Experienced Elk Killers Pick Your #1 Elk Cartridge

[Golovkin]

I realize they are not real popular, as, they are not .30 cal or above, but you forgot to mention, the .270 Weatherby and the .270 WSM's, in your Ranking. Those Cartridge's, have probably killed more than, a few Elk, as has, the .270 Win. which is plenty adequate at, any "reasonable" range !
IMO, quite a few Elk have been shot/killed with, the .270, .280, 7mm-08, etc. "class" of cartridges, by "Hunters", using light weight Rifles (under, 8-9 Pounds). again JMHO
While I believe that, the .243 Win, will kill Elk, I personally, wouldn't recommend it, to any but, the most experienced hunters that can place a well constructed Bullet, exactly where it needs to go and knows it's limitation's !. So Elk Cartridge's, start at, .270 Win., in MY opinion. ANY of the .270's develop, quite a bit of Power/penetration with, a 140-160 grain, bullet and probably, should NOT be "Ranked" with, the .25-06 !

Fair enough.

 

[Rshooter]

I have long range rigs in 338 Lapua and 300 RUM but I would not want to hunt with them in any timbered scenario, they have their place. I have used a Rem. Ti & a custom both in 30/06 to take more than a few.
However, my favorite all around rifle is a Rifles Inc in 338 win. It weighs 6.5 lb with Leupold 4.5-14 long range scope & Talley lightweights. With 225 gr. TTSX's, it is deadly accurate out past 800 yds.
I am also a big fan of Barnes bullets in what ever you use.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

The .338 Win Mag. really,.. SLAYS, Elk,.. YUP, agreed and it did my Shoulder, too !
When I was a young pup of, 35-40 yo, I thought it was, awesome and HAD to have it,.. nowadays, NOT, so much !
The .270 WSM got the job done, for me, the same as the .338 did, without, the sore shoulder and the, "flinch" that, I still live with ! PS; NO Brakes, were ever used, don't care for them and IMO they aren't necessary, if shooting the .270's- 7mm's with less than a 160 grain bullet. Always should, wear your Plug's tho !

 

[RockyMtnMT]

The .338 Win Mag. really,.. SLAYS, Elk,.. YUP, agreed and it did my Shoulder, too !
When I was a young pup of, 35-40 yo, I thought it was, awesome and HAD to have it,.. nowadays, NOT, so much !
The .270 WSM got the job done, for me, the same as the .338 did, without, the sore shoulder and the, "flinch" that, I still live with ! PS; NO Brakes, were ever used, don't care for them and IMO they aren't necessary, if shooting the .270's- 7mm's with less than a 160 grain bullet. Always should, wear your Plug's tho !

They do help significantly in reducing the flinch that still plagues you. Perhaps if you had a brake back then you would be without a flinch and still hunting with the 338.☺

 

[Mike 338]

338 Win Mag IMO is maybe the most solid field gun for elk. It doesn't require a brake although it's pretty punishing on both ends of the gun. A good bullet at typical ranges will reach the vitals and then some. With an extra minute of life, an elk can travel very very far down hill in the wrong direction.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

@ Rocky Mtn,
Brakes weren't around, in those days, although Muzzle "venting" was just starting up, I have never cared for, the "Blast" coming out of, either the vents or, Brakes, even tho wearing Ear Plugs. I did think about a Brake for my New .243 Win. Tikka T3, but got to thinking IF, I ever forgot, to put my Plugs "IN", I'd be "Toast", hearing wise! My Custom .338 W Mag. Wby MK V action, with, 25 1/2" Douglas premium Bbl. is long gone, replaced by, a 7 mm Rem Mag. M-700 26" bbl. @ 8.5 Pounds, that got replaced by, a 7.5 Pound, 24 inch, SS Tikka T3, Lite, in .270 WSM that, I can carry everywhere, for miles and miles and I can shoot, a lot in practice and have FUN, due to, LOW recoil,. It's gonna be, my last Elk Rifle as, I'm very happy with it ! The 140 AccuBond @ 3,150 FPS and still going, OVER 2,000 FPS at 750 Yards, I'm, "good" for where/ how, I "Hunt" !

 

[HARPERC]

......I'm getting older so rifle weight matters more now......I kinda fall in the place that elk guns start with a 3.
.....So I think I would really like to check several of the boxes. I picked the 300 mag as it is in the middle of what I consider good elk medicine.

Change it to .30-06, and I'm in 100%.

 

[sp6x6]

Taken 40+ with only a few of those cows.I hunted high wilderness and bought a 340 wby when I was 21,that when I got serious about elk hunting.Im a hunter first LR doesnt concern me, Ive shot elk in their beds after tracking them in thick stuff with both my rifle and my bow,shot elk at 3 yrds,and across the canyon.Spent alot of time in grizz area saw 9 this spring,just like the 338 since 2010 its been a 338nm for me.Son finished his bull this year at 600 with my old stick

 

[shooter7]

I've killed elk with the .260 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag and 300 win mag. I voted for the 300 mags. They do it better in my opinion.

 

[Mike 338]

@ Rocky Mtn,
Brakes weren't around, in those days, although Muzzle "venting" was just starting up, I have never cared for, the "Blast" coming out of, either the vents or, Brakes, even tho wearing Ear Plugs. I did think about a Brake for my New .243 Win. Tikka T3, but got to thinking IF, I ever forgot, to put my Plugs "IN", I'd be "Toast", hearing wise! My Custom .338 W Mag. Wby MK V action, with, 25 1/2" Douglas premium Bbl. is long gone, replaced by, a 7 mm Rem Mag. M-700 26" bbl. @ 8.5 Pounds, that got replaced by, a 7.5 Pound, 24 inch, SS Tikka T3, Lite, in .270 WSM that, I can carry everywhere, for miles and miles and I can shoot, a lot in practice and have FUN, due to, LOW recoil,. It's gonna be, my last Elk Rifle as, I'm very happy with it ! The 140 AccuBond @ 3,150 FPS and still going, OVER 2,000 FPS at 750 Yards, I'm, "good" for where/ how, I "Hunt" !

Funny how, after a bunch of experience, most dudes throttle back a bit and find themselves toting something more middle of the road.

 

[HARPERC]

......Funny how, after a bunch of experience, most dudes throttle back a bit and find themselves toting something more middle of the road.........

One can't discount how the changes in technology, along with experience accounts for some of the change in minds.

I shot my first elk with a .375 H&H. Having to do it over I'd never go back and do that hunt again, I've since discovered hunting the Wyoming alpine horseback is just a lot more fun.
If I did the change in bullets, would probably lead me to a 2 bullet choice: the 227 grain Hammer in a Dead Blow for the jungle, and the 181 Hammer Hunter for more open country.
Rifle would be my Ruger #1, with a stock, and glass unavailable at that time. It would be a .30-06, but could be talked into .30 Nosler. 1-8" Twist

 

[Elkeater]

For me I just don't see giving up my .300 win mag every elk I've shot has just kinda died quick. I shoot it well and enjoy my range time with it. Then again I have a special love for that cartridge. It's my everything from speed goats to elk gun. And maybe some long range coyotes.

 

[markopolo50]

I only have shot 6 elk. One with a muzzleloader at 50 yards coming to a call. The others have all been shot with rifle in 300 win mag. Last one in Utah at 310 yards. Not a long shot for some of you guys but the 300 has always performed for me.

 

[257Tony]

I voted 7mm because it's the closest to 2 current favorite Elk rifles. I've killed Elk with everything from a .257 Roy up to a .338. When I drew a very good limited entry Elk tag in 2017, I took my 264 Win Mag and killed my biggest Bull yet at 658 yards with a single shot.