Max shot distance on elk... 270 weatherby

[ivorytip]

good luck ringo2, your .270 will be awesome for you. its a cal that doesn't get enough credit, even though it has been and still does prove itself year end and year out. I used the 150 on my elk this year, I prefer the 130 and 140, just flies better out of my gun but I ran out at the range and had to pick up 150 cuz thats all that was at the store. but I still knew how it would fly and adjusted, almost adjusted to much but did its job. still dropped a bull at 400 yrds, the only moving he did was him dying out in the spot he was standing. some people get caught up in all the intense details behind loads and all that, which can be a fun hobby. I always get as close as I can, at 400 I am more than comfortable taking a shot if I'm in a stable shooting stance. Go get EM!
I just like looking for a reason to post it gets me psyched up for deer!!

 

[BuzzH]

Ringo2,

Big difference between your self imposed limit of 500 yards and a maximum range that round is capable of (which IS what you asked, and why the details were important). The answer is different when you already have imposed a maximum range.

The "small differences" you described, will make a difference, even at 500. The things I asked about, as well as those you described, will for sure make a difference past 500. From what you have described, the platform will put you well inside the maximum range of the round itself when it comes to killing elk. You recognize that as well, with your self imposed ethical range of 500 yards...that's your answer.

You will be good to go with the 270 Bee to 500 on elk...well within the rounds ability.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I would think the max range is the most you can shoot accurately enough to consistantly hit the kill zone. I'm sure the rifle itself is more capable than most shooters.

 

[elktaker]

I shoot a 300 wsm. 185 gr. Berger 2885fps (chrono'd) the custom xr turret for my nikon is spot on. My max kill range is 500 yds, and conditions would have to be perfect. 500 yds is a long way!!
Like my dad always told me. That gun will kill a helluva lot farther than you can shoot!! Lol

Yea, my 7mm WSM holds 1200 ft/lb to 1100 yards with just 168 bergers. I limit myself to 800 yards with a less than mild wind and my kestrel ballistic calculator. I practice out to 800-1000 weekly and have no issues hitting a 12" circle in 1 shoot at 800 yd. If the wind is bad or I am shooting over uneven terrain that affects the wind, I will get much closer which is most of Utah. Also if I am not prone, I will not shoot over 500 yards.

I have a 6mmx223 practice barrel that I swap onto the same platform for practicing out to 600 yards in the wind. Cheap and blows around a lot which provides good practice.

 

[Jrod]

My dad shoots a 7 mag Remington with the BOSS and he can make groups, like BUZZ showed on the first page of this thread, all day long. Went to shoot at a 300 yd range and still had good groups. Took it to Wyoming last year for elk. Guide had him take his first shot a 600 yards, and couldn't even tell where the bullet went. Bull moved closer to 500 and still couldn't tell where bullet went. Prone position, solid rest on a rock and backpack. Bull walked away. Found another bull at 400. Finally saw a pine bough fall 4' behind the bull when he shot. Put down the gun, grabbed the guides gun; I think model 798 Remington or something, not very expensive what ever model, 270 win. caliber. Guide said 4 inches under his spine and pulled the trigger. Bull ran 50 feet and now we have elk steaks.
Bullet placement trumps all else in my opinion. IDK if my dad was jacked up on adrenaline or what but that 270 turned the lights out

 

[Gr8bawana]

My dad shoots a 7 mag Remington with the BOSS and he can make groups, like BUZZ showed on the first page of this thread, all day long. Went to shoot at a 300 yd range and still had good groups. Took it to Wyoming last year for elk. Guide had him take his first shot a 600 yards, and couldn't even tell where the bullet went. Bull moved closer to 500 and still couldn't tell where bullet went. Prone position, solid rest on a rock and backpack. Bull walked away. Found another bull at 400. Finally saw a pine bough fall 4' behind the bull when he shot. Put down the gun, grabbed the guides gun; I think model 798 Remington or something, not very expensive what ever model, 270 win. caliber. Guide said 4 inches under his spine and pulled the trigger. Bull ran 50 feet and now we have elk steaks.
Bullet placement trumps all else in my opinion. IDK if my dad was jacked up on adrenaline or what but that 270 turned the lights out

My brother has a friend that is deadly on targets out to 1200 yards with his .338 Win Mag. He's got all the crap and gadets that go with long range shooting.
Put him on a live animal and he turns into a bowl of jello and he and his rifle are uselesss.

 

[MtnBuck]

My dad shoots a 7 mag Remington with the BOSS and he can make groups, like BUZZ showed on the first page of this thread, all day long. Went to shoot at a 300 yd range and still had good groups. Took it to Wyoming last year for elk. Guide had him take his first shot a 600 yards, and couldn't even tell where the bullet went. Bull moved closer to 500 and still couldn't tell where bullet went. Prone position, solid rest on a rock and backpack. Bull walked away. Found another bull at 400. Finally saw a pine bough fall 4' behind the bull when he shot. Put down the gun, grabbed the guides gun; I think model 798 Remington or something, not very expensive what ever model, 270 win. caliber. Guide said 4 inches under his spine and pulled the trigger. Bull ran 50 feet and now we have elk steaks.
Bullet placement trumps all else in my opinion. IDK if my dad was jacked up on adrenaline or what but that 270 turned the lights out

I must be interpreting this wrong. It sounds like he practices up to 300, but was shooting at game out to 600. Congrats on the steaks!

