How much Energy is needed to take an Elk?

texasmeathunter · #1 09-12-2010, 06:54 AM

I am going Elk hunting for the first time this year. I have hunted all imaginable Texas game but this will be my first Colorado Elk hunt. I am using a 30-06 Ruger M77. I have been target shooting with Berger 210 VLD hand loads and can confidently and consistently hit targets out to 500 yards. However, I am concerned that this load might not have enough knock down power out past 300 yds. My muzzle veloscity is 2450 FPS.

How much energy does it take to put an elk down with a well placed shot in the vitals?

bigngreen · #2 09-12-2010, 09:56 AM

You'll have plenty of energy, it's velocity that your going to need to watch. At 500yrds with 6000ft elevation I have it at 1900fps ish with 1700ft-lbs of energy, if you deliver it, this more than enough to put the smack down on an elk!

I kill them regularly with around a 1000ft-lbs of energy just fine, I don't smack them down but they take a few steps then run out of go juice and fall over. Bullet placement is far more critical so I would hunt with what your good with and know!

trebark · #3 09-12-2010, 11:40 AM

Although I agree with bigngreen that 1000lbs of energy and a well placed shot will take elk, the conventional wisdom says you need 1500 pounds of energy.

So I ran your load in exbal and found that you have 1500lbs of energy at 500 yards and 1000lbs at 800.

bigngreen is exactly right though. It's all about shot placement. A well placed shot with minimal energy is better than a poorly placed shot with tons of energy.

458win · #4 09-12-2010, 02:47 PM

Hit them behind the shoulder with a decent bullet and anything more then a 22LR will be fine. The 210 is pretty much going to punch a hole from one side to the other at the speed you have it going. Up close you may get expansion but past 300yrds there will not be much effect.

texasmeathunter · #5 09-12-2010, 03:02 PM

Many Thanks to Bigngreen and Trebark for the info.

trebark · #6 09-12-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasmeathunter

Many Thanks to Bigngreen and Trebark for the info.

You're welcome. We are the 'experts'

bigngreen · #7 09-13-2010, 12:12 AM

Good, luck. Don't be surprised if an elk just absorbs a bullet, be ready to put another one in them. Since it's your first just be ready, I've seen a couple guys just lock up when they didn't grab dirt like a deer. A heck of a lot of elk have been dumped by a 30-06 and if you steer it good your GTG!