Short Action Elk Rifle

ftrovato said:

If situation becomes less than ideal, I'd prefer a .338 diameter bullet.

If I had to use a .308 it would be with a Barnes 180 grain bullet.

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This would be a recipe for disaster. Slow muzzle velocity on a bullet that doesn’t expand well at slow velocity?

140gr Accubonds for the 7mm-08 and 150gr Accubonds from a 308 have both gotten exits for me on broadside shots on elk.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

@Mnwhiskeyman
The 338 Fed can be had in a short action light weight rifle for your son and you already know the 338s work so a baby 338 would be the ants pants.
Bob

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Bob I know that had to be difficult for you, as you know the Whelen would be the best voice.

Red Leg said:

I am learning to love my .257 Wby, but on a bull elk? Though I will testify that it will cleanly drop a free range scimitar horned oryx out there a ways.

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100gr TTSX does very well on elk and the ones I’ve shot typically sit down right where they’re shot.

When I drew my Gila Bull Tag a few years ago, I did opt for the 300WM. Elk from that area are typically at the extreme upper end of the spectrum in terms of body mass compared to bulls from other area of the country. Terrain was also a little less conducive to the 257Wby

Gomer said:

This would be a recipe for disaster. Slow muzzle velocity on a bullet that doesn’t expand well at slow velocity?

140gr Accubonds for the 7mm-08 and 150gr Accubonds from a 308 have both gotten exits for me on broadside shots on elk.

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According to Barnes and in my experience 180 grain bullets will expand adequately well beyond 300 yards at velocities that a 308 Win. can support.

As important (for me) is bullet weight in the event that an off angle shot is needed to reach the vitals.

Personally I'm not hunting Elk with anything smaller than a .338 diameter bullet.

MS 9x56 said:

Bob I know that had to be difficult for you, as you know the Whelen would be the best voice.

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@MS 9x56
It was difficult but like the 358 the little 338 Fed is unloved and under appreciated despite it being a fine little cartridge. Admittedly it doesn't punch as hard as it's bigger brother but for a youngster that wants a good cartridge to handle big game without getting beaten up the little 338 is just the ticket. Plus he can still say he shot it with a 338 no-one has to know it wasn't the fire breathing bitch slapping magnum that dad uses but still a 338.
Bob

ftrovato said:

According to Barnes and in my experience 180 grain bullets will expand adequately well beyond 300 yards at velocities that a 308 Win. can support.

As important (for me) is bullet weight in the event that an off angle shot is needed to reach the vitals.

Personally I'm not hunting Elk with anything smaller than a .338 diameter bullet.

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338s are a good way to go. But elk aren’t really that tough to kill. Coastal Roosevelt elk where I live are larger than any rocky mountain elk and they still die pretty easy if the shooter does their part.

I have shot a grand total of two elk, both with my 308. First one was a cow that dropped on the spot. The second was a 5x5 bull that hobbled 20 yards and stopped and I quickly shot him again and he dropped. I never had any doubts that it would do the job.
That being said, I really want a 358 Win!

Given the two choices of 7mm/08 and 308, I would choose 308 and would suggest a good optic to enable shots a bit longer than the point blank range. Zero for 200y and if possible keep your shots inside of 300y. For the record, I have not hunted elk with either cartridge but have hunted PG in Africa with both. Took game up to a Gemsbok with the 308 using 180g bonded Fusions and ALL animals fell with one shot and all shots penetrated thru and thru despite the Fusions reputation of expanding fast and up to 2.5x. I was impressed. My PH makes a regular practice of allowing his clients to use his loaner 308 for all PG up to and including Eland which are larger than elk and more like Moose size. Use a Fusion, AccuBond or TTSX bullet in the 165-180g weight. Might be able to go lighter with the copper monos.

The 7mm/08 worked ok for PG and all animals were safely harvested that were targeted except for a 237y shot on a Warthog that connected but the hog ran and made it to a burrow before dying. I took game up to Black WB and Blesbok but the 7mm was marginally less effective in my observation with several animals requiring one or more followup shots. I used both TSX and CX bullets in 140g and 139g. I had some 140g Fusions to use on Zebra but the Zebra did not allow a shot.

