Let's assume you have a trophy bull elk, 380" at 400yds, not the perfect broadside shot, it's late in the evening, next to yellowstone, if it goes 20yds into the broder of yellowstone you lose it forever/can't retrieve it, what would you want to be shooting?

This is gonna be interesting!!!! Never having the opportunity to hunt elk but hopefully changing that soon i'd have to say at 400 yds.i'd let it walk. Because i'd would be using a caliber that at that range is beyond its capabilty.

First let me say i LOVE weatherbys and my 300 mkv dlx IS an elk rifle. HOWEVER COMMA BUT to say the 338Win wont do ANYTHING the 340wby is laughable at best! I'd consider them equals... And both are perhaps the best for elk!!!

Worth a look;

http://elkhunter2.tripod.com/rifle.html


Voted for .338 WM.

I have both a 7MM RM & a .338 WM.

Thor's hammer, 375H&H. With the correct bullet, there will be a hole thru this thing, and it wont go far. Reality, the only two I would be reluctant to use for that shot would be the '06 and the 7mm mag, the rest, I wouldnt have a worry, provided I know I can do my part in the accuracy equation.

Hands down the 300 RUM. It is simply the best elk cartridge ever made. If you're a hand loader or if you shoot factory ammo, it's the best.

A 30.06 would be more than adequate to kill that elk at that range...only a fool would pass up the shot!!! his size has nothing to do with the equation, the round has more than enough power to kill at that range , you have 22/24 in. to hit him in...the scenario doesn't say angling toward you or away....what's the 'perfect' shot????
the shot that kills yer elk is the perfect shot!!!! ya got one o them bigol magnum bangnums, use that ya go a 7mm, use that ya got a 30.06 use it...they all kill that bull!!!!!!!!!

Finnbear is right, if you are confident at that range. You have to know your bullet drop at that range and ballistic charts will only get you somewhat close. A 30.06 at 400 yards is dropping like a rock. You have to know what your rifle and bullet combination will do at that range. I passed on a 385 yard shot last year with a 30.06 with a short barrel. I had never shot this gun past 200 yards. My bad and it cost me a really nice elk.

That's why I love the 300 RUM. The other calibers will make the shot but will take much more practice. It is much easier getting good at a 11 inch drop than a 45 inch drop. It's not only easier but more consistent.

A 300 RUM at 500 yards is darn near doing the same thing a 30.06 is doing at the muzzle. Just saying.....

I'm not knocking the other calibers, I'm just very happy with the 300 RUM. It's the best. IMHO!

The .338/340 screams perfect for elk and moose...JMO.

In regards to the RUM I don't believe it is of value for off the shelf ammo shooters. Personally if I were one who buys ammo to shoot the RUM wouldn't be a consideration. I reload so no problems but I still choose to haul out the .338 for the big boys

I picked the 7mm although I have shot an elk close to that range with a 270 and it still dropped it. Any of them work well, use what you got and call it good.