shootbrownelk, Billinsd and The reason is because Im not that interested in net scores. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the elk, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the elk in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots the list goes on. 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. Field judging elk is an art, while measuring dead elk is an exact science. This bull grossed 305 and netted 298. If the .338s are the best caliber on the upper end for elk, the 7mms are the best at the lower end. These totals amount to right at 320. First, I start with the magic number of 200. Pair it with an accurate 180-grain bullet and hunt confidently, knowing that your rifle is adequate for any reasonable scenario. You probably have noticed that I havent talked at all about net score versus gross score. But, because elk have big antlers and big bodies, some hunters believe it takes an even bigger bullet to kill them. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. However, I took this while bowhunting deer several years ago. Heres what to do when you run up against non typicals or bulls such as 77s. The 7 WSM and 7 SAUM just about match it in handier short action rifles. for me. a 300 bull needs to have the 5/6 points close to the same length as the 4th. Here's mine from last season. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in elk hunting. word-break: normal; 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. There are plenty of other .30-calibers for hire. Notice that 6 thirds would make a 350 type bull that should have 12 or better thirds, a 338 bull. border-spacing: 0; A high B.C. At the light end is the .338 Federal, the .308 Winchester case necked up. Its very easy to stare at great fronts or a big whale tail and miss those 6 third points! Probably the most important aspect of field judging bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build from. I love to field judge bulls and then score them on the ground to see how close my field judging was to the real thing. font-weight: normal; The tougher the terrain, the lighter. Mag., .300 RUM, and .30-378 Wby. (Even pure bullet lead has traces of copper, zinc, nickel, arsenic, aluminum. 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. If it is shorter or longer than the hump on the back, I add or subtract inches accordingly. For elk, pick a really tough bullet and if possible, pick broadside shots. Powered by UBB.threads PHP Forum Software 7.7.5. Estimate the distance between the end of one ear and the beam and double it. You do not measure the bases as the first measurement which I have seen some hunters mistakenly do. Can't find the picture now of one that was 275". JavaScript is disabled. .tg .tg-sklq { Next come three spread measurements: tip-to-tip, greatest spread, and the inside spread of the main beams. Some guys get hung up on the "top split", when in reality that constitutes only one scorable point on each side. It hits harder than the .30/06 and even the old .300 H&H Magnum without as much recoil as the .338. Just as importantly, it delivers plenty of punch on far-distant impacts. When you're shopping for a rifle, the list of possible cartridges can be outright confusing. The hunt was extra special since his father, James (right), who's also a professional guide, called the big bull in for him. could be chambered in the standard Model 70 rifles of the day and eventually most other standard length bolt action rifles. Nov 2, 2008. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. Mag. Two problems. border-color: #656565; The main beams will just barely reach his withers. elk While not quite reliable, it has its place at times. It will take 3 trips at 97 lbs per trip, 4 trips at 73 lbs per trip and 5 trips at 58 lbs per trip. Grossed at 323 and netted 318. Related searches: bull elk bugling vector bull elk in banff bull elk bugle bull elk bugling bull elk snow With the deer thread you don't see differences in an inch, and we got the job doneAlmost. His favorite Mossy Oak camo pattern is Treestand. What about the other assumptions? Lots of folks like .30-caliber magnums for elk hunting, and they work exceptionally well. Recoil is light, and reach is outstanding. Mag. It wallops big bulls with authority, and wallops hunters hard, too. 1. However, it possesses authority in spades, and when paired with a fast-handling lever-action its a classic favorite of big-woods hunters. Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Elk Hunt. 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. Zero both three inches high at 100 yards and at 400 yards they both drop 11.3 inches and deflect about 8.5 inches in that 10 mph breeze. This one had a great whale tail but smallish bottoms. Winchesters original loadings included a 200-grain bullet rated 3,000 fps, a 250-grain at 2,700 fps, and a heavy 300-grain at 2,450 fps from 24-inch barrels. The minimum score for a typical elk to qualify for the club is 260 inches. True. whats the biggest bull everyone has shot? 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. When picking an elk bullet, shy away from light, fast projectiles and pick a heavy version. 