.280 REM for Elk?

[LeverGunJunkie]

Gents;
I think this may be old ground... but is the .280 REM a good Elk gun? I ran a quick thread search and the topic didn't pop up.

I like the caliber, and looking for a reason to buy one. Seems like a great round for the reloader.

What are the limitations of a .280 w/ Elk? I want a 300 yrd Elk gun that can make all the shots. Can the .280 perform that role?

I know, the .300 win/.338/7mmRM/.35 whelen, etc are probably better suited. Just looking for an opinion from some smart elk hunters on the .280.

Thanks

 

[ArmedBear]

I think that it's in the category "if you have a .280, you can use it for elk", as opposed to "if you specifically want an elk gun, go get a .280".

(I'm making a few assumptions. You're in Georgia, so I assume that by "elk hunt" you mean flying somewhere like here and going after a big bull. Note that bull elk are some mighty big animals, much bigger than the cows that someone here in Idaho might pursue to fill the freezer. Maybe I'm wrong about my assumptions.)

 

[Bwana John]

I have shot 2 cow elk with my 7mm Mauser - 175 gr BTSP @ 2450fps. (Modern M700 action)

The .280 is only ~150fps faster when loaded to the same pressures.

Both shots were <200 yards, both animals went down in less than 100 yards with one shot to the heart/lung area.

I would probably use more gun if I ever get drawn again for bull elk, the last bull I shot with a 300 Win Mag.

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

think that it's in the category "if you have a .280, you can use it for elk", as opposed to "if you specifically want an elk gun, go get a .280".

You need to understand how my mind works. I have never bought a $800-$1000 gun without a solid justification for owning it; self-defense, deer, coyote, etc. As a family man, I have trouble dropping tha much coin just b/c "I want one." But if the dudes on THR tell me it is terrific elk round, then I'll make a move for it.

I'm making a few assumptions. You're in Georgia, so I assume that by "elk hunt" you mean flying somewhere like here and going after a big bull. Note that bull elk are some mighty big animals, much bigger than the cows that someone here in Idaho might pursue to fill the freezer. Maybe I'm wrong about my assumptions

Nope, your assumptions are dead-on.

I would probably use more gun if I ever get drawn again for bull elk, the last bull I shot with a 300 Win Mag.

That is what my gut is telling me. If this general opinon prevails than I will proabably go with a REM 700 CDL SF or M77 Stainless Hawkeye in 7mm REM MAG.

 

[ArmedBear]

if the dudes on THR tell me it is terrific elk round

...then they'd be liars (considering in particular that you're after bulls and want a 300 yard gun).

The impetus for the .333 OKH (tweaked slightly and standardized as the .338 Win Mag) and the .338-378 KT (tweaked slightly and standardized as the .338-378 Weatherby) was elk hunting. The K in both stands for "Keith", and he pursued a lot of elk as a hunter and a guide. If you read what he had to say about these rounds, he wanted them because he'd seen too many standard rounds fail to do their jobs effectively on bull elk -- and had to chase down wounded animals, sometimes for miles, though the mountains. Trophy bull elk can top 1000 lbs.

Now it's true that many Idahoans take an elk with a muzzleloader every year (a real one, no sabots, 209s, pellets, etc. allowed here). However, they tend to call in cow elk and shoot them at relatively close ranges, not the 300 yards you're talking about.

 

[ArmedBear]

If this general opinon prevails than I will proabably go with a REM 700 CDL SF or M77 Stainless Hawkeye in 7mm REM MAG.

There are nicer guns out there...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Poor Jack O'Connor. So deluded as to believe that the .270 Winchester was actually capable of taking a bull elk. We don't have elk in Alabama but I hope to get to Kentucky when the start having an open season. I most likely will take my 7mm Rem.mag and 30.06 as a back-up.

 

[H&Hhunter]

If you want pure no BS elk medicine go get a .338WM. If you want a really cool rifle that sure as heck can be used for elk go get your .280R. The .280 is real close to the .270 in real world terms. The .270 is a decent elk round not my first choice but definitely capable of killing elk.

