Our elk camp's minimum cartridge (thevenerable 30-06)is just kicking booty, warms my heart.
Among those who hunt and take elk, the magnums hold a huge lead --- experience prevails over theory --- especially when you consider what a minority of the total rifle population that magnums are.
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What is your current favorite elk cartridge that you personally have actually used to take elk?

You post, i'll run the tally:

So Far:

6 - 270 Winchester
10 - 30-06 Springfield
1 - 270 Winchester Short Magnum
8 - 7mm Remington Magnum
1 - 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 300 Winchester Short Magnum
7 - 300 Winchester Magnum
1 - 300 Weatherby Magnum
3 - 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
2 - 30-378 WeatherbyMagnum
7 -338 Winchester Magnum
3 - 338 Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 340 Weatherby Magnum
1 - 358 Norma Magnum
2 - 375 Holland & Holland Magnum
1 - 416 Remington Magnum
---
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270

What is your current favorite elk cartridge that you personally have actually used to take elk?

You post, i'll run the tally:

So Far:

7 - 270 Winchester
10 - 30-06 Springfield
1 - 270 Winchester Short Magnum
8 - 7mm Remington Magnum
1 - 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 300 Winchester Short Magnum
7 - 300 Winchester Magnum
1 - 300 Weatherby Magnum
3 - 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
2 - 30-378 WeatherbyMagnum
7 -338 Winchester Magnum
3 - 338 Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 340 Weatherby Magnum
1 - 358 Norma Magnum
2 - 375 Holland & Holland Magnum
1 - 416 Remington Magnum
---
55

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You have to many 300's. .300 WSM, .300 Win and .300 Weatherby should all bethe same.

7mm mag,, Didn't get a chance to try the 7mm RUM out on elk but the last 4 elks I shot Only took 1 shot from the 7mmRM..

IMHO, if folks can't add up the various 300's to come up with "14" on their own, then it is unlikely my doing it for them will help.
It don't take a math genious to see the dominance of the magnums here especially when you consider their minority status in the general rifle population.
================================================== =

What is your current favorite elk cartridge that you personally have actually used to take elk?

You post, I'll run the tally:

So Far:

7 - 270 Winchester
10 - 30-06 Springfield
1 - 270 Winchester Short Magnum
9- 7mm Remington Magnum
1 - 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 300 Winchester Short Magnum
7 - 300 Winchester Magnum
1 - 300 Weatherby Magnum
3 - 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
2 - 30-378 WeatherbyMagnum
7 -338 Winchester Magnum
3 - 338 Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 340 Weatherby Magnum
1 - 358 Norma Magnum
2 - 375 Holland & Holland Magnum
1 - 416 Remington Magnum
---
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It also seems that hunters who have actually taken an elk seem to be a minority on a big game hunting forum???

CE

I have taken 3 elk. I took 2 with a 30-06 with 180grn Nosler Partions and 1 with a 300 Win Mag 200grn swift A-frames. The 300 Win is my current elk gun.

Definitely.Also, some time ago, it took me 3 days to get 30 responses on the same poll question. This year it took a month just to get to 30, and to get to 60 may take me 3 months. I'm thinking a lot of the Western/Elk hunters may be dropping out.
================================================== =

What is your current favorite elk cartridge that you personally have actually used to take elk?

You post, I'll run the tally:

So Far:

7 - 270 Winchester
10 - 30-06 Springfield
1 - 270 Winchester Short Magnum
9- 7mm Remington Magnum
1 - 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 300 Winchester Short Magnum
8- 300 Winchester Magnum
1 - 300 Weatherby Magnum
3 - 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
2 - 30-378 WeatherbyMagnum
7 -338 Winchester Magnum
3 - 338 Remington Ultra Magnum
1 - 340 Weatherby Magnum
1 - 358 Norma Magnum
2 - 375 Holland & Holland Magnum
1 - 416 Remington Magnum
---
57

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[Smoke Poles:2]

Interesting what I have here. I have a book published by the NAHC in 1987, Authored by Van Zwoll, Lapinski, Schuh, and Wiltse, titled All About Elk. One chapter discusses "The Elk Hunting Rifle." In that chapter, itsays "The most popular calibers that have proven adequate for elk hunting are the .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Winchester Magnum." It further goes on to discuss each of these six cartridges individually. So, after 20 years, it seems that the mentality of people has not changed all that much, and maybe these are the best all around cartridges for taking elk, when all factors are considered. Cost of the rifle, ammo, weight of the firearm, etc. I think this book was designed to point a first time elk hunter in the right direction, which might put the .308 in the group for that fact that someone from back east might have one lying around that they use for deer. It may not be the best choice overall, but would work with the right load and SHOOTER.