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Q:
Favorite Elk Cartridge? Favorite Scope? Here are some survey numbers taken from attendee's at the RMEF Elk Camp in Reno last year. I took these numbers off the RMEF site, so no bias is included! These are "favorites", not necessarily the "best", but it does speak well. Favorite Cartridge: .30-06 - 148, .300 Win. Mag. - 118, 7 mm Rem. Mag. - 105, .338 Win. Mag. - 72, .270 - 56, .300 Wby. Mag. - 39. Favorite Scope: Leupold - 395, Nikon - 33, Burris - 33, Bushnell - 32, Swarovski - 27. Keep in mind that these are primarily Western elk hunters that were surveyed at the convention and other cartridges and brands were just not listed in the results.
Question by WA Mtnhunter. Uploaded on March 04, 2010
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Answers (28)
My top pick would be the 338 Win Mag and 30-06 as back up and perhaps toss my 6.5x55 in just for grins and giggles all topped with a 3x9 Leupold
Leupold crushed the others wow..I am surprised the 30-06 ranked so high out west..would have thought 300 win, 7mm or 270 would take the lead..
I carried a .338 Win Mag with a very accurate 180 gr. hand load, and a .30-'06 with a very accurate 165 gr. hand load. Scopes were a 3.5 X 10 X 50 Leupold, and a very old, very bright 3 X 9 X 40 Simmons. Killed the elk with the Model 700 '06, because it was a lot lighter to carry than the Model 70 .338.
BTW, WAM- That 165gr. NBT did break both shoulders on the elk. I butchered them out, and recovered the bullet in the far shoulder in seven pieces. I am working up a 165 gr. Accubond load now.
300 win mag with a leapold--- H1000 load 180 noisler accubond
30-06 with a leapold--- imr 4895 165 noisler accubond
Only guns I hunt elk with. Deadly on ELK
Knocking 'um down since 1906! 104 years of doing business and business is still good!
crm3006
I did not mean to dispute you, brother. I just don't see Ballistic Tips as real elk penetrators that's all. If it had been an identical hit with a TSX, it would have done the same, exited, and never recovered!
I would bias the data a little by saying that these are mostly diehard elk hunters with a little more jingle in their pockets than the most of us, so the Leupold is no surprise. Out of the 15 or so guys I have hunted with the last 10 years, only one used a big 7mm STW and no big 30's larger than a .300 Win Mag. None of those 15 or so hunts with a .338 Win Mag and only one with a .340 Weatherby. Lots of .30-06's, .270's, and 7mm Rem mags and two 7mm Weatherby Mags with the .30-06 offspring wildcats in there too.
I concede that the .338 Win Mag is an ideal elk caliber, no doubt. Too much bang-kick for me personally, but that's just me. I shot mine poorly so I got rid of it. And there are lots of equivalent cartridges that did not make the list, like .300 WSM etc.
bat4bab
The Accubond is a great bullet. I tried a box and could not get acceptable accuracy in my '06, hence the TSX. I favor the 165 gr in my '06, but it shoots 180's well too.
They shoot Great out of both of my guns. I get a 1" three shot group out of my 300 win mag. It took a while to find the right load.
With the 30-06 I recovered a bullet that went through both shoulders bone and all. It was just under the skin on the opposite side. The bull took 2 steps and went down.
With the 300 win mag. On a different elk one bullet went in the front shoulder on a quartering away shot and ended up almost exiting the elk through the opposite hind quarter. For penetration I think the bullet works great. I have not lost one elk or deer with the accubond. Between both guns they have shot at least 10 elk.
They also retain at least 80% of there mass.
This load has proven its self to me time and time again.
Will the original Ballistic Tip stand up!
Thank you Remington Bronze Point!
Ballistic Tips is nothing more than a Hollow Point with a aerodynamic tip!
Clay Cooper
We have tried the original Ballistic tip and they tend to blow up. You hit them in the shoulder and we have found parts of the bullet from the neck and to the hind end. On deer they work great. But after seeing what they do on elk I wanted something that held together better.
I think the key to the 30-06 being the caliber of choice with hunters in the West is that they are typically not just elk hunting. Most of elk season is during deer season. Residents can afford both deer and elk tags and the 30-06 in my mind is the best caliber on a deer/elk hunt combo.
I also guess I am plain old regular, a 30-06 with leupold.
Agree with all of the above. Ballistic tips are great-
on whitetail deer, hogs, and anything smaller. Mule deer, maybe. Anything the size and bulk of an elk, I want an Accubond, TSX, Partition, whatever gets me the best accuracy. I have Leupolds on everything from a .22LR to a .338 Win Mag. The reason I have a Simmons on Old Ugly .30-'06, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
bat4bab
What is your load with H1000 for your .300? Also, do you have any experience with the 200 grain accubond out of your .300? Thanks
bigBboy25
I have the best luck with 81 grains of powder. This is a compressed load. I would recommend using a drop tube for the powder. Then a day later check them to make sure the bullet has not pushed out of the casing.