 

[Schleprok62]

The .280 is real close to the .270 in real world terms.

errr... uhmmm the .280 Rem far outperforms the .270 Win... matter of fact, it will out perform the venerable 30-06 Sprg... Go look at ballistics tables...

To answer the question at hand... taking into consideration that I personally know a fella who regularly uses a 30-30 Win for Elk (bulls and cows) I would suspect the .280 Rem would be just fine... if you're a reloader, you can load a .280 to near 7mm mag performance...


Cheers...

 

[freakshow10mm]

My understanding is the .333 OKH is not close to the .338 WM but was the 30-06 necked up to use .333 bullets. When the .338 WM came about in 1958, the .333 OKH used .338 bullets and was called the .338-06 which is now standardized as the .338-06 A-Square.

 

[Water-Man]

The .280 will do the job as well as the .30-06. Anyone who says differently does not know what they're talking about.

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

There are nicer guns out there...

I'm all ears. Suggestions appreciated. Haven't shot either, but I know them to be good solid rifles. More importantly they fit my longer length of pull better than most. Seems like so many bolt guns out today are too short for me, and shooting a magnum with a short stock would hurt. Also appreciate the great info on the .338 WM. Having hunted once or twice in the MTs of CO, I'd hate to chase a wounded elk at 10k ft.

errr... uhmmm the .280 Rem far outperforms the .270 Win... matter of fact, it will out perform the venerable 30-06 Sprg...

The .280 will do the job as well as the .30-06.

That's what I always thought. You read on so many forums that the ol '06 is great elk medicine, and I figured, especially as a reloader, the .280 would do the job.

Little background on myself: never actually hunted elk. I've been in elk woods pursuing mulie w/ a .308 (and an elk tag just in case). Seen a few, but never presenting a close enough broadside for a confident 165gr shot. Hope to do the guided thing in a couple years.

 

[LeonCarr]

They have a soon to be huntable Elk herd in Kentucky?

Just curious,
LeonCarr

 

[jimmyraythomason]

In Kentucky and Tenn. as well. I haven't heard of a timeline to when the season may be opened though. FWIW, we do have an option to hunt elk here ,not 10 miles from my home(Oneonta,Al.), BUT it is a private, high fence pay for trophy affair, that holds no interest to me. (Even if I had the several thousand dollars it costs,which I don't) for that kind of money I would book a REAL hunt.

 

[Jim Watson]

Friend of mine who has hunted with one says that, contrary to popular opinion, a .280 bullet will NOT bounce off an elk's hide. He saw little if any difference between the .280 and his previous standard, a heavily loaded .30-06.

You should remember that Elmer Keith was 20 years older than Jack O'Connor and was probably led to the big calibers by failures of a previous generation of softpoint bullets, not by lack of energy.

While the .333 OKH was on '06 brass, the gang also had the .334 OKH on full length belted magnum brass.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

With todays controlled expansion bullet technology, there is no reason at all a .270/.280 class cartridge isn't a perfectly capable elk caliber.

rc

 

[SaxonPig]

I think the 280R is a great caliber. But you don't realize just how big elk are until you see one in person. When I lived in Utah I saw them walking along the highway from time time and they are huge. The 280 could be used but I would feel better with a bigger, heavier bullet. I would be afraid that the 280 wouldn't have the stopping power to quickly anchor such a large animal.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

They have a soon to be huntable Elk herd in Kentucky?

We have had huntable elk in Arkansas for a decade -- although only about 40 are taken each year.

Since the chances of drawng an elk tag are so small, I put in for a tag here, but always wind up hunting in Colorado. My elk rifle is Bigfoot Wallace, a custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown-Whelen, which steps on the heels of the .338 WM and .375 H&H. But my back-up rifle is Fionn MacCumhail, a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester in .30-06.

