Bit off topic, but match season is over, so....
I see there are a few elk hunters on the board. Starting to plan a hunt, most likely in '13. What is a good caliber, and what should I look at for optics?

Thanks
chuck

We have gone around on this topic before.

Big bullets moving fast. Example: .338 Win. mag. with 250 gr. decent bullets and a well placed hit. It is all you need and then some. Optics: 3.5 -10x Leupold is my choice.

My own elk rifle is a first run Winchester 70 stainless in .30-06 with same Leupold. Well placed 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips do the trick out to 400 yds. I wont shoot farther.

Do you own a big game rifle? Cardinal rule is to use one you can shoot well. Bullet placement trumps horse power every time. As Buck would say 'never found a gun big enough to have bullet suck the air out of their lungs as the bullet passed by'. I'm very satisfied with 154 Hornadys out of a Rem 700 7mm Express at ranges out to 400 yards. Yep thats what the barrel reads but today it is called the 280Rem; seems some folks couldnt tell it from the 7Mags or 7x57. That fact always bothers me when I share woods with that class of knowledge. I used 7Rem mag, 308Win and 32 Rem they worked also but since purchasing the '280' the other stay in the vault. Just dont expect to find an elk behind every tree and you'l have a great time. This year the shot was 87 yards; 1st time I carried a range finder and could of just as well carried a little extra granola.

As it so happens my buddy Bob and I just got back from elk hunting in Idaho a couple of weeks ago. He got his bull (6X6) with a 300 WSM at 335 yards using my shoulder as a rest. Got him in the right shoulder and the round excited his left elbow, he dropped in his tracks but to our amazment got up and trotted another 120 or so yards before he sat down. When we got to him in the clear cut we had to put one more round in him. Shot him right at daylight, took the two us all day to butcher and pack him out. This was Bob's first elk and mine too. I will never forget the experience. I forgot to put my phone in my pack in the morning before we left so I dont have any pics in the field but what I do have I will try and post for you guys. Got back the peperoni and summer sausage last night, YUMMY!!!!!

Heres some pics.

More pics

I found this guy while I was packing the elk out. Nice 4X4 mulley

pics of pics. BRILLIANT!!!! This is one happy son of a bitch. I've been hunting with Bob for the past 6 years now. Allways deer but this year we decided to hunt for elk. Good choice huh!

hey hey now! thats a good day of hunting....a muley so happens to show up while your packing out an elk. and a good one too.i am not so sure i like you anymore!

after reading the perfect shot and the africans views on terminal ballistics, i use the same rifle for everything. 375 h&h mag Ruger no 1. 260 gr accubond shoots as flat as a 30-06 with 180's just heavy enough to absorb some recoil, yet easy to carry. a bit much for whitetails, but if i ever get the moose draw i am more than ready.... and that safari is still being fed pennies in the piggy bank!

cheers
dave

I gotta do some bragging so here's some more pics

and some more

shakes wrote:and some more

That's great Shakes

shakes wrote:I found this guy while I was packing the elk out. Nice 4X4 mulley

Wow... thats a nice find and will look good on the wall of the Man Cave

rogersptl wrote:Do you own a big game rifle? Cardinal rule is to use one you can shoot well. Bullet placement trumps horse power every time. As Buck would say 'never found a gun big enough to have bullet suck the air out of their lungs as the bullet passed by'. I'm very satisfied with 154 Hornadys out of a Rem 700 7mm Express at ranges out to 400 yards. Yep thats what the barrel reads but today it is called the 280Rem; seems some folks couldnt tell it from the 7Mags or 7x57. That fact always bothers me when I share woods with that class of knowledge. I used 7Rem mag, 308Win and 32 Rem they worked also but since purchasing the '280' the other stay in the vault. Just dont expect to find an elk behind every tree and you'l have a great time. This year the shot was 87 yards; 1st time I carried a range finder and could of just as well carried a little extra granola.

Have a 308 and a 7-08. Concerned they may be a bit "light" in my eyes. Sounds like a 30-06 will do nicely? Was really thinking 300 Win mag.
thanks
chuck

chuck d wrote:

rogersptl wrote:Do you own a big game rifle? Cardinal rule is to use one you can shoot well. Bullet placement trumps horse power every time. As Buck would say 'never found a gun big enough to have bullet suck the air out of their lungs as the bullet passed by'. I'm very satisfied with 154 Hornadys out of a Rem 700 7mm Express at ranges out to 400 yards. Yep thats what the barrel reads but today it is called the 280Rem; seems some folks couldnt tell it from the 7Mags or 7x57. That fact always bothers me when I share woods with that class of knowledge. I used 7Rem mag, 308Win and 32 Rem they worked also but since purchasing the '280' the other stay in the vault. Just dont expect to find an elk behind every tree and you'l have a great time. This year the shot was 87 yards; 1st time I carried a range finder and could of just as well carried a little extra granola.

Have a 308 and a 7-08. Concerned they may be a bit "light" in my eyes. Sounds like a 30-06 will do nicely? Was really thinking 300 Win mag.
thanks
chuck

I wouldn't think twice about either the .308 or the 7-08. Both are quite capable elk cartridges using appropriate bullets.

Now, if you are just looking for an excuse to buy another gun... no one around here is going to stand in your way.