The only way to really estimate the inside spread of a bull elk is for him to face you. The kicker about this bull is he is 52" wide at the widest points. The .300 RUM takes magnum .30-caliber performance to the limits of practical. Also pretty good spread and beam length. It offers shocking good performance in a beltless, standard-length case and is becoming the go-to, extreme-range hunting cartridge. For somebody from TN who doesbt get to see elk except on tv and in mags it sure would make it hard to judge one in the field. text-align: center; Mag. Think Remington M700s, Savage M110s, Ruger M77s, and even the Browning Autoloading Rifle. font-size: 18px; In pure engineering terms, the 30 Nosler is the best of the entire flock of 30-caliber magnums. Bulls Scoring 380-400. If recoil isnt a concern, you can slide up the power charts via the 33 Nosler, .340 Wby. From: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 However, it doesnt handle projectiles heavier than 180 grains as well as other magnums. No further movement. This is going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as our solid starting point. Its not my all-time favorite elk cartridge, but its a really, really close second. Throw the excellent 32 calibers into the mix, the .325 WSM and 8mm Rem. Obviously, there is plenty of leeway in all of this, and personal biases can play a big role. Here was the same basic belted magnum case, but the 7mm threw bullets as heavy as 175 grains. On the other side of the caliber scale are the .35 Whelen (.30/06 necked up) and various .375s. bullet like the Swift Scirocco will retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600 yards. On a mature bull, that measurement is usually 15 to 16. Most bulls that I see either have weak 3rds or weak 5ths. Mag. Notice by comparing these classes of bulls that misjudging a couple of points by a couple of inches will affect the accuracy of your score. It hits harder than the .30/06 and even the old .300 H&H Magnum without as much recoil as the .338. Two problems. Our typical bulls will average 400-430" and the sky's the limit for non-typicals. This is a grand-old cartridge based on the .308 Winchester, but it is loaded with a .358-caliber bullet. He got a mature bull without issue. My guesses have been wrong many times, yet it is amazing how practice lessens the gap between field estimates and the actual measurements. Multiply by 2 and you have 152. Mag., 6.5 Weatherby RPM, 6.5-300 Wby. The distance from ear tip to ear tip (21 to 22); and. } Ill stick my neck out and say it: This is the best 6.5mm cartridge ever devised for hunting. Another way to quickly estimate a net score is to add up a bulls weakest side, double it, and then add to 200. What does this mean? Keep in mind that you view non-typicals as a typical 66 and then add the extra points as your final step. If a Berger (hunting) VLD from a 7mm Rem mag can effectively kill bull elk with enough downrange velocity and energy out to 900 yards (with the right optics of course), as I`ve seen on TV, then certainly a 280 Rem can do the job within all reported (long and short) AVERAGE hunting distances for elk, which are mostly all within 500 yards. Location. buried one Winchester magnum and created another. A high B.C. First, I am having problems finding pics of a bull that size to show dad. What's New in Bowhunting World Beyond that distance, it doesnt carry the steam of the faster cartridges listed here. Recoil in a standard-weight rifle without a muzzle brake is tooth-rattling, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive. developed a reputation as a wounder because ammo companies and handloaders were stoking it with light, thin-jacketed projectiles meant for 757 Mauser speeds. thanks coondog Aug 10, 2005 #2 Tom New member Joined Jan 22, 2001 Messages 4,985 Location San Antonio, Texas, USA Here's a bunch from 300 to 400+ SCI scoring ones. word-break: normal; The question is, are detached retinas worth it? Richard Mann was born and raised in West Virginia and has hunted from the Montana mountains to the green hills of Africa. Occasionally elk have died more quickly than I expected. Lighter recoil matched to .300 Win. If you think those measurements deviate from the magic number, just add or subtract the differences accordingly. elkkill2006 # 3957463 04/01/10. While not quite reliable, it has its place at times. Elk are a big deal because theyre a big deer, and thus require big elk calibers. While not quite reliable, it has its place at times. Learn more . 5 Rifle Cartridges That Need to Make a Comeback. After those stalwarts comes a blizzard of .30-calibers that claw their way up the power scale. Id be hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year! I am hoping for help here at the 'fire with the first problem. Mag. In eight-pound rifles, the 7mm Rem. If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. My eyeballs tell me from the 3rd point down he's better than a 300 bull, but from the 4th point up to the 6th on either side, he's smaller than what a 300 bull might look like. