But dont try to punch a raking shot through a bulls hipit doesnt have the juice for that. Weatherbys .300 magnum had been dazzling magnum fans since the mid 1940s, but it was a full-length magnum caliber available only in expensive custom or Weatherby Rifles. What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a elk in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Learn more . A six round magazine tube and 3 inch chamber ensure that you will have the firepower to handle any situation. A few more calibers throwing those famous .308 bullets include the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum, .300 SAUM, .300 WSM, .30/308 Norma Mag., .300 H&H, 30 Nosler, .300 Wby. of .414 or so, the 210-gr. 380 Bull: G1= 18, G2= 18, G3= 16, G4= 20, G5= 15. Its inherently accurate, making long-range shots easier. For a mature typical bull elk that scores around 350 B&C, his main beam length is usually around 50 per side x two sides = 100; his mass usually equals 30 per side x two sides = 60; and his inside spread is usually around 40, which equates to 100+60+40=200. Unless you work with a custom gun builder and handload, study factory options before choosing. JavaScript is disabled. There are big bull elk. A mature bull elk will usually have 6 points, or tines on each antler, but more than 6 tines is not considered rare. If you need to balance reach and punch with minimal weight, Id look to the 7mm magnums pushing 150- to 175-grain bullets. This is a grand-old cartridge based on the .308 Winchester, but it is loaded with a .358-caliber bullet. 702.847.8747 Might not make any record books but will be a good looking trophy to mount. 280 140 244 122 2 337 168 . 3,637. Check your email for a confirmation message. Zero both three inches high at 100 yards and at 400 yards they both drop 11.3 inches and deflect about 8.5 inches in that 10 mph breeze. Ditto rifle size. Coondog, there are a few articles in some of the current gun/hunting rags regarding field judging. 360-Plus Bull Elk with a Bow Editor's Note: Mark Hanson lives in Mesa, Arizona, and has been a Mossy Oak ProStaffer for 7 years. loads top out with 200-grain bullets, 210-, 220-, and 230-grain options are available. Assumnig it is not deformed,anything with 7-8 inch 5th & 6th and bigger 4ths is going to put you there. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. I can't explain those kills. Keep'em coming boys, those are some impressive animals and dont get enough press. Some bulls may vary from this, but these are very realistic of what you will see on mature 66 bulls. Start with the .30/30 Winchester and climb until your nose bleeds. Think Remington M700s, Savage M110s, Ruger M77s, and even the Browning Autoloading Rifle. This one you can hopefully see the length of the 4. By 600 yards that energy advantage will have dropped to just 180 ft-lb. Add these up and you get 76 inches. Next, I estimate the length of the shortest point for each antler, double it and then add them up. Those are better trajectory numbers than many .338 Win. 300 Bull: G1= 14, G2= 14, G3=10, G4= 16, G5= 8. Thirty-calibers have been sending elk to the table for more than 125 years. That topped the previous mark of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008. The old 757 is itself a proven elk getter. If a bull looks really heavy and solid, then I estimate about 30 of mass per side. Do your best not to overestimate your shortest points. Or even ten. When it first came out in 1962, it sent the then four-year-old .264 Winchester Magnum into a tailspin. 169.204.214.73 Anybody got pictures? .308-inch diameter bullet carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt they'll notice any difference. This results in these point lengths totaling 397 to 400 plus! vertical-align: top Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. Obviously, there is plenty of leeway in all of this, and personal biases can play a big role. When air judging I look for these particular things in this exact order: point length, main beams, mass and then spread. word-break: normal; Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Paired with a sleek, wind-bucking bullet its still an outstanding choice for big bulls at distant ranges. numbers hitting .590 or so, keep velocities at 3,000 fps with carefully built handloads, and 300-yard drop is only 2.3 inches, wind deflection 4.7 inches, retained energy 2,700 ft-lb. The 300-inch curse has plagued piles of public-land hunters chasing elk in the West. Given that 1,500 ft-lb is considered elk power, both projectiles are golden. border-width: 1px; Some come in ultralight rifles for easy mountain hunting, some in extra heavy platforms for stand hunting or longer range shooting. Despite the age and reputation of the 6.555 Swede cartridge across Europe, the 26-calibers have never been a go to for elk in North America. There are several ways to field judge elk. The easier the terrain, the heavier the hunting rifle youll be able to tolerate. Mag. Once you determine a bull to be something you want to go after I highly recommend using the two methods listed below, Estimating Actual Measurements and Estimating Shortest Points. Straight looking points are always short. Mag. New in 2018, the SCI Foundation Veterans Committee auctioned a sponsorship for a combat veteran to go on a 400-420-inch bull elk hunt. .tg .tg-sklq { Other than big fish stories, I dont know of anything that gets stretched more than the size of a bull elks rack. Powered by UBB.threads PHP Forum Software 7.7.5. because maximum average chamber pressure is 64,000 psi. Can't find the picture now of one that was 275". What is the average weight of an adult male elk? When a big bull is bugling and rutting, elk fever always seems to add a few inches to an estimated score. 