What is the max range of my elk hunting load?

[hmbleservant]

View the circumstantial data in the image and vote:
Based on your personal opinion...What do you consider the max range to take a mature Colorado bull elk, perfectly broadside, chest shot? Pretend that you have 1 moa accuracy and your aiming for a double lung shot.

Load: Berger Hunting VLD

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by hmbleservant

View the circumstantial data in the image and vote:
Based on your personal opinion...What do you consider the max range to take a mature Colorado bull elk, perfectly broadside, chest shot? Pretend that you have 1 moa accuracy and your aiming for a double lung shot.

Load: Berger Hunting VLD

Personally I'm going for the spine and shoulderblades. That way if I'm low I right on target for both lungs or heart.

I'd put a tentative limit of 1000yds.

That limit would likely be extended though if it were the right bull (Once in a lifetime OMG Bull) under the right circumstances.

Of course the smallest thing I'd be shooting at him would be my 7mm STW



.257 IS a little undergunned at that range for an elk.

[hmbleservant]

Wildrose,

No vote?

I know 25-06 isn't the ideal cartridge for the task, but it's what I have and I'm trying to get some advise on the ethical range limit for the rifle.

Some say 1800 fps+ and 1000ft/lbs+ as a limit for the big game, but I wanted to here everyone's personal votes based on understanding/experience.

Thanks for the post!

Nice choice for long range BTW! I like the 7mm WSM from some research, but yours will push'em a couple hundred fps faster.

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by hmbleservant

Wildrose,

No vote?

I know 25-06 isn't the ideal cartridge for the task, but it's what I have and I'm trying to get some advise on the ethical range limit for the rifle.

Some say 1800 fps+ and 1000ft/lbs+ as a limit for the big game, but I wanted to here everyone's personal votes based on understanding/experience.

Thanks for the post!

Nice choice for long range BTW! I like the 7mm WSM from some research, but yours will push'em a couple hundred fps faster.

We discuss lots of things here but the "ethics" of long range hunting is one subject that is verbotten as I understand it.

Personally I feel every sportsman has a duty to do their best in every circumstance to give the game we take a clean kill every time whenever possible.

7mm STW and 7 RUM are the way to go with the 7's for long range. The WSM is a little light once you get beyond 600-800.

For most of the experienced long range guys we don't think of "long range" really until you get beyond 1000yds.

Out to six it's just a matter of marksmanship and knowing your drops.

[budlight]

You want to impart energy into the game. The shock wave is like a knock out punch. A bow and arrow is a bleed out where the the animal runs off as far it can. Or like a sickening hunt I was on the arrow shooter actually severed the spine in front of the rear legs and then you have a poor wounded animal running on the front legs and dragging its rear with all horrid death sounds or crying. You just want to blast it to end the misery, but you can't because it's bow season.


Your far column kind of says it all. 591 pounds. Well a big elk might be 800 and smaller bull might be 600+

So you better shoot it about within 20 feet. My opinion 2000 foot pounds is very safe with a placed bullet. At 1000 pounds you are like using a bow and arrow.

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Zero yards. You need to buy an elk rifle.

[kcebcj]

Originally Posted by Long Time Long Ranger

Zero yards. You need to buy an elk rifle.

I agree !! Mature bulls are big and tough. You gotta wack-em!