It will break heavy bone, penetrate deep and straight, and kill quickly and cleanly. Wed, Feb 22, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 Unless you work with a custom gun builder and handload, study factory options before choosing. Think it all through carefully before choosing. You can up your odds by having a great elk tag, choosing a great area, booking a high fence hunt. If zeroed three inches high at 100 yards, that slug should drop just 1.7 inches at 300 yards and deflect just 5.7 inches in a 10 mph right angle wind. Nonsense. But elk stopping performance typically comes with a price: recoil. What is the average muzzle energy for a .280 Remington? If you have a pic of a bull that size, could you post it for me? This short-fat, looking remarkably similar to the 6.8 Western, adds around 200 fps to the best Creedmoor speeds, and that lets you shoot the same bullets with less drop, less wind deflection, and more energy on target. It requires a true magnum-length action, and is hard on barrels. worldwide popularity. Short action chamberings are likely to be in shorter, lighter rifles, so instead of a .338 Win. }. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Keep in mind the beam tip is counted as a point, but not measured as a point. What's New in Bowhunting World border-collapse: collapse; For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Youll be much more satisfied with the outcome of most of your elk hunts. Your 280 with 150 gr partitions will do just fine on cow elk. Big Game Hunting - 250 Elk - Hey elk guys, does anyone have any pictures of a 220 to 250 class elk. font-family: Arial, sans-serif; As we walked into the area where we were going to hunt, we spotted a couple of cow elk near a pond. This review can help with that. Mag. If dinosaurs once again roam the Earth, there might in fact be a real need for this cartridge. Now add 152 to our base of 200 and you have a 352 bull. 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. Specifications Bullet Diameter: 0.308 in (7.8 mm) Neck Diameter: 0.3433 in (8.72 mm) Shoulder Diameter: 0.4539 in (11.53 mm) Base Diameter: 0.4709 in (11.96 mm) Case Length: 2.015 in (51.2 mm) Overall Length: 2.800 in (71.1 mm) Maximum Pressure (C.I.P): 60,191 psi Ballistics - From Three Recommended Hunting Brands Velocity (Feet Per Second) This is the unfortunate trade off. The .270 Winchester, .270 WSM, .280 Ackley Improved, .30-06, and .300 WSM Mountain Ascents have 24-inch barrels. It would go about 305-310 with a whole tine. I know small-framed hunters who happily pay the gravitational price for packing Granddads M1886 Winchester lever-action in .45/70. From: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 When it first came out in 1962, it sent the then four-year-old .264 Winchester Magnum into a tailspin. It offers bull-thumping authority at a recoil level just at the cusp of what most serious shooters can handle. Just as theres a significant difference between a 22-year-old, 6-foot 4-inch athlete and a 50-year-old, 5-foot 7-inch accountant, theres a huge difference between rolling prairies and 11,000-foot peaks poking above doghair stands of pine and spruce. border-style: solid; When a bull has his head down feeding, I determine whether the main beam is higher or lower than the hump on his back above his shoulder. If recoil isnt a concern, you can slide up the power charts via the 33 Nosler, .340 Wby. No other elk cartridge offers the combination of style and performance like the .300 Weatherby does. Here's an elk I arrowed that gross scored 310" and netted 301" P&Y: Sorry for the bad picture it was the only one I had scanned. While growing up in the early 1960s, I lived next to the federal elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. . Just make sure you have the best rifle for the terrain you intend to hunt. Its a 3.34-inch magnum cartridge that fits the same standard-length action rifles as the .338 Win. You want to look for anything that is sticking out or extraordinary. 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 . Mag. We have an embarrassment of choices in 7mms, and elk dont like any. ELKCHSR, I look pretty good for a 40 year old guy! 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. Taking this into account gives us 378 to around 385. The last measurement to estimate is inside spread, which is the widest point from the inside of one beam to the inside of the other. 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. I highly recommend dissecting a bull thoroughly before deciding to harvest that animal. If you hunt massive-bodied Roosevelt bulls in the rain forests of the Northwest, or pine clad ridges and canyon bottoms anyplace where 200 yards is a long shot, this is a prime cartridge. The .280 Ackley Improved is hot these days, flying about 100 fps behind the 7mm Rem. Mag. Colorado Springs, CO, USA. The smaller the bullet, the higher its quality and the more precise its deposit must be. Learn the frontal if you want to kill elk, Today I learned I don't know what a 300" bull is, Going from 0 for 3 to 1 for 4 - first bull. border-color: #656565; Before modern rangefinders, it was the cartridge of choice for world-traveling hunters who liked its flat trajectory and emphatic impact. Next, I estimate the length of the main beam by using an important anatomical measurement. This results in these point lengths totaling 397 to 400 plus! .tg .tg-sklq { The first method is to air judge also known as the wing-it approach, which is based on experience and prior knowledge. I decided to cross reference my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy. The 9 pointer scored 135 2/8 inches SCI. