Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Hunting
Elk Hunting
Minimum Elk Rifle?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="HARPERC" data-source="post: 833773" data-attributes="member: 30671"><p>Everyone has different requirements from different experience. I'm not a believer in foot lbs energy, I'm more concerned with how a bullet penetrates and expands at the ranges I'm likely to shoot. I shot my first elk with a .375 H&H. In the coastal swamps I hunted then we hunted in hip boots, at close range, with virtually no blood trails. We killed one bull shin deep below sea level, and by the time we got done field dressing the tide had us knee deep below sea level. One spot was right on a unit boundary, branched antler one unit, spike the other. It was important they stop on the correct side of the river. A few elk got away with smaller calibers in those circumstances due largely in my opinion to underestimating what it takes to break elk bones, or what it takes to penetrate from the back end to the front end. If you're picky about broadside behind the shoulder shots they just don't happen in that situation. Open country the 300 magnums work well for me. If what I had was a .243, I'd go hunting. You've had a couple of threads on this, and you're hesitant for a reason. You also know there will not be agreement on a minimum caliber. Go and have fun. Time and resources available, build you that nice lightweight stalking rifle in a caliber you feel good about shooting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HARPERC, post: 833773, member: 30671"] Everyone has different requirements from different experience. I'm not a believer in foot lbs energy, I'm more concerned with how a bullet penetrates and expands at the ranges I'm likely to shoot. I shot my first elk with a .375 H&H. In the coastal swamps I hunted then we hunted in hip boots, at close range, with virtually no blood trails. We killed one bull shin deep below sea level, and by the time we got done field dressing the tide had us knee deep below sea level. One spot was right on a unit boundary, branched antler one unit, spike the other. It was important they stop on the correct side of the river. A few elk got away with smaller calibers in those circumstances due largely in my opinion to underestimating what it takes to break elk bones, or what it takes to penetrate from the back end to the front end. If you're picky about broadside behind the shoulder shots they just don't happen in that situation. Open country the 300 magnums work well for me. If what I had was a .243, I'd go hunting. You've had a couple of threads on this, and you're hesitant for a reason. You also know there will not be agreement on a minimum caliber. Go and have fun. Time and resources available, build you that nice lightweight stalking rifle in a caliber you feel good about shooting. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Hunting
Elk Hunting
Minimum Elk Rifle?
Top