MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Rose... Sounds like you've perfected the "Texas Heart Shot"... 
Offseason cartridge decision
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WildRose
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If you do much hog hunting the way I do you're either going to get very good at it, miss most of the time, or spend a whole lot of time watching them simply run away.Rose... Sounds like you've perfected the "Texas Heart Shot"...
Deer, Elk, Antelope, even coyotes and bobcats, will most of the time when startled just run a short ways, usually 100 maybe 200 yards or less then stop, turn, and look back at you to see what you are doing or to simply figure out what it was that startled them to begin with.
Hogs on the other hand tend to simply put it in high gear and leave the AO completely. Even when they are not shot at it's quite common to see them run a half mile or more before even slowing down.
If they run uphill it gets really challenging because then you have to calculate a point or hold above them and if you don't get it exactly right the bullets just end up in the ground behind them.
I have a deal with most of my neighbors that allows me to simply drive the county roads around all of our properties and shoot them on sight and of course around here they are all quite vehicle shy because everyone shoots at them that can pretty much every chance they get.
laker
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Nah friends a gunsmith. I could have it done in two weeks
Timnterra
Well-Known Member
Going by what you already have, a .308 magnum would be the next logical choice. Just going by bullet diameter a .264 bullet is almost exactly half way between a .308 and a .223. The three cartridges I'd consder would be 30 Nosler, 300 Norma, and 300 Win mag. They are pretty much ballisticaly identical and all work in a standard Remington 700, even better with a Wyatt's extended mag box.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
.338 Edge. Push a 300 SMK or 300 OTM @ 2850-2900+. Elk medicine.
.300RUM. Push a 230 Hybrid @ 3050+. Elk medicine.
28 Nosler, 7STW, 7RUM. Push a 195 EOL @ 3050+. Elk medicine.
7RM, 7SAUM, .280 Sherman, .280AI. Shoot a 168 to 180 @ 2950-3100. Elk medicine.
.300RUM. Push a 230 Hybrid @ 3050+. Elk medicine.
28 Nosler, 7STW, 7RUM. Push a 195 EOL @ 3050+. Elk medicine.
7RM, 7SAUM, .280 Sherman, .280AI. Shoot a 168 to 180 @ 2950-3100. Elk medicine.
NEMTHunter
Well-Known Member
Given a max of 600 yards even the old 06 would do the job well. At that range mine is still putting out over 2100 ftlbs.
I would do the 300 win put a 28" 1:9 twist barrel on it extended box so you can load long, shoot the 215 berger and you have a efficient elk killing machine. good to over 1000 yards. should still have over 2500 ftlb @ 600 yards.
Nothing rare about the amo. Excellent brass.
I would do the 300 win put a 28" 1:9 twist barrel on it extended box so you can load long, shoot the 215 berger and you have a efficient elk killing machine. good to over 1000 yards. should still have over 2500 ftlb @ 600 yards.
Nothing rare about the amo. Excellent brass.
Agreed! Sometimes "WE" forget that the venerable .30-06 is still well capable of the task at hand.
I have larger caliber/chamberings but the .300 WM remains my go to chambering from antelope to elk size game and it has served me well throughout the years.
With your shooting criteria 300wsm all the way. Steel out till you run out of real estate, more than plenty for elk out to 600yds.
300wsm is not too hard to find if you run out of ammo and need a box.
Reload? Less powder than a 300wm if you plan to shoot a bunch of steel in the offseason.
300wsm is not too hard to find if you run out of ammo and need a box.
Reload? Less powder than a 300wm if you plan to shoot a bunch of steel in the offseason.
Hawk in WY
Well-Known Member
The bullet you shoot the most accurately from a rifle you can pack in the back country.
High energy misses don't count.
Old Elk hunter here.
High energy misses don't count.
Old Elk hunter here.
surgeon260
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I recently went through the same exercise - trying to identify the ideal platform for a dedicated elk/moose rifle out to 600 yards.
When I began my research, I already owned two of the common suggestions in this thread: 300 Norma (mine is a 40 degree improved) and 28 Nosler, but both of my rifles are built around specific target/match projectiles (230 Berger and 195 Berger, respectively). For a dedicated elk/moose hunting rifle, I decided that I wanted to shoot a tougher, more robust bullet that would expand/penetrate reliably in any situation I might encounter (bad angles, heavy brush, etc.). This is just my personal preference; not saying elk cannot be killed with a Berger.
My calculus led me to the 33 Nosler shooting the 250 Accubond at 2850-2900. The 250 Accubond is a beast of a bullet and still has a G7 BC pushing 0.3. I was willing to sacrifice some BC in order to gain some terminal performance reliability. I know plenty of guys use Bergers on elk with great success, but the 250 Accubond gives ME PERSONALLY more confidence across all possible shots inside 600 yards.
At my typical elk hunting elevations (above 8000 ft), the 250 Accubond bullet is going 2250 fps at 600 yards with almost 2800 ft-lbs of energy, and it only drops around 0.6 mil more than my hot rod 28 Nosler shooting 195s. The ballistic compromise is pretty minimal.
When I began my research, I already owned two of the common suggestions in this thread: 300 Norma (mine is a 40 degree improved) and 28 Nosler, but both of my rifles are built around specific target/match projectiles (230 Berger and 195 Berger, respectively). For a dedicated elk/moose hunting rifle, I decided that I wanted to shoot a tougher, more robust bullet that would expand/penetrate reliably in any situation I might encounter (bad angles, heavy brush, etc.). This is just my personal preference; not saying elk cannot be killed with a Berger.