I have seen elk taken with a lot of different cartridges, and my advice is take the gun you shoot best. Choose a premium bullet (Nosler PJ, Barnes TTSX, etc.) and don't worry about it.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Seems the trend these days is to overgun oneself in the false belief that a bigger gun will turn the man behind it into a 300+ yd killing machine. A 280 is fine with good bullets. A 30-06 may be finer but that is purely subjective. A 7x57 might be better yet if your afraid of recoil which many of us, myself included, dont like to admit. I hope you are a good enough shooter to warrant the use of a 300 yd rifle. If your not then you are not handicapping yourself with the 280 that may be maximizing its effectiveness at 200 yds.

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

They were stocking that KY elk herd when I was there in '98. I figured the season woul've been opened by now.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Just checked Kentucky's Fish and Wildlife site and apparantly the seasons have been set for elk.<http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/0910huntposter.pdf> <http://fw.ky.gov/licensefees0708.asp> Sorry to wander from the original topic.

 

[paintballdude902]

get a .280

people take elk with .270 and .30-06 all the time

do you handload? you can load some awsome rounds with the .280

people need to remember that elk were hunted to near extinction with the .30-30. the .280 is a good elk gun as long as you take the time to practice, practice shot placement , AND GET TO KNOW THE RIFLE.

the last part sounds odd but take some time and dry fire it learn how far the trigger moves, then get to the range practice at the range until it becomes second nature

good luck

now go buy u a new rifle

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

jimmyray; no need to apologize for wandering, we're all talking about elk. good to know in case I ever get back to KY, which IMHO has some of the best hunting I've experienced in the lower 48.

The 280 could be used but I would feel better with a bigger, heavier bullet. I would be afraid that the 280 wouldn't have the stopping power to quickly anchor such a large animal.

So based the opinions I've received so far....280 can do the job, and probably do it well when used within the constraints of my shooting skill, but when going up against a 1/2 ton animal, it never hurts to have a little more firepower. All of this of course if my shoulder can handle a magnum. Never shot more than an '06 or 12 ga 3" slug, so a belted magnum would be a new experience.

Appreciate all the great input. Any recommendations on platforms? I like the 2 bolt guns I mentioned, as well as the BLR.

good luck

now go buy u a new rifle

Thanks...I just may do that!!

 

[ArmedBear]

freakshow- You're right. There was also a "belted" .333 OKH, which was the prototype for the .338 WinMag AFAIK. They all came from elk hunting.

Poor Jack O'Connor. So deluded as to believe that the .270 Winchester was actually capable of taking a bull elk.

The .22-250 can take a bull elk. I know someone who did it (shot of opportunity, not a planned hunt with a .22-250).

"Capable of taking" is about the most overused phrase around here. It's inherently meaningless.

He asked about "terrific elk round" that would be "a 300 yrd Elk gun that can make all the shots." That's quite different from "capable of taking."

Jack O'Connor's love affair with his own cartridge is well-known. I think that, when he couldn't think of what to write, he just worked off a Mad Libs page.

"The .270 is the most ______________ (adjective of extreme praise) cartridge ever devised by man. More than capable of taking any of the largest trophy animals in ______________ (Continent) well past ______________ (very large number) yards, it has the added benefit of shooting within +/- __________ (very small number) inches of elevation all the way out to __________ (very large number) yards."

 

[jmr40]

If you like the 280 go buy one and confidently hunt anything in North America except big bears. At 300 yards a 140 grain bullet will be flatter shooting than a 300 win mag with 180's and be less than 300 ft. lbs behind in energy. Same could be said for at least a dozen different cartridges. With modern bullets and loads the diameter of the bullets are far less important than 50 years ago. Unless you are talking about stopping a charge from dangerous game.

There is nothing magical about the 280 or any other round but I have a couple of them and simply like the fact that I can hunt with a rifle that is a little unique. At the same time I am not giving up anything in performance to the more mainstream cartridges.