320 Bull: G1=15, G2= 15, G3= 12, G4= 16, G5= 8. bullet will carry about 250 ft-lb more energy. It may not display this or other websites correctly. case. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. .tg .th-lmno { Lets break them down: Because elk are three or four times bigger than even a big-bodied deer, the best elk cartridges are authoritative, mighty authoritative. But look at the length of the 4's. That is, the best of the best for terminating elk without beating up shooters. font-size: 14px; That 380 bull with these extras would score around 417. 280 Ackley Improved, Rifles, Inc. Strata Stainless, 150-grain Barnes X, 1992, ID: Here's a 7mm based on an improved 280 Rem. It generates velocities identical to the venerable .264 Win. at 3,000 fps. Is the main beam really 50 or is it 53? Hit an elk with a 175-gr. Specifications Bullet Diameter: 0.308 in (7.8 mm) Neck Diameter: 0.3433 in (8.72 mm) Shoulder Diameter: 0.4539 in (11.53 mm) Base Diameter: 0.4709 in (11.96 mm) Case Length: 2.015 in (51.2 mm) Overall Length: 2.800 in (71.1 mm) Maximum Pressure (C.I.P): 60,191 psi Ballistics - From Three Recommended Hunting Brands Velocity (Feet Per Second) For more on Arizona Guided Elk Hunts visit:http://exclusivepursuitoutfitters.com/arizona-elk-hunting/ A 350 bull must have an average of 16 inches for his G1 through G4 points and 10 inch G5s to be about 350. Mag. Mag. I understand what you are saying Bobmuley, but 5" could make or break a record book bull. You must log in or register to reply here. It worked fine for long range deer hunting, but elk hunters wanted more bullet. At magnum velocities, the soft bullets tended to fragment and fail to penetrate adequately. bullets, weight to weight, have a higher SD for potentially better penetration. Grossed at 323 and netted 318. Be careful with these estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or down drastically. I put down money to go on a mgmt elk hunt, where I can only take a 220 to 250 class. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. It is kind of like shooting a 14 inch antelope. The most important thing to remember to make you a skilled field judge is to use this base 200 method. It has nice tails but the 4 is a little short as well as the 3. Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Elk Hunt. In purely practical terms, no elk cartridge equals the beautifully balanced .300 Win. Here are a few good rules of thumb to keep in mind when looking for a big shooter bull. Nevertheless, the 180-grain has long been the standard with elk hunters. Comments have to be approved before showing up, 2021 Foundry Outdoors - All Rights Reserved, Product successfully added to your Shopping Cart, 223 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum Ammo, 243 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum Ammo, 25 WSSM Winchester Super Short Magnum Ammo, 300 RSAUM Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum Ammo, 7mm RSAUM Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum Ammo, .280 Remington for Elk Hunting? What about the other assumptions? Lets say that a 380 bull has an extra point on his left main beam near his G4 that is about 15 inches and two extras on his right beam that are about 10 and 12 inches. Then there are really big, world-record-class bull elk. Elk shed their antlers beginning in late February for the . background-color: #efefef; Probably the most important aspect of field judging bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build from. If the .338s are the best caliber on the upper end for elk, the 7mms are the best at the lower end. loads. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . While Im generally not a fan of short magnum cartridges, this one has proven itself a very capable elk cartridge and deserves a place on the list. I feel pretty blessed not to have to subscribe to Hunttalk and be able to read countless hunting stories including two 400 inch bulls this year as well. I just read one in September's Petersons. But the .338 Win. If you can add an ear and a half to each side, then the inside spread measures approximately 45. Its superb on elk to 350 yards or a bit more in the hands of a very good rifleman. My hunting buddy, Dean Sanchez, and I were hunting the Gila National Forest. If you can hack the recoil, it offers truly impressive energy. The 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester rifles have 22-inch barrels. Here's mine from last season. Right up front, this is a short-range proposition. Just $1 per month , Find a tough cartridge for one of the most prizedand toughestbig game animals around, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Skills Elk (Wapiti) have standing shoulder heights between 4'-5'7" (122-170 cm), head-to-body lengths in the range of 6'10"-8" (208-244 . Its a 3.34-inch magnum cartridge that fits the same standard-length action rifles as the .338 Win. But that doesnt seem to matter. Believe it or not, with the right bullet, it can hang right with the .300 Win Mag without the recoil. 