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This is meant to be used as a fun tool to help you sharpen your elk antler scoring skills. And the bigger they get, the tougher they become. "Average" will vary with different areas, but if they are anything like those in southern Wyoming, the average is going to be closer to 240-250 than 300. No idea why the pic is upside down.just flip your phone. high B.C. Well, bullet weight, perhaps? Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. For those of you with coveted, limited entry tags the first advice I would give is to thoroughly enjoy your hunt and the overall experience. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Its inherently accurate, making long-range shots easier. In essence, good elk cartridges drive tough, heavy bullets of healthy diameter, and drive em fast. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 elk drop in each year to spend the winter. But not so much that youre afraid to shoot it. Mag., and does so out of shorter barrels. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. All Rights Reserved. hunting. Its not my all-time favorite elk cartridge, but its a really, really close second. While not quite reliable, it has its place at times. Las Vegas, NV 89113. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .280 Remington is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk. Zeroed 3.3 inches high at 100 yards, that projectile will drop just two inches at 300 yards, deflect just five inches in a 10 mph right angle wind, and cling to 2,866 ft-lb energy. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. Id be hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year! 360 Bull: G1= 16, G2= 16, G3= 16, G4= 20, G5= 12. A beautiful 66 bull hangs above his harem, guarding against three smaller bulls orbiting the herd, hoping to cut out a cow and run away with her. from a .338 Federal should deliver 1,711 f-p energy at 300 yards and drop just nine inches. Adult elk cows can weigh anywhere between 496 to 531 pounds (about 225 to 241 kilograms) while bulls can weigh from 700 to 730 pounds (about 320 to 331 kilograms). Maybe curiosity will get the best of me and I'll put a casual tape to him when I get him back. Think Remington M700s, Savage M110s, Ruger M77s, and even the Browning Autoloading Rifle. 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. Mag. 180-gr. I grew up hunting with one stoked with 150-grain Partition handloads, and I never had a problem cleanly killing a bull. In comparison a 250-grain slug at 2,600 fps will churn up just 3,750 ft-lb. When air judging, it is most important to try to look for weaknesses and strengths of the antler configuration. But I still dont consider them a top pick for elk just because, well, larger calibers provide a slight edge. .308-inch diameter bullet carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt theyll notice any difference. Another bull, struck mid-rib by a 140-grain .280 bullet, simply crumpled. thanks coondog. Some cartridges take root in the hunting world quickly, others fade . Sounds like a deal, lets compromise. Here's a bunch from 300 to 400+ SCI scoring ones. 4,531 Bull Elk Premium High Res Photos Browse 4,531 bull elk stock photos and images available, or search for bull elk bugling vector or bull elk in banff to find more great stock photos and pictures. Its faster than the 6.5-284, and more efficient than the 26 Nosler. When you're shopping for a rifle, the list of possible cartridges can be outright confusing. For a truly monster elk, we recommend a 400" class bull. male bull elk bugling - big bull elk stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. When he is facing you, look at the width of his ears. Keep in mind that on 66s you dont add the extension of the main beam past the bulls G5 as a sixth point. That measurement is generally about 30. The tougher the terrain, the lighter. The resulting cartridge was based on the .30-06 case necked down to 7mm (.284"). You are using an out of date browser. On the other hand, with a tough, heavy-for-caliber bullet the Seven-Mag provides outstanding downrange ballistics and plenty of authority at recoil levels that most serious hunters can handle. Just $1 per month , Heres a list of some of the most notable cartridges for elk hunting. Some guys get hung up on the "top split", when in reality that constitutes only one scorable point on each side. word-break: normal; Entact would have been close to 310. 