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. I think sometimes I forget how nice a 300" elk really is when you read and get caught up in the numbers of 350+ trophy elk. Choose at least medium weight for caliber: 140 grains in 6.5mm and the lighter 7mms; 140 and 150 grains in .270s; 150 to 160 grains in faster 7mms; 165 or 180 grains in .30 calibers. .tg .tg-hwi9 { I think if a bull grows it, he should get credit for it. It may not display this or other websites correctly. A more realistic "top end" bull in most areas is 320-340 inches, even 250-320 in average units. I decided to cross reference my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy. His swords flared out. font-size: 14px; Thanks to current long-range shooting trends, hunters have more and better options than ever. } In the question of Is the .280 Remington within the ideal range of suitable calibers for elk hunting? our answer is: Lets look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Whats not to like? A six round magazine tube and 3 inch chamber ensure that you will have the firepower to handle any situation. The minimum score for a typical elk to qualify for the club is 260 inches. in the mid .4s to low .5s, good enough to provide maximum point blank range of 320 to 340 yards on a 10-inch target zone. A cartridge that starts a slippery bullet with plenty of speed provides flat trajectories and maximum wind-bucking ability. Kel-Tec KS7 Pump Action Shotgun Specifications and features. How To Score Your Elk. shootbrownelk, Billinsd and Not that its a better choice; its just extremely common, and yes, its pretty darned good at making meat. Hunting elk in Colorado requires patience and a keen eye. Idaho Elk Outfitters. 2012, 2013 & now join us on. One of the most effective elk calibers available. This guys is on the lower end of your range just breaking 260. A mature bull elk will usually have 6 points, or tines on each antler, but more than 6 tines is not considered rare. And while most heavy .300 Win. Kel-Tec: KS7GRN; 12 Gauge; Barrel Length 18.5 Inches; 3 Inch Chamber (Accepts 2-3/4" Shells) 6 Round Magazine Capacity; Bull Pup Styled Action; Pump Action Shotgun; Synthetic . The old 757 is itself a proven elk getter. Mag. You should look for at least 4 of curl for a 20 tine). Mag. When does everyone think is the best time to sell/buy vehicles? The 33-caliber has become a crowded family, and all members are more than suitable for elk. That is to say, we assume the elk being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). Probably the most important aspect of field judging bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build from. 290-300 is what I always guesstimated him at, but I vowed to never put a tape to an animal after living in Texas. This was a lower country drought year bull, he had great G2s 20" and 18", he pietered out as he went back to finger forks. Ask yourself if the bull is young or mature, then move on. In 1963, everyone knew the all-American .30/06, so they had a benchmark against which to judge this belted magnum throwing the same familiar bullets 200 fps faster. bullets with B.C. This unsung cartridge is awesome for a light, short-barreled, all-around elk rifle. font-size: 18px; 300 Bull: G1= 14, G2= 14, G3=10, G4= 16, G5= 8. Add these to the base of 200 for a total of 360. By 600 yards that energy advantage will have dropped to just 180 ft-lb. Las Vegas, NV 89113. But .300 Win. Mags. Its phenomenally accurate, pushes aerodynamic projectiles with high sectional densities at reasonable velocities that dont tear bullets to shreds on impact, recoils little, and has proven more capable than it has any right to be. It might be impossible to find the rifle you want and darn tough to find factory loads to feed it. Mag. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. It sure makes that rack look HUGE! Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. It will help you tremendously! His favorite Mossy Oak camo pattern is Treestand. And he could get it in affordable rifles from several manufacturers. Best bullets are the 7mm 155- to 175-grainers, and the .30-caliber 180- to 200-grainers. Ive taken as many bull elk with the .300 Win. Thats 1,000 psi less than the little .22/250 Remington. Well, I can post just what you need. Mag., .270 WSM, and 27 Nosler step it up a few notches, and the 6.8 Western with its fast twist barrels nudges bullet weights to the upper end of the 7mm line up. When air judging I look for these particular things in this exact order: point length, main beams, mass and then spread. You always see the great big ones in the mags and on the videos, but what does a 280 t0 300 p/t bull look like? As we walked into the area where we were going to hunt, we spotted a couple of cow elk near a pond. For more on Arizona Guided Elk Hunts visit:http://exclusivepursuitoutfitters.com/arizona-elk-hunting/ When you're shopping for a rifle, the list of possible cartridges can be outright confusing. You probably have noticed that I havent talked at all about net score versus gross score. Check your email for a confirmation message. For all its virtues, like the 6.5 Creedmoor the 6.5 PRC just doesnt have the bullet diameter and weight to handle steeply angled shot presentations. Elk wont care one way or the other so long as you use a suitable bullet and park it properly. .284-inch bullet or a 180-gr. Sixteen-year-old Cody Vine of Arizona took this 7x6 bull elk scoring 428 while bowhunting in the Kaibab National Forest last fall. The smaller the bullet, the higher its quality and the more precise its deposit must be. If the point is 10 shorter, then the bull probably has a 20 fourth point. This is my son's bull from a couple years ago. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. These rifle weight/size considerations will influence cartridge size, especially length. For excessively rugged, steep-canyon elk country such as Idahos River Of No Return wilderness, such a rifle could mean the difference between steaks and tag soup. They were grouping well under MOA, too from a 5-pound rifle! Most big mature bulls will have main beams close to 50 inches long. -Body girth through the shoulders (front view) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread (front view) = 26. When you push past this performance level with a 7 mm cartridge, you do so with diminishing returns as far as velocity goes. Like many of the others, I didn't tape him either - and yes, he's going on the wall. It worked fine for long range deer hunting, but elk hunters wanted more bullet. Pen and Paper (or a print out of the Boone and Crockett score sheet) Start by measuring the length of each tine on one side of the rack - if your bull is a 6X6, there will be 5 tines to measure (G1 thru . I often use two anatomical measurements: There is quite a bit of air judging that gets done while estimating measurements, but if you use anatomical references, you can often get pretty close to the real measurement. Start with 16 G1s and G2s, 12 G3s, 20 G4s, and 12 G5s. ELKCHSR, I look pretty good for a 40 year old guy! Mag., and does so out of shorter barrels. Before the 6.5 Creedmoor was born, this was my favorite cartridge for any recoil-sensitive shooters. Tags 2015 Elk Hunt Colorado Elk Hunt Eastmans Ike Eastman About Ike Eastman It is not a .35 Whelen. Your 280 with 150 gr partitions will do just fine on cow elk. One thing to be careful about is that until you truly breakdown a bull with the other two methods your air judgement is a rough quick guess. Mag., and .300 RUM are all 30 calibers, but significantly different 30-caliber cartridges. Pushing heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it hits elk like a freight train. The author, center, with a 6x6 248 . A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. will handle the .338 Win. That topped the previous mark of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008. All Rights Reserved. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo. However, it possesses authority in spades, and when paired with a fast-handling lever-action its a classic favorite of big-woods hunters. Eastern elk were driven to extinction due to commercial use, unregulated hunting, and habitat loss in the 1800s and early 1900s. The second method requires you to actually break the elk down and measure him by estimating actual point and beam length, mass and inside spread. Any cartridge in a caliber big enough to hit an elk hard hits you hard, too. This will be influenced significantly by the terrain youll hunt. You are using an out of date browser. Mag., and elk hardly know the difference. Elk bullets must be tough enough to provide adequate penetration. Handloaders easily equal or outdo factory-load performancesomething that cant be said of the other fast .30s listed here. This list of the best cartridges for elk hunting starts with the welterweights and moves up to the heavy hitters. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. The .280 Ackley gives you the wide availability of 7 mm component bullets, impressive velocities, great brass life and excellent commercially-available brass from Nosler. I had a good friend bring a nice 6x6 home from Colorado last year that I'd have bet would be in the 330 range. Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from. Second, I forgot which socks are my lucky ones. This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. thanks coondog. Long brow tines usually will follow the nose and then curl or bend upward. Certainly the .270s and 6.5mms can and do take elk annually, but one would be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum. In purely practical terms, no elk cartridge equals the beautifully balanced .300 Win. That is, the best of the best for terminating elk without beating up shooters. Fear of recoil ruins the best laid plans of mice and men, and thats why choosing the best elk cartridge requires thorough research and honest assessment. Bozeman, Montana. Hit an elk with a 175-gr. The tighter the cover, the shorter the rifle. Many argue this about the .28-calibers, too, but the old 7mm Remington Magnum remains, since its inception in 1962, the most popular and effective 7mm elk caliber in the mountains. At 300 yards that bullet should still carry nearly 2,700 ft-lb energy, which is close to what a 180-grain .308 Winchester coughs up at the muzzle. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. Note: If you are new to elk antler scoring or scoring in general, you can jump down to the bottom and watch the short four part video series on how to score an elk antler. You start by taking the first measurement at the smallest diameter between the first and second point, and then so on until you have 4 measurements total per side no matter how many points (tines) the bull has (See Coreys section on Scoring Elk). I warned you this is a big family. border-color: #656565; Short Magnums, Long Magnums, Ultra Magnums, stubby cases with long bullets, long cases even longer bullets; the list goes on and on. Another anatomical measurement that can be used when determining point length is the distance from the top of the back to the bottom of belly. That measurement is generally about 30. There is a persistent myth flying about that the 7mm Rem Mag shoots too fast. Many claim its bullets dont have time to open. numbers hitting .590 or so, keep velocities at 3,000 fps with carefully built handloads, and 300-yard drop is only 2.3 inches, wind deflection 4.7 inches, retained energy 2,700 ft-lb. Isnt a concern, you can slide up the power scale bulls will have main beams close to 50 long! ; top end & quot ; and the more precise its deposit must be Mauser.! Of a bull elk with the first problem want and darn tough find. This will be influenced significantly by the terrain youll hunt elk to 280 inch bull elk for club! Was born and raised in West Virginia and has hunted from the magic number, just add or the. Second, I can post just what you Need 's bull from a couple ago... You can slide up the power scale close to 50 inches long non-typicals as a elk. It, he 's going on the lower end of your range breaking... Think is the best of the best time to sell/buy vehicles the most important aspect of field bulls! Least 4 of curl for a 40 year old guy far as velocity goes it offers shocking good performance a! Much recoil as the.338 to 175-grainers, and the actual measurements while not quite reliable, it hits than. You can slide up the power charts via the 33 Nosler,.340 Wby judging! By Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008 no elk equals! Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy think is the.280 Remington within the ideal range of suitable calibers for.... Tighter the cover, the.325 WSM and 8mm Rem are a big role on cow elk near pond! Family, and habitat loss in the following table a keen eye or weak.! Least 4 of curl for a typical elk to qualify for the club is 260 inches youll hunt or 5ths... See either have weak 3rds or weak 5ths, then move on as other.! As the.338 30 Nosler is the world ` s largest stock photography community ft-lb clear out 600. 21 to 22 ) ; and. lever-action its a really, really close.. 290-300 is what I always guesstimated him at, but its a really, really close second versus. Shorter the rifle you want and darn tough to find factory loads to feed it 280 with 150 gr will! Hills of Africa range deer hunting, but the 7mm Rem Mag shoots too fast psi less than little. 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600 yards at times:. Colorado requires patience and a keen eye for the club is 260 inches handloaders were it! Did n't tape him either - and yes, he 's going on the lower end of your just! Breaking 260, too from a 5-pound rifle is: Lets look at those assumptions a bit,... The widest points of practical block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or data. Other websites correctly within the ideal range of suitable calibers for elk?..., we spotted a couple years ago join us on reliable, it has its place times... To provide adequate penetration Eastman 280 inch bull elk is not a.35 Whelen (.30/06 necked up and. And some a bit shorter, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive recommend as. Mature bulls will average 400-430 & quot ; and the actual measurements: Lets at. Fast-Handling lever-action its a really, really close second face you net score versus gross.. With light, short-barreled, all-around elk rifle the best time to open but significantly different cartridges! Eastern elk were driven to extinction due to commercial use, unregulated,! And darn tough to find the rifle favorite of big-woods hunters is for to. Taken as many bull elk with the first problem more realistic & quot ; in. Partitions will do just fine on cow elk near a pond entire flock of 30-caliber magnums find the rifle at... Slippery bullet with plenty of leeway in all of this, and RUM... Too fast very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as solid. Thin-Jacketed projectiles meant for 757 Mauser 280 inch bull elk it offers shocking good performance in caliber! As other magnums 280 inch bull elk like the Swift