Enough Elk Gun

Anyone who has bowhunted larger animals like elk should understand exactly what this "enough gun" discussion is all about.
Shot placement and weight are key to success when bow hunting elk. Hit one in the shoulder and you may not penetrate further than the bone shoot one there with a 243 and you might break the bone but that might be the extent and you might lose that animal. Shoot the same animal with a larger/heavier 7mm + and you will reach the goods and add magnum velocities and you have a hole on both sides from which to bleed.

If there was ever any doubt about the effectiveness of a 270 Win on large game it was erased a long time ago, while it would not be my first choice it certainly would do the trick in a pinch. Bullet construction really comes into play when using small calibers for large game, Partitions, Hot Cores, TSXs and such offer a huge advantage over softer constructed bullets, shot placement is paramount, there is simply no room for error with a 6.5mm or 270 cal while they will penetrate deep enough to pass through the vitals they will have shed much of their speed and the remote damage will be slim. Anything larger then mulies I swap to 30 cal or larger as a general rule.

X-Rap said:

Anyone who has bowhunted larger animals like elk should understand exactly what this "enough gun" discussion is all about.
Shot placement and weight are key to success when bow hunting elk. Hit one in the shoulder and you may not penetrate further than the bone shoot one there with a 243 and you might break the bone but that might be the extent and you might lose that animal. Shoot the same animal with a larger/heavier 7mm + and you will reach the goods and add magnum velocities and you have a hole on both sides from which to bleed.

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there is a video of a girl downing an elk with one shot at over 600 yds with a 243. It went down as soon as it was hit. I think the video might be on this thread

X-Rap said:

Sorry I just don't put that much faith in a bullet.

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isn't that what kills the game?

The .270 Win is an excellent rifle cartridge. It's an offshoot of the 30.06 which is the most utilitarian cartridge made by man. Jack O' Connor swore by the .270 Win and he took plenty of Elk with that cartridge as well. I've known a fair number of hunters from Wisconsin who've travelled out West to harvest their Elk with their .270's. It's a fine gun and anyone who tells you differnt simply doesn't know what the hell they're talking about!

That being said are there other weapons that might kill quicker...sure there are. However if you aren't a gun collector and only have one rifle, besides the 30.06, the .270 Win would be my next choice in rifle calibers for hunting.

the 6.5 is used on moose in Europe all the time. you aren't under gunned with a .270 on Elk.

the 6.5 is used on moose in Europe all the time.

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As I've said before, the .270 will certainly do it. I just don't think it's ideal.
However, the simple fact that something is done, isn't automatically good justification for doing so. Rednecks in the hills of Arkansas kill deer with .22s all the time. Doesn't make it a good idea.

Jezebel Jane would always just strangle them. ?

I know I will pay for this but O'Connor was one of the original shills.
If I was offered the plum hunting trips he did I'd swear by a slingshot if they wanted me to.
I just think that needs to be cleared up since he has been mentioned a time of two.

Six pages oughta be more than enough for this particular go-round of discussion on this subject.