What caliber rifle for elk? 1st hunt

[ShootnMathews]

I have never personally swapped ballistic tips for accubond but I have read it's that simple. I would use same seating depth but back charge off, only if close to max.
Not sure where you are located in WV but I am in western Pa and if you need any more Winchester primers shoot me a pm and I can help.

I greatly appreciate that offer. I do have a few thousand winchesters on the shelf because that's all I've been able to find in the last 5 years. I have about 600 or so Fed 210M left but I only use those in my 6.5-284 now since I haven't seen any for sale in like 10 years. It's sad what components availability has come to.

 

[birddog 68]

I greatly appreciate that offer. I do have a few thousand winchesters on the shelf because that's all I've been able to find in the last 5 years. I have about 600 or so Fed 210M left but I only use those in my 6.5-284 now since I haven't seen any for sale in like 10 years. It's sad what components availability has come to.

You're welcome. I ran into the same situation with primers but have had good success working up loads with the WLR.
Sounds like you should have plenty and be sure to give us a update on load development.

 

[cajun]

Well reloading supplies are not in high stock here but I did hit some stores today and found one box of 180 Accubond for the 30-06 and one box of 140 Accubond for the 6.5-284, Winchester were the ONLY LR primers I found, and Hornady and Starline were the only 30-06 brass I found. I have some h4831 and H4350 on hand which both should give good velocities. Book data shows 4831 giving almost as high velocities as 4350 but with much lower pressures. So I'll try it first.
View attachment 629075
On another note has anyone had any luck simply swapping an Accubond out for a ballistic tip and keeping the same accuracy?? Ballistic tips and accubonds have the same profile and same weight so it seems possible. I'm going to give it a try on my 6.5-284. Currently shooting the 140 ballistic tips

Yes. The Accubond is longer but the cbto is the same. I have basically worked up loads with BT's and swapped to the same weight Accubond with no issues.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Checked a bunch of reloading data as I always do before loading. Nosler lists 62grains as max load at 101% fill with 4831. I loaded up a few at 61 grains and 61.5 to test for pressure signs before going all the way to 62. 61.5 is a full case and 62 is going to be compressed. Hopefully I can find a load quick because components cost an arm and a leg now. I might pick up some Reloader22 is I can find some.

 

[Rifleman97]

Checked a bunch of reloading data as I always do before loading. Nosler lists 62grains as max load at 101% fill with 4831. I loaded up a few at 61 grains and 61.5 to test for pressure signs before going all the way to 62. 61.5 is a full case and 62 is going to be compressed. Hopefully I can find a load quick because components cost an arm and a leg now. I might pick up some Reloader22 is I can find some.

I've had great luck in my 30-06 with R19 and the 180 accubonds, as well as h4350. Was running about 30fps faster than your screenshot there predicted for my RL19 but I believe I have a fast barrel, plus I load pretty hot for the 06. But regardless, there's a lot of options that get you pretty close to RL22 speed and accuracy. If you find some, great. But these days you can take about any of the powders from that list as long as they can get within 100fps and probably still have a great load. Keep your options open to different powders.

As to the original question, I agree with many of the others that the 30-06 is your best rifle for elk. No replacement for wound displacement. 30 cals and bigger for me. Nice wide wound channel, and heavier bullets that can more easily go through bone if something goes wrong.

 

[ShootnMathews]

I've had great luck in my 30-06 with R19 and the 180 accubonds, as well as h4350. Was running about 30fps faster than your screenshot there predicted for my RL19 but I believe I have a fast barrel, plus I load pretty hot for the 06. But regardless, there's a lot of options that get you pretty close to RL22 speed and accuracy. If you find some, great. But these days you can take about any of the powders from that list as long as they can get within 100fps and probably still have a great load. Keep your options open to different powders.

As to the original question, I agree with many of the others that the 30-06 is your best rifle for elk. No replacement for wound displacement. 30 cals and bigger for me. Nice wide wound channel, and heavier bullets that can more easily go through bone if something goes wrong.

I decided to try H4831 first but I have IMR4350 and H4350 to try next. And thank you for the info.

 

[nksmfamjp]

As far as distance goes, your guide should ask and establish on targets your max capable range. I think some guides kind of let the hunter choose their max range. That said, you and the guide need to clarify that. So, what is your max range where you are 100% confident??

If you are strong, 10-12lbs is not unreasonable to carry for a rifle. I would prefer less…..maybe 10 lb max.

