Elk Hunting

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BP Hunter

BP Hunter

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Hello!

A friend just invited me to go elk hunting near Yakima, WA for this fall. I have hunted feral pigs and deer but have not hunted elk before. I have a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and a Ruger Hawkeye in 25-06. Will any of these be sufficient for a humane kill? If so which one?

Thanks.
 
Either.

We've killed elk with both.

The first two elk that I ever killed in my life were with a .30-30 Model '94; one shot each ended their story.

The last bull that my dad grounded only needed one shot through the shoulder from the .25-06 Remington.

If I were to choose between the two, I'd go with the 25.
 
Thanks. I will go with the Ruger. The 25-06 has better ballistics and more energy than the 30-30.
 
i too would go with the 25-06. both will work, but the 25 will give you a fair bit more effective range.
 
Both will work, neither is ideal, but the 25-06 is close enough that I wouldn't buy a new gun unless I just wanted to. I'd load the 25-06 with good ammo and use it with confidence. This is where premium ammo such as the solid copper bullets by Barnes etc. really pay off. That is where I'd start. If they shoot well in your gun they really penetrate. The Nosler Paritition would be right there as well. One of those 2, which ever shot best in my gun is the one I'd use. A standard jacketed lead bullet might, or might not give the penetration needed on elk in smaller calibers.

Of course the 30-30 will work, you'd just have to severely limit the ranges shots can be taken.
 
^^^^ +1 on the Barnes Triple Shock in the .25-06. I've been using factory 100 gr for cow elk for some time now ( I've only recently set my reloading stuff back up). I'm sure one will take down a bull if that's what your going after.
 
Thanks. I will go with the Ruger. The 25-06 has better ballistics and more energy than the 30-30.
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Good call. The .30-30 will certainly put down an elk, but it's range is far more limited.

I used my .25-06 for elk hunting for many years, with either 100 Gr. TSX-BT's or 117 Gr. Sierra Gamekings (hot handloads always)
 
Elk are not armor-plated at all despite what the magazines lead one to believe. Yet they do not respond to a well placed hit through the chest like other animals. Every elk I've taken with my .308 was shot twice.

30-30 has taken a lot of elk and bigger animals as well. But it's best work is done inside of 150 yards or so. In contrast, 25-06 still has plenty of power at 275 yards or so.

I suggest shoot for the chest organs and keep shooting until the animal topples over. That's my method and it works.

Good hunting to you.

TR

elkinforestsized-1.jpg
 
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Thanks for all the responses. I have been practicing with my 25-06 iHornady 117gr BHTP. I just went shooting this morning and was hitting water bottles consistently at 269 yards. I m very confident with my Ruger Hawkeye.:)
 
Sorry boys, but IMHO, your support of either of these calibers for BP's intended quarry (Elk) is miss-leading if not plain poor advice. Will these 2 calibers do the job, sure, but are below ethical & humane killing power as a minimum for Elk in both general hunting conditions & animal size/stamina. :banghead: Has it been done before, yes. Will it be done again, sure. But for a new novice Elk hunter to think he can go out armed with these 2 inferior ELK calibers is not doing the animal nor the hunter justice. Most elk shots here in the west are shot in the 150-300 yd range. look up your ft. lbs of energy for these 2 calibers at 200 or 300 yds. A mature 6 pt Bull Elk is 36 " from top of the shoulder to the brisket and can weigh an easy 750 lbs. And contrary to some of the testimonials here, are TOUGH animals to kill if not a perfect shot. If you MUST use either of these 2 calibers, my advice is to take nothing but the perfect situation shot at no more than 150 for the .25-06, nor more than 100 for the 30-30. They can doo the job, but i have seen it time & time again of first time elk hunters ruining a shot with an inferior caliber at an Elk, and losing a magnificient animal that might get away but eventually die.

I know I will get flamed by hunters that have killed elk with these 2 calibers, but i have heard that some Eskimo's shoot Polar Bears in the head at 5 feet with a .22 .............. but that dont make it the right choice. :eek:

Safe hunting and good luck to you.

p.s., my suggestion would be a .30-06 with 165 grs or .270 with 150 grs bullet.
 
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Idaho Slim-

That is your opinion. The simple truth is both are plenty if used within their limitations. Would I take a 600 yard cross-canyon shot at a 900 lb. bull with my .25-06? No. Will I confidently shoot to 400 at cows and smaller bulls? you bet.

As I said, I carried my .25-06 for elk for many years confidently. The only reason I carry my 8mm Rem Mag is because I don't want to have to pass on that once-in-a-lifetime animal on account of cartridge capabilities.

So long as the OP doesn't try to make a ridiculously long shot where there is no margin of error, he'll do fine. Like T.R. said:

Elk are not armor-plated
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So long as you're not in the "break his shoulder bones" camp, you'll do fine with lesser calibers. If you are in that camp, you'd better be packing a substantial cartridge, like the .375 H&H, because the venerable .30-06 is little more likely to succeed here than the .270, .25-06 and other smaller, "standard" cartridges.
 
