Help me choose the right caliber for elk.

[1911man]

I have a chance to hunt elk in Utah next year. My friend shot one this year at 350 yards with a 300win. Mag. Could he have gotten the elk with a non belted cartridge? I have some nerve damage to my right shoulder and have some concerns about it. I was thinking about a 300wsm or 300win. Mag. or a 7mm. To shoot these I would need a muzzle brake, I will probably need a brake on any caliber I choose. Would a 30-06 do it?

[RandyD]

Shot placement is the most important factor. The next important factor is hunting skills that will get you into a place where you can take a shot. All of the cartridges you mentioned are well known and recognized elk cartridges. However, I don't have any experience with the .300 WSM. I have hunted elk for the past 15 years, and I use a .300 Win. Mag., but I also have a muzzle break that reduces recoil down to what a .308 would feel like. I shot a friend's .338 Win Mag without a break, and the recoil of his rifle felt like a hard push that was actually softer than my .300 Win Mag. I liked that cartridge. If cost is a factor, the 30-06, is less expensive to buy ammo.

[toby]

270 on up will suffice for Elk. Don't rule out the 308

[Norsemen308]

270 on up will suffice for Elk. Don't rule out the 308

my family has put many elk on the table with both the 270 and .308.... a heavy grain 270 will put an elk down and a .308 does just the same.

[ivanimal]

I use the 300 Win Mag with a Shepherd scope. 4 one shot kills in 4 trips.

[9mmepiphany]

I have friends (3) who don't like recoil either and they have had good luck hunting everything up to the big bears and moose with the 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser. For the big stuff, they are using the .375 H&H Magnum

[bruceflinch]

I use the 300 Win Mag with a Shepherd scope. 4 shot kill in 1 trip.

Fixed it!

[Tanner68]

There are so many that will do the job. What rifles do you already have that you are comfortable with?

[timmyb21]

My uncle used to use .270 exclusively for all his elk hunts, pig hunts, bear hunts, anything else in North America he could hunt. Works just fine. i wouldn't recommend anything smaller.

[Matt@AimSportsInc]

As someone mentioned above, shot placement is everything. .270 is a great caliber, I personally know someone who took an Elk at 502 yards with a .270.

.30-06 can handle any game in North America, and there is no need for anything bigger. Personal preferences and ballistic trajectories play a big part in using most of the above calibers, but IMO a lot of them are overkill.

I talked to a guy on another forum one time who is an Aleut, and lives in Alaska. They use Mosin Nagant rifles 7.62x54 to kill everything, and I mean everything - up to whales! Yes, I saw pics. They shoot them, and then harpoon them.

[NytWolf]

Shot placement is everything. How else do you think archers take down elk?

Seriously, it really is about shot placement. The reason why (some) people prefer larger calibers is to ensure the kill due to factors in error. Without admitting to it, they are relying on a larger caliber to cover up for any errors they may make.

[CSACANNONEER]

.54 patch round ball in front of 110grains of FFg.

[rgs1975]

[BigDogatPlay]

270 on up will suffice for Elk. Don't rule out the 308

^^^ This ^^^

I personally use either 7mm Magnum or 30-06 for large game. My choice depends largely on how far a typical shot is going to be. If it's open country with longer shots, I'm more partial to the 7mm. A .308 or .300 Savage would both be excellent potential choices if you don't want the recoil energy of a belted magnum.

If the shots anticipated aren't at anything more than 200 yards, a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington will absolutely get the job done and not leave you black and blue.

[1911man]

Elk

What is the best muzzle brake out there?