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.