Caliber choice for an elk gun...

WildBob · Jan 9, 2007

I guess I'm backing into this subject (since I already ordered the gun!)...but I was curious what most of you would choose.

-If you narrowed it down to these two calibers, which would you pick: 300WSM or the 300 Winchester Mag.????

dieseldog · Jan 9, 2007

300 win mag but first on my list is the 300 Rem ultra mag

sjhgraysage · Jan 9, 2007

either will work fine with good bullets and proper shot placement.

slamdunk · Jan 9, 2007

Both the 300WSM and the Win mag are almost identical in the ballistics department, but if your a reloader go with the WSM and save money using less powder.
Personally, i shoot a souped up 300WBY, but i like that extra reach. You cant go wrong with any of the 300's, it just all depends on what you want to do with it and what you are capable of shooting.
Slamdunk

257Tony · Jan 9, 2007

220/221. I prefer the longer version myself....

Somebody didn't like bouncing betty

bobcatbess · Jan 9, 2007

A .50 AIN'T BAD!!!

THERES A BUNCH OF WHINE-ASSES THAT WILL SAY ITS UN-ETHICAL!!!

THEM BIG .300 CALIBERS WORK WELL ALSO!!!

THE ONLY bobcat!!!

peakfreak · Jan 9, 2007

I went with the 300wsm because the gun is more compact and easier to carry. I don't think an Elk could tell the difference between the two.

lve2143 · Jan 9, 2007

Tony,

I have also, always Loved the 220/221.
I prefer the Ackley Improved version myself, being
a velocity Freak and all.
Glad to see you've had good success with it.
Nothing brings a Big Bull down faster than a 220/221.
Really Hammer's 'em.

lrv

shortmag · Jan 9, 2007

.300 WSM is potent elk medicene in a short action rifle. .300 Win mag is ballistically the same in a long action. You can get 200+ grain bullets in the WM as well. I chose the WSM with no lamentations. Bought one in late 2002 and have killed nice bulls. Ammo is easy to get(in elk country of Idaho) and lots of choices as to bullets.

elkantlers · Jan 9, 2007

300 Win Mag. I'm not sold on the shorts yet!

old_man_of_the_hills · Jan 9, 2007

6 of one, half a dozen of the other

The cartridges have ballistics that are withing 10 or 20 fps of eachother, so actual on-game performace will be identical

The REAl choice you should have made is between rifles. The WSMs will be lighter and more compact than a similar rifle in Win Mag...I would get the WSM because of that

Califelkslayer · Jan 9, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jan-09-07 AT 09:37PM (MST)[p]Ditto that they're almost identical. Why not the .338? Much better if it's for elk only.

muzz · Jan 9, 2007

I dont dissagree or agree with all but myself has come to the conclusion that you dont need a magnumn for elk. They have been killing elk for years with the standard calibers. But the hunting pressure has also made a huge change in things and you cant just get on the animals like you used to years back either. So its hard to say, If I was going to get a gun for strickly Elk and wanted a good hard hitting flat shooting gun and could handle the recoil I would look at the 300 RUM or a .338. I am planning on making a one gun purchase this spring for deer and elk and one gun will do it all for me and I am seriously thinking the 270 WSM or the 300 WSM. I have had the 300 WSM and liked it alot. It performed well. This subject could and has gone on for pages and pages of personal experience and it just comes down to what you want and can handle for recoil and still shoot effectivly.

YoungGun · Jan 9, 2007

300 weatherby is my choice, fastest hardest hitting 300 i've seen! Its my choice but the 300wsm is a beutiful gun aswell! I like the weatherby beacause i have it in ultralight so its only 8 pounds with loaded clip, scope and sling. Really light gun, if i went instead from 26" to 22" it'll be even lighter. It hits hard with as small as 150 grains all the way up to 200 gr.

Ur u and i'm me! Any gun that can put a solid woopin into the vitals of an elk will kill it!

CAelknuts · Jan 10, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jan-10-07 AT 08:02AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-10-07 AT 08:01?AM (MST)

Between the two you ask about, I'd go with the .300 Win Mag. I've asked before, but nobody has answered, what the big deal is about the short mags. Accuracy isn't, according to Wieland, as good as the gun manufacturers tout in most cases. Sharper shoulder means more feeding problems, and I simply don't get why people think having a magnum in a shorter, lighter rifle is a benefit. The recoil in a light, magnum rifle is pretty severe. I used to shoot a very light .338 at about 6 1/2 pounds and it wasn't a whole lot of fun. One day, I got some sense and had a 9 lb. rifle built in .338 and like shooting it a whole lot more than the lighter version. With regard to barrel lengths, having a shorter barrel defeats the purpose of having a magnum caliber to begin with. If you want more punch, you need to either go with a bigger caliber or push the bullet faster, or both. A longer barrel will give more velocity per any caliber than a shorter barrel.

If it were up to me for an elk rifle, I'd personally go with a .338 win mag, and not either of the .300s. I had a .300 win mag, and I thought it kicked at least as much as the .338, and I've now got a .300 RUM and I know it kicks more than my .338. Both great rifles and calibers, but for ELK I'd stick with a .338 myself, unless you're limited to only the two choices you asked about, then I'd go with the .300 win mag.

Finally, I agree with "muzz" about not necessarily needing a magnum at all. Even though I shoot a .338 for elk, I realize that many, many more elk are killed with standard calibers than magnums each year. I think if you live in elk country, have plenty of time to hunt and are hunting for meat; more than horns on a shorter hunt where you have to leave to go back home; then a .30-06, .30-338, .338 Federal or .35 whelen might be as good or even better elk calibers than some of the magnums. Sometimes, oftentimes, we all get caught up in "needing" a rifle that will kill elk farther than we'll ever shoot one. Most elk are shot within 200 yards, especially cows and smaller bulls, and you don't really NEED a big magnum to do this at all.