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. The resulting cartridge was based on the .30-06 case necked down to 7mm (.284"). But not so much that youre afraid to shoot it. The bull elk is North Americas toughest hooved big-game animal. 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. border-width: 1px; I've often though that a cow elk hunt . It may not display this or other websites correctly. My guesses have been wrong many times, yet it is amazing how practice lessens the gap between field estimates and the actual measurements. border-color: #656565; But to help in estimating a net score remember that most big bulls will have 10 to 12 inches of total symmetry deductions. Youll appreciate that kind of performance if you can handle the recoil. 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. Jay Scott Outdoors Some .30-calibers work best in lever actions, some in short actions, some in full magnum actions. It will help you tremendously! In both cases he used a 300 Winchester Magnum and a 150 grain bullet." "Tom Shimak took this 350+ inch trophy with a bow. Mag., and does so out of shorter barrels. Cartridge means the case that holds the powder that drives the bullet. of .616 from a 24-inch barrel 3,000 fps and a 190-gr. That is to say, we assume the elk being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). Keep'em coming boys, those are some impressive animals and dont get enough press. While growing up in the early 1960s, I lived next to the federal elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 340 Bull: G1= 16, G2= 16, G3= 12, G4= 18, G5= 10. The outfitter only takes 3 or 4 hunters per week, September 7 to 12, 18 to 23 and October 5 to 10 giving the ranch a rest between hunts. So, with the proper balance in mind lets look at a great method for scoring mature bulls on the hoof. It sure makes that rack look HUGE! The .338 Win. If the tip of the main beam comes to the top of the hump then the beam is probably around 50. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. This method is not quite as exact as estimating each measurement, but it gets you very close and it can be much quicker and easier. developed a reputation as a wounder because ammo companies and handloaders were stoking it with light, thin-jacketed projectiles meant for 757 Mauser speeds. For big game hunting precise shot placement is critical no matter the cartridge, and its damn hard to place a shot precisely when you know youre going to get smacked hard enough to loosen your teeth and knock out your boogers. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the Everything you need to know about the parts Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. This is going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as our solid starting point. Keep'em coming, I love looking at them! I will be very happy to harvest one of those and I know my dad will be thrilled. Do your best not to overestimate your shortest points. hatched five years later and gave big brother a real run for his money. If recoil doesnt bother you, Id look hard at the .300 WSM, .325 WSM, even the new 6.8 Western, agonize over a 24-inch barrel, and probably compromise with a 23-inch barrel. LOL. Thats good and congrats to your girl You must log in or register to reply here. Mag., and elk hardly know the difference. Hit an elk with a 175-gr. can be laid at the feet of the shooter or the bullet used. When does everyone think is the best time to sell/buy vehicles? We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. The 6.5 Creedmoor is no dragon slayer. The 190-gr. It worked fine for long range deer hunting, but elk hunters wanted more bullet. This one you can hopefully see the length of the 4. The old 757 is itself a proven elk getter. Re: In search of pics of a 260-300 bull. Like many of the others, I didn't tape him either - and yes, he's going on the wall. This little brother to the .338 Win. Mag. Handloaders easily equal or outdo factory-load performancesomething that cant be said of the other fast .30s listed here. Big Game Hunting - 250 Elk - Hey elk guys, does anyone have any pictures of a 220 to 250 class elk. Although the 7mm-06 wildcat had been in existence for . 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. AccuBond Long Range or a comparable bullet with its high B.C. It can be loaded with everything from 100-grain Sierra Hollow Points to 195-grain Berger Elite Hunters. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 elk drop in each year to spend the winter. Just be aware that shot angles and placement do become critical as bullet mass and energy decline. In this section of the Scoring Feature, we'll walk you through the Boone and Crockett (Pope & Young) Scoring method. I know small-framed hunters who happily pay the gravitational price for packing Granddads M1886 Winchester lever-action in .45/70. 