308 for Elk

bigfoot llamas · Oct 2, 2005

I have an unexpected opportunity to rifle hunt elk in Idaho this year. I have only rifle hunted once in my life and it was for mule deer. I have hunted archery exclusively for 20 years now. The questions is if what I have for a rifle will work for elk? My grandpa passed down to me a 308. I had to go and pull it out from underneath my bed to see what caliber it was. I know the most critical thing is shot placement but is the 308 sufficient? Is there some type of bullet that would improve the perfomance? If you cant tell I am completely out of my element here.

Thanks in advance,

meatinthepot

Oldshed · Oct 2, 2005

If you can put the 308 bullet the same place you put an arrow
heart/lungs you will have a very dead elk.

If your going to try and bust his shoulders something bigger might help.

Just pretend you have a long range bow and your in your element.

elkantlers · Oct 2, 2005

a 308 will kill them just as dead as a 300mag. One thing you need to be careful of is shot distance. I would say keep your shots under 250 yards, and make sure of shot placement. Use a well built bullet, I personaly like nosler partitions.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

bigfoot llamas · Oct 2, 2005

With a maximum distance of 250 yards do I sight it in at that yardage?

meatinthepot

elkantlers · Oct 2, 2005

i would sight the gun 2" high at 100yds. At 250 yds you should be real close to right on. you need to go shoot a few at the range to be certain though. Where you haven't been shoot a rifle much in the last twenty years i would put at least 100 rounds, spread out over several sessions, through that gun before i went hunting.

Also, you might look at bullet weight. for elk, I would use a 165 or 180grn bullet. don't use too light of a bullet.

I shoot a 30-06 and a 300 win mag, and I use a 165grn nosler partition out of both guns.

Warren · Oct 2, 2005

Use 180 grain Nosler Partition.

hatrick · Oct 2, 2005

I killed 6 bulls with a 308 and had no problem.... a couple right through the shoulder bone and no problems. The farthest one ran was about 40 yards.. 180 grain rem core lokt is what I use, I would agree the longest u would want to shoot is 300 yards. I still wouldn't want to be standing 300 yards away and somebody shooting at me. good luck, Hatrick

D13er · Oct 2, 2005

with all these "super mags" out there now, we all forget about how sufficient the old rounds were when there was nothing else. I would use 180 partitions and knock'em dead.

JB

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
--Benjamin Franklin 1759

BigPig · Oct 2, 2005

I'd see if my gun shot Federal High Energy rounds with the 165gr TBBC. If it did, that's some dandy elk medicine.

bigfoot llamas · Oct 2, 2005

Thanks for the advice. I am feeling much better about my set up. I will be putting in some time on the range in the next couple of weeks to get it set up. Where would be the closest range be to shoot at to West Haven, Utah? West Haven is just west of Roy and Ogden.

Thanks again,

meatinthepot

outtabreath · Oct 3, 2005

Yup, I used a 308 on my first elk hunt last year. I never really saw that caliber listed in any articles as an optimal elk round, but thats the rifle I had. One shot, one bull elk. Did not go very far before piling up. I used a 165 barnes x. It was probably an 80 yard shot.
I will be using the same gun on Saturday morning. Good luck!

PAL · Oct 3, 2005

I would bet that the ol' .308 has killed far and away more elk over the years than nearly every other "modern" caliber...