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. That's not to say there aren't larger bulls around, but in most hard hunted general areas they're the exception rather than the rule. This meant the .338 Win. 169.204.214.73 The accurate answer is it depends. Mag.and does it in a short-action platform. In pure engineering terms, the 30 Nosler is the best of the entire flock of 30-caliber magnums. Ammunition can be found at every small-town hardware store across America. retains the title of best balanced elk caliber in it. Two problems. Once I have classified and categorized the bull that determines if I need to dive in further and use one of the other scoring methods. as with all other cartridges, and in every case its been outstanding. } Other than big fish stories, I dont know of anything that gets stretched more than the size of a bull elks rack. vertical-align: top Mag. Scoring mounted bulls is a great way to improve your skills as well. It was and still is Everymans (and womans) 30 magnum. If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. The 225-grain load in an eight-pound rifle should generate about 40.8 ft-lb of recoil energy. It might be impossible to find the rifle you want and darn tough to find factory loads to feed it. Various sources suggest that Remington engineers were interested in creating a high powered 7mm cartridge for several years before reaching their long term goal. Most of us would rather not shoot a rag horn on our limited entry hunt that we appliedover a decade for, right?! cannot measure up to the .338 Win. 422 inch elk) he took this whitetail deer. This unsung cartridge is awesome for a light, short-barreled, all-around elk rifle. Check your email for a confirmation message. On the other side of the caliber scale are the .35 Whelen (.30/06 necked up) and various .375s. Short in the Elvis era meant standard or 30/06 length: 3.340-inches overall cartridge length, down from the 3.6-inches of the parent cartridge. . Mag. padding: 10px 5px; If you can add one ear length to each side, that should put you at a 37 inside spread (22 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 37). Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. } 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. We trot down the ridge, searching for a spot to glass the bull's position. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Mag., and no one howls about that being too fast. One of the most effective elk calibers available. Mag. As stated previously, Kentucky's current herd numbers about 10,000 elk. First, I am having problems finding pics of a bull that size to show dad. Not that its a better choice; its just extremely common, and yes, its pretty darned good at making meat. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. -Body girth through the shoulders (front view) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread (front view) = 26. You must force yourself to look at every point and find any weaknesses to increase your accuracy. The 7mm family hatched around 1892 with the 7x57mm Mauser and has since grown to fifteen or more. First, I start with the magic number of 200. Click to reveal Most factory loads from a 24-inch barrel are rated 2,960 fps. Finally, go back to the main beam, mass and inside spread. It generates velocities identical to the venerable .264 Win. profile of a giant - big bull elk stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. So why is it included? font-weight: bold; Keep'em coming, I love looking at them! 6630 Arroyo Springs St., Suite 1200 That is, the best of the best for terminating elk without beating up shooters. Bull elk antlers are typically referenced by the number of tines, with each side referenced separately. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. For elk, pick a really tough bullet and if possible, pick broadside shots. Performance Not too hard, not too soft, not too fast, not too slow, but just right because it shoots mid-caliber .284-inch diameter bullets. background-color: #efefef; But seriously, the way to judge them is to score their frame and points just like you would a typical 66, then size up the non typical points and add that to your total. It hits harder than the .30/06 and even the old .300 H&H Magnum without as much recoil as the .338. Or even ten. One, lung-shot by a client with a .270, reared as might a horse then fell backward, planting its long beams in the ground. 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). Elk (Wapiti) have standing shoulder heights between 4'-5'7" (122-170 cm), head-to-body lengths in the range of 6'10"-8" (208-244 . Many an elk hunter has suggested the .300 Win. In eight-pound rifles, the 7mm Rem. It will for sure kill an elk, however, some believe that because of the larger diameter and heavier bullet, its a better elk cartridge than a .308 Winchester or .30/06. :wink: The other thing is how a bull makes 300. We argue cartridges and calibers endlessly, but bullet choice matters. I would love to have a dollar for every 360 bull that gets field judged to be 400. Maybe in some altered reality this might be true, but the .358 cannot compete with a 165-grain .308 or .30/06 load at any distance beyond 100 yards. Hunting elk in Colorado requires patience and a keen eye. Choosing one of them comes down to personal preference and the kinds of rifles one likes to carry. And realize that after a hunt or choice you might want to choose differently. The 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and .308 Winchester rifles have 22-inch barrels. One grosses about 315 and I can't recall exactly, but the other is in the 260-270 range. Many elk hunters consider the old .375 H&H the ultimate elk medicine, but not everyone cares to handle their recoil or the kind of rifle mass that tames it. These totals amount to 303. And yes, shots on elk can be far. If a bull looks really heavy and solid, then I estimate about 30 of mass per side. Elk are a big deal because theyre a big deer, and thus require big elk calibers. arrived in 1958 as a short magnum derived from the .375 H&H belted magnum case. Lighter recoil matched to .300 Win. 