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trevorlawrence Rookie Member
Joined: Jan 25, 2010 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:44 am Post subject: Caliber Suggestion |
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Hi All,
What is a good caliber of gun to take elk hunting. We are planning a trip and i was wanting to get some opinions on what you guys thought was a good caliber.
Thanks,
Trevor.
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Last edited by trevorlawrence on Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8317 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:00 am Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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You will find opinions throughout the forum. Here is some of the most recent on calibers for Elk.
300wsm, .325, or .338?
The last post sums it up - its mostly about shot placement.
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Grumulkin Super Member
Joined: Apr 16, 2007 Posts: 365 Location: Central Ohio
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:04 am Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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Years ago, it's said the 257 Roberts worked well. These days nothing short of a .308 caliber magnum will work.
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slimjim Super Member
Joined: May 16, 2009 Posts: 8317 Location: Fort Worth TX
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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Grumulkin wrote: |
nothing short of a .308 caliber magnum will work. |
With improvements in bullet technology, where does the data come to support this?
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9341 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:32 am Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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.270 winchester.
enough said.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
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longwalker Member
Joined: Apr 12, 2005 Posts: 201 Location: Bethel, AK
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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I'm sure you could use a 22 hornet, not that I am recommending that. The point should be take what ever rifle you are capable of shooting well. If thats a 243 you should be very very good. It's not that a hole in the lungs won't kill the elk, it will, it just may take a little longer. The problem comes when the bullet hits some heavy bone and breaks up. This where the lite fast bullet has it's down fall. Heavy bullets on the other hand can continue on and get to the vitals.
So there it is the no answer, answer. Personally I went with the larger bullet moderate velocity approach. What ever you choose make sure you can shoot the rifle well. When the round is sent down range you should not have to wonder if you hit the mark or not. You should be wondering how fast the bull will drop. If you have to track, you will have two holes leaking blood instead of one.
Longwalker
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moose2 Super Member
Joined: Mar 19, 2005 Posts: 707 Location: North Idaho
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chambered221 Super Member
Joined: Aug 17, 2007 Posts: 3455 Location: Lost for good !!!
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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slimjim wrote: |
Grumulkin wrote: |
nothing short of a .308 caliber magnum will work. |
With improvements in bullet technology, where does the data come to support this? |
I think you missed the point slimjim !!!
Use any gun your comfortable with but know it's limitations !!!
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Savagenut Member
Joined: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 48 Location: S.W. Michigan
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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Shot placement, Shot placement, Shot placement. Yes know your guns limitations, know the anatomy of the animal your shooting, and make a one shot clean kill. A .308 will work just fine
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9341 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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very well said savagenut. as the saying goes "beware the man who owns but one gun, he probable knows how to use it"
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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metz3601 Member
Joined: Oct 31, 2008 Posts: 81
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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I have always been a fan of the 7mm mag for elk hunting... i mostly prefer it for the ballistics, it has a very flat trajectory and can reach out and touch 'em at a pretty good distance... just about anything in the .30 cal range will also do very nicely, but with the heavier bullets comes the more lob in the shot... its really more about how you like to hunt, and the types of round you feel most comfortable with
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44marty Super Member
Joined: Mar 20, 2009 Posts: 775 Location: Cheshire, MA; USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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its really more about how you like to hunt, and the types of round you feel most comfortable with
Shot placement, Shot placement, Shot placement
That really says it all. Many like the .300 WSM and the 7mm Mag. My
personal choice would be my .300 WBY Mag. This is an unbelievably accurate rifle (1/2 MOA easy with a 180gr bullet and 77.1gr RL-22). I also LOVE the way the brass lasts for reloading - at least 7 to 10 reloads from any brass I've tried so far. My friends are buying new brass more than twice as often for their .300 Win Mags.
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BigBlue Super Member
Joined: Jan 16, 2006 Posts: 1108 Location: Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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I've only ever shot one and that was with a 30-06 using a 180gr. Hornady SST bullet. The elk took two steps looking as if it hadn't been hit and then fell over sideways dead before it hit the ground.
Don
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sask boy Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2007 Posts: 25 Location: Regina Saskatchewan
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:45 pm Post subject: Re: Caliber Suggestion |
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I have shot a number of elk using different calibers.
My Mr. Holland and Holland in 375 did a fine shot so has the 7mm mag. But my favorite go to rifle is the old 270 win using 130gr. ABs over top of IMR 4350 powder it has never let me down.
Blessings,
Dan
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1895ss Super Member
Joined: Jul 21, 2005 Posts: 2612 Location: Not Here...!!
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