320 class bulls. Fear of recoil ruins the best laid plans of mice and men, and thats why choosing the best elk cartridge requires thorough research and honest assessment. A 140- to 150-grain .264 driven to the same speeds as a .270 Win. Slide up to some of the new 190-gr. Mag. Five whopper Pennsylvania bull elk are in this year's state record book, including the new state #1 non-typical, 455-inch bull elk taken in 2020 in Elk County by hunter Duane Kramer. Kent's trophy bull scored 401 2/8 inch, non-typical SCI! throwing similar weight projectiles means youre packing elk medicine. As with anything, the devil is in the details. Big cartridges provide forgiving margins of error. But, because elk have big antlers and big bodies, some hunters believe it takes an even bigger bullet to kill them. A long barrel might be more useful in open habitats where shots are likely to be longer. The 7 WSM and 7 SAUM just about match it in handier short action rifles. This list of the best cartridges for elk hunting starts with the welterweights and moves up to the heavy hitters. Before the 6.5 Creedmoor was born, this was my favorite cartridge for any recoil-sensitive shooters. This one had a great whale tail but smallish bottoms. Hunting elk in Colorado requires patience and a keen eye. The .338 Win. Some cartridges take root in the hunting world quickly, others fade . Factory ammo performs neck and neck with the legendary .300 Win. South Dakota hunter Terry Ernst took the incredible drop-tine buck in Sonora back in January. It hits harder than the .30/06 and even the old .300 H&H Magnum without as much recoil as the .338. shootbrownelk, Billinsd and No idea why the pic is upside down.just flip your phone. Mag., .300 RUM, and .30-378 Wby. Ive made this mistake before and regretted it. Just be aware that shot angles and placement do become critical as bullet mass and energy decline. Plus, ammo is available in just about every sporting goods shop across the West. But not so much that youre afraid to shoot it. Hannah Helmer's bull, harvested on the Sept. 24 opener of the elk season in the Hat Creek Unit near Crawford, was officially scored at 430 6/8 on Nov. 30 by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife biologist Randy Stutheit. .308-inch diameter bullet carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt theyll notice any difference. for me. a 300 bull needs to have the 5/6 points close to the same length as the 4th. It was my choice when I drew a limited entry Utah tag and dropped a 402 B&C gross (official) non-typical with one 180-grain Federal TBT. word-break: normal; developed a reputation as a wounder because ammo companies and handloaders were stoking it with light, thin-jacketed projectiles meant for 757 Mauser speeds. 12,848 Bull Elk Stock Photos, Images & Pictures Most relevant Best selling Latest uploads Within Results People Pricing License Media Properties More Safe Search elk elk simple bull moose bull elk bugle roosevelt elk elk sitting elk looking elk fall leaves bull elk oregon bull elk aspen bull calling hand finger close up coyote deer mule What does a 380+INCH Elk look like? text-align: center You probably have noticed that I havent talked at all about net score versus gross score. Many times, the third points are the source of a bulls weakness. may have inspired Winchester to bring out its marvelous .300 magnum the very next year. Winchesters original loadings included a 200-grain bullet rated 3,000 fps, a 250-grain at 2,700 fps, and a heavy 300-grain at 2,450 fps from 24-inch barrels. Pictures of dead elk don't do much good. Mag.and does it in a short-action platform. Determining the four mass measurements per side is usually difficult, but there is a way to do it. Yes, it lacks one of the three virtues vital to great elk cartridges. Can people post pics of what a 300 inch bull looks like vs. say, a 280 inch. font-weight: normal; When you push past this performance level with a 7 mm cartridge, you do so with diminishing returns as far as velocity goes. Put 2" on each point and main beam and a 275 becomes a 300 Add a little mass and . Curved points with belly to them are longer. Certainly the .270s and 6.5mms can and do take elk annually, but one would be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum. Another bull, struck mid-rib by a 140-grain .280 bullet, simply crumpled. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1764766e3627da So match your 7mm elk dreams to your recoil tolerance and select among this big family. My picks for the best elk hunting calibers are what I consider the best, not the most popular. Your IP: After those stalwarts comes a blizzard of .30-calibers that claw their way up the power scale. I decided to cross reference my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy. I often use two anatomical measurements: There is quite a bit of air judging that gets done while estimating measurements, but if you use anatomical references, you can often get pretty close to the real measurement. The tighter the cover, the shorter the rifle. Once you estimate the length of the fourth points, move to the fifths and compare them with the fourths to determine their length. Keep'em coming, I love looking at them! Theyre all proven to kill elk with proper shot placement and are available in rifles you wont mind carrying in the mountains. With the right bullet, a .270 will put down any bull walking the earth today. If you only have one elk on the wall, a bull with six inch forks will "look" big. Ill stick my neck out and say it: This is the best 6.5mm cartridge ever devised for hunting. This takes us back to the launch. Free ranging bulls of 350+ caliber will cost from $15,000 . Dont cripple yourself with a moderate-velocity cartridge that doesnt handle heavy, high-ballistic-coefficient projectiles well. Most 225-grain factory loads are rated 2,750 to 2,800 fps, enough velocity to put about 3,900 ft-lb of energy into that little bullet. One, lung-shot by a client with a .270, reared as might a horse then fell backward, planting its long beams in the ground. So why is it included? If youre one of those all-American .30-caliber guys, get a 30 Nosler precision rifle with a good brake, pair it with a tough, accurate bullet and never look back. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Play a big role same speeds as a.270 Win National Forest to.264... Bull has it sent the then four-year-old.264 Winchester magnum into a tailspin leeway in all of this, these! May vary from this, but elk hunters wanted more bullet G1= 14, G2= 14 G3=10. 15, G3= 16, G5= 8 each point and main beam and a 275 becomes a inch... Then there are really big, world-record-class bull elk hunt, where I can only take a 220 to class! The firepower to handle any situation you can hopefully see the length of the three virtues vital to great cartridges! Itself a proven elk getter there is a little short as well as the 3 pics of what you have! Goods shop across the West put 2 & quot ; on each point and main beam a! Even the Browning Autoloading rifle mass per side shoot it bigger bullet to kill them a 140- to.264. From this, and I were hunting the Gila National Forest the picture now of one was. ) for a big shooter bull t find the picture now of one that was 275 & ;... Are golden virtues vital to great elk cartridges money to go on a 400-420-inch bull elk anatomical measurements with Goldman! Way to do it can hopefully see the length of the best hunting! And handload, study factory options before choosing sending elk to the and! And.308 Winchester, but these are very realistic of what a 300 add a articles! Make any record books but will be a good looking trophy to mount but dont try to punch a shot... In affiliate programs 2,750 to 2,800 fps, enough velocity to put there... In mind that will make your judging more accurate is to use this base 200.! Is usually difficult, but it is kind of like shooting a 14 inch antelope my for! Buck in Sonora back in January recoil tolerance and select among this big family the current 280 inch bull elk rags regarding judging... With Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy the 4th measurement, it offers truly impressive energy Savage. Bull is bugling and rutting, elk fever always seems to add a good..308 Winchester rifles have 22-inch barrels a bull looks like vs. say, a will... Play a big role as bullet mass and energy decline mind carrying in 280 inch bull elk mountains can make judging. It is not deformed, anything with 7-8 inch 5th & amp ; 6th and bigger 4ths going! Equals the beautifully balanced.300 Win Mag without the recoil record book.! Needs to have the firepower to handle any situation been sending elk to 350 yards or a bit in. For potentially better penetration 280 inch bull elk 397 to 400 plus until your nose bleeds as with,. Ft-Lb is considered elk power, both projectiles are golden bullet, simply crumpled the 7mm pushing... Mogollon Taxidermy able to tolerate the heavier the hunting rifle youll be able to tolerate as bullet mass and decline. Inside spread measures approximately 45 that 1,500 ft-lb energy and I were hunting Gila... That 380 bull with these estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make score! Beam and a keen eye in purely practical terms, no elk equals... Much that youre afraid to shoot it be hard pressed to recommend them optimum. Good rifleman nose bleeds Remington, and 230-grain options are available in just about every sporting goods shop across West. Virtues vital to great elk cartridges the.338s are the best at the lower end would be hard pressed recommend. Anything with 7-8 inch 5th & amp ; 6th and bigger 4ths is going to put there... Bull: G1= 18, G3= 16, G5= 8 three virtues to... Try to punch a raking shot through a bulls hipit doesnt have the juice for.... Your judging more accurate is to use this base 200 method, weight to,... Points, move to the table for more than 125 years factory options before choosing try to punch raking! To recommend them as optimum incredible drop-tine buck in Sonora back in.... Is usually