Best Long Range Caliber for "Big" Bull Elk ?

[AZ Jim]

My account shows AZGFD hit my card (yeah!!), so if it is true, I may have been drawn for a Unit 9 or 23 late hunt. In the past shot opportunities have presented themselves at 100 to 700 yards or more out in their winter range. I personally would not take a shot at a big bull over 350 yards with my 30-06 (180grn bullet), so stalking as close as I can is always the best option. We have had to pass on elk over the years at longer ranges only to watch someone with very good shooting skills and tricked out long range rifles take one from a distant hill top. I picture in my head the time I saw 3 big bulls who must have been bedded in a draw walk out in the open just before last legal light and thinking to myself, "if could close that distance to 500 yards could I make the shot and what rifle caliber would I need to do it". I also know that my skills, shooting conditions, elevation, temp, wind, heart rate, and breathing etc.. all come into play as well. So, because we have a whole lot of experience on Jesse's I thought I would get some opinions. What do you think is the best long range caliber / bullet weight and type combo for elk ? Just might give me an excuse to buy a new rifle....:smile-yellow:

Thanks for your input.

AZ Jim

 

[thewolfman]

A 7 mag will do very well to 500 yrds or more depending on how well u know your gun and how much practice u do at the range....there are people who shoot at a1000 yrds but i personally would not...good luck and Congrats

 

[husky44]

double-post-sorry

 

[husky44]

Any of the 30 to 338 mags will do the job..It's up to the Indian, not the arrow. My longest shot ~500-yard was with a .270 using 150-grainers..

 

[Bossbrott]

7mag or a 300 should be good medicine. Shot placement is the key, good optics should definitely factor into your equation. At those ranges a bipod or a nice pair of sticks would also be very helpful.At extreme ranges, being steady is crucial. Good luck in your quest, tell your pocketbook I said sorry!

 

[Bubblehide]

Copper bullits have changed the game; just ask the serious African hunters and guides. Copper bullits have superior penetration with almost 100% weight/mass retention; what more can you look for. And to top it off, it can now be done with a lighter bullit.

 

[easymoney]

As has been said anything in the 30-338 mag range will stop em.
I'm old school and use a mod 70 .300 win mag and 180 gr nosler partions or Barnes TSX, never let me down yet...
Also, what has been said about the copper or gilding metal bullets is spot on, they are changing what we shoot for the better.

 

[DAWG]

While copper bullets up the game potential of a a cartrige at normal hunting range, they are longer for the same weight in a given caliber and are more subject to wind drift. In hunting, you don't get spotter shots and wind drift is a bigger guess than drop.

Wringing the best accuracy and actually shooting your rig at various distances under various conditions is the most important thing once you have a reasonable cartrige/bullet combo.

Pretty much the best one is the biggest one you can enjoy shooting enough, the 7mm and .300 mags are about the upper enjoyable shooting recoil limit for most. Picking a long slick accurate bullet is important. A 30-06 with better long range bullets will outperform a 7mm mag with average bullets at longer ranges.

 

[warren nelson]

I use a 30-378 when I hunt that area and it seem to work out pretty good, long shots are the normal.

 

[Bubblehide]

All good advice given, but I'll expound. The African guides are telling their clients to leave the really big guns at home, unless there going for elephant or rino. Why, because with copper you now have the penetration and power to easily take most game animals with a standard magnum cartridge in Africa. For our game animals here, with copper, we can now step down in bullet weight. In doing so, we can gain velocity, and a subsequent flatter trajectory w. while maintaining or improving penetration and killing power.The key is in not using to light a bullet and staying with a copper big game bullet (it's designed for controlled expansion/weight retention on big game). So, if your using copper, step down in bullet weight (as opposed to a lead bullet), and chose one designed for long range (spire point boat tail), wind drift is not only minimized, it's less than if you had chosen a comparable performing lead bullet, and since you step down in weight, you haven't lengthened your bullet. To top it off, although your choices are limited, you can do even go with over the counter production copper ammo.

