Common caliber that could kill an elk without being "overkill" for a deer?

Hog huntin Harry said:

It's not about the cartridge you use, but the bullet you choose. 25-06, .308, .270, 7mm-08, 30-06, ect will work exceptionally well. In my opinion the .270 Winchester loaded with 130 grain Nosler partitions is the best elk medicine for 95% of hunting situations.

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Most of my buddies swear by'em.

Speer HC for load development/range work - Then swap in Partitions for the field.

They are both flat base and generally shoot into the same hole.

One guy bangs away w/'em at 5-600 yards, at elk, with his Weatherby Mag... until he gets the range and they drop.


Went to the 150 gr. HC/Partition combo because I was hunting big deer and hogs mostly in the woods... and then found that the Speer GS would handle both at the .270 WCF's 2,800 fps MV.

Same w/ the 140 gr. GS/ 6.5x55's 2,740 fps MV.




GR

George P said:

No one says you have to fill the case; I have NEVER found max loads in my 7mm mag, 7-08, .243, .223, or 6.5 x 55 to be the most accurate - most were the best about midrange.

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I've had different results I guess, depends on which powder I'm playing with I reckon.

I never killed an elk, but have dropped plenty of white tails. For an all round one only rifle the 06 is tough to beat! The 270 should also get it done!
But personally I would use my 300 HH if I went elk hunting. Jmho

Im pretty comfortable shooting anything with my .375 Ruger, and 270gr speer btsp.
If its small and eaty, keep the bullets out of the tasty bits, if its large and eaty keep the bullets out of the tasty bits......Dont wanna do that shoot a harder bullet.

If its big and bitey, shoot a harder bullet.

I have shot deer with .243 to .300Wm with .308 .270 in between. Gave my .300 to my son in law, sold the .270. I’m very happy with my .308 165gr for almost everything. Sierra game king or nosler partitions or Hornady soft point depending on what I’m after. Have also used 150gr on pronghorn.

Doesnt appear to be any .280 rem love on this thread.

Hookeye said:

Doesnt appear to be any .280 rem love on this thread.

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No but I had a friend, but sadly Is passed away now, that dearly loved his .284 win 100!

Hookeye said:

Doesnt appear to be any .280 rem love on this thread.

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Ive got a .280AI I really like, and would be a great recommendation for anyone looking for a Deelk gun. In AI form it comes awfully close to top end 7Mag ballistics, with an extra cartridge in the mag. In standard for mine give full .280 velocity, and fantastic accuracy.

Ive had .375 on the brain again lately, and completely forgot to mention it.

LoonWulf said:

Ive got a .280AI I really like, and would be a great recommendation for anyone looking for a Deelk gun. In AI form it comes awfully close to top end 7Mag ballistics, with an extra cartridge in the mag. In standard for mine give full .280 velocity, and fantastic accuracy.

Ive had .375 on the brain again lately, and completely forgot to mention it.

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375 HH? I love the HH line of cartridges! Shame we don’t hear much about those anymore!
I once had an inch for the 275 HH, but somewhere through the years it passed as I got older.

Catpop said:

375 HH? I love the HH line of cartridges! Shame we don’t hear much about those anymore!
I once had an inch for the 275 HH, but somewhere through the years it passed as I got older.

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Mine is actually the Ruger version. When I rebarreled the gun it was a real toss up which way to go with it.

One of these days I'd like to get a matching 300 and 375 h&h pair.

Hookeye said:

Doesnt appear to be any .280 rem love on this thread.

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Remington - should have set the MAP to 65K psi, like the .270 WCF... and then pimped the hell out of it.

As things sit - there is no appreciable difference b/t the .270 WCF/150 gr. and the .280 Rem/160 gr.... except recoil, cost, and Factory availability.


An affordable and readily available Factory .280 Rem/160 gr. NP/AB load, at ~ 2850+ fps... would sell a hell of a lot of rifles.




GR

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LoonWulf said:

Im pretty comfortable shooting anything with my .375 Ruger, and 270gr speer btsp.
If its small and eaty, keep the bullets out of the tasty bits, if its large and eaty keep the bullets out of the tasty bits......Dont wanna do that shoot a harder bullet.

If its big and bitey, shoot a harder bullet.

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Sage advice, Obi-wan...






GR

I'm with those that recommend 30-06 as "enough for Elk but not too much for Deer". There were lots of guys in Elk camp with 30-06. I myself took .300 WM for longer distance.

The 30-06 might just do more than you think. I hunted Whitetails with it for decades using 30-06 150 & 180 gr factory ammo. But I had no idea what the 30-06 could do until we took it to Africa. I took a 700 lb Zebra and my wife took a 500 lb Wildebeest.

Plus the 30-06 has the added benefit of being available in any corner hardware store in Montana and I bet Oregon too. For that reason and for hunting, I'd forget the uncommon calibers.