For the record, I am going on a Elk/Moose hunt soon in Canada and am taking two rifles. A 338wm and a 30-06. The 338 is optimized for 0-300y which is where I want to hunt and the 30-06 is optimized for up to 400y with a 4-16x optic because some of the terrain we will be on is flat and open and long shots could be needed.

6.5 creedmoor with new plus peak ammo.

Yes outdoor magazine did an article on the peak it is a thought! I am looking hard at the the Winchester youth model 70 in 308/7mm-08 I think either will work fine narrowing on the 150 gr accubond long range for the 7mm-08 I will not be shooting past 400. It looks pretty good to me for what I’m thinking

Mnwhiskeyman said:

Yes outdoor magazine did an article on the peak it is a thought! I am looking hard at the the Winchester youth model 70 in 308/7mm-08 I think either will work fine narrowing on the 150 gr accubond long range for the 7mm-08 I will not be shooting past 400. It looks pretty good to me for what I’m thinking

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Shot my elk with 6.5prc 140gr tipped fusion. But with plus peak 155gr tipped fusion or 153gr TMK going 2800 from 20” barrel, with 6.5 creed recoil, makes a lot of sense.

Mnwhiskeyman said:

Yes outdoor magazine did an article on the peak it is a thought! I am looking hard at the the Winchester youth model 70 in 308/7mm-08 I think either will work fine narrowing on the 150 gr accubond long range for the 7mm-08 I will not be shooting past 400. It looks pretty good to me for what I’m thinking

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308 is awesome cartridge too. It will be getting plus peak ammo too at some point.

Just never been a fan of 7-08. Just like 6.5 better and better modern bullets and ammo on shelf.

Mnwhiskeyman said:

Yes outdoor magazine did an article on the peak it is a thought! I am looking hard at the the Winchester youth model 70 in 308/7mm-08 I think either will work fine narrowing on the 150 gr accubond long range for the 7mm-08 I will not be shooting past 400. It looks pretty good to me for what I’m thinking

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@Mnwhiskeyman
A good load for the accubond 150 in the 308 is a max load of CFE 223 of 50gn
I use this in my son's Howa 308 with federal gold medal cases and standard LR primers.
This load churns up over 2,900fps and sub half moa groups in my son's rifle.
This is a max load but proved safe in my rifle
Work up from a few grains below.
Bob

I think a well constructed bullet and shot placement are the most important part. Also keeping your shots at a reasonable range if say 300 yards is best with a lighter caliber. Elk are incredibly tough animals, but they are not armor plated and are killed with arrows every year.

I would think a 358 Winchester would be pretty sweet for 300 and under.

Yeah a 168 gr accubond for the 308 looks good or the 150 accubond for the 7mm-08 both should work within or at 300

I'm a 7mm08 fanatic, as many of you know. It is my EDC on the ranch. I wouldn't hesitate using it on an elk with a high quality bullet and distances I am highly confident in. That being said, I feel using a larger caliber on a larger animal is just good ethic. You can get a .308 or a 30-06 that will work on elk and larger.

I understand not wanting to smoke your son with a heavy rifle that still has a ton of recoil. That being said, my daughters shoot .270's and I would encourage them if a 30-06 was the only option. Recoil doesn't exist when shooting fur.

Mnwhiskeyman said:

Would anyone use a 308/7mm-08 for an Elk hunt within 400 yards. I am asking cause I would like to double this as my sons new rifle and with the cost of things why not get one that can do elk pronghorn whitetail and more?
Thanks

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For elk? 7-08, no.
200gr A-Frame .308, yes, but only out to 200yds, and preferably <100.
Also the .338 Fed and .358 Win, although neither have pronghorn range.

Great short action round: .325 WSM
Does much of the work of a .300 Win Mag and .338 Win Mag.
Fat and funky, but fine ballistics.

My last antelope with a 338 Federal was 589 yards. Don’t count it out.

A fun old school short action 7mm would be a 284 - brass is still available. New school cool 7mm is the 6.5 PRC necked up to 7mm - it’s becoming more popular as the f class and 1000 yard bench rest crowd are experimenting with the more modern case with roughly the same capacity as the 284.