My calculus led me to the 33 Nosler shooting the 250 Accubond at 2850-2900. The 250 Accubond is a beast of a bullet and still has a G7 BC pushing 0.3. I was willing to sacrifice some BC in order to gain some terminal performance reliability. I know plenty of guys use Bergers on elk with great success, but the 250 Accubond gives ME PERSONALLY more confidence across all possible shots inside 600 yards.
At my typical elk hunting elevations (above 8000 ft), the 250 Accubond bullet is going 2250 fps at 600 yards with almost 2800 ft-lbs of energy, and it only drops around 0.6 mil more than my hot rod 28 Nosler shooting 195s. The ballistic compromise is pretty minimal.
longrangebob
Well-Known Member
A 338 - depending on where U Hunt & weight!! My go to Elk Rifle is 700 Rem. In 340 Wby with lite Chet Brown Stock 215 TTSX boollit
If Open fields & long range set up - .338 Rogue (Edge w/ steeper shoulders & straighter sides) but weighs in @ 15#'s so carried in drag bag with bipod 300 gr. Bullet your choice
Shorter distances -- .338TPC (enlarged 284 case) 200 NoslerBT - & in bush -- 338-08 !!!! 200 gr. NorthFork !!!
On a Game Ranch !!! .338 Whisper with Aluminum Tipped 300 gr. Wildcat
If Open fields & long range set up - .338 Rogue (Edge w/ steeper shoulders & straighter sides) but weighs in @ 15#'s so carried in drag bag with bipod 300 gr. Bullet your choice
Shorter distances -- .338TPC (enlarged 284 case) 200 NoslerBT - & in bush -- 338-08 !!!! 200 gr. NorthFork !!!
On a Game Ranch !!! .338 Whisper with Aluminum Tipped 300 gr. Wildcat
Canhunter35
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A lot of good suggestions so far, maybe since you're wanting a 1k target/elk to 600yds gun, select the bullet you would like to shoot then choose a cartridge that is optimal for it.
I have seen elk hit with 7 mags & not flinch. Elk are tough. I firmly believe most "misses" on elk probably hit the elk but didn't do enough damage to drop it relatively soon. I want any elk I shoot to go home with me.
I see a lot of good suggestions, but many of them do not fit you request for a 0-900 yard elk gun.
At close range there are many effective choices & bullet choice controls more than cartridge. Anything from a 7 mag and .30-06 up is adequate for elk out to about 500 yards.
For ranges over 500 yards I'm a fan of the bigger .338 cartridges. I THOUGHT the .300 magnums were potent until I shot two elk with a .338-.378 Weatherby Magnum. I had picked up a Weatherby Accumark at a ridiculously low price as a back-up gun, got to a hunt & found 2 scope mount screws broken off on my .300 mag., so I carried "the cannon". My guide said he was an instant fan once he saw it's effectiveness on a bull running through the trees at about 450 yards — it tumbled at the shot. I chose it for my next elk hunt. The big .338s carry a lot of downrange energy — which correlates to increased effectiveness especially if placement isn't perfect. Beyond 500 yards a lot can happen that can make bullet placement less than perfect so that increased effectiveness is important. I think too much of a trophy bull to want there to be one getting away wounded that will die a week later. If you really want to reach out there on elk — go big! The negatives of a .338 are weight, recoil & noise. If you can deal with those a .338 is for you.
There are suddenly a plethora of great .338s to choose from. Not knowing your budget & what other criteria might matter to you I won't play favorites. The "old standby" .338 WM is slightly bested by the .340 Weatherby as the least expensive used .338s you are likely to find. Above there rifles tend to get more expensive, but I got my like new Weatherby Accumark .338/.378 with scope, mounts, case, and ammunition for about the value of the scope that was mounted on it, so great deals do happen!
I see a lot of good suggestions, but many of them do not fit you request for a 0-900 yard elk gun.
At close range there are many effective choices & bullet choice controls more than cartridge. Anything from a 7 mag and .30-06 up is adequate for elk out to about 500 yards.
For ranges over 500 yards I'm a fan of the bigger .338 cartridges. I THOUGHT the .300 magnums were potent until I shot two elk with a .338-.378 Weatherby Magnum. I had picked up a Weatherby Accumark at a ridiculously low price as a back-up gun, got to a hunt & found 2 scope mount screws broken off on my .300 mag., so I carried "the cannon". My guide said he was an instant fan once he saw it's effectiveness on a bull running through the trees at about 450 yards — it tumbled at the shot. I chose it for my next elk hunt. The big .338s carry a lot of downrange energy — which correlates to increased effectiveness especially if placement isn't perfect. Beyond 500 yards a lot can happen that can make bullet placement less than perfect so that increased effectiveness is important. I think too much of a trophy bull to want there to be one getting away wounded that will die a week later. If you really want to reach out there on elk — go big! The negatives of a .338 are weight, recoil & noise. If you can deal with those a .338 is for you.
There are suddenly a plethora of great .338s to choose from. Not knowing your budget & what other criteria might matter to you I won't play favorites. The "old standby" .338 WM is slightly bested by the .340 Weatherby as the least expensive used .338s you are likely to find. Above there rifles tend to get more expensive, but I got my like new Weatherby Accumark .338/.378 with scope, mounts, case, and ammunition for about the value of the scope that was mounted on it, so great deals do happen!
