7mm vs 30 cal elk hunting debate
- Thread starter Kachok
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Don McDowell
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Yes those 303's had a following as well as the liberated and sometimes sporterized mausers in 8mm.
mljdeckard
Member
I agree that no matter what you use, you have to take good, ethical shots.
However, elk have a serious layer of fat that can seal up and stop bleeding enough to prolong the death process. My dad once called me to help him recover an elk that had been shout the previous night. He had bumped into some other guys at the mouth of a canyon the last night of a special hunt, between the lot of them, they had shot two elk, one was down. Most of us went to bone out the one that was down, two guys went to look for the other. They saw it on the opposite hill, still walking. The hunt was over, they couldn't take another shot to put it down. I asked the guy what he hit it with; he said a .308.
Now, I have absolutely no idea how well he had hit it or what kind of bullet he was using. I would hunt elk with a 30-06 or .270, but I think if I did it regularly, I would get a .300 win mag or 7 rem mag. I think you owe it to the animal to put it down decisively, even if the advantage is not that big.
However, elk have a serious layer of fat that can seal up and stop bleeding enough to prolong the death process. My dad once called me to help him recover an elk that had been shout the previous night. He had bumped into some other guys at the mouth of a canyon the last night of a special hunt, between the lot of them, they had shot two elk, one was down. Most of us went to bone out the one that was down, two guys went to look for the other. They saw it on the opposite hill, still walking. The hunt was over, they couldn't take another shot to put it down. I asked the guy what he hit it with; he said a .308.
Now, I have absolutely no idea how well he had hit it or what kind of bullet he was using. I would hunt elk with a 30-06 or .270, but I think if I did it regularly, I would get a .300 win mag or 7 rem mag. I think you owe it to the animal to put it down decisively, even if the advantage is not that big.
hardluk1
member
It so much more about the bullet use and bullet placement than the cartidge its just crasy to say this or that is better. I guy that guided us to soome elk had a T/C contender on a late season scouting trip for us and also watching for some coyotes and had a bull elk try to stump him in the ground. He put a barnes tsx 55gr in the chest at 15feet on the second charge from a pissed off bull elk and dropped it darn near in its tracks. Called the wild life officers and explaned his "kill and he got off with a warning and meat went to feed the needy. The 223 was not legal for elk and he had a liecence for the elk.
I use a 7mm rm rifle for the chance of a long range shot with 150gr barnes tsx
I use a 7mm rm rifle for the chance of a long range shot with 150gr barnes tsx
mljdeckard
Member
I'm not sure if that story means that the small bullet was or wasn't good enough? It took two and he nearly got killed.
hardluk1
member
No he only shot 1 time. He was charged twice before shooting. Was he lucky?? probably. But shows that a well placed bullet of the right design will do the job used with in in design limits. You just have be an ethical hunter.
And old man I was lucky to know back in south florida now passed on hunted with one rifle for 65 years in a model 70 win in 22 hornet. I know florida deer are not big but he killed some really big ole hogs with that rifle. Just find what your friends hunt with and pick one of them. Most any will work with in there design and limits.
And old man I was lucky to know back in south florida now passed on hunted with one rifle for 65 years in a model 70 win in 22 hornet. I know florida deer are not big but he killed some really big ole hogs with that rifle. Just find what your friends hunt with and pick one of them. Most any will work with in there design and limits.
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