Enough Gun? - Best Elk Calibers

There are a lot of opinions and material on this subject. You can Google elk caliber or cartridges and find more articles than you're probably willing to read. My opinion on this subject is formed through my own elk hunting experiences, my knowledge and experience with many rifle calibers, the many articles, books, and blogs that I've read, and from the many elk hunting outfitter's websites that I've visited. I've also taken several elk and have done so with three different calibers.

The purpose of this article is not to provide a comprehensive or all inclusive list of calibers that have taken elk or are capable of taking elk. Many calibers not on my list can kill elk at distances out to 250 yards. The intent is to narrow the list down to the most effective calibers that will give you the best chance of harvesting your trophy elk in a humane way, and to provide you with an effective shooting range of 300 to 400 yards, hence the use of the word best in the title.

The list will start with a minimum caliber and proceed with more powerful calibers. Any caliber on this list is considered enough gun. I consider the .277 (.270) caliber as marginal and any caliber below that as unacceptable.

Before I get into specifics, there are some general considerations in choosing a caliber for elk such as availability and selection of commercially produced ammo, tolerance to recoil, distance you can effectively shoot, the potential distance that you may encounter in the field, and money. Probably the most important consideration is the rule of thumb that it takes 2,000 foot pounds of energy on impact to kill an elk. You can look at the ballistics provided by the ammo manufacturer to determine the distance the energy falls to this level. 

This factor will eliminate some calibers and limit others. You want a caliber and cartridge that will provide at least 2,000 ft. lbs. of energy at a distance beyond 300 hundred yards. In other words, you need enough energy to shoot at 300 yards. The calibers on my list are good beyond that distance assuming you are using ammo designed for elk. You can expect to have shots out to 400 yards typically unless you're hunting in timber. And occasionally you might encounter a shot beyond 400 yards. That's why you need to know the 2,000 ft lb of energy rule for your rifle and cartridge.

Now I understand that if you intend to hunt elk only once then you're probably not in the market for an elk rifle. So if you plan to hunt with a caliber not on the list, pay close attention to the 2,000 ft. lb. of energy rule of thumb. Or better yet, see if one of friends has a rifle on the list that he could loan you.

The consensus from my research of other people's opinions is that elk calibers start with the .30 caliber family and the do all .30-06 Springfield and extend through the .35 calibers. Most outfitters prefer at least a .30 caliber for elk. Any caliber beyond the .35 caliber is overkill. 

The .30 caliber family includes the .308, the .30-06 and the .300 magnums that are suitable for elk. The more common . 300 magnums include the  H&H mag, Winchester mag, Weatherby mag, Ultra mag, WSM, .30-378 mag, and several proprietary magnums. 

While the magnums provide more power, they also come with more recoil. With today's ammo, it's hard to beat the .30-06. The "souped" up ammo for the 06 makes it very effective for elk and without the magnum recoil. The souped up ammo is Hornady, Corbon, and Federal High Energy (hard to find). The latter transforms the 06 to the level of the .300 H&H magnum.  

The .30 caliber family and the .300 magnums are probably the most common calibers used for elk. The other calibers