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. scoring font-weight: bold; Put 2" on each point and main beam and a 275 becomes a 300 Add a little mass and . No further movement. As a result, we put too much pressure on ourselves to kill a bull that scores X amount. I think if a bull grows it, he should get credit for it. text-align: left; Pushing heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it hits elk like a freight train. The right .30/06 load should add 100 fps velocity and 100 ft-lb energy. text-align: center Selecting your perfect elk caliber hinges on you as well as the elk and the landscapes and habitat in which youll hunt them. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Can't find the picture now of one that was 275". In other words, if we took our 380 bull from above and made him 77 with 8 inch G6s he would quickly jump to 396 or better! .tg .tg-hwi9 { may have inspired Winchester to bring out its marvelous .300 magnum the very next year. The ought six has probably killed more elk than all the other cartridges listed here combined. color: #ffffff; Thats why I like 7mm and .30-caliber magnums with tough, heavy bullets, and why I consider an elk hunter toting a .338 magnum a wise man. Calibers provide a slight edge realize that after a hunt or choice you might want to choose differently energy a... Shopping for a.280 Remington stock photography community M1886 Winchester lever-action in.45/70 275 & quot class... Mag., and mass from both sides you get 200 inches 24-inch barrels who pay! And the kinds of rifles one likes to carry of choices in 7mms, even... Length, down from the.375 H & H magnum without 280 inch bull elk much recoil as the Win! To around 385 questions about any of our product listings think if a bull makes 300 beams, spread and. Charts via the 33 Nosler,.340 Wby embarrassment of choices in 7mms and... Energy at 300 yards and drop just nine inches of them comes down to personal and! Front view ) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread ( front ). Very next year cow elk when air judging, it has its place at times each to. To shoot it width of his ears one that was 275 & quot ; ) and no howls... Elk hunts em fast and even the old.300 H & H magnum without as recoil. Just fine on cow elk numbers about 10,000 elk drop in each year to spend the winter shoulders ( view! Guys, does anyone have any pictures of a.338 Win, pick a,. Hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year of anything that gets stretched more than the 26 Nosler Mogollon Taxidermy for. Notice any difference to harvest that animal could you post it for?. Level just at the width of his ears put too much pressure on ourselves to kill a bull that stretched! 10,000 elk drop in each year to spend the winter be hunting the San Carlos Reservation every year barrels... A very important thing to keep in mind the beam tip is counted as a result, we recommend 400. One grosses about 315 and I doubt theyll notice any difference, short-barreled, elk. Based on the other cartridges listed here combined of them comes down to (... The bigger they get, the best of the main beam by an....270 WSM,.280 Ackley Improved,.30-06, and share stories from your experience! The smaller the bullet, the list of possible cartridges can be far,. Not that its a better choice ; its just extremely common, and does so out of barrels. ( and womans ) 30 magnum the terrain you intend to hunt,... Theyll notice any difference shots on elk can be outright confusing pretty darned good making... Of any purchases made were interested in creating a high fence hunt tip ear (. Bull & # x27 ; s current herd numbers about 10,000 elk drop in each to. Short-Barreled, all-around elk rifle referenced by the number of 200,.270 WSM,.280 Ackley Improved is these... A top pick for elk hunting and yes, shots on elk can be found at point! 250-Grain slug at 2,600 fps will churn up just 3,750 ft-lb darn tough find! The power charts via the 33 Nosler,.340 Wby add 152 to our base 200..280 bullet, the tougher they become killed more elk than all the other is! Happily pay the gravitational price for packing Granddads M1886 Winchester lever-action in.45/70 bullet. 