Right gun for the right job

[BrettFess]

Hello all I posted last week that I will be on my first elk hunt with table mountain outfitters. I currently have a howa 308 I was wondering if this will work or if i should get a different rifle? Any thoughts and advice is very helpful and appreciated


Thank in advance

 

[go_deep]

Hello all I posted last week that I will be on my first elk hunt with table mountain outfitters. I currently have a howa 308 I was wondering if this will work or if i should get a different rifle? Any thoughts and advice is very helpful and appreciated


Thank in advance

Your golden. Just put the shot where it needs to be, and you'll be just fine.

 

[Tim McCoy]

A 308 will work just fine. I'd suggest at least a medium weight bullet, 165gr.+ as a good elk minimum, but if it likes monolithic's, barnes/gmx type, 150 gr.+ is a sensible minimum. Probably more important is to know your max range, and be lethal at that range from field positions. Your outfitter can give you a good idea of likely ranges and load selection. At 308 velocities, your range of bullet selections to do the job is very large. The 308 is not sexy, but danged lethal.

 

[AKaviator]

I have no doubt that your .308 is just fine, but I've never hunted elk so don't listen to me. But, I'd use this as a good excuse to get another rifle If I were you. A really nice Cooper in 7mm mag. might be nice!!

 

[Tim McCoy]

I have no doubt that your .308 is just fine, but I've never hunted elk so don't listen to me. But, I'd use this as a good excuse to get another rifle If I were you. A really nice Cooper in 7mm mag. might be nice!!

I like your style, and bank account! The cartridge a rifle is chambered for, so long as it is at least arguably enough, is much less important than the ability to place a suitable bullet where it belongs, me thinks. Been part of plenty of elk killed cleanly with much smaller choices than the 308. Placement is King, as has already been said.

 

[AKaviator]

i couldn't agree more! My son's first moose was one shot from a .243 and a 100gr Nosler partition.

 

[Tim McCoy]

i couldn't agree more! My son's first moose was one shot from a .243 and a 100gr Nosler partition.

Nice! I've seen plenty of elk drop to a .243 with a cup and core style bullet, if shot through the slats... Only been part of two moose, both big Shiras bulls, babies to you AK folk, both fell to a 30-06 180gr. Barnes TSX. A 308 would have worked just fine for both. Despite what I sometimes read in magazines, elk today die just like ones I shot 40+ years ago, when hit properly with a good bullet from a reasonable cartridge.

Maybe you ought to come south and try an elk hunt. Bring your young Moose hunter and pop a couple cows, just for scientific purposes.

 

[lostriverproductions]

Yep just pick a good bullet and put it where it should go. I'm a fan of nosler partition's for elk

 

[RICMIC]

I agree with AKaviator...this is the perfect opportunity to justify buying a new rifle. You can even make it a .308. I know of four Minnesota moose that were felled by the venerable 30-06, and the last one that I butchered was put down by a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier. That's enough proof to me that you don't need a .338 to kill an elk (even though that is what I use; as I convinced my wife that a .300 Win. mag. wasn't big enough.)

 

[crzy_cntryby]

My wife is planning to take an elk this year with her grandmother's .308. I'd agree with all that have said decent bullet, good range and ethical clean shot will take em just fine. Talk to the old boys who used to use .22 mags. Haha

 

[Hilltop]

While guiding, I had several hunters take big bulls with a .308 and Remington core locks. Great caliber as long as you keep your ranges realistic and use a decent bullet. I prefer the Hornady interbond 165 grain bullets.

 

[libidilatimmy]

While guiding, I had several hunters take big bulls with a .308 and Remington core locks. Great caliber as long as you keep your ranges realistic and use a decent bullet. I prefer the Hornady interbond 165 grain bullets.

The interbond's are a good bullet. Unfortunately, they're approaching the status of the Unicorn. Can't find them anywhere and only read about them in stories.

 

[Hilltop]

I think guys are hoarding them...like the 22 ammo. I live close to the factory and can usually get them with a little notice. If anyone needs help finding some, send me a pm. There is a little sporting goods store that seems to have inside buying power. Anytime I have needed some they make it happen.

 

[missjordan]

I hunt with a 308 and it'll be just fine for your hunt!

 

[AKaviator]

Hey, we're trying to goad a newer guy into buying a new rifle. Then he can give us a review of it. Maybe a light weight Forbes in 7mm. IKIC might be interested.
Either way, I hope BrettF has a great hunt with whatever he carries afield.

 

[6mm Remington]

Congratulations on a great hunt coming up and best of luck. Your 308 will work just fine. I'd shoot 165 gr. Accubonds or Partitions and hunt worry free. Lots of other excellent bullets out there besides these Nosler offerings, but I feel they are two of the best.

 

[Elkfitness]

You're set. Randy newberg, who has the fresh tracks hunting show and the hunttalk site, shoots a 308 (I think) on his show. I've seen quite a few large animals dropped with it on his show.

 

[480/277]

Hey, we're trying to goad a newer guy into buying a new rifle. Then he can give us a review of it. Maybe a light weight Forbes in 7mm. IKIC might be interested.
Either way, I hope BrettF has a great hunt with whatever he carries afield.

NULA in 284 would be the skizzle.....

 

[NDHunter]

With a quality bullet it will be perfectly fine.

 

[Gr8bawana]

No doubt your .308 will do the job with a good bullet and proper placement.
Good luck to you on your hunt.