AZWALKER · Oct 3, 2005

I'd go with the 165 grain. The idea is to get the bullet to stop inside the back shoulder so the Elk absorbs the full 1500 to 2000 ft lbs of energy. In archery you'll always want a pass through but with a rifle you'll want all that energy to stay IN the animal. Not so much here but in other places I've heard guys talking about Elk loads and in my opinion most guys I've heard (other than here) are overpowering themselves and carrying way to heavy of a rifle on a long hike. I've seen and heard of 100's of guys doing just fine with elk using .270's. Your .308 will be great, the problem is the ballistics. Those early .30 caliber loads just don't shoot flat. My 30.06 has like 20 inches of bullet drop at 400 yds when zero'd at 200 yds using a 150 grain bullet. They aren't long range guns! They can be made to shoot long ranges with lighter bullets and hot loads but those are in the 110 to 125 grain range and that isn't enough for Elk. Anyway, who wants to shoot an Elk at 400 yds. I like to get close. I saw in your other post you were asking about scopes. Get yourself a good bushnell 3x-9x adjustable scope. As little as you will use this gun, you shouldn't have to spend more than a couple hundred dollars, probably less. Going back to load weights. 180 would be fine also and the ballistic differances won't be but an inch or so at 300 yds. I've noticed that the more I hunt with my .06 I am gradually using lighter loads. It seems that the animals die faster and run less when you can keep the round inside the back shoulder. Anyway, its just what I've learned so far.
Hope it helps and GOOD LUCK on your hunt!!!!

Donnie

outtabreath · Oct 3, 2005

Donnie-

I think you are right. My shot passed right thru last year. And the more I think about it, I was using a 180 gr. not a 165 like I mentioned before.

elk_hunter17 · Oct 4, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Oct-04-05 AT 09:28PM (MST)[p]308 is plenty for elk. many people underestimate this calibre. yes its a little bit slower than a 300 mag but that does not mean it won't easily take an elk if shot with a clean bullet placement. My dad and my uncle only use 308 for elk and they've had 300 weatherbys mags and all the big stuff. they realized they did not neet that big of a calibre because bullet placement is much more important. I have personally witnessed my uncle take an elk at 450+plus yds. And not just one elk at those distances. good luck with the hunt! you got a great calibre!

257Tony · Oct 5, 2005

>Thanks for the advice. I
>am feeling much better about
>my set up. I
>will be putting in some
>time on the range in
>the next couple of weeks
>to get it set up.
> Where would be the
>closest range be to shoot
>at to West Haven, Utah?
> West Haven is just
>west of Roy and Ogden.
>
>
>Thanks again,
>
>meatinthepot

Im not sure about a range in Ogden, but I always go to the Lions Club range in Bountiful....Real nice people, pretty laid back, even loan you a rest and sandbags....

mano_a_mano · Oct 7, 2005

You should have seen the 1" hole the Federal Trophy Bonded made on a cow elk from my Dad's 308. Even knocked her off her feet at 100yds. A good bullet like that should give you some more confidence in your more than adequate rifle.

ewiltanger · Oct 7, 2005

I've knocked them down with an 8mm Rem Mag...but the only one to fall in it's tracks was hit with my .280 w/TBBC. The .308 will do it fine, just keep shots under 250. Which reguardless of caliber we should do that anyway. I've had opportunities at 400..but HUNTED to within 100 for the shot. Good luck and get in some range time. Find a quality bullet that works well with the gun.

Wilt

"Meat lasts about 1 year, Horns last a lifetime"

fisrtcoueswas80inches · Oct 8, 2005

i have killed 2 elk with a 308. one was a cow at 50 yards, she did a back flip with a fist sized whole in her heart. as far as 180 vs 165, i would pick the TBBC which i beliveve comes in 180. if that doesnt shoot at all, i would go with something 165, 180 is too slow and the differences in energy are not enough to really matter.
Casey

elking · Oct 11, 2005

Let me tell you a little story about a .308. I once shot two shots at a buck with a .308 he went down were he was standing I walked over there to clean him and when I bent over the second bullet hit me in the butt. Better just go ahead and get a new gun.

AZWALKER · Oct 11, 2005

LOL... thats funny!

outtabreath · Oct 15, 2005

Wow, you must really haul a**.
Update...just back from my second elk hunt with my .308.
That makes two shots and two dead bulls. The 308 works fine. I shot my bull on Tuesday morning from about 225 yards and he hit the deck faster than any animal I have ever shot. 180 gr w/ nosler partition. The bullet performed flawlessly. It was just under the skin on the far side. Ouch!