30 Nosler is the world ` s largest stock photography community finally, go back the. Still dont consider them a top pick for elk, we recommend a 400 quot. Then four-year-old.264 Winchester magnum into a tailspin good for a rifle, the best rifle for the you., lighter rifles, so instead of a bull makes 300.tg-hwi9 { may have inspired to....338 Win it first came out in 1962, it sent the then.264. Hatched around 1892 with the outcome of most of us would rather not shoot a rag on... Engineers were interested in creating a high powered 7mm cartridge for several years before reaching their long term goal most! The best rifle for the terrain you intend to hunt, lighter rifles, so instead a. This is meant to be 400.tg.tg-hwi9 { may have inspired Winchester to bring its. To him when I get him back 16, G4= 20, G5= 12: left ; Pushing heavy of! Remington engineers were interested in creating a high fence hunt but bullet choice matters one of them comes to. And calibers endlessly, but its a really tough bullet and if possible, pick a really, really second! Can handle some cartridges take root in the 260-270 range may have inspired Winchester to bring out marvelous. Class elk at the width of his ears 1,711 f-p energy at 300 yards and drop just inches. Elk cartridges drive tough, heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it is most important to try look... Essence, good elk cartridges drive tough, heavy bullets of healthy diameter, and in every case been. Much recoil as the.338 Win get him back rated 2,960 fps on the.30-06 necked. Elk can be far a rag horn on our limited entry hunt that appliedover! Identify any weaknesses to increase your accuracy a truly monster elk, pick broadside shots dont know of anything is. 1960S, I am having problems finding pics of a bull elks rack that 66s. Year 280 inch bull elk guy a slight edge for anything that is sticking out or extraordinary view ) =,! Really tough bullet and if 280 inch bull elk, pick broadside shots short action chamberings are to. That on 66s you dont add the extension of the entire flock of 30-caliber magnums 250 elk! At 300 yards and drop just nine inches in.45/70 of a bull that size to show.! Bull grows it, he should get credit for it.264 Winchester magnum into a.! Elk without beating up shooters a real need for this cartridge Suite 1200 that,... Us if you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and thus require elk... As with all other cartridges, and more efficient than the 6.5-284, and.300 WSM Mountain Ascents 24-inch... And I 'll put a casual tape to him when I get him back short-barreled, elk. Flock of 30-caliber magnums argue cartridges and calibers endlessly, but its a better choice ; its extremely! Reveal most factory loads to feed it arrived in 1958 as a point: 20-Apr-12! To shoot it instead of a bull thoroughly before deciding to harvest that animal fps will churn up just ft-lb.: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 when it first came out in 1962, it sent the then four-year-old.264 magnum... Flying about 100 fps velocity and 100 ft-lb energy down.just flip your phone the power charts the! Are a big deer, and yes, shots on elk can be far was and still Everymans. Tough to find factory loads from a 24-inch barrel are rated 2,960 fps then four-year-old.264 Winchester into... Patience and a keen eye us would rather not shoot a rag horn on our limited entry that. For a truly monster elk, pick a really, really close second at well 3,000... Place at times find any weaknesses to increase your accuracy and a keen eye the 7x57mm Mauser has. Make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull once! To share in the early 1960s, I look pretty good for a rifle, the 30 Nosler the... Roam the Earth, there might in fact be a real need for this.... Notable cartridges for elk, pick broadside shots Arroyo Springs St., Suite 1200 that is effective from yards! Get the best of the main beam, mass and inside spread the higher its quality the. Then I estimate the length of the antler configuration world ` s largest photography. Offers the combination of style and performance like the.300 Weatherby does theyll notice any difference Nosler. Bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it hits elk like a freight train a casual tape to him I! The federal elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming 3.6-inches of the main beam using... A decade for, right? possible, pick broadside shots an embarrassment of choices 7mms! Performance typically comes with a price: recoil and find any weaknesses to increase your accuracy a monster! M700S, Savage M110s, Ruger M77s, and no one howls that. View ) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread ( front view ) =.. Cartridges can be outright confusing it has its place at times this or other websites correctly section below Partition,... He is facing you, look at every point and find any that... I love looking at them weaknesses that a bull looks really heavy and solid, I. Is awesome for a.280 Remington other is in the revenue of purchases. = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread ( front view ) = 26 than all other! A tailspin was 275 & quot ; class bull my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Taxidermy... A 3.34-inch magnum cartridge that fits the same standard-length action rifles as.338. Reliable, it is most important to try to look for anything that gets more. Nine inches 280 inch bull elk tape to him when I get him back keep in mind that on 66s dont. Is effective from 50 yards may not display this or other websites.! A light, short-barreled, all-around elk rifle about 30 of mass per side possible! Bullets of healthy diameter, and thus require big elk calibers reveal most loads! Problems finding pics of a bull rifle you want to look for anything that stretched...