Can I hunt Elk with a 150gr bullet in my 30-06

[300wsm3006rem]

Enough gun! This is why my elk gun is 165 partitions out of my .300 wm!

[Jadham]

No.

Don't believe the rumors that most of the elk in North America have been taken with factory cup & core bullets from old-timer calibers like the .270, .308, 30-06 or even a 30-30.

Elk have been hunted in North America for a couple hundred years. This hunting pressure has caused the elk to evolve. They are now tougher, bigger, stronger than even 25 years ago. You should use a magnum, at minimum 300 Win Mag, better .338 Win Mag or larger. If you have to use factory rounds, use premium bullets.... a box of 20 should run about $80. Of course by next year you should be handloading.

Buy a few boxes of different premium bullets. Try them out at the range, aiming for 0.5 MOA accuracy. The best idea of field performance and accuracy is by using a bench rest and lead sled and letting the barrel cool down about 10-15minutes in between shots. Once you get one 3 round grouping less than 1 MOA please post on this forum to ask us how we can better accurize your magnum rifle (it is okay to shoot a 25yard grouping and say it was 100, looks even better if you write 100yards on the paper and put a dime by it). All shots on elk occur at 400 yards or more, so make sure you have a premium scope with required magnification, windage, etc. It is best to have an energy of 2500 amps at your intended range, otherwise you won't have enough hydrostatic shock to cause a bang-flop.

It would be unfortunate if can't get a magnum this year. But don't worry in a few years there will a new and better magnum caliber, that shoots flatter and gives even more amperage past 400 yards.

In case you don't believe me, I found some article on the internet which supports my opinion - this phenonenom is even happening with white tail deer in the US

http://www.chuckhawks.com/super-ultra-ultra_magnum.htm

Once you shoot your elk, please post pics... otherwise it didn't happen. It will, of course be at least a 6x6, and we can then argue about what it will score and whether we would have bothered to shoot it or not. When taking the photo it is important to place the animal well in front of you and generally make yourself look smaller, so that we can see the trophy better and argue more vehemently.

As we often say on this board, it is one man's opinion, though of course what we really mean is that everyone elses opinion is wrong and mine is correct.

P.S. When you want your opinion to really count USE ALL CAPS.

P.P.S Also to make your opinion even more valid get your post count above 4000 or so by making 10-15 one line comments a day on various threads. The best is by clicking on the "I shot xxxxx" posts and say "nice animal".

P.P.P.S These also help

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by avb3

How many remember hunting with .303's? They probably have killed more moose/elk then any other gun to this date.

And I'd be willing to bet that spears and arrows have killed more elk than any other weapon over the entire course of human history, but I don't want to use one

[Jadham]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

And I'd be willing to bet that spears and arrows have killed more elk than any other weapon over the entire course of human history, but I don't want to use one

Yes I stand corrected on my previous post. Elk have been hunted in North America by firearms for the last couple hundred years.

[Jordan Smith]

Jadham,

Very informative post. Do you think I should go with a .950 JDJ as my black timber elk rifle? How many amps are required to cleanly kill an elk? How do I calculate amperage on my new .950? Thanks for your help.

[Jordan Smith]

Oh, and to the OP- yes, a 150gr bullet will make meat in short order, assuming the pointy end of the bullet goes in a few inches behind the front shoulder, about half way up.

If you think you might end up sending the bullet through some of the larger bones on its way to the chest cavity, then I'd feel comfy with a 130 or 150gr TTSX...

[Jadham]

Originally Posted by Jordan Smith

Jadham,

Very informative post. Do you think I should go with a .950 JDJ as my black timber elk rifle? How many amps are required to cleanly kill an elk? How do I calculate amperage on my new .950? Thanks for your help.

I am not sure, fortunately, most factory ammuntion sites will list the energy of various loads.

When I was in high school, the unit for energy was calorie, or more specifically kcal. But it would be too girly if we talked about how many calories our guns had, and those big magnums with lots of calories might make us feel guilty.

P.S. Amps sounds more rock n' roll.