 

[Sigma]

So, if your using copper, step down in bullet weight (as opposed to a lead bullet), and chose one designed for long range (spire point boat tail), wind drift is not only minimized, it's less than if you had chosen a comparable performing lead bullet, and since you step down in weight, you haven't lengthened your bullet.

I've always read that longer bullets are a good thing. They fly better, drop less and have better penetration due to enhanced sectional density.

 

[Live2hunt]

I would not buy a new rifle. I would spend the extra money to tune that old 06 to at least shoot 1" MOA if it's not already. Then get a dial turret made for your scope or a scope with the dial turret made specific to your ammo load. And practice. Shooting past your comfort range of 350 yards may mean you need to get into reloading if you are already not. And lots of shooting practice.

 

[sagebrush]

I think the best long range cartridge is either the .300 RUM or 30-378. Put a brake on the rifle and the recoil is the same or less than a non-magnum cartridge. I have a couple of .338 win mags and my effective range with a 200 gr Hornady SST is 700 yards. Even with that light bullet, it really starts to drop after 700.

 

[easymoney]

Good advice live2,
I have a ranging reticle on my scopes and it allows for any lead or drop. I made a 310 yd neck shot on my muley this year and he never even got up...
Plus, in the right hands many non mag cartridges are very deadly, in fact many snipers used a 308 and made shots way beyond what any of us would ever be.
At extreme ranges, heavier bullets will drop alot, mag rounds allow for more powder but with the right bullet even a 30 06 can make longer shots too...

IMHO, making shots longer than you would normally make is a hard call, most people are not ready to make a 700yd shot even from a bench rest or leadsled.
Hunting takes in loads of factors not seen at a gun range, not only wind drift and elevation drop, but also terrain changes.

 

[myfriendis410]

If you are a handloader that alone will add to your long range abilities. For a rifle; I would buya Weatherby Vanguard 2 sub-moa in .300 win mag or .300 Weatherby Mag and use the Barnes 168 gr. TTSX loaded as hot as possible. Top the rifle with a VXIII 4.5-14 with a Boone and Crockett reticle and shoot shoot shoot it! Take it out and actually run targets at 4, 5, 6 and 700 yards. Get a GOOD rangefinder with an inclinometer. Download and use a ballistics program and create a click chart. Then shoot some more.

 

[Bubblehide]

I've always read that longer bullets are a good thing. They fly better, drop less and have better penetration due to enhanced sectional density.

Absolutely correct. I was responding to Dawg's statement of wind drift; which has merrit. MNSHO is that it would be negligible if at all (for what most hunters use (160-200 grain)); but stepping down in bullet weight negates the possible length difference. The bottom line is that for most of the common calibers (U.S.), a 140 to 160 grain bullet provides optimal performance (higher velocity , flatter trajectory...). Simply put, a flatter trajectory increases your odds of hitting your target.

 

[Deleted member 33033]

The rifle you know best and are most accurate with.

 

[AZ Jim]

Thanks all - so here is what I am going to do - practice with the 06 with quality bullets out to 400 plus yards and pick up a rifle in one of the 300 or 338 magnums. I have an opportunity to buy a Weatherby 300, Weatherby Accumark in 338 Lapua, McMillan in 300 Win. Mag, & a Model 70 in 338 Win. Mag. - any suggestions based on experience? Anyone know much about McMillan Rifles? From what I am finding it appears it was made by the same folks that make the rifle stocks, but is there custom line? It has a 24-inch barrel which seems a little short compared to other 300's. Will I get complete powder burn?

 

[myfriendis410]

I shoot a 24" .300 win mag but I handload. 26" is the nominal length, but you won't lose a lot of velocity depending on what load you are using. McMillan rifles are very well done and should be more than adequate in that caliber for any elk hunting you want to do. Get a GOOD scope with mil dot or Boone and Crockett style reticle and practice with it.

 

[myfriendis410]

As far as performance goes the .300 Weatherby is my personal choice. The .338 Lapua is too much gun and the .338 win mag lacks the flat trajectory of either of the .300's. If I were to choose one it would be the .300 win mag if shooting factory ammo and the .300 Weatherby if shooting hand loads.