I have not tried the 200 grain accubond.
I tried shooting a 150 grain bullet with the H1000 powder and it was super flat shooting. It would make a great antelope load.
A TSX 35 caliber bullet at 2900 fps from my 350 rem mag should do the trick. It is a 700 classic w/Leupold VXIII 2.5-8X scope. WAM I really enjoyed our talk tonight on the land line.
bat4bab
That's why I say Ballistic Tips is nothing more than a Hollow Point with a aerodynamic tip. They hit and blow like a bomb!! :)
I love the '06 but if I was a dedicated elk hunter I'd go .33 caliber. JMO
Del
Good time, we'll talk in a few days as soon as I decide on the deer tag.
WMH
My answer to the RMEF survey would have been Remington 700 Classic/BDL in .35 Whelen with a Leupold 3-9x40 because that is what I have killed the most deer and elk with. Under 300 yards it can't be beat IMO.
WAM, the 35 Whelen sounds like a great elk cartrige and a good deer cartrige as well. I have always wanted one and maybe someday I will be able to get one. It doesn't surprise me that so many use the venerable old 30-06 because it does the job and everybody owns at least one. I have a .300 Dakota that I use just to be different but have never had the pleasure of hunting elk yet.
What, 25-06 was not in the top ten? Oh, I am so surprised! Tell us, did ANY of those real live experts vote for a 25-06?
WAM, if you'd have given me a list of those calibers and told me to put them in the order of preference without giving the numbers, I would have lined them up EXACTLY as you showed. Exactly!
35 Whelen is good for elk for sure but shells aren't always that easy to find on the shelf. Things like that will no doubt affect the voting.
DakotaMan
I'm sure that if I had owned a .30-06 all those years, I would have killed just as many deer and elk with it as I did the .35W. I have only owned a .30-06 for 7 years and have shot deer with it, but no elk. Missed a cow with it because of a brush deflection once. I have carried it on alternating days during some elk hunts, but the .35W just seems to be in my hand when it comes down to 'Hammer Time'.
OHH
I did not see a complete list of all cartridges voted on. I'm sure there was a sprinkling of other cartridges like the .338-06, .308 Win, etc. You know, most of the Montana and Idaho resident elk hunters that I know do not shoot big magnums either. I personally know a couple of Montanan's who shoot Weatherby magnums, but they are the minority for sure. Those are just my observations and are sure not scientific polling!
Best regards,
WMH
All the guys I knew as a kid in Montana who shot those big Weatherby magnum shoulder/meat busters were little fellas with compensation issues.
I am a bit surprised .308 didn't make it up there to top ten.
OHH
I'm betting the .308 Win is just under the radar on this list.
270 Leupold scope
bat4bab
Thanks for the info, take care.
Post an Answer
Agree with all of the above. Ballistic tips are great-
on whitetail deer, hogs, and anything smaller. Mule deer, maybe. Anything the size and bulk of an elk, I want an Accubond, TSX, Partition, whatever gets me the best accuracy. I have Leupolds on everything from a .22LR to a .338 Win Mag. The reason I have a Simmons on Old Ugly .30-'06, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
My top pick would be the 338 Win Mag and 30-06 as back up and perhaps toss my 6.5x55 in just for grins and giggles all topped with a 3x9 Leupold
I carried a .338 Win Mag with a very accurate 180 gr. hand load, and a .30-'06 with a very accurate 165 gr. hand load. Scopes were a 3.5 X 10 X 50 Leupold, and a very old, very bright 3 X 9 X 40 Simmons. Killed the elk with the Model 700 '06, because it was a lot lighter to carry than the Model 70 .338.
BTW, WAM- That 165gr. NBT did break both shoulders on the elk. I butchered them out, and recovered the bullet in the far shoulder in seven pieces. I am working up a 165 gr. Accubond load now.
Knocking 'um down since 1906! 104 years of doing business and business is still good!
crm3006
I did not mean to dispute you, brother. I just don't see Ballistic Tips as real elk penetrators that's all. If it had been an identical hit with a TSX, it would have done the same, exited, and never recovered!
I would bias the data a little by saying that these are mostly diehard elk hunters with a little more jingle in their pockets than the most of us, so the Leupold is no surprise. Out of the 15 or so guys I have hunted with the last 10 years, only one used a big 7mm STW and no big 30's larger than a .300 Win Mag. None of those 15 or so hunts with a .338 Win Mag and only one with a .340 Weatherby. Lots of .30-06's, .270's, and 7mm Rem mags and two 7mm Weatherby Mags with the .30-06 offspring wildcats in there too.
