Put the bullet weights, velocities, and bullet diameters of common cartridges in the "Pointblank " program available here and run some Taylor Knockout values and you can get a good understanding as to what is better. Many common cartridges are useful for broadside shots up to 300 yards. For raking and longer shots look at the bigger bores and not just the magnums. The larger bore cartridges in similar cartridge cases (.358 Win vs .308 Win, .35 Whelen vs .30-06 etc) are better elk rounds. The .270 is a fine cow elk round under 300 yards, but serious elk rounds start with .338 diameter bullets. Although small bullets into the vitals are lethal, bigger bullets into the same spot will shorten the tracking and can help prevent the animal from making it down a canyon where it needs to be packed out steak by steak. A .300 Win Mag is not much better than a .30-06, while a .35 Whelen is a worthwhile step up.

(edit: I omitted the 8mms, because I have not used them, but, Boddington, who favors big bullets, endorces the 8mm mag and the new .323 short Winmag could be good).

Welcome to the HuntingNut Irv S. Sit and stay Awhile
Joe

Welcome aboard Irv S. This is a very nice place, grab a cup of coffee and enoy!

I don't think you can go wrong with a .30-06 with 180 gr premium bullets. I've shot 30 some elk over the years, all DIY hunts, most on public land, most of them were bulls (2 that scored over 330 B&C net), and most were one shot kills. I shot one with an arrow, one with a .257 Ackley (I was sheep hunting, and a big 6-pt couldn't be passed up), the rest were shot with a .30-06 or the .30-06 rechambered to .30 Gibbs.

Proper placement into the heart/lungs with a premium bullet shot within a reasonable range (250 yds) are most important.

Some good info here! Wonder what captbrian picked?

I haven't hunted elk but I picked up a .35 Whelen, Rem 700 CDL, in case I get to someday. Ammo isn't an issue since I load my own (unless I forget it of course!). I like the idea of a bigger bore in something that won't belt me out from under my hat.

I wonder how the .338 Federal would work on elk? Anyone tried it yet?

Bushmaster wrote:

Handloader...No offence intended, but the elk run the deer off? In the Cascades of Oregon and Washington there is a very healthy elk population as well as a very healthy deer population living in the same areas. Not sure why elk would push deer of the same range as they don't eat the same thing. Elk are grazers and deer are browzers... .

Hey Bushey,

It's only a personal observation, but, one shared with many that have extended experience with hunting in Arizona. Our elk herds have expanded notably over the past four decades whereas the deer numbers have been stable, slightly declining or increasing depending on specific areas. When elk begin to dominate an area, the mulies are driven to lowr elevations and hunting patterns must change to accomodate this shift.

It could be that the Cascade area you mention has enough feed to sustain both elk and deer in the same area. It could be that many Arizona areas are marginal in the amount of feed available. But, it could also be that my observations stink. Recently, though, I got bull elk #20, a nice younger 6X6 in the 340 range. This was after several days of hard hunting and glassing during which numerous elk were seen but no mulies; in 1969 I had hunted the same area for mule deer and had my pick but saw no elk.

Ive always been partial to my Remmington 700 chambered in the 7mm Mag. Never once has it let me down. Good flat trajectory, and will put down an elk with ease. Usually i go with the 150 grain nosler ballistic tip and 60 grains of imr 4381.

I;ve used a 30-06 with 180 grain bullets (factory loads)for over thirty years of Elk hunting and have not been disappointed, but I think the main thing is not how big of caliber (Iwouldn't use a 243 though) but what is the gun that a person can shoot accuratly, 30 caliber or up.