Long Range Elk Gun, What caliber you would choose?

[wyomingboy]

I have two 338WM, one new Winchester and one 92ish Ruger M77, both with 26" barrel and custom muzzle brakes. Shoot 250gr Sierra SBT. They shoot identically, 2810 fps. Plenty of power out to 1000ds. Shot an elk at 470 yds across a canyon this fall. Elk walked slowly 200yds and fell dead from the one shot, and it was a pass thru the shoulders. It doesn't have to be complicated.

 

[motrapper]

If you don't mind running a wild cat, might consider a 7/300 PRC

Lets kick it up a Notch than. So how about a 7/338 LM Improved.

 

[BPollard]

What about a 30-378wby

 

[Buck100]

I've been a longtime lurker on this site, but never posted.
I've been thinking about putting together a new rifle that would function as gun that would have enough go to anchor an elk out to 1000 yards.
Pretend that components are not impossible to find, which would you choose?
To use as a guideline some things to think about would be not an overwhelming about of recoil from a 9-11lb gun with a brake, 1500 ft/lbs out to 1000 yards, and either 7mm or 30 cal.

On paper I have yet to see something that can beat what a 28 Nosler or 7 RBH with 195 Berger going around 3175-3250(depending on which of the 2 you use).

Using the standard of 1200 ft lbs of energy combined with 1800 ft/sec for lead core bullets as the optimal performance for big game animals you would get the following results; 7mm Mag 160gr would make it out to 700 yards. A 300 Win Mag 180gr would get to 800 yards and a 30-378 Weatherby Mag would make it comfortably out to 1000 yards. All rifles were zeroed at 300 yards. All data is from Hornady.

 

[Mike D Texas]

For something that distance I'd want a .338 of some variant.
338 Norma
338 RUM
338 Lapua

You get the idea.

 

[motrapper]

With all the comments above what the OP asked for. Which was max 30 cal.
Lets just takes this where it should go a 338/408 Cheytac. or a 338/50BMG
I am sure someone has done this?
Can we agree on the fact these would have enough UMPH!!!!! For an Elk????? LOL

 

[sp6x6]

I gave up my 7 mm about 35 elk ago Went 338, currently 338NM, 300 pill

 

[Prieto9000]

.

 

[Prieto9000]

338rum, 270gr ELDX @ 2860 = nearly 2100ft/lbs at 1000yd which betters the 7/195 combo by 10% at 1k. And nearly 400lbs more at 400y. Wind drift is nearly identical. It only gives up elevation to the 7mm.

And impact velocity would be lower. That won't aid expansion.

 

[Montucky Roamer]

My humble 52 year old opinion is after growing up hunting im Montana with heavy magnums from 375 h&h (still one of my favorite firearms, just don't like to shoot it anymore) 300 weatherby and so on. I was younger back then.
Now after my many experiences and getting into this long range stuff about 6 years ago, I have a much different look on things. I now hunt with a
Very accurate 8 pound 15 ounce full dressed 6.5x284 with muzzle brake and am completely in love. The main reasons are, 1 very accurate, 2 no recoil,
3 most times I can see my POI myself on longer shots when shooting by myself. 4 trust me every pound hanging on your shoulder or carried in your arms while hunting adds up.
With that said, my hats off to the real men carrying around the heavy magnums or the ones that want to take the beating of a light weight one. Sure you won't feel the kick shooting a animal but if you are going to get proficient enough to ethically kill a animal at a thousand yards you need to send some lead down range before hand. So with 30cals on up you need to decide,am I going to take a beating with my light magnum so I can have a more pack friendly rifle?
Or am I going to pack a heavier rifle so I can comfortably shoot it enough to get proficient at 1000yrds.
Or you could go with what I have learned and take that fork in the road. To each his own and my humble opinion.

Muzzle breaks turn the boomers into teddy bears. My 12 year old daughter shoots my 300 prc ,215 Bergers at 2950 no problem. We keep muffs on our caps, ready to slip on. Suppressor on a shorter barrel is next.

 

[MallardAddict]

300 Norma Improved with a 230 OTM at 3085 fps will do anything I need done to much further then my skills allow and does so in an easy shooting 10# scoped and loaded rifle.

 

[Forcedoutage]

300 PRC is hard to beat if factory ammo is a needed option.

The bigger 7's are best in my eyes

7 STW
28 Nosler
28 Sherman Mag

 

[Mike D Texas]

If you don't mind running a wild cat, might consider a 7/300 PRC

Or a 7/300 Norma Improved.

7mm-300 Norma Improved – West Texas Ordnance, Inc. | Custom Rifles & Accessories

westtexordnance.com

 

[Irfire1]

300 RUM. Personal favorite for everything from antelope to sheep to elk to African plains game. My 14 year old granddaughter shot her cow elk this year at 450. 1 shot DRT. I have shot elk from 10 to 850. All one shot kills. 210 Berger at 3050. My wife shot her Impala at 550. Good muzzlebrake and less recoil than a 243. Really.