WildBob · Jan 10, 2007

Thanks for the replies y'all. I appreciate the forthright and mature input.
(That is one reason I come here to MonsterMuleys...those responses that begin with '_ _ _ _ _ sucks, I wouldn't use that if you...'don't help anyone!)

In response to Califelkslayer: I am actually getting the gun to use on elk primarily, and also caribou and eventually moose. And it may be called on for black bear also...
A good friend of mine that lives in Alaska lives and breaths by his .338, he has killed everything from griz to caribou and moose with it (no brown bear...yet!)

Anyway, I have shot his .338 and it is a fine gun, but I thought the caliber just seemed a little bigger than what I really needed. Not to mention it kicked like a mule! (Of course, I know that there are several variables that affect that issue.) And, I know the 300 Win. Mag won't exactly be mild on the kick, but I thought it would be closer to what I'm used to shooting regularly which is either my .308 or 25-06. So the 300 WM seemed like the best middle of the road choice, that is why I was thinking of it.

elkslam · Jan 10, 2007

300 win mag or 300 ultra I own both kill elk very easily. They see the ultra mad instead of mag and they just fall down.

Pre64 · Jan 10, 2007

I'll take a shot at Caelknuts question. The big deal with the short mags is sagging sales and good advertising. With the exception of the .270, they do nothing that established calibers won't do. And the .270 WSM won't match a .270 Weatherby. When was the last time you saw someone touting a 30-06 or .270 Win on the Outdoor Channel?

"JOE WAS MINDING HIS BUSINESS IN THE ELEVATED, HEATED, FIBERGLASS BLIND OVERLOOKING 40 ACRES OF DEER FOOD. OUT STEPS A NICE BUCK AT 300 YARDS. TOO BAD HE ONLY HAS AN OUTDATED MODEL 700 IN .270 WINCHESTER WITH A TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGED 6X REDFIELD. WHAT IS JOE THINKING? HOW DOES HE EXPECT TO HIT THAT BUCK USING IRON, WOOD, AND A BULLET THAT TRAVELS LESS THAN MACH 4? HASN'T HE HEARD OF NASA? MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD LEND JOE A SPEAR OR A SLINGSHOT."

If you like your .308 I'd use that. Do I need permission to use the Caps Lock key???

ismith · Jan 10, 2007

I own a 30-06, a .257 roberts, and a .338 win mag. All are fine rifles. In theory, my 30-06 is my deer rifle, the .257 roberts is my lope rifle, and the .338 is my elk on up rifle. Usally though, my .338 spends the overwelming amount of time out in the field with me. Its a browning A-bolt with a boss. Personally, I think the rifle is uglier than sin. My M700 and my pre-64 M70 are much prettier(and not as beat up). As for being overkill on deer and antelope sized targets, thats crazy talk

, if you can handle the recoil, go with a .338 win mag.(my browning kicks about like my 30-06)
ismith

Califelkslayer · Jan 10, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-07 AT 00:19AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-07 AT 00:15?AM (MST)

Ditto ismith. My .338 in the a-bolt is a big push rather than a sharp kick. I did have it ported after I had it for about 6 years just for bench shooting while working up loads, sighting in, etc. In a t-shirt & 80 degree weather I felt it. With a factory 26" barrel I didn't lose any noticable velocity. What I noticed about the porting was that i got back on game quicker cause my muzzle wasn't pointing at the treetops after the shot. Nice to see those 4 hooves in the air too. Oh yeah, even without the Boss, mine is pretty ugly too. I have no problem putting it on my horse and going.

elknuts. I agree that anything above a .270 is good elk medicine. My son's taken several elk with my .280 and good bullets very effectively but I feel more comfortable with a rear quartering shot when packing the .338. I belive that if you shoot any gun .270 or above well, use it. Personally I feel so comfortable with my .338 that its taken antelope and mule deer.

My last thought is that all of my guns are of the same make and carry the same scope. The only difference is a couple of inches of barrel and a few ounces. No matter which gun I have, they mount the same, I have the same sight picture, the safety is in the same place, magazine release is the same, etc. But I still primarily use the .338 cause i know the ballistics in my sleep and am afraid that I'll automatically use the 24" drop @ 400yds, 48" drop @ 500 yards formula even if I had the 7mm in my hands.

BugleminToday · Jan 11, 2007

.338 Win Mag !

But out of those two I'd go with .300 Win Mag.

Better chance of you finding ammo somewhere if your out in the boonies!

Justin

- Long-Range, The next best thing to being there !!!!

polarbear · Jan 11, 2007

.250 Savage! No? .300 Win Mag is a great round with a TON of options. I love mine!
Eric

canhunter · Jan 11, 2007

300WSM with hot reloads in a SS gun

littlebighorn · Jan 11, 2007

I pondered the same question 3 years ago and went with the 300WSM in a stainless a-bolt, because of how portable it was. I am way older than most guys who post here, but that extra pound or two off my rifle gets me over one or two extra ridges every hunt. It is the most pleasant gun to carry that I have ever owned and I have owned more than a few!
It is all about bullet placement anyway, so why be weighted down.
Old fart

canyoncrosser · Jan 11, 2007

So do you believe a 22 or 24 inch barrel in a wsm will make a difference beyond 300 yards? As opposed to a 300 win with a 26 inch barrel.

WildBob · Jan 12, 2007

Ha ha ha...Pre64, you and I think alike! Good point. The mighty buck drives it all doesn't it.

BTW, I've pretty much given up on all the hunting shows too. Waste of time, to watch a bunch of entertainers IMO...I'd much rather be out there doing something myself.