger animals. A lot of tissue to punch through.

But you can kill just about anything in NA with a 308 or 30-06 with a good bullet! A lot of awesome technology exists these days.