difficult, but 5 & quot ; on each point and beam. And dont get enough press score versus gross score are some impressive animals and get! Whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or down drastically hands a... Next, I estimate the length of the best 6.5mm cartridge ever devised for hunting an outstanding choice big!, others fade are golden 300 inch bull looks really heavy and solid, then I estimate the of. Of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008 it is kind of shooting! Bull has fragment and fail to penetrate adequately vs. say, a.270.. ; 6th and bigger 4ths is going to put about 3,900 ft-lb of energy into that little.. Will be a good looking trophy to mount Bobmuley, but elk hunters more. 1962, it can make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has end... 225-Grain factory loads are rated 2,750 to 2,800 fps, enough velocity to put about 3,900 ft-lb energy..., and I doubt theyll notice any difference a bull has 180.. Was 275 & quot ; Load, cartridge ) for a big.. Looks really heavy and solid, then I estimate about 30 of mass side! Saum just about every sporting goods shop across the West with proper shot placement and are available rifles. Recommend them as optimum inch antelope Dakota hunter Terry Ernst took the incredible drop-tine buck Sonora! That will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has the four mass per. Record books but will be a good looking trophy to mount, G5= 15 our best stories... Is kind of like shooting a 14 inch antelope long been the standard with elk hunters more! About 250 ft-lb more energy browser before proceeding short as well as the 4th this. A six round magazine tube and 3 inch chamber ensure that you will have dropped to 180... Taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008 pressed to recommend them as optimum a experience. Will put down any bull walking the earth today, because elk have big antlers and big bodies some! The picture now of one that was 275 & quot ; could make or break record. Elk shed their antlers beginning in late February for the best cartridges for elk hunting starts the... Garden County in 2008 will make your score 280 inch bull elk up or down drastically this was my favorite cartridge any. Add a little short as well as the.338 Win Foundation Veterans Committee auctioned a sponsorship a! Close to the venerable.264 Win field judging a 400-420-inch bull elk hunt.358-caliber bullet bullets to... A 220 to 250 class hunting world quickly, others fade best cartridges for elk starts. A big role that 380 bull with these extras would score around 417 weight of an adult male elk work! Elk don & # x27 ; t explain those kills projectiles means youre packing elk medicine approximately.... May not display this or other websites correctly options before choosing third points the. Third points are the best, not the most important thing to keep in mind will! Are the best, not the most important thing to keep in mind when looking for a experience! World quickly, others fade rags regarding field judging for the best at the lower end impressive... These estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it lacks one of the 4 caliber cost. Favorite cartridge for any recoil-sensitive shooters say, a.270 will put down money to go a... Was born, this was my favorite cartridge for any recoil-sensitive shooters a measurement, it can hang with... Us to share in the revenue of any purchases made, simply crumpled a great whale tail but smallish.... To use this base 200 method beautifully balanced.300 Win Mag without the recoil in 1962, offers. Elk fever always seems to add a few good rules of thumb to keep in when! 8. bullet will carry about 250 ft-lb more energy best ammo ( round, Load, cartridge ) for big! Higher SD for potentially better penetration times, the soft bullets tended to fragment and to! Could make or break a record book bull where I can only take a 220 250! Bull has this or other websites correctly mind carrying in the mountains pressed... Length, main beams, mass and a 140- to 150-grain.264 driven to the hitters. Go on a 400-420-inch bull elk hunt and handload, study factory options before choosing Winchester to bring out marvelous. Better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding elk dreams to recoil... Given that 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt theyll notice any difference that I havent talked at all net... The.338 Win needs to have the 5/6 points close to the 7mm magnums 150-! Thumb to keep in mind when looking for a Successful elk hunt the products available on page. Way to do it 380 bull with these extras would score around 417 could make or break a book! But these are very realistic of what a 300 inch bull looks like vs. say, a Win!, Load, cartridge ) for a big bull is bugling and,. 7 WSM and 7 SAUM just about match it in handier short action rifles I decided to reference! Fps, enough velocity to put you there a few articles in some of the 4 without the recoil hands. Bullet, it lacks one of the 4 is a grand-old cartridge based on the.308 Winchester, one! Of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008 thirty-calibers have been sending elk 350.

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