Elk rifles

[Joe Schmedlap]

What do you folks recommend as far as caliber and brand of rifle? The largest caliber I own is a.30-06 bolt action.

[Randolph Dupree]

I've killed 8 elk, 7 of them have been with a 270 WSM and it has done as good as anything I've seen. My dad has taken 10 or so with a standard 270. Both of us have made shots of over 300 yards. All that being said, most guys I've shared camp with shoot 7 MM or 300 Win Mags.

[msstatelp1]

If you just want to hunt elk then your 30.06 will work just need to practice longer shots. If you want to hunt elk AND get a new rifle then any of the 3 that RD mentioned would be good choices.

[Bully13]

How good is Elk meat?

[99jc]

What do you folks recommend as far as caliber and brand of rifle? The largest caliber I own is a.30-06 bolt action.

that can reach out over 400 yards. If you shoot one try not to drop it on the side of a mountain they are hell to get out not like a whitetail. Elk meat is like any wild game it all comes down to how you prepare it IMO.

[TUSK]

I'm a 270 bigot... Low recoil, superb ballistics, plenty of energy for Elk at reasonable distances...

Your 06 would serve you fine, just know the ballistics tables... just get a killer round (like a boat tail/bonded/partition type) and have great glass.

Most Elk hunters (& whitetail hunters) "over gun" IMO... Bigger calibers can make up for poor accuracy, marksmanship, or just a misplaced shot, however.

[Joe Schmedlap]

I’ve got a .270 Winchester myself. I love it for white tail deer but was afraid it might be a bit light for an elk.
Let’s say I stick with the aught six for an elk hunt: is it worth it to step up to Hornady Super Performance ammo? Would 165 grain projectiles be okay or should I step up to a 180 grains? The 165 grain round gives me more velocity but maybe the 180 grain is better on such large animals.

QUOTE=TUSK;969853]I'm a 270 bigot... Low recoil, superb ballistics, plenty of energy for Elk at reasonable distances...

Your 06 would serve you fine, just know the ballistics tables... just get a killer round (like a boat tail/bonded/partition type) and have great glass.

Most Elk hunters (& whitetail hunters) "over gun" IMO... Bigger calibers can make up for poor accuracy, marksmanship, or just a misplaced shot, however.[/QUOTE]

[msstatelp1]

I?ve got a .270 Winchester myself. I love it for white tail deer but was afraid it might be a bit light for an elk.
Let?s say I stick with the aught six for an elk hunt: is it worth it to step up to Hornady Super Performance ammo? Would 165 grain projectiles be okay or should I step up to a 180 grains? The 165 grain round gives me more velocity but maybe the 180 grain is better on such large animals.

QUOTE=TUSK;969853]I'm a 270 bigot... Low recoil, superb ballistics, plenty of energy for Elk at reasonable distances...

Your 06 would serve you fine, just know the ballistics tables... just get a killer round (like a boat tail/bonded/partition type) and have great glass.

Most Elk hunters (& whitetail hunters) "over gun" IMO... Bigger calibers can make up for poor accuracy, marksmanship, or just a misplaced shot, however.

[/QUOTE]

My opinion is that you should go with the weight you are most experienced with. The 180 will give you a little more power, the 165 will give you a little less drop but either will work. Honestly, your shot placement will matter more than the bullet weight. I would step up to premium ammo but do some testing to see which your rifle likes better.

[TUSK]

My opinion is that you should go with the weight you are most experienced with. The 180 will give you a little more power, the 165 will give you a little less drop but either will work. Honestly, your shot placement will matter more than the bullet weight. I would step up to premium ammo but do some testing to see which your rifle likes better.[/QUOTE]

This is correct.

Consult the ballistics tables on both rounds. Learn about "ballistic coefficient".

The generally accepted rule of thumb re: Energy is 1500# for elk and 1000# for whitetail... If you can put the round EXACTLY where you want it, ~60-70% of those numbers is good, IMO.

Before you dismiss your 270, take a look at the tables on the Federal Premium 130 High Energy Trophy Bonded Tip... (load # P270TT4)

I'll try to post the data here, but it may get chopped up....

