HarperC,
Thanks to you and all who chimed in with a response. I appreciate the feedback.
To answer your questions...The weights listed on the posted table are called the Optimal Game Weight. This number is calculated throught the online calculator that I used to create this table. You can find this calculator here:
External Ballistics Calculator
This number is supposed to represent the max weight of animal that should be taken with the rifle at a particulare range at a particular set of circumstances. Some go by this number. Some go by the rule of 1800+ fps and 1000+ft/lbs. Others go by past experiences. But most importantly I believe that it shouldn't be over simplified. There is a BIG difference in hitting an elk square in the shoulder and expecting complete pass through and hitting just behind the shoulder to acheive double lung without necessarily expecting pass through. In certain senarios I would be happy enough to achieve a 10 sec or less travel on the elks part before death. The exit wound in the case of a double lung shot only helps with tracking, not death. This would take far less velocity/energy than the Optimal Game Weight calculator calls for. Therefore it is a little over simplified and most closely represents the advise that I would give to a complete amiture in the hunting world who has no idea of how a bullet actually kills an animal. I'm certain that a 25-06 is enough to take a mature elk at the closer ranges given the right shot, etc. I also understand that it is not enough if the animal is quartering to and your using a bullet that is going to fragment quickly. There is not a black and white answer here and I knew that coming into this thread. I wanted to sift through all of the advice/experiences from the hunters here who are kind enough to take the time to share it and form an idea of what to expect out of this combo. I understand fully that it is not the ideal rifle for the job.
I chose 10000 feet for altitude because it is a round number. It really doesn't matter what the altitude is that we are all commenting on just so that we are all commenting on the same altitude. I can translate the feedback provided to any altitude (or any set of variables for that matter) by noting the velocity and energy at particular distances. Then the only thing left to do is compute the odds of shot placement based on range and my ability to put the bullet where it belongs.
As far as my experience goes with the 25-06...I've been shooting it since I was 13 as my one and only high power rifle! Haha BUT I'm only 24 years old
. I've done all my hunting in Texas. Nothing bigger than whitetails and hogs.
Incase you haven't figured it out yet I'm not hesitating about anything. I just want to make my shot decisions based on more than feelings and numbers. I wanted to call on the allmighty longrangehunting community to help out an inexperienced elk hunter on his first elk hunt by trying to understand what kinds of results everyone is getting in the field. I've heard some crazy stories and have seen a few myself as far as animals acting outside of the norm once shot. I know that there is no perfect answer. But no advise weighs as much as experience.
I don't have the ability to go on this trip unless I use this rifle, due to finances. So, due to the circumstances, I chose to limit my effective shot range rather than miss the hunt all together. That is the reason I started this thread rather than one called "What rifle should I buy for my first elk hunt?".
I hope this didn't come off as me being defensive because I don't feel offended at all. I just wanted to let everyone in on my circumstances so as to bring some perspective to the thread.
Thanks again to all who participated and all to participate.
PS: I'm not set on this particular bullet for these circumstances. It's just another example of a variable that I set so as to get some straight answers out of this thread. Thanks again!!!