 

[ShootnMathews]

As far as distance goes, your guide should ask and establish on targets your max capable range. I think some guides kind of let the hunter choose their max range. That said, you and the guide need to clarify that. So, what is your max range where you are 100% confident??

If you are strong, 10-12lbs is not unreasonable to carry for a rifle. I would prefer less…..maybe 10 lb max.

I don't believe we are going with a guide. This is my buddies trip that he's planning and I was just invited to go with him but I believe he's planning it out as a self hunt on public land. But he's done this kind of thing before and been successful. He really does a lot of research when he plans these trips.

As far as shape I am WAY out of shape compared to before I was hospitalized with Covid but even now I pack my 15# coyote rifle and a 10# tripod and my caller around when I coyote Hunt. Although that's usually a half mile or less at a time. I've got a lot of work to do to get in the best shape I can and I still will struggle just with the lung damage I have. But I'm going to go even if I can't hike as far or cover as much ground I enjoy every minute in the woods. And sometimes you get lucky.

Another buddy went out on a bow hunt one year and spent 5 days hitting the woods before daylight and never got close to a bull. On the 6th day he decided to sleep in and rest and stay close to camp. At like 9 am he decided to go out but he just walked like 150 yards from camp and had a 6x6 walk right up in his face

 

[nksmfamjp]

Well, that is interesting. Sorry I missed that. IME, with a great plan, the elk will be there…or they will have moved slightly and be on unhuntable private land.

I would prepare something reliably accurate and temp insensitive. The question still remains, what is your max range?

I would probably work with a lighter gun. I struggled with the COVID and hospital thing too. It has made 12lb guns with a pack much harder, not to mention the elevation.

With elk, be prepared to pack out. Even 100 yards from the road is a long ways!

 

[ShootnMathews]

Well, that is interesting. Sorry I missed that. IME, with a great plan, the elk will be there…or they will have moved slightly and be on unhuntable private land.

I would prepare something reliably accurate and temp insensitive. The question still remains, what is your max range?

I would probably work with a lighter gun. I struggled with the COVID and hospital thing too. It has made 12lb guns with a pack much harder, not to mention the elevation.

With elk, be prepared to pack out. Even 100 yards from the road is a long ways!

With my 6.5-284 I'm confident with it to about 800 yards. BUT right now it's set up with ballistic tips for deer. I just picked up some Accubonds to try in it. I'm hoping that since the Accubond are the same weight, profile, and BC as the Ballistic tips that I can simply swap one for the other and keep my grouping, speed and ballistic data. We'll see how that works out. And last night I just started load work on this 30-06 with 180 accubonds. I can't say my confidence innit yet as I'll have to see what kind of load I get accuracy wise and how she shakes out at distance. But I'd say 500 shouldn't be a problem.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

Bring two rifles. In case you have problems with your first choice. Stuff happens.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Bring two rifles. In case you have problems with your first choice. Stuff happens.

I plan to take 2 rifles for sure or 3 rifles maybe depending on what the camp situation is like. But there is a few of us going and everyone will be taking more than one rifle so if something happens to my primary and my back-up surely someone else will have a loaner.

 

[wildcatrunner]

I agree with many that it comes down to the bullet. I would personally choose the 30-06 and load 165-180gr bullet. ELDM, any Berger bullet, or a Nosler partition or Accubond. I have killed 8 elk with my 308 win with 168gr Amax/ELDM. Ranges from 70yds to 550yds and killed them all where they stood. I love that bullet at slower speeds and or distance. I shoot 230 Berger Hybrids out of my 30 Sherman and they speak volumes as to what a Berger does on game. Vitals are gone and there are two holes for them bleed out of. I like the weight of your 30-06. It's got my vote! Put a scope you like if you plan to shoot over 500yds. If under, 500 the 308 has you covered.

 

[TX Fiddler]

Having only killed four bulls I'm no expert. I killed one with a 7x57 Mauser and three with a 35 Whelen. Was also present when my father killed two; both with the Whelen.
If I were in your shoes and had to choose between the four rifles you have, I'd pick the 30-06 first then the 7mm-08. I'd also lose the big, high magnification scopes, they're not really necessary when you're shooting at an animal with the profile of a motorcycle. (My Whelen wears a fixed 4X and my last bull was killed at a bit over 350 yds.) The main thing is to keep the weight of your rifle where it can be carried easily.

As to bullets, on animals this large, penetration is king and my choice is hands-down the Barnes TSX. They have some crazy penetrative qualities. This one, a .358" 225 gr. with an MV of just under 2700 fps penetrated a bullet from his rectal orifice to his shoulder.