[MKD]

Originally Posted by ctmccull5

Hi, I was just looking for some feedback as to whether or not I could hunt elk if I dropped from 180gr to 150 grain in my 30-06, Thanks

Sure.

[ctmccull5]

Well I am sure glad I posted on here, for a mere mortal such as myself all I can do is bask in the glory of the superhunters out there. But seriously to those who didn't feel the need to make me feel dumber, Thank you and to the rest.............Not gonna waste my time.

[bb356]

Originally Posted by ctmccull5

Well I am sure glad I posted on here, for a mere mortal such as myself all I can do is bask in the glory of the superhunters out there. But seriously to those who didn't feel the need to make me feel dumber, Thank you and to the rest.............Not gonna waste my time.

Your Welcome !!!

[Jadham]

Originally Posted by ctmccull5

Well I am sure glad I posted on here, for a mere mortal such as myself all I can do is bask in the glory of the superhunters out there. But seriously to those who didn't feel the need to make me feel dumber, Thank you and to the rest.............Not gonna waste my time.

Here are a few article to read through... look through the ones on sectional density, appropriate elk cartridges, bullet construction, 30-06 etc.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2d.rifles.htm

Hunting, like life, is a journey ... the knowledge and experience will accumulate along the way.

[ndw]

that's all I used to use for elk, moose black bear and deer. Use 165 grain superformance now because they are heavier, faster and my rifle groups better with them. 150's will do the job for you

[dono]

my daughter shot an elk with her 243 at over 200 yrds, its all placement

[Hun-Ter]

I hunt elk with a bow and arrow. I'm sure you will be fine with a 30-06 rifle.

[Speckle55]

I have 180 grain for my 30-06 and it will do a fine job on any elk(got 4) if shot right with factory ammo at 25$ a box .. anyone saying its over kill is just blowing smoke dead is dead and the shot placement is the only thing..

i use a 7 mm Rem Mag 700 BDL with 175 Factory and shot my cow elk last year at 75 yards taking the bottom of heart out and also two ribs.. she went 35 yards..

You have a nice all round gun, just get comfortable shooting and you will do fine if your going to hunt Moose and Bear later as posted earlier 180 grain is better ..and you can shoot Bison/Deer/Sheep ,,the 180 grain is better in wind than the lighter grains in study..

practice bullet in hand and shot gone in less than 5 seconds

This is IMO

Food for Thought
David

[leo]

I have taken Elk with 280 Remington with 140 gr ballistic tip bullet, 308 Winchester with 150 gr corelokts. Most Elk hunting I usually tote a 300 Weatherby, but these two instances proved that lesser cartriges with lighter bullets will get the job done if the bullet placement is in the vitals.

Leo

[sunsetrider2011]

100 gr nosler partition out of a 6mm or 243 does the trick just fine, so a 150 gr out of a 30-06 will be more than enough.

[Morbius131]

I have taken 2 with 150's from my 30-06...both dropped less than 25 yards from where they were standing when shot.

Morb

[Rocky7]

There have always been those who believe a good hunting rifle is one that will give you a 1/4 turn when you pull the trigger. Those people are all wrong, no matter how well-known they are.

The paramount consideration is being able to shoot straight. If the .30-06 makes you flinch and you can't fix it, then step down to something that doesn't. You'll end up killing more elk and wounding less or, better yet - wounding none.

The last two elk I came across that were shot by someone else were both gut shot. If that happens, it won't matter if you are using a .700 Hellfire Magnum and 350 grain Big Hammer premium bullets. It'll still be gut shot.

In other words, you've got plenty of rifle there.

[Mxyzptik]

I'm very sure that 150 is plenty as so many others have pointed out. Many 06 users ( my father and my son are two I know ) prefer 165 grain. It was always my understanding that many folks believe the 165 provides the best performance from a 3006. Dad used Hornady or Speer cup and core handloads with either IMR 4350 or 4831 for everything moose, elk, deer and antelope.

Once you have a rifle driving tacks why change bullets. Find a load that you and the rifle like and use it for everything is my opinion.