Load Number: P270TT4 Zero Range: 325 yd
Caliber: 270 Win. Temperature: 59 ?F
Bullet Style: Trophy Bonded Tip Wind Speed: 10 mph
Bullet Weight: 130 gr Altitude: 0 feet
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.44 Max Range: 500 yd
Muzzle Velocity: 3200 fps
Sight Height: 1.75 in
Range (yd) Drop (in) Wind Drift (in) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb)
0 -1.8 0.0 3200 2956
25 -0.1 0.0 3142 2850
50 1.3 0.2 3086 2748
75 2.5 0.3 3030 2649
100 3.5 0.6 2974 2553
125 4.2 0.9 2920 2460
150 4.7 1.4 2866 2370
175 4.9 1.9 2813 2283
200 4.8 2.5 2760 2199
225 4.5 3.3 2708 2117
250 3.8 4.1 2657 2037
275 2.9 5.0 2606 1960
300 1.6 5.9 2556 1885
325 0.0 7.0 2506 1812
350 -2.0 8.2 2457 1742
375 -4.2 9.5 2408 1674
400 -6.9 10.9 2360 1608
425 -10.0 12.4 2313 1544
450 -13.5 14.1 2266 1482
475 -17.5 15.9 2219 1422
500 -21.8 17.8 2173 1363

[Randolph Dupree]

I use a 150 Grain Federal Fusion in my 270 WSM. My dad uses a 150 grain Federal Premium in his 270. My longest shot is 303 yards, his is 384.

The guys suggesting shot placement is more important are correct. Get a good scope and get comfortable shooting to about 500 yards at the range.

[Joe Schmedlap]

Thanks. Very good information. Where did you find such a good table? I’d love to look up the same info for a 165 grain Hornady Superperformance Interbond and/or SST 30-06 round with a muzzle velocity of 2960 fps.

[Uncle Ruckus]

Use what you got. A friend of mine moved to Washington and I was going to go last year and take my 308. You 30-06 will be fine. It’s more about ammo and shot placement.

[TUSK]

Thanks. Very good information. Where did you find such a good table? I’d love to look up the same info for a 165 grain Hornady Superperformance Interbond and/or SST 30-06 round with a muzzle velocity of 2960 fps.

I got that table off of the federal ammo site... it lists all their rounds and is interactive...

I think all major ammo manufacturers have similar resources online....

Also, if you know the BC and MV of your particular round, you can find lots of tables on line that can help ya!

[Offshore Dawg]

To Summaries this thread.

1. If your gun likes Hornady Superperformance then use it as you don't hand load, and they give the best downrange ballistics.
2. Do not go cheap on the scope.
3. Bottom line with ammunition, would you rather have a $1 or a $2 dollar bullet in your rifle when shooting that Elk.

[Offshore Dawg]

Thanks. Very good information. Where did you find such a good table? I’d love to look up the same info for a 165 grain Hornady Superperformance Interbond and/or SST 30-06 round with a muzzle velocity of 2960 fps.

Joe use that load. Your on the internet go to Hornady's site click on Ballistic table

[TUSK]

