I've never been elk hunting before and I'm looking into going on a trip in the next year or so. What I'm wondering is the preferred caliber of rifle everyone uses and preferred type of ammo? I've got a .270 and 30-06 in the safe, but was wondering what others have used on their hunts. I know there are tons of other factors in deciding on a gun, but thought I'd check here first.

300 WSM with 180 grain Trophy Copper. I would not use a 270 for sure. I have heard that the minimum is a 7 mag.

Lots of people use a 270 to kill elk. I met a few in montana this year that do.

I prefer a 30 06 myself. I use 180 gr trophy bonded tip or nosler partitions, though it seems 165 gr is more popular from people i have met

Shoot whichever caliber or grain size you feel comfortable with. What seems to be most accurate in your rifle? Look up hunting sites that center on western hunting. Google ammo for your rifle make accuracy. Maybe you will find a thread where someone has already done the legwork and help you find the ammo to try for your particular rifle. Save you some money

Another thing, people use a bow with 100 gr broadheads to kill elk. What is important is accuracy.... now the grain and caliber will big important if taking greater than 300 yard plus shots

Both are fine. I'd take the 30-06 with 180gr as mentioned, but if the gun isn't trustworthy or something you'd rather defer to the other, take the .270 and you will be fine. I'd stay in the 150gr range. Accubond or Partition.

Now worry about everything else. Glass. Boots. Gear. Etc..

Used a .270 WSM, worked fine, I'd probably go with a different bullet. Used a 140 Accubond.

Dad killed a cow elk with a .270 couple years ago, bout a 130 yard shot. We carried both a 7mm and the .270 so we could shoot at all distances

I've killed a lot of elk with both my 270 Win and 7mm Rem Mag. Pick the rifle you already own that you shoot the best and use a high quailty bullet. I'm partial to Partitions, but Accubonds work well, especially at long range. The most important thing is knowing what you can do, or more importantly what you can't do with the rifle you decide to take. Elk are tough. Make the first shot count.

I bought a 7mm Rem Mag for my elk/deer combo trip but ended up taking my 280 instead because it is lighter, shorter and I shoot it like a laser beam. Carried 150 gr Nosler Partitions and never worried I wouldn't be able to put down any animal we ran across at a reasonable distance. Take whichever rifle you shoot best and put that money you were thinking about spending on a rifle into your boots, rain gear, pack and binoculars. Upgrade your scope if there is anything left over. You will have a better trip and be happier if you do so.

If you're spending a lot of money on a hunt, go buy a Kimberly Adirondack... thing is stupid light.

Otherwise I would pick the lighter of the two rifles. Weight makes a big difference when a flat lander makes it up to 10,000' and are lugging around a pack. I know

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thing is stupid light

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With the caveat that stupid light is hard to shoot. IMO - that gun - the Kimber Adirondack - crosses over the line of being really hard to shoot well from field positions. I'd rather carry an extra 1-2 pounds for a rifle that will settle easier when my heart is pumping. The Montana with scope-rings-rounds comes in a bit heavier and probably a better choice. - IMO.

The only problem with light rifles and elk cartridges is they kick like a mule. I don't like to practice with rifles like that and if you don't practice with it, you won't be good with it. If you can take the abuse and still be good, more power to you. I carry the heavier rifle that I shoot better.

Good point. I just know by day 3, I was throwing all sorts of little **** out of my pack to shed weight and 1-2lbs is a lot if your logging 6-7 a day through high country.

They come with a factory muzzle break for a reason... kick like a mofo.

But hey, I would gladly take that for a lighter pack based on my trip but it was a little intense for a first trip.

Muzzle brakes are great! The 270 I had as a kid was hateful to shoot, but I shot it. Had a brake put on it and now my kids shoot it without any problem.

