elk gun

[crittergetter]

Well I considered not asking the question since I get the feeling I will end up even more undecided but here it is... Which might be better for elk and or more versatal and why? 300 Win mag or 7mm mag. Iv'e always shot a 270 for deer and pigs but have a new landowner friend and am going to put in for Elk. I think I'm down to choosing between the two with about 165 gr. I wan't to go bigger than .06 and no bigger than the others to keep it a little more multi purpose. I am confident with my 270 so may just decide to use it and get a new bow instead. Any thoughts?

 

[jimm]

I have a 300 RUM, I have more confidence in reaching out there aways and being able to put down a big boy. I have a 7mag as well. I would feel comfortable in shooting an elk with it. But if I thought it would be out past 200yds, I would take the 300. But its only my opinion, everyones will be different.

 

[East Sloper]

Another vote for a .300 caliber, the .300 Remington Ultra Mag (.300 RUM) being a good one...

 

[WYOBOY]

I like my magnums, each and every one. They are not needed for elk, but they are nice. If you are deciding between the .300win, and the 7rem it all comes to your personal preferance. I have both, but my .300 is a little heavey to tote around all day long. I tend to pick up my 7rem when I go for anything, including deer. If you feel you need a 300 rum to reach out past 200 yards then by all means go get one, the elk will not know the difference between a 160gr 7mm @ 3100, and a 180 grain .30 cal @ 3400.....you will though. If you are woried about about shooting long ranges for elk, don't. Just put in time shooting different distances in feild conditions. Do this until you are confident you can make any responsible shot on an elk that presents itself.

Elk are big targets, mix that with uneven terrain, moving targets, and adrenilin. the likelyhood of error goes through the roof.
If you don't have a range finder I would invest in one. That little peice of gear will help minimize your errors in ranging.
I passed a shot on a bull I estimated to be 500yrds, came back the following spring with a range finder and found out it was 320 (within the range of my 30-06)

 

[bubba]

.300, just because thats what I shoot almost for everything

 

[Arrowslinger]

I shoot a 7mm and will be taking it to Colorado this fall for elk.

 

[tmoniz]

I've taken all my bulls with a 175 grain partition in my 7 mag. Last one was 300 plus yards on a guided hunt.

 

[Rick]

I would get a 300 (and I did!) The 180 gr from a .300 mag is going faster than a 175 gr from a 7mm mag (speaking of the .300 Win and 7mm Rem). The trajectory of the .300 will be very close to what you get from your .270, in most cases. This will make the transition between the two much easier. I never saw the 7mm Rem as being much better than a plain ol' .30-06.

Or, just use your .270 with premium bullets and buy that bow.

 

[Piker]

I've got a Remington .270 and a .300 mag, and I'm leaning towards the .270 with 160 grains bullets. I'd be comfortable with either one.

 

[brut]

If you shoot the 270 good than stick with it, Its all about shot placement.

 

[niels]

a .270 is plenty adequate for elk, many a elk have fallen to the trusty ol .270, but I wouldn't load it with a bullet under 150 grains, the Nosler Partition is a tough bullet to beat, they pack a punch, but like has been said before, you don't really need to worry about punch if you hit him in the boiler room, because if you hit him in the boiler room with a bullet as little as the .17 remington he's going to die.

 

[AimHigh]

I shoot a 7mm, which is actually like shooting a .274. The .270 will work great -- heck some folks in Montana shoot 'em with a .243. Buy yourself a nice bow.

 

[WYOBOY]

Who makes a 160gr .270 bullet?

A good 130gr. bullet from the .270 will be adequate for elk. Just don't shoot an elk through the shoulders, will probobly still get to the sweat spot, but I wouldn't risk it.

I have never tried shooting anything but p-dogs with a .17. I seriously dobt that a .17 to the chest of an elk would do much ( other than get you a supersized elk horn enema).

Critter
What make of rifle are you thinking of getting for elk?

 

[JFWRC]

I have a .270 and love it. However, I also have a .338 and use it for elk and bigger. I am a guide/outfitter and have seen many elk harvested. I feel elk deserve every bit you can handle effectively. I don't go shoot my .338 for fun. I shoot it to effectively kill. If I go shoot this weapon off the bench, I hate it. However, when an elk is hit with it in the vitals, we both know its hit hard. I recently had a freind hit a 400+ bull with a .270. It was hit in both lungs and the bullet was recovered with great rentention just under the hide on the opposite side. The bull went 300 yards before it was recovered. It took almost 2 hours to find it. It bled little and was tracked. I submit the same hit with more energy would have resulted in a less anxious recovery. My .02....

 

[gonehunting]

Originally posted by crittergetter@Jan 4 2005, 08:43 PM
I am confident with my 270

Go with what you are confident with, .270 is plenty gun for elk.

A elk will go down a lot quicker with a .270 to the boilermaker than it will with a .300 in the a$$

 

[Common Sense]

Buy the bow.

 

[wmidbrook]

A .270 will work--you're just more likely to have a tracking job after the shot as someone mentioned here. And the further you've got to track, the greater the chance of loosing the animal. If you can take a second "anchoring" follow-up shot immediately after the well-placed first shot, that's a good thing regardless of caliber if the animal's still up after the first shot.

If you can't hit a paper plate with the .300 WM @ 100 or 200 yds or farther, but you can every time with a .270, I'd stick with a .270. I'd try to borrow someone's 300 WM first before buying one to get a feel for how much range work you'd have ahead of you to get proficient with it. And then I'd make a decision.

Of course if you buy a bow, you might find yourself hunting elk with it...that's what I've done over the last few seasons....doesn't look like I'll be getting another big game rifle any time soon since I'm hooked on hunting elk during the bugling season--most opportunities for the bugling season are archery only.

 

[Piker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Who makes a 160gr .270 bullet?[/b]

Nosler makes a very efficient 160 grain Partition bullet for the .270

 

[crittergetter]

Thants pretty much what I expected to here. I am leaning toward hanging with my 270. If I do get a large gun I will get a 300 mostly based on some ballistic states Iv'e been looking at. I am going to the range with my friends 300 when the weather clears. I'll probably end up with a bow and hopefully an elk. Thanks guys.

 

[fishboat1]

I am going against the majority by suggesting to stay away from a 270 or 30/06 for long range elk shooting.

An outfitter, with several guides working for him , that guides hunters out of Mont., north of Yellowstone, really tries to discourage any rifle below a 7mm mag. His experience , over 40 hunters per season, with a reasonable success rate even recommends in his literature not to take the 270.

I have hunted with him and he feels that there is not enough knock down power on less then perfect shots and he ends up tracking and not finding a lot of animals. These are mature bulls that migrate out of Yellowstone and are really large animals with the possibility of over 300 yards shot.

Keep the 270 for deer. You need every advantage for larger game.