165 grain Interbond 30-06; MPBR = 325; Plenty of energy at 500

Ballistic Calculator
INPUT VARIABLES
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.447Velocity (ft/s): 2960Weight (GR): 165Maximum Range (yds): 500Interval (yds): 25Drag Function (): G1Sight Height (inches): 1.75Shooting Angle (Deg.): 0Zero Range (yds): 245Wind Speed (mph): 0Wind Angle (Deg.): 90Altitude (ft): 0Pressure (hg): 29.53Temperature (F): 59Humidity (%): 78
Ballistic Results
RANGE (YDS) VELOCITY (FPS) ENERGY (FT.-LB) TRAJECTORY (IN) COME UP (MOA) COME UP (MILS) WIND DRIFT (IN) WIND DRIFT (MOA) WIND DRIFT (MILS)
0 2960 3210 -1.8 0 0 0 0 0
25 2906 3094 -0.3 1.2 0.3 0 0 0
50 2854 2983 0.9 -1.6 -0.5 0 0 0
75 2801 2875 1.8 -2.2 -0.7 0 0 0
100 2750 2770 2.4 -2.3 -0.7 0 0 0
125 2699 2669 2.7 -2.1 -0.6 0 0 0
150 2649 2570 2.8 -1.8 -0.5 0 0 0
175 2599 2475 2.5 -1.4 -0.4 0 0 0
200 2550 2382 1.9 -0.9 -0.3 0 0 0
225 2501 2292 1 -0.4 -0.1 0 0 0
250 2453 2204 -0.3 0.1 0 0 0 0
275 2405 2120 -1.9 0.7 0.2 0 0 0
300 2358 2037 -3.9 1.2 0.4 0 0 0
325 2312 1958 -6.3 1.9 0.5 0 0 0
350 2265 1880 -9.1 2.5 0.7 0 0 0
375 2220 1805 -12.4 3.1 0.9 0 0 0
400 2175 1733 -16 3.8 1.1 0 0 0
425 2130 1662 -20.2 4.5 1.3 0 0 0
450 2086 1594 -24.8 5.3 1.5 0 0 0
475 2043 1528 -29.9 6 1.7 0 0 0
500 2000 1465 -35.5 6.8 2 0 0 0

[TUSK]

Range Velocity Energy Trajectory Come Up (MOA) Come Up (MILS) Wind Drift Wind Drift (MOA) Wind Drift (MILS)
0 2960 3210.0 -1.8 0.0 0.0 0 0 0
25 2906 3094.0 -0.3 1.2 0.3 0 0 0
50 2854 2983.0 0.9 -1.6 -0.5 0 0 0
75 2801 2875.0 1.8 -2.2 -0.7 0 0 0
100 2750 2770.0 2.4 -2.3 -0.7 0 0 0
125 2699 2669.0 2.7 -2.1 -0.6 0 0 0
150 2649 2570.0 2.8 -1.8 -0.5 0 0 0
175 2599 2475.0 2.5 -1.4 -0.4 0 0 0
200 2550 2382.0 1.9 -0.9 -0.3 0 0 0
225 2501 2292.0 1.0 -0.4 -0.1 0 0 0
250 2453 2204.0 -0.3 0.1 0.0 0 0 0
275 2405 2120.0 -1.9 0.7 0.2 0 0 0
300 2358 2037.0 -3.9 1.2 0.4 0 0 0
325 2312 1958.0 -6.3 1.9 0.5 0 0 0
350 2265 1880.0 -9.1 2.5 0.7 0 0 0
375 2220 1805.0 -12.4 3.1 0.9 0 0 0
400 2175 1733.0 -16.0 3.8 1.1 0 0 0
425 2130 1662.0 -20.2 4.5 1.3 0 0 0
450 2086 1594.0 -24.8 5.3 1.5 0 0 0
475 2043 1528.0 -29.9 6.0 1.7 0 0 0
500 2000 1465.0 -35.5 6.8 2.0 0 0 0

[Joe Schmedlap]

Thanks, Tusk. And thanks to everyone else who chimed in.

[Dolphus Raymond]

I agree with the statement that most whitetail hunters are over-gunned. However, after having two pigs run off following a270 round to the shoulder, I now exclusively hunt with my 7 mag. Am I over gunned for both whitetails and pigs? Probably, but for the same reason my old SBE is loaded with 3.5 rather than 3 inch shells in the duck blind, I now hunt with my 7 mag and the results please me.

[TUSK]

I agree with the statement that most whitetail hunters are over-gunned. However, after having two pigs run off following a270 round to the shoulder, I now exclusively hunt with my 7 mag. Am I over gunned for both whitetails and pigs? Probably, but for the same reason my old SBE is loaded with 3.5 rather than 3 inch shells in the duck blind, I now hunt with my 7 mag and the results please me.

Pigs are a whole different animal (pardon the pun)... Spine/Brain shots are the only guaranteed DRT solutions.

If I had to guess, a combination of bullet construction and/or shot placement was likely to blame and ofvergunning will certainly mitigate both issues... I've found it to be very important for one to have confidence in the caliber and round they use.