Lots of similar feedback here already, but I'll echo those saying that either will do just fine, take the one you're most confident in, all else being equal take the lighter one. I have 3 elk on my 280 so far,it's basically the average of your two rifles. Buddy of mine killed a big cow last year at 595 yds with a 270 shooting 130s...definitely not ideal but just to show that a standard 270 load is plenty. Spend your money on a rangefinder and a good sleeping bag

montanagriz said:

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Another thing, people use a bow with 100 gr broadheads to kill elk. What is important is accuracy.... now the grain and caliber will big important if taking greater than 300 yard plus shots

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Broadheads and bullets are two totally different things. One has a razor edge and is being pushed by a 2.5 ft rod that also weighs almost 3 times what the broad head weighs. The other has a point you couldn't cut butter with, but is flying fast as ****

Apples and oranges.

In the late 1970's I used a 30-06 with 180 gr. Sierra BT Spitzer. Now hunt with .300 Win Mag. 165 Grain Hornady. Have had guys hunt our ranch with .280 Remington (Old 7mm.Rem Express) and they always have had good results. Some guys use 308 as well with good results. It's really about proper shot placement. Hope you get a nice bull no matter what.

The point was if a bow can do it. A 270 will have no problem. An arrow mainly kills by cutting, bullet usually by shockwave damage.

Part of my point was that it isn't just the 100gr broadhead pushing through the animal, it is backed by 250-300 grains of arrow shaft. Lots of momentum there. I just don't want people reading your post and thinking they can go shoot elk with a 100gr .243 because they don't know the difference.

Sorry if I came across as condescending to your point, that was not my intention. Just wanted to clarify some things for other folks reading this thread that might not have as much experience as you do.

I took my 30-06 winchester model 70 and bought 3 premium 165 grain bullets. I then took them to the range to see which grouped well. 2 groupedal really well and the hornadys did not. I ended up with Nosler trophy grade accubonds. I dropped a bull elk at 312 yards with a heart shot. There was no exit, but his vitals were scrambled.

I will say that I am now looking for a dedicated mountain rifle as that thing got heavy fast. But I was backpack hunting about 4 miles back.

I shot my elk this year with my 30-06. Used a Berger 185 grain with 50 grains of powder. My gun really likes this load. Find what you are comfortable with and shoot a bunch. Good luck.

texranger66 said:

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I've never been elk hunting before and I'm looking into going on a trip in the next year or so. What I'm wondering is the preferred caliber of rifle everyone uses and preferred type of ammo? I've got a .270 and 30-06 in the safe, but was wondering what others have used on their hunts. I know there are tons of other factors in deciding on a gun, but thought I'd check here first.

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Do you want a new rifle?

If the answer is no then either will work well (I'm a self proclaimed 30-06 fan).

If the answer is yes then step up your caliber. 338 federal would be a good choice (IMO) although you'll have plenty of choices.

Fair point

Something mentioned on here about rifles and weight. I bought a tikka t3x lite and love it. Doesnt have too much kick. Tikka has a foam pad on it to lessen recoil. I also had a limbsaver that fit the stock. Plus when you rifle elk hunt it is cold, therefore layers of clothes and jacket. There really is no kick then

I've killed somewhere around 20 elk with my .270. Almost every single one of them dropped where they were standing. My cousin, who has killed just as many, uses a 7mag. Almost all of his have run away after being shot and died someplace else. We tracked one that must have gone several miles before I spotted it and shot it dead.

Texmid , what do you attribute that to ? Shot placement ? Bullet quality ? Ballistics?

lazuras_dc said:

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Texmid , what do you attribute that to ? Shot placement ? Bullet quality ? Ballistics?

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I have two theories. First, my cousin is a hell of a shot. He will take a shot that I won't attempt. Often that means he hits one but doesn't mortally wound it. The second theory is that my .270 doesn't usually exit the elk. The bullet enters, expands and does its damage. Almost all of his have an exit wound. There have been times where the exit wound is not much larger than the entrance wound. I don't know the ballistics, but, my guess is that his bullet is traveling much faster than mine and unless it hits large bones, it will pass right through. People on here smarter than me may know the real reason why. It may just be that I am lucky and he is not.

Funny Story: He shot one that was running away from us. I mean running as fast as it could through thick trees. We found blood and started tracking it. Several hours later we caught up to it. It still wasn't dead. I put it down with my .45. We looked it over and couldn't find where he hit it. There was an exit wound but we couldn't find the entry wound. Jokingly I suggested that he must have shot it in the ass. We looked and sure enough, he had shot is directly in its ass.