The simple truth is both are plenty if used within their limitations.
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And there-in is my point. Kudo's for you on your .25-06 success. I still say 400 yds (ON A BULL ELK) with your .25-06 is not the right thing for a newbie Elk hunter. However, I doo see where you say cow or small bull up to 400, I suppose that has a better chance for an ethical and quick kill, but remember what I am saying as is the OP, FIRST time Elk hunter :cool:.

I am not in the "break his shoulder bones" camp, I greatly value my Elk meat, I shoot a .270 religously, and as you say with your choice of weapon, I don't have issue with a mature bull at any reasonable range <500. Taken many of them, usually one shot.

But I stand by my words, for a newbie Elk hunter that might have a once in a lifetime shot at a big bull, the 25-06 is not the best choice. As I view the .25-06, energy is not as bad as I thought, and in the hands of a capable Elk hunter, probably is adequate.

.25-06 ft lbs @ 400 = 1298
.270 ft lbs @ 400 = 1428
.30-06 ft lbs @ 400 = 1601

No, Elk are not armor plated, but if you think they are soft, you are fooling yourself.

Don't mean to hijack your thread BPhunter, I am just giving MY opinon so that you might have the benefit of my personnal experiences and have the best chance at a wonderful hunt and trophy of a lifetime and not have the catasthpohy of a poor shot with not the best caliber. (I used to guide Elk hunters in my younger days and know your situation first hand - New Elk hunter - Not enough adequate Gun)

Again, Safe hunting and good luck to you!
 
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What area near Yakima? It can very from wide open long shots to right on top of you. That said the average shot is 100 yards or less. I hunt west of Yakima in the mountains so 100 or less average shot.

D
 
Slim,

Thank you for your response. That was the reason why i asked this question in the first place. I thought the the 2 cailbers were marginal in taking down such a large animal. But with the help and experience of our THR members, now I feel that my guns are sufficient to do the job at reasonable distances.

cO1,

I don't know exactly where in Yakima we will be hunting. My friend has private land that borders a GAme Management Unit.
 
.25-06 ft lbs @ 400 = 1298
.270 ft lbs @ 400 = 1428
.30-06 ft lbs @ 400 = 1601
Click to expand...

KE in and of itself doesn't mean much without consideration for the bullet & impact velocity, but I'd just like to point out that that would be a pretty moderate factory load for the .25-06, like the Remington 100 gr./3,200 FPS Core-Lokt load. I handload 117 gr. Sierras to an average of 3,150 FPS, which will give 1,525 FPE @ 400 yards (calculated at 6,800 ft). My 100 gr. TSX-BT loads give 1,545 FPE @ 400 yards.

OP-

If either will shoot well in your rifle, THIS or THIS load are about as good as it gets in factory ammo. Mike loads his stuff just about as hot as a commercial maker can, and the handloader can't get much more out of a cartridge.
 
I have to agree with Idaho on this one. Both calibers are on the light side. If everything goes right either will work. I just don't think that is the right way to look at it. There are elk and then there are elk. A cow or a young bull is not the same animal as a mature bull, especially during the rut if you are fortunate enough to be able to hunt during that period. If you double lung them with either caliber with an appropriate bullet they will die. If you only get one lung or hit them too far back they may die but you may not find them and if you do you still have to pack them out. If you hunt them in your backyard where you can go out the next week it's one thing. If you are paying for a once in a lifetime hunt that is another.
Estimating range on a large animal you have not seen in the wild in unfamiliar country with a marginal cartridge is a poor plan. Even with a solid hit elk can travel a long distance and it won't be to an area that is convenient for you. If that first shot doesn't put them down, and it likely won't unless you get a cns hit, do you have enough gun to put that second shot if you are lucky enough to get it, into the vitals? I would be looking at a 30-06 class cartridge or greater with premium bullets. It's one of the few variables you have direct control over.
 
I hope none of you big bore hunters ever go after a bull elk with a bow. You may find yourself in the awkward position of tracking a lethally wounded animal. So yeah, the 30-06 is too small for a bull elk in the rut, whatever that has to do with how they die, so better step out with your 50 cal or your 105MM howitzer.. Just don't try to kill one with 50 cal muzzleloader and a ball, like they did it in the old days....
 
Pit4Brains said:
I hope none of you big bore hunters ever go after a bull elk with a bow. You may find yourself in the awkward position of tracking a lethally wounded animal. So yeah, the 30-06 is too small for a bull elk in the rut, whatever that has to do with how they die, so better step out with your 50 cal or your 105MM howitzer.. Just don't try to kill one with 50 cal muzzleloader and a ball, like they did it in the old days....
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Pit4brains ........ Yer part Eskimo ain't cha ? :D
 
I might suggest going with a heavier caliber, 30-06. You can use 150 - 180 gr. bullets then, really put the smack on them then. Some bulls might take a bit more convincing, another shot in the vitals. I am of the break them down shoulder shots camp, if they're still standing, this gives you another shot to put them down for good! My Grandpa used to use a .250 Savage, shot several big bulls with it, best caliber? No, but it worked for him. YMMV
 
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