I concede that the .338 Win Mag is an ideal elk caliber, no doubt. Too much bang-kick for me personally, but that's just me. I shot mine poorly so I got rid of it. And there are lots of equivalent cartridges that did not make the list, like .300 WSM etc.
bat4bab
The Accubond is a great bullet. I tried a box and could not get acceptable accuracy in my '06, hence the TSX. I favor the 165 gr in my '06, but it shoots 180's well too.
Leupold crushed the others wow..I am surprised the 30-06 ranked so high out west..would have thought 300 win, 7mm or 270 would take the lead..
300 win mag with a leapold--- H1000 load 180 noisler accubond
30-06 with a leapold--- imr 4895 165 noisler accubond
Only guns I hunt elk with. Deadly on ELK
They shoot Great out of both of my guns. I get a 1" three shot group out of my 300 win mag. It took a while to find the right load.
With the 30-06 I recovered a bullet that went through both shoulders bone and all. It was just under the skin on the opposite side. The bull took 2 steps and went down.
With the 300 win mag. On a different elk one bullet went in the front shoulder on a quartering away shot and ended up almost exiting the elk through the opposite hind quarter. For penetration I think the bullet works great. I have not lost one elk or deer with the accubond. Between both guns they have shot at least 10 elk.
They also retain at least 80% of there mass.
This load has proven its self to me time and time again.
Will the original Ballistic Tip stand up!
Thank you Remington Bronze Point!
Ballistic Tips is nothing more than a Hollow Point with a aerodynamic tip!
Clay Cooper
We have tried the original Ballistic tip and they tend to blow up. You hit them in the shoulder and we have found parts of the bullet from the neck and to the hind end. On deer they work great. But after seeing what they do on elk I wanted something that held together better.
I think the key to the 30-06 being the caliber of choice with hunters in the West is that they are typically not just elk hunting. Most of elk season is during deer season. Residents can afford both deer and elk tags and the 30-06 in my mind is the best caliber on a deer/elk hunt combo.
I also guess I am plain old regular, a 30-06 with leupold.
bat4bab
What is your load with H1000 for your .300? Also, do you have any experience with the 200 grain accubond out of your .300? Thanks
bigBboy25
I have the best luck with 81 grains of powder. This is a compressed load. I would recommend using a drop tube for the powder. Then a day later check them to make sure the bullet has not pushed out of the casing.
I have not tried the 200 grain accubond.
I tried shooting a 150 grain bullet with the H1000 powder and it was super flat shooting. It would make a great antelope load.
A TSX 35 caliber bullet at 2900 fps from my 350 rem mag should do the trick. It is a 700 classic w/Leupold VXIII 2.5-8X scope. WAM I really enjoyed our talk tonight on the land line.
bat4bab
That's why I say Ballistic Tips is nothing more than a Hollow Point with a aerodynamic tip. They hit and blow like a bomb!! :)
I love the '06 but if I was a dedicated elk hunter I'd go .33 caliber. JMO
Del
Good time, we'll talk in a few days as soon as I decide on the deer tag.
WMH
My answer to the RMEF survey would have been Remington 700 Classic/BDL in .35 Whelen with a Leupold 3-9x40 because that is what I have killed the most deer and elk with. Under 300 yards it can't be beat IMO.
DakotaMan
I'm sure that if I had owned a .30-06 all those years, I would have killed just as many deer and elk with it as I did the .35W. I have only owned a .30-06 for 7 years and have shot deer with it, but no elk. Missed a cow with it because of a brush deflection once. I have carried it on alternating days during some elk hunts, but the .35W just seems to be in my hand when it comes down to 'Hammer Time'.
WAM, the 35 Whelen sounds like a great elk cartrige and a good deer cartrige as well. I have always wanted one and maybe someday I will be able to get one. It doesn't surprise me that so many use the venerable old 30-06 because it does the job and everybody owns at least one. I have a .300 Dakota that I use just to be different but have never had the pleasure of hunting elk yet.
What, 25-06 was not in the top ten? Oh, I am so surprised! Tell us, did ANY of those real live experts vote for a 25-06?
WAM, if you'd have given me a list of those calibers and told me to put them in the order of preference without giving the numbers, I would have lined them up EXACTLY as you showed. Exactly!
35 Whelen is good for elk for sure but shells aren't always that easy to find on the shelf. Things like that will no doubt affect the voting.
OHH
I did not see a complete list of all cartridges voted on. I'm sure there was a sprinkling of other cartridges like the .338-06, .308 Win, etc. You know, most of the Montana and Idaho resident elk hunters that I know do not shoot big magnums either. I personally know a couple of Montanan's who shoot Weatherby magnums, but they are the minority for sure. Those are just my observations and are sure not scientific polling!
Best regards,
WMH
All the guys I knew as a kid in Montana who shot those big Weatherby magnum shoulder/meat busters were little fellas with compensation issues.
I am a bit surprised .308 didn't make it up there to top ten.
OHH
I'm betting the .308 Win is just under the radar on this list.
270 Leupold scope
bat4bab
Thanks for the info, take care.
Post an Answer