Calibers for elk

[LKN4HOG]

I was going to hunt elk with my contender pistol but have only 2 large caliber barrels. Do you think that a 7-30 Waters or a .35 Rem is big enough for elk? I have used them both on deer and hogs but elk is a different game. If not these, what barrel for a Contender do you recommend?

Thanks

Randy

 

[Speckmisser]

I don't know a ton about the caliber, but from what I do know, the .35 will work OK if you keep the range reasonable.

If you're looking at another caliber, .444 would be an interesting choice. 30-06 has killed a lot of elk too and should be easy to get your hands on. Dunno what it's like to shoot those in the Contender, but I know folks shoot bigger stuff than that.

 

[LKN4HOG]

Thanks, but I think that the '06 and the like are only in the Encore pistol? My contender being the older model, calibers are limited. What do you think about the 30-30? It is available.

Randy

 

[Speckmisser]

Ahh.. that's where my knowledge of the Contenders and Encores runs short.

I know you can kill elk with the 30-30, but I don't think it would be my first choice... or my second.

There's a really good discussion of caliber requirements for elk hunting somewhere down on this forum. You might want to give that a read. The other thing to do would be to look up some comparative ballistics and see which available calibers for your gun might be better. That 7-30 might actually be a good choice, but again, keep it close. I wouldn't be slinging that 120gr bullet very far at something as big as an elk.

Don't they offer a 45-70 barrel for that gun? That would be a fun caliber, and good on elk, especially if you handload. Again, though, it's gonna be 100 yards or so top range.

 

[bpnclark]

I don’t know if you want to buy a new barrel but this company has them all. They can make anything you want too.

www.MatchGradeMachine.com

 

[LKN4HOG]

Yes, they do make a 45-70 but I really did not want to go that route. As for custom....kinda out of my price range since I look for shelf items or used. Thanks for the thought about looking up the possible calibers, but ubtil than, the .35 rem at about 50 yards is in the lead.

Thanks all..

Randy

 

[Speckmisser]

The .35 up close and personal sounds like a great hunt to me!

Looking forward to reading about your success.

 

[trapperbr549]

A friend bought a .35 Rem and had it re-chambered for .358 Win. It has a little more power and it is not all that expensive to have the work done, especially if the gunsmith already has the reamer.

 

[Lives2Hunt]

.35 Win, will work everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement. Practice, practice, practice! I know you probably have done extensive hours and are very confident with that Contendor, so you will be fine at those distances. I hunt sometimes with a 30-30 in thick timber in Colorado at 7500 ft and have great cofidence in taking elk at even 80 yards (never seen those distances in thick timber, but you know what I mean). I know of a guy who hunts cows and bucks with a .45 Long Colt loaded with black powder out of his Yellow Boy and he has killed many of animals with that caliber. You have to take into consideration distance and shotplacement, maybe you can extend that range with a good rest? However, I did to get into that "big bore" theory a few years back, but after shooting alot and checking out different ammo/balistic charts I realized with different combinations of factory ammo, velocity and eneregy can be made up with different manufactures, and not having to go buy a new rifles/calibers. For example if you wanted more pop for what ever reason Federal and Hornady make a High Energy/Light Mag that produces very similar balistics out of my 30.06 as a 300 win. mag. Just my two pennies!