.308

[Ungulate]

Has anyone harvested elk with this round? Anyone had one walk away and recover from a shot that was supposed to have been vital? What is considered to be reasonable .308 range for elk? I am considering purchasing a single shot .308 my reasoning for this is because I am used to packing a similar gun everywhere and it only weighs seven pounds and is lighter to pack.

 

[Roy]

Answer #1 - You probably couldn't count the number or elk killed with this round. One of the most popular, versatile and effective rounds for elk or deer.

Answer #2 - Of course. Elk are tough creatures and people miss shot placement all the time, but the .308 is one of the more deadly rounds and this will happen less with this caliber than with many others.

Answer #3 - Reasonable depends on the shooter and how much you practice - so for most people I wouldn't recommend any distance farther than 350 - 400 yards. If you know what you are doing however and have lots of range time, the .308 is effective for elk at distances up to 1000 yards. (Though this point will probably get some arguments).

In short - the .308 is a great round and if you have a deal on a rifle you like and it suits your needs, you won't go wrong with it.


UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

 

[muleycrazy1]

The .308 is my all around hunting gun. I have taken down two elk with this gun with distances of 100 yds on the first and 300 yds on the second.

 

[REDDOG]

dont be silly, a 308 will bounce off an elk.

 

[need4x4]

Good bullet is important and shot placement the most important.

Would not try a shot at much over 250 on a bull elk. Just wouldn't do that.

Most shots are much closer than that and with good placement, the 308 is fine.

I think people don't realize that shots are often very quick in coming and going. Meaning you don't have time for the perfect shot. So, the good part of the 308 is it might be a good rifle to quickly aquire the target and take the shot, but it might also not allow for a great deal of room for error.

This is why I would restrict my range with this round further than I would with another round like a 7mm rem. mag or 300 win mag which are better for bull elk if you ask me.

 

[AndymanSavage]

The good old 30-06 short mag. My .308 is my all around big game rifle as well. I have carried it on elk hunts, but have not taken a shot.....yet. I will let you know how it works when I draw my expo elk tag.


-----------------------------------------------
http://andymansavage.blogspot.com/

 

[MuddyBoots]

This past season I put down my 338 RUM and set up a new 308 for elk action. Reasons being it is lighter, shorter, less recoil, and more accurate. I feel "quicker" to shoulder and shoot it. Where I hunt elk you are only going to get one good shot and your going to be close because its so thick.

 

[Ungulate]

300 Yards? If this is true then I am definitely in. I do have a remington bdl 700 chambered in 30-06 but I am always lugging that thing around and like andyman I have yet to take a shot... Well atleast for a while. I have taken some bulls but there are also some seasons where the bdl is just dead weight.

 

[Rem308]

I have a friend that has taken several elk with his 308. And he uses 150 grain ballistic tip handloads. Lots of people have told him the ballistic tips are not tuff enough bullet for elk ,but he has never had one get away and most were one shot kills.

 

[bull_n_rut]

>dont be silly, a 308 will bounce off an elk.



LMAO!!!

 

[Brushmonkey]

If you cant get it done with a .308....take up basket weaving.

Killed my Minnesota Moose with one,1 elk ,several Deer and black bears.I assure you they not 13.4% less dead than if shot with a bla bla short ultra compensator MAG...

Brag about your hunt and good shot you made...not the gun you bought.

The mild recoil,affordable ammo and inherent accuracy make this my one and only.From head shooting Turkeys to 300 yard Moose it will do it all.

 

[ktg]

I've had lots of different guns from .223 to 338 Lapua. I sold them all for various reasons except my .308 (besides a couple ar-15s).
Shoot a barnes TSX and you'll do fine out to 400 yds. My wife killed a 310ish bull a couple years ago at about 400 yds. 1 shot with a 168 TXS and the bull went about 30 yards.

 

[echoman]

Hey Spidey, the biggest of the big, was killed with a .308, what more evidence do ya need?

 

[Elk375]

I have a friend of mind here in SW Montana that used to cull elephants in Rhodesia and for awhile in Zimbabwe - he is a Zimbabwe citizen. Here has shot many elephants with the 7.62 FN short (the .308).

 

[sageadvice]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-09 AT 06:16PM (MST)[p]300 ultra mag > 300 Win Mag > 30-06 > .308

All have the exact same sized bullet,.308

From zero to say 800yds, there is a point on a graph that each above cartridge will still have(recommended minimum) 1500 foot pounds of energy. For the 300RUM that may be 700 yds, for the .308 Win, that may be 350yds. Find out at what distance your particular loading still has this general energy needed factor, realize this limitation, stick to and within this range, and you're in business. The bullet is/can be the same as those from bigger guns, the game taken can be the same also.

Joey

 

[ThunderImpulse4]

my neighbor shots a .308 for elk. his max distance is 300. i have seen him shoot a dandy group at 400 and 500. definately a good elk gun. i personally still love my .30-06 far shooting and hard hitting.
\but thats me

 

[camonick]

often times when hunting big game,your bullet selection and shot placement determine the success of you kill just as much and I believe more than what caliber you are using. The .308 will kill a elk. The question is can you put a hole in his vitals? When you do go down in caliber bullet selection becomes VERY important. I would stay away from balistic tips on anything bigger than deer. The TSX and the MRX are very good bullets. The swift A-Frame and the good old nosler partition are all fine choices. Most importantly find a bullet that shoots good in your gun and put in the boiler room.

 

[eagle_eye]

One of the best rounds out there IMO. Used it to take my first bull. One shot from 325 yards.

If you're looking to shoot over 400, I'd recommend the 300 mag. Good luck in the draws.

 

[1911]

I'll echo what has already been said here. Good all around caliber and certainly capable of giving an elk a dirt nap. I've personally taken two bulls with a .308 using factory Winchester 180 grain soft points. Both were taken at the 350 yard range give or take a few either way. The .308 is a pleasure to shoot for the shoulder and is not as prone to cause permanent hearing damage like some of the other calibers. Next elk I chase will be with a .338 Federal more for gee whiz of using the new caliber than anything. I would not hesitate to use my .308 again.

 

[bullmania]

GREAT CALIBER CANT GO WRONG>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



Bullmania

 

[KILLERBEE]

with a 190 gr bullet, leaving the barrel at 2560 ft per second, the maximum effective range at an elk would be 390 yrds. [ this is the last point it carries at least 1500 ft lbs of energy AND still traveling at least 2000 ft. per second] it CAN kill farther but im just taking this from a great book i have that they use these numbers to figure out all guns maximum effective ranges on different animals.
if sighted in at 2 3/4 high at 100 yrds your impact will be--
dead on at 23 yrds
1 1/4 high at 50 yrds
2 3/4 high at 100
3 high at 125
1 1/4 high at 200
dead on at 220
3" low at 260
7" low at 300
24" low at 400

info taken from
THE TARGET BOOK by charlie middleton and Pat Moran

 

[camonick]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-06-09 AT 06:46PM (MST)[p]a .308 is more than enough!