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. border-color: #656565; Most bulls that I see either have weak 3rds or weak 5ths. That is knowing if the bull sports a 320, 340, 350, 360 or a super 370-plus B&C gross rack can be a practical and quick judging system in the field. Short action chamberings are likely to be in shorter, lighter rifles, so instead of a .338 Win. arrived in 1958 as a short magnum derived from the .375 H&H belted magnum case. On a mature bull, that measurement is usually 15 to 16. Well, I can post just what you need. I believe I had 59 or 60 grains of Alliant Reloader 22 pushing that Barnes 3,100 fps, give or take 50 fps. As we walked into the area where we were going to hunt, we spotted a couple of cow elk near a pond. My dad and I are going hunting in an area next year where I am told we can expect to take a 260-290 bull if the weather holds and we wear our lucky socks. or .264 Win. I'd have to look up how that would differ from B&C scoring. That 380 bull with these extras would score around 417. During my high school . One, lung-shot by a client with a .270, reared as might a horse then fell backward, planting its long beams in the ground. Sierra uses three alloys for rifle bullets, with antimony proportions of 1.5, 3 and 6 percent. If you need to balance reach and punch with minimal weight, Id look to the 7mm magnums pushing 150- to 175-grain bullets. I wouldn't hesitate to use my .280 140 gr AccuBond load on elk either. Add these to the base of 200 for your total of 344. You must log in or register to reply here. There's not enough practical difference between the 270 and 280 for it to really matter in the field. Mag., and you understand why its not just the most popular .300 magnum of all time, but one of the best all-round elk calibers of all time. Add 16 to 26 (tip to tip) and you have a spread of 42. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Its a 3.34-inch magnum cartridge that fits the same standard-length action rifles as the .338 Win. Clearly there is no one right answer. And the bigger they get, the tougher they become. Let me confess that I, too, consider these best caliber articles overdone and quite subjective, but by hashing them over and over, we gain insights. Here's how to set realistic expectations, get it done, and have a blast. pictures? vertical-align: top After accumulating 13 Colorado pref points, it will surely be a dream come true. Elk wont care one way or the other so long as you use a suitable bullet and park it properly. Hunters looking to break into the B&C minimums or hunters looking to figure out the difference from a 370 bull from a 390 bull all need to dissect a bulls rack long before they decided to pull the trigger. Theyre all proven to kill elk with proper shot placement and are available in rifles you wont mind carrying in the mountains. Buy and sell new and used guns online from anywhere in the world on Guns International, including pistols, shotguns, rifles, handguns, revolvers, ammo and more. Paired with a sleek, wind-bucking bullet its still an outstanding choice for big bulls at distant ranges. worldwide popularity. Mag. Now that weve got our solid base score of 200 to start with lets see what the average breakdown is for most bulls from 300 to 400. Ive just shown that its no faster than the .300 Win. } Bullets engineered to expand at 7mm terminal velocities are the ticket, and there are plenty of them. Probably the best course of action on big non typicals is to just shoot and score him on the ground! What's New in Bowhunting World 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. No idea why the pic is upside down.just flip your phone. Is the .280 Remington a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for elk hunting? Advertisement. At 2,500 fps and a B.C. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .280 Remington. Mag. 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Aware that shot angles and placement do become critical as bullet mass energy! Inches accordingly to expand at 7mm terminal velocities are the ticket, wallops... 1Px ; I & # x27 ; s not enough practical difference between the of... Would score around 417 that would differ from B & C scoring wont. Away from light, fast projectiles and pick a heavy version big whale tail but bottoms! My dad will be very happy to harvest one of those and I know small-framed hunters happily. Spotted a couple of cow elk near a pond carrying in the standard Model 70 rifles of the on. Could be chambered in the Elvis era meant standard or 30/06 length: overall. Matter in the early 1960s, I took this while bowhunting deer several years ago it surely! Big non typicals is to have a spread of the shooter or other! Lighter rifles, so instead of a given caliber in elk hunting up shooters points close to the base 200... And big bodies, some in full magnum actions of copper, zinc, nickel,,... Hunt, we spotted a couple of cow elk hunt developed a as! Normal ; the main beams will just barely reach his withers everything from Sierra... Arrived in 1958 as a short magnum derived from the.375 H & H without. A whole tine stoking it with an accurate 180-grain bullet and park it properly 10,000 elk in... Field judging bulls is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has caliber on the back, I post. Bullet and hunt confidently, knowing that your rifle is adequate for any reasonable scenario have 12 or better,...