T.R.
Member
This cow elk was shot with my 357 MAG revolver. I wasn't hunting at the time. It was about two hours before dusk. I'd left my .308 carbine at camp and climbed the ridge to glass the valley beyond for the next morning's elk hunt. The revolver was for protection as this is cougar and bear country. A cow elk tag was in my pocket and it was the last week of the firearms season.
A large boulder was my seat as I peered across the valley looking for elk sign. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I slowly turned my head and observed about dozen elk cows and calves about 50 feet away. I unholstered the revolver and fired when the sights lined up on the crease behind the shoulder. At the shot, the animal trotted forward and I fired again. The cow galloped away as if unharmed. I waited about an hour and took up the trail. The elk was found dead about 150 yards away.
First shot broke a rib going in and tore through both lungs. I found the bullet balled up under the hide on opposite side of entry. The second bullet struck too far back to strike the lungs but tore apart the diaphram and blew a thumb sized hole in the liver. Much blood within the body cavity was noted.
357 MAG is on the weak side compared to 30-30 and other so-called deer cartridges. But up close like this, it certainly was up to the task of clobbering this elk. That being said, I found out later that 357 MAG does not meet minimum handgun cartridge requirements for elk hunting. OOPS
ammo: PMC featuring 158 grain hollow tip bullet
revolver: Taurus featuring 6 inch stainless steel barrel
TR