Wyoelkchaser,
Nosler makes a fine .277 160 grain partition. Backed by R19, its fine elk medicin' in my book. Excellent penetration qualities. Velocity and energy ain't all you need to consider. A lite bullet movin' real fast packs a lot of energy, but if it blows up on a roast you don't get the wound channel and lung damage you need. Heavy fer caliber bullets is best fer big bulls, and I've seen .243 shot elk run for miles. Lots of elk used to be shot with 30-30s too. But lots used to run off shot too. Read 'bout some of ol' Teddy Roosevelt's elk hunting trips. Makes you realize thet old timers weren't concerned with losing wounded animals or wasting game.

BJ

My dad has killed dozens of elk with an old 250 savage with standard factory loads.60 grain I think. He even killed a 362 scoring 6 point.
He said he never lost one or had to track too far. He always said just learn to shoot it. He did have open sights on it so he was at a closer range.

SMOKE POLE

i have a 270 and it works just fine (130 grain corelokt)i limit my shots to broadside and under 250 yards just behind the shoulder. works every time

practice during the off season be ready for the shot when it comes.

"EAT MEAT"
"VOTE NO TO GUN CONTROL"

130 core lokts on elk? Not bulls. The hole in yer logic is thet fragile bullets break up more at short ranges on heavy muscle an' bone. Takin' 130 Remingtons ain't advisable. It only takes one lost animal or long track to cure this young hunters mistake. Luck with 3 or 4 elk ain't nuthin' to base yer life on. Shootin' elk with crappy, under-sized bullets is like with not wearin' a seat belt, its only a matter of time afor you regret it.

BJ

I am not an expert by any means. I have only been fortunate enough to shoot at two cows. One shot, one kill on each. I am convinced that all the talk about magnum calibers is emotion and has little to do with reality. I agree with those guys who say that a well placed shot is the key. Bottom line... the 270 under 300 yards with the premium factory rounds being recommended will go through shoulder bone... will exit the other side and will probably shock you with the amount of damage and meat loss it will cause. I believe Magnum rounds are killing animals with the channel wounds and not depositing their full energy inside the animal as they are designed to do. Weatherby started all this by demonstrating that a small 22 sized bullet at high speed could literally explode inside an animal causing shock and collateral internal damage. With today's ballistics I actually think more and more hunters are losing and wounding animals from being over gunned, and poor shots than under gunned. My next hunt, I just want to kill the animal and eat it... not splatter a quarter of it across the country side. Don't mean no disrespect. Just sharing my situation.

Mebelion,
I ain't an expert on nuthin' I reckin, but I packed my share of elk quarters an' been shootin' 'em an' watchin' dudes shoot 'em fer more years then I care to count. You bring up two seperate issues thet interest me. First, I agree thet magnums is overrated. Fact is, mos' mag hunters cain't shoot 'em. Folks read too many shootin' magazines. Huntin' ain't 'bout shootin', its 'bout the outdoors. Thets where the skill comes in. But back to shootin' elk, I don't own a single mag. Best elk cartridge (notice I didn't say caliber) is the 35 Whelen in my book. I don't own one, but I'm plannin' on makin' one outta a 1895 Winchester I got in my rack. A 35 Whelen, a 338-06, 8mm'06 or a good ol' 30'06 are fine fer elk an moose. Good hunters don't need to shoot 400 yards. Now, even though I got no use fer mags, I still like a heavy bullet thets made to hold up. Splatterin' lead is to be avoided. Boat tails, Hornadys, Sierras, .277 130s of any make, and them girlie colored plastic tipped bullets is to be avoided in my mind. Stick with a caliber you can handle well, practice off-hand, and shoot a tuff, heavy bullet. Thets my elk medicine in a nutshell. I came to it over many years of makin' jus' bout ever mistake a feller can make. Yep, I was young onct too. Thort ol' timers were full o' hooey too. Thets the way with the world it seems. Take my advice fer what you paid fer it. Some day after sleepin' out in the cold with a dead elk that took too much daylight to track down, you'll think of ol' BeaverJack an' wonder why you ever packed Hornady .277 130 boat tails after the king of all game animals.

BJ

smokpole: I'm from Gunnison. Where abouts you headed?

There is no minimum caliber in Montana, Bigbulls ????????????? So lets just go out there with a 22 just because its okay.

Hate to seem picky, but you fellers realize thet the "minimum caliber for elk" is a whole differnt conversation then the "minimum cartridge for elk. A 7mm'08 and a 7mm STW are the same CALIBER. The two words ain't interchangeable.

BJ

Smokepole, I have taken 2 bulls with my 270, I used 140 GR. Winchester Failsafe. No problems anchoring either, they went a little farther, but still dead.

Like mentioned a lung shot would be the best place and out to 250, you'll be ok.