My question is concerning using a 308 Win. to hunt elk. The reason I ask is that this is what my "favorite" hunting rifle is chambered for. I have hunted deer (white tail and mule) since about 1964, I have never hunted elk before.

I have 2 other choices. A 300 Win. Mag. and a 338 Win. Mag. I took the 300 Win. Mag. to Montana a few times hunting mule deer. I have shot the 338 only at the range. Recoil is not an issue. All 3 rifles are very accurate, with very good triggers and excellent glass.

I am looking for candid advice on which I should take.

It doesn't really matter. All three will kill an elk with proper shot placement.

As was stated, all three will kill an elk. However, I would be choosing between the two bigger calibers if it's strictly an elk hunt for the extra zip at longer distances just in case that one and only shot comes up where the 308 would be marginal.

I think you'll enjoy looking at this;

http://elkhunter2.tripod.com/


That's why I own a .338WM.

If recoil or weight are not an issue, The 338 Win. is the best choice. In D. Y. Jones book " Ask the Elk Guides" He ask the most successful Elk Guides what rifle they prefer to see the clients bring. The 338 is the overwhelming winner. I agree with you that a 308 Win. is a wonderful deer rifle but if you have a 338 Win Mag it should be your Elk rifle.

Some shot angles on elk are not ideal, so I believe that a fellow would be best served with the larger cartridges unless they have the time and willpower to pass up some shots. A quartering bull at longer ranges would be more easily put down with some extra power.
However, I have seen quite a few elk taken cleanly with the .308 at fairly long ranges by guys that calmly wait for that nice broadside shot.

Its completly possible to hunt elk with 308 good placement and soft tip needed to get max damage.

All 3 will kill elk equally dead. You are best off with the rifle you can shoot best. If it's your favorite rifle and you've shot it a lot and you know it well, I don't see the down side of using it.

Guides often take people who have very little experience in such things. Makes no sense to take a hunter out with a 338 who hasn't practiced with it extensively. Im not knocking his work but DY hasn't hunted elk with me and mine, we don't use guides and didn't learn elk hunting from reading books. Biggest gun I've seen used among family and friends is my .300 Win mag and its plenty of gun. 99% of the elk Ive seen killed in 50 years could have easily been killed with a .308. Including the one I killed last Sunday morning.

308 will do just fine. good luck out there hunting