I ain't a bullet guru but that's fast..if I ever get a deer to jump my shot I'm gonna save this post for future reference lol

117 grain Hornady SST at 3110 from my .25-06 absolutely stoned a mule deer at 328 yards. 250 lb buck, and he fell in his tracks.

I shoot a 7mm Wby accumark for elk, been pleased but would like a 338-06 one day just haven’t had time to build one and being a lefty it’s a little more difficult to run across one. If I ever find a left handed 30-06 accumark I will build one.

A .340 is big medicine for a bull elk. It's not that it will kill one any more dead than a .223... the difference is you can shoot one up the anus with a .340 and you still won't have to worry about which way it went. It will be laying withing sight of where it was hit as long as the shot is marginally good. That comes in handy if you paid $5k to shoot a nice bull. They don't always want to stand where you have a nice easy broadside shot. With some of these bigger guns you can just let it eat and not worry about it. That's the advantage. There are disadvantages too but in my mind that advantage is superior based on a limited window of opportunity and overall cost. I'm there with the mindset that I'm about to go circa 1988 Doe Days in Alabama on something. I'm not out there to take in the scenery and smell the grass... If I could get a Remington 742 in .35 Whelen and turn a pack of hounds loose in the timber I'd show those cowboys how this is really done. Y'all boys ever been on a dog hunt before? You'd better arm yourself.

But the reality is you can kill one with an arrow. With a good double lung you can kill one with about any deer rifle. .270 does fine. .308, 7-08, 30-06. No issues.

.45-70 depending on the load is a real thumper. I've kilt one cow elk with a .45-70 and it broke both shoulders on it's way right out the other side. It went down like a sack of taters. That got impressive but you just gotta understand you need to get within 200 of one and that might mean you can see one but you can't shoot it. I would take the .45-70 and maybe borrow a 30-06. You are adequately armed.

That’s the problem at this point. I’m not sure which unit I will be in or how long of a shot I will likely have to take. If I need to take a shot across a canyon I may need something with more range. But I’m hoping to sneak within 200 yards of one. But I know that will be harder because they may be in bigger groups and not rutting.

Take the .06 and be done with it

All good points and excellent post. Reminded me of my last elk hunt. A buddy and I managed to get a couple of Tule cow tags in California. Mike was toting a .308 with some 150s or 165s and I had my 35 Whelen with 225s. Mike stalked,waited for the perfect broadside shot, and she still ran about 75 yards or so. The next day I shot mine quartering to me. Put the cross hairs on her front shoulder and that 35 caliber 225 grain bullet broke the shoulder and passed through both lungs. She may have taken a couple of steps. I've used that Whelen from the Attic to Africa, love that gun.

You are correct on your comments to someone who has no clue about what is being discussed and also what is needed to dispatch an elk. Of all we, my Son and I, have shot the .300 Win, Mag. has performed the best with both 180g store bought ammo and Son's hand loads of 168g. Average shot has been just north of 260 yards with longest made by John a measured 405 yards. Not a shot I would try but he shoot regular at steel targets out to 500 yards and knows his ability, gun. and ammo.

Hard to know, you might not get within 700 yards or elk or you may get within 78 yards. The former is more common based on historical data.

Groundhawg, I offerd to meet you on Broad St or Ft Rucker last month but no reciprocal agreement with you. I might be over soon depending on the damage we get from the storm. We can eat at the BBQ joint or eat Ice cream there on the corner and talk elk. There is a nice young fella at Willie J’s that is going in the Air Force soon, wish him well.

I have plenty a “clue” about Elk hunting in various of our western states. The 357 was in a hotel parking lot by the Grand Canyon one evening after Supper because the bull was acting up around people so I blew at him getting him to follow me and I dropped him. It was across the road from the IMAX. I’ve spent mucho time hunting elk whether with a weapon or camera. Heck, there are even at least three herds I’ve tracked down in Boxley Valley Arkansas.

You take your time and you can get within a “JohnnyLoco” appropriate distance. I stand by my opinion that longer ranges are for those without skill. I think its piss poor to hunt long range, over bait or green fields, use buckshot, or shooting houses, especially shooting houses with heaters. Moreover, teaching a kid that this is “hunting”.

I said I was staying outta the caliber debates.

Not sure if you have actually read the responses, but it’s not really a debate. Most of the comments were very constructive. All I was doing was looking for advice from people who may have more experience than me. I was voting for an early season bow hunt, but the guys I’m going with prefer a rifle hunt.

Sure I’ve read the responses, there ain’t no right or wrong answer. If you like to think outside the box and want a good deal on a hell-fer-stout rifle, let me show you something.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/53657/ruger_hkm77prcm_hawk_300_rug_cmp_mg

Price match $663

That’s a good looking rifle.

There ain’t any Federal Blue box for it right now but the Hornady ammo isn’t any more that a box of premium in any other caliber.

While I normally prefer boutique calibers, if I was personally buying a .30 caliber magnum, it would not be the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum.

.300 RCM has been out 10 years, still only has one ammo company loading for it, has only 5 options at midway between 150 and 178 grain bullets, and only Ruger is making rifles for it.

78 different loads available for the .300 Win Mag, from 150 to 220 grain.

.300 Win Mag will be here forever. If Ruger stops making the .300 RCM, them ammo will disappear. Have you tried to buy Remington 8mm Magnum ammunition lately?


The .300 RCM is an outstanding answer to a question nobody was asking.

This. Unless you roll your own ammo, stick with time proven cartridges. I get calls from people wanting me to load ammo for the unique gun they can't find ammo to shoot. Custom ammo ain't cheap.

Anything from a 243 and up and you will be good. Shot placement is key with any caliber. With that being said of the rifles that I own I’d take my 6.5 Creedmoor if shots were going to be less than 800yds. Anything past that and I’d tote my 26 Nosler.

I wouln’t choose the RCM either but there are good deals in rifles and ammo will likely be around.

During the great ammo shortage I always saw 45/70 and RCM on the shelf

The ammo issue for 300RCM I understand but the solution is pretty simple.
Buy the rifle, purchase 5 boxes of ammo , purchase several bags of new brass.
Most people aren’t shooting a 300RCM a ton.

But yes I understand and appreciate being able to walk into Walmart to buy ammo.

Don't forget to buy all of the equipment you need to reload those bags of brass you buy. And study up on how to do it right without blowing up the gun or injuring people next to you at the range - namely me.

I saw a lot of people start loading their own during the ammo shortages and I know that many of them were clueless on how to do it.