Max Range for a 300 WSM,7MM WSM and 270 WSM on elk
04-16-2008, 08:06 AM
#12
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location:
Posts: 318
RE: Max Range for a 300 WSM on elk
It will do the job if you do your part. Put the shot where it needs to be. the key is bullet,shot placement and know your limitations. Practice shooting at different distances that way you know your limitations. I have a 270wsm and have made hits on targets at 500yds.Furthiest animal I have shot was a mule deer doe at 298yds. I would no be affaid to take an elk at 400yds. Later on with practice I will feel better myself taking gameat longer distances.
04-16-2008, 10:23 AM
#13
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 260
RE: Max Range for a 300 WSM on elk
I would look at a ballistic calculator. For an elk, I would find the range where it drops below 1500 ft lbs. of energy, and that would be the max range. In other words, the cartridges mentioned are effective a lot farther than 99% of hunters.
04-16-2008, 02:19 PM
#14
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kalispell, MT
Posts: 171
RE: Max Range for a 300 WSM on elk
ORIGINAL: homers brother
The first question you must ask: "Can I hit a paper plate at 300-400 yards with it?" If you can't, well - what's the point?
The first question you must ask: "Can I hit a paper plate at 300-400 yards with it?" If you can't, well - what's the point?
would suggest a slight change to this...
"can routinely/consistently hit a paper palte at 300-400 yards, after running 100 yards" why run 100 yards...gets heart beat up, replicates climbing, and elevated energy etc.
sorry, hate making points 
04-17-2008, 03:04 AM
#17
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: Max Range for a 300 WSM on elk
"take a poke"!!!![:@] To me this means the same as "lead in the air hope in the heart" meaning you have no business shooting in the first place. Please be realistic in both your expectations and abilities, if you aren't confident you can make the shot 10 out 10 times then don't shoot! I am not sure where you hunt elk but 500 yards seems like an aweful long way for most of sask.I could shoot an elk if i desired at 500 yardsunder good(optimal field)conditions but I haven't needed to. In fact the vast majority have fallen between 100 and 200 yards. This isn't mountain hunting, learn the animals/patterns, pick the right spot and buy/learn how to usea cow call
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04-20-2008, 12:36 PM
#19
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
RE: Max Range for a 300 WSM on elk
I am like most people on here - where I hunt the game until I can get close enough to make a good shot.
If you can make a 50 to 100 yard shot, there is no reason to shoot 500 yards.
Now if I was on one side of a ravine and the elk was on the other and it was the last day of hunting season and I thought that I could get the elk out - if I shot it and killed it. I would have no problems shooting 500 or even 700 yards - if my optics were good and my bullets were good and my rest was steady.
What upset me was that I was a member of a long range forum and there were people on there that had camera's and tape measures and range finders and the best rifles and optics. That said that THEY HAD TO SHOOT AN ELK AT 900 YARDS. If I was lugging around 100 to 200 lbs. of equipment - just so I could document that I shot an elk at X amount of yards. Then I would leave all that JUNK at home and just hunt alone - and get to a range - where I could ethically shoot an elk. Or I would just forget about it and hunt something else like BUNNY RABBIT'S!
A 300 Winchester Short Magnum has a lot more muzzle velocity and down range velocity than a regular old 30 / 06 Springfield and they had accuracy records in the military that stood for 50 years. 1000 yard target shots were not any big deal and could be done by most any sharp shooter in the Army.
But that person was TRAINED by the military to make those kind of shots and that was their job and they shot every day of the week. Not like some weekend warriors that sits ata desk every day and hunts one week out of the year and thinks that they are Daniel Boone.
If you can make a 50 to 100 yard shot, there is no reason to shoot 500 yards.
Now if I was on one side of a ravine and the elk was on the other and it was the last day of hunting season and I thought that I could get the elk out - if I shot it and killed it. I would have no problems shooting 500 or even 700 yards - if my optics were good and my bullets were good and my rest was steady.
What upset me was that I was a member of a long range forum and there were people on there that had camera's and tape measures and range finders and the best rifles and optics. That said that THEY HAD TO SHOOT AN ELK AT 900 YARDS. If I was lugging around 100 to 200 lbs. of equipment - just so I could document that I shot an elk at X amount of yards. Then I would leave all that JUNK at home and just hunt alone - and get to a range - where I could ethically shoot an elk. Or I would just forget about it and hunt something else like BUNNY RABBIT'S!
A 300 Winchester Short Magnum has a lot more muzzle velocity and down range velocity than a regular old 30 / 06 Springfield and they had accuracy records in the military that stood for 50 years. 1000 yard target shots were not any big deal and could be done by most any sharp shooter in the Army.
But that person was TRAINED by the military to make those kind of shots and that was their job and they shot every day of the week. Not like some weekend warriors that sits ata desk every day and hunts one week out of the year and thinks that they are Daniel Boone.