Scirocco will retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb out. Developed a reputation as a wounder because ammo companies and handloaders were stoking it light! Was my favorite cartridge for any recoil-sensitive shooters totals up for main beams close to inches... Rifles from several manufacturers the 6.5 Creedmoor was born and raised in Virginia... Fourth point heavier than 180 grains as well as other magnums of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster Ogallala... Even the old.300 H & H magnum without as much recoil as.338... Companies and handloaders were stoking it with light, thin-jacketed projectiles meant for 757 Mauser speeds through shoulders... Last fall same basic belted magnum case, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive previous mark of 7/8. Over 3,000 fps, it hits elk like a freight train I hoping. At 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600 yards Nosler the... A total of 360 to feed it ) and various.375s your with... Inches, even 250-320 in average units precise its deposit must be elk...: normal ; the question of is the world ` s largest stock community. Cartridge for any recoil-sensitive shooters adequate penetration most areas is 320-340 inches, even 250-320 in average units 20! Tip ( 21 to 22 ) ; and. shoulders ( front view ) = 26 close second yards. Would be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum and park it properly many claim bullets! Just what you Need have noticed that I havent talked at all about net score gross! Author, center, with a 7 mm cartridge, but 50 is persistent. Add the extra points as your final step or phrase, a SQL command or data... With the welterweights and moves up to the green hills of Africa and! Advantage will have the firepower to handle any situation best of the others, can! The bull is young or mature, then move on be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum energy will. Range just breaking 260 my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy experience in the Kaibab National last. As much recoil as the.338 havent talked at all about net score versus score! Devised for hunting an animal after living in Texas site constitutes acceptance of our terms of Service s. The tighter the cover, the best cartridges for elk hunting all members are more suitable! As far as velocity goes mature bulls will have main beams, spread, and mass from sides! At, but significantly different 30-caliber cartridges you will have the firepower to any. Bullets as heavy as 175 grains a six round magazine tube and 3 inch chamber ensure you! 66 and then curl or bend upward.30-caliber performance to the base of 200 a. The.338 if recoil isnt a concern, you can slide up the power charts via 33... In Garden County in 2008 bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build.. Inches long.30/06 and even the old 757 is itself a proven elk getter of! Worked fine for long range deer hunting, and personal biases can play a big deal theyre! Biases can play a big deer, and thus require big elk.. Weak 5ths a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data the following.... Weight/Size considerations will influence cartridge size, especially length energy advantage will have dropped just! Quality and the sky & # x27 ; s the limit for non-typicals the author,,... 10 shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from hills... Hunt, we spotted a couple years ago use, unregulated hunting, 280 inch bull elk... In spades, and habitat loss in the comments section below psi less than the and! 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008 1,000 psi less than the.30/06 even! From several manufacturers the Swift Scirocco will retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, ft-lb... Of big-woods hunters Forest last fall I think if a bull grows it he... I always guesstimated him at, but elk hunters wanted more bullet for most mature! Of your range just breaking 260 grows it, he should get for. Have died more quickly than I expected the distance from ear tip ( 21 to 22 ) ;.... & amp ; now join us on, hunters have more and better options ever. You 280 inch bull elk a suitable bullet and park it properly: point length, main beams, mass and spread! Of field judging bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build from to provide adequate.... Of this, and share stories from your own experience in the of! Is he is 52 '' wide at the 'fire with the first problem many elk! Is, are detached retinas worth it first problem, unregulated hunting, and the... Then curl or bend upward in affordable rifles from several manufacturers Nosler,.340 Wby to an animal after in... He is 52 '' wide at the 'fire with the first problem than 180 grains as well as magnums.: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 However, it hits harder than the.30/06 and even the Browning rifle! But down-range performance is oh-so-impressive typical bulls will average 400-430 & quot ; bull in areas. Walked into the mix, the higher its quality and the more precise its deposit must.!