Superpig

If I were buying a rifle for elk only, it would be one of the fine 300 mags. This could be Win. Mag. Weatherby, H&H, or WSM. If you know you can handle their recoil. If you are used to recoil and will spend the time to become accustomed to your rifle I might also consider the 325 WSM or the 338 Win. Mag. Any of the rounds mentioned are suitable for elk with proper weight bullets of controlled expansion construction.

If you are recoil sensitive to the 30-06. I'm sure it has taken more elk than any other cartridge on the planet. Use a bullet of 180 grs. and of the controlled expansion design and practice until you can consistently hit your target out to your max range of 350 yards. Bullet construction and placement is more important than caliber unless you try using something smaller than a 270 Winchester with conventional bullets.

On a note I have an acquintance that has had shoulder surgery twice on each shoulder and he can't take much recoil. He has used a 25-06 with I believe 120 gr. Grand Slams in his handloads for about ten years and has taken several cows & two nice bulls. One a 6X5 & 6X6. I wouldn't recommed this caliber to anyone but to each his own.

BareBack Jack

300 ultra,.338 win,300 wsm,.325 wsm,280 rem,30-06.
Not generaly in that order.
BBJ

handloader1

.340 Wby. Mag. Good luck.

eldeguello

.30/'06, 7mm Rem. Mag. (or equivalent), .338 Win., even a .375 H&H is really not too big......

Vapodog

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/2711043/m/231104013
Here's a very fine elk rifle.

BFR

My vote goes to the .338 for an elk gun. If you want to buy a gun for elk and deeryou won'tgo wrong with anod six. All the guns mentioned previously are good choices, but if I'm going out West once every five years, I won't let my rifle cal. be a limiting factor in the end result of my hunt. There's no such thing as too dead IMHO.

uncle matt

nothing fancy necessary, not any newer hybred, no magnum - just three simple words will do any living creature in the Americas.......................... thurty odd six.

okcmco

Rifle People are either conservative or can't wait to get thier hands on the newest and fastest ultra mag. I am going for the first time this fall for elk, and muley (N. M. guided hunt) I have a .300 win mag which is a great all arounder. Upon recomdations of people on this site I will use accubond 180 grains probably. I have a savage 30-06 as a back up. BUT!!! In my practice with my .300 win mag, I am beatin myself up so much that I may use my '06 and use the win mag as a back up. But I won't take a shot more than 275 yards.
Good Luck
okcmco

skeeter 7MM

Well I guess I'll be different if I was looking for a standard cartridge I would go with the 280 rem vs 3006. However I would pick and have picked the 7mm rem mag over both of these. If I just needed a 30 cal I would go with one of the 300's.

Nothing wrong with the 06' just don't have the same love affair as many here do with this chambering.[&:]

All good cartridges, pick the right bullet they'll have no problems taking an elk to 350 yards...if you can close the deal!

Jeep4x4

I wish they would delete topics like this because people dont seem to know how to use the search button anymore these days.

Or hell, atleast make a sticky topic with all the most popular calibers for each type of game.