Best Elk Caliber,is there one?

[todbartell]

It has me believing in better shooting with a more old fashioned caliber/bullet approach .

Is old = mo' betta?

How old fashioned? Like 30-30 with a 170gr flat point? Over a 300 PRC with 212gr LRX?

[IronNoggin]

Lots of great choices out there as stated.

My preference runs to a custom barreled 300 Weatherby Magnum with warm 180 grain Nosler Partitions.

Cheers,
Nog

[moosinaround]

7mm rem mag, 150 TTSX will do. 300 win mag with 180 sciroccos will do, 375 H&H with 300 accubonds will do. 9.3x62 with 285 hornady rp will do. the 6.5 PRC with 130 sciroccos wil even do!!! Moosin

[.330 Dakota]

After several encounters over the years, and being in the people protection business, I dont carry anything that wont flatten a grizzly. This starts at the 325 WSM, includes the 330 Dakota, 338WM, the 35 Whelen, and the 375
Not saying an 06 or a 300 isnt enough, I just like the bigger bullets. If you miss with a 223, or a 375, you can die,,so whatever you decide, know how to shoot it

[Codes44]

At 50 yards or less, yes. Jk, that's a good answer though.

[Redthies]

Welllllll to be fair, there are no centerfire CALIBERS. And all centerfire CARTRIDGES are legal for elk.

Oh. I didn’t know there was a rimfire in 7mm... or .300... or .338... or...

In case you didn’t notice, I was not taking a shot at you. Just pointing out that you had to shoot centerfire to be legal.

[264mag]

I don’t profess to be a great elk hunter but the 3 bulls I have killed were all called in to less than 100 yards. 2 were killed with a 300 H&H pushing 180 gr partitions, both in the seam behind the front shoulder. The 3rd was a 325 wsm driving a 200 gr Accubond, this one was high lung. All 3 accepted the lead pill and turned and walked away, all 3 took a follow up shot. This past winter by daughter shot her Smithers cow elk at 100 yards, spine shot, Hornady eldx. She did a follow up mercy shot. This hunt was open fields and perfect conditions. IMO elk are very tough and deserve a quick dispatch.

Gary is building me my close quarters elk gun, t3 action, IBI 22 inch mountain lite, wildcat ultralight stock, 338/06, topped with a Zeiss v6, 1-6x24 illuminated reticle, ballistic turret. I plan on developing a 225 gr Accubond load.

[Weatherby Fan]

I don’t profess to be a great elk hunter but the 3 bulls I have killed were all called in to less than 100 yards. 2 were killed with a 300 H&H pushing 180 gr partitions, both in the seam behind the front shoulder. The 3rd was a 325 wsm driving a 200 gr Accubond, this one was high lung. All 3 accepted the lead pill and turned and walked away, all 3 took a follow up shot. This past winter by daughter shot her Smithers cow elk at 100 yards, spine shot, Hornady eldx. She did a follow up mercy shot. This hunt was open fields and perfect conditions. IMO elk are very tough and deserve a quick dispatch.

Gary is building me my close quarters elk gun, t3 action, IBI 22 inch mountain lite, wildcat ultralight stock, 338/06, topped with a Zeiss v6, 1-6x24 illuminated reticle, ballistic turret. I plan on developing a 225 gr Accubond load.

Like Chuck says above IMHO Elk especially a Big Mature Bull Elk are tough and have a desire to live unlike others in the deer family, not to say you can't kill an Elk with 243/6.5CM/PRC/7mm-08 etc when all goes well with good bullets including perfect shot placement........

Ive killed 3 Elk with a 30-06 using 165gr Nosler Partitions and it worked fine, Ive also used a 300 Wby and with 180gr TSX it also killed them without a lot of chasing, all shots were inside of 200 Yards, I watched my nephew drop a young 6 pt Bull with 1 shot from a 300 WSM using 180gr TTSX at 400 yards, the bull never took a step.

I think 30-06/338-06/.308 & .338 cal magnums/35 Whelen all these cartridges are ideal, with that being said I wouldn't hesitate to hunt Elk with my 280AI using 160gr Accubonds or TTXS/GMX type bullet.

as most everyone says shot placement is key but I will add that is as or more important is a quality well constructed bullet not something thats going to disintegrate hitting a rib on the way in.

If you have the choice I would stick to 30/338 cal or larger, just my experience

[The Hermit]

I'll be using a bow first but if I don't connect then 338-06. A little more than the venerable 30.06 but easy shooting and great BC with Barnes TTSX in 185gr. More than enough at anything under 400 yards. Disclaimer - I've never shot an animal beyond 250 yards but fully confident this set up will reach out way beyond what I'm comfortable with. Good luck.

[Ocender]

After several encounters over the years, and being in the people protection business, I dont carry anything that wont flatten a grizzly. This starts at the 325 WSM, includes the 330 Dakota, 338WM, the 35 Whelen, and the 375
Not saying an 06 or a 300 isnt enough, I just like the bigger bullets. If you miss with a 223, or a 375, you can die,,so whatever you decide, know how to shoot it

I hear ya, when I was guiding my go to saddle rifle was my 444 Lever Marlin, but I started packing a 300 Win Mag....but the Marlin is an awesome rifle up to 100 yards,after that you really have to lob them in there.. lol..