Ourabmen:

Why do you want to use a 7mm-08 for Elk when you have so many other better choices? Good luck.

Just looking at the Nosler loading manual. at 300 yards using the 160 grain Nosler partition gold or Fail Safe the 7mm-08 would retain 1881 LBS of ME. The 7mm Rem mag, about 2281. The 7mm Rem USM and the 280 about 2047. At 300 yards or closer I would have a hard time believing an Elk would even know the difference and with even decent shot placement 1500 lbs of ME is elk medicine. All of these 7mm's plus the 7x57 are easy up to the task. There again it all comes down to if you can place your bullet well. Without proper shot placement, the difference in these cartridges won't matter either.

james B - that difference you pointed out is roughly 22%. I'd say its considerable.

I'm with JD338 on this one!! I've used the 7x57 Mauser too much to not to know how good the 7-08 will work, as was pointed out, they are equil cartridges!!

I'd use 160 grain Nosler partitions in it if it was mine, AND, like was already said, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

Drilling Man

I have not used the 7mm08 for elk. However I base my therory that it should work well because I have used the 6.5X55 for that purpose. I also used the 260 one year which also made a good clean one shot kill with a 140 grain X bullet. A friend using my same rifle also made a one shot kill on a nice bull. Many hunters in Sweden and Norway use the 6.5x55 for Elk and moose. I still don't believe, that even if you want to say 22 percent, that a game animal hit with any of those rifles firing a 160 grain premium bullet would know any difference since they would be dead.. Just because its accepted that you can't use too much gun, there is still a point that some guns are enough. However it always has and alway will come down to hunter skill. Some can and some can't. Thats why its hard to recommend a caliber. You don't know who you are dealing with. I can speak to what works for me. Thats all anyone can do. I do know that many Elk have been taken with the 7mm08 Contender Handgun.

Definitely with reasonable shots at the elk.

I have owned 7mm-08 for 27 years. I have not shot an elk with it, but using Barnes X bullets in 140 or 150 gr. It should do the job out to300 yards. Ihave harvested Mule deer & Whitetails using Barnes X bullets & its always smacked them so i can pack them. I have never recovered a bullet, they pass through & angle of bullet path did not matter. Busted bones like toothpicks.

James B your right a .378 WBY. might be on the light side. Better off using a .460 WBY, or a .470 Double, or even better yet the .50 BMG should work great! lol Seriously I think a .7mm-08 will work for elk. I myself like the .300 Mag's, but not everyone can shoot them. If you are willing to wait for the right angle or strait broadside shot, then out to 250 yards will work great with a premium 160 gr. bullet.

Is anyone loading Barnes X bullets on 22 Long Rifle and 22 Magnum cartridges?

If so we can all hunt on the cheap.

EKM

EKM,
I'm loading my 22 hornet with them I have to load them down though to much penetration.I'm going completly through the animal.and trees and cars.

I said befor the 7-08 will work for elk it is a cross over caliber,not a elk gun.

I think the .30 cal mag's or bigger are much better suited for elk hunting.
I feel nothing wrong with shooting elk with a 416 rem or 25-06 it's what ya use for common sense and bullet placement.The bigger calibers give you a little more umph and more shock.
BBJ