This fall I will be going on my first elk hunt in Colorado, currently all I have hunted is mule and white tail deer. For this I have a 700 Rem .270 caliber. But am considering a .300 Win Mag. Scouring the gun shops I am finding guys trading off their .300 Win Mag for the .300
WSM. I also am looking to put on a Leupold 4.5 -14 with the Boone and Crookett Reticle. For this trip should I wait on the .300 Win mag and use my .270 with a 150 grain or will I be underpowered. I am concerned the .270 might be too light for elk. Some have said to try the .270 short mag for all deer and elk and stay with one gun. It gets a bit confusing......elk hutning isn't something I will do every year however. Also opinions on the Boone and crockett reticle would be appreciated as well.

The 270win will certainly work for elk hunting in most situations as will the 260rem or even the 25-06.Many elk have been killed with all of these cartridges.However,I do prefer a larger cartridge for those times when the angles are not perfect or the ranges get longer.The 300wsm or 300win mag are excellent choices for elk however,I would limit my scope magnification to 3x9 or 3.5x10 in order to have a larger field of veiw at closer ranges..

I think the 270 is a great elk gun; if you've got one your comfotable with why not use it? That B&C reticle seems geared toward long shots which is something I'm not in favor of. Most people shooting game at long distances haven't taken the time to practice at those ranges and the results aren't always pretty. If you want to take long shots at elk I'd move up to one of the 30 calibers and practice a lot.

I would say stick with the .270, and spend the extra time and money investing in good, high quality ammunition, and practicing a lot!!! If you are going on a hunt this year, I think it would be better to have more practice and be able to put the bullet into the vitals with the first shot, rather than spend a whole bunch of money on a new rifle, and not feel 100% comfortable in it.

A .270 is fine for elk if one uses correct bullets and puts that bullet where it will take an elk out. I would suggest a Winchester Fail Safe, X-bullet or a Nosler Partion. These bullets will work period. When Elmer Keith wrote we needed bigger caliber to do in elk, he was stating we needed better bullets. We have those now. One can find anyone of the bullets mentioned in factory ammunition. If you want to buy a new rifle, great, but you don't need one. Remember, 140 grain Fail Safe a 1/3 to half way up the shoulder and the elk will fall in 12 seconds.

Dr Fatguy

Myself i like the 300 mag but if you can shoot it right the 270 will do fine.

Many, Many Elk Moose and Bear have been taken with the 270. A good sturdy bullet and a well placed shot is all you need to add.

Sounds like a good excuse to purchase a .300 Win. Mag. to me. Good luck.

DID SOMEONE SAY 300 WIN MAG?

Very good replies so far. Another 270 bullet to consider is an Accubond. It sure did quick work on the cow I shot last season. Jim