 

[elktaker]

I must be interpreting this wrong. It sounds like he practices up to 300, but was shooting at game out to 600. Congrats on the steaks!

looks like you are reading it right. Rather see practice to 600 shoots 300.

 

[Jrod]

You are correct,(all respondents). We shoot at 100 a couple times a year, 300 once a year. He was not comfortable at that range but thought he could do it with his gun. It drives tacks at a hundred and puts em in the palm of your hand at 300; the kill zone on an elk is roughly 20" in diameter. He's got a good scope and timiny trigger and shoots often so his confidence was high. What I was getting at was the 270 will put the lights out; that's it.
We sight in for long range shots but rarely shoot animals that far. Most animals we have killed have been inside 100 yards. We hunted x5b here in California(high desert), and he killed his buck at 40 yds due to me doing a little push' and I killed mine at about 60-80 yards. This year we have x7b in CA and we plan on hunting a spot that may lend itself to long range shots but hopefully we will be within 100 yds.
I also made a steel 12" diameter target to practice with at multiple different ranges so we can shoot uphill, downhill, flat land, elevation, sea level. But as you can tell by my location it makes it tough to get to land to use it. Cheers gents and gentle ladies

 

[elktaker]

You are correct,(all respondents). We shoot at 100 a couple times a year, 300 once a year. He was not comfortable at that range but thought he could do it with his gun. It drives tacks at a hundred and puts em in the palm of your hand at 300; the kill zone on an elk is roughly 20" in diameter. He's got a good scope and timiny trigger and shoots often so his confidence was high. What I was getting at was the 270 will put the lights out; that's it.
We sight in for long range shots but rarely shoot animals that far. Most animals we have killed have been inside 100 yards. We hunted x5b here in California(high desert), and he killed his buck at 40 yds due to me doing a little push' and I killed mine at about 60-80 yards. This year we have x7b in CA and we plan on hunting a spot that may lend itself to long range shots but hopefully we will be within 100 yds.
I also made a steel 12" diameter target to practice with at multiple different ranges so we can shoot uphill, downhill, flat land, elevation, sea level. But as you can tell by my location it makes it tough to get to land to use it. Cheers gents and gentle ladies

Was he holding over in air, using a reticle or dialing with turrets? And how did he come up with his hold over?

 

[Slugz]

Put him on a live animal and he turns into a bowl of jello and he and his rifle are uselesss.

Happens a lot unfortunately. I personally don't like the recent "long range push/advertisement going on by the industry" due to the fact that a considerable amount of people don't have the time or place to practice at those distance year around to be proficient.

On the flip side there are a lot of good hunters who can take great shots, just seems like that number is getting smaller.

 

[Jrod]

Elktaker, he was holding high with the scope. Guide had the bullet drop chart on his phone when he was pulling the trigger and said how high or low depending on distance. It didn't work on his gun but when the guide said "4" lower than the top of the bulls back" with the guides gun, we could watch the heat contrail travel all the way across the draw and plow right into the motor room. That was cool. Still using the iPhone with ballistic chart. (we had good service

 

[elktaker]

Elktaker, he was holding high with the scope. Guide had the bullet drop chart on his phone when he was pulling the trigger and said how high or low depending on distance. It didn't work on his gun but when the guide said "4" lower than the top of the bulls back" with the guides gun, we could watch the heat contrail travel all the way across the draw and plow right into the motor room. That was cool. Still using the iPhone with ballistic chart. (we had good service

Yea, in future never shoot farther than you have validated your drop at something alive. Bullets do weird things all the time even with a proper BC and muzzle velocity calculated. I understand the challenges of finding ranges to shoot out farther but a couple of shoots at longer distances can validate your calculated drop and that gun and shooter is ready. That is worth coming in a few days early to get it done and a box of ammo. We owe the elk that much. Just think how you guys would feel if the first bull got hit but not recovered. I am glad you had a good hunt and a total miss is way better than a wounded animal. My first elk, I had a similar situation and guy told me to hold top of back when my gun was hitting 3" low at 290 yards but he was shooting a 30 06 and in the excitement I listen to him and hit the elk high in the top of the shoulder. Elk did not really react so it got punched too more times so lesson learned. The important thing is learning and having fun. It can be just as much fun hitting steel way out there as elk sometimes.

I will not shoot holding open air. Get a scope with a drop reticle of your liking, it goes a long way. Just validate for your gun. I run a nightforce shv and typically dial anything past 500 yards and hold wind (obviously you do not need a night force to get it done)

 

[droptine]

Yep, I plan on doing quite a bit of shooting out to 500 yds till opener. Just so that myself, my gun and my ammo are all on the same page. If the moment of truth presents itself!

 

[Red Raider]

I shoot a 300 wsm. 185 gr. Berger 2885fps (chrono'd) the custom xr turret for my nikon is spot on. My max kill range is 500 yds, and conditions would have to be perfect. 500 yds is a long way!!
Like my dad always told me. That gun will kill a helluva lot farther than you can shoot!! Lol

droptine, my dad told me the same thing. He was a sniper in the army. He always said 99% of the rifles out there will out shoot the shooter.

I handload for 325 WSM. I get 2960 fps shooting Barnes 200gr TXS BT. Shoots 1/2 MOA if I do my part. I had the bull of a lifetime at 722 yards. I let him walk. I thought he deserved a better shot than what I could do. Point of all that is to say you decide what you can do to make an ethical shot. More than likely, the rifle won't be the limiting factor.