Originally Posted by
jerry d
Elk would be a possibility in the future but not a steady thing. The .338 would be out of the question becauuse of the recoil. I own a .243 and was looking to move up in cal. but still want it to be an all around caliber.
two other choice high on my list are the .270 & .308.I'm leaning more toward the short action rifles though.
The ballistics on the 7mm-08 are very simular to the 7mm Mauser and that round has taken its share of elk.
I like the long action choices for versatility. They can usually be loaded to better handle heavier bullets, and you can find factory ammo everywhere. If this was my choice it would be a .30-06 or .270 if I did not reload, and a .30-06 or .280 if I loaded my own ammo. The 7mm Mag would also be a nice fit to go with your .243.
If you stay East of the Mississippi a .308 is a beautiful thing, as is the 7-08. Hunting the Rockies and the open plains would make me want a bit more. I am sure that the 7 Mauser and 7-08 cartridges have taken elk, but I have not seen anyone carry one in any my elk camps in the past 40+ years. Most guys want to shoot a fairly heavy bullet like a 160 grain 7mm or a 180 grain 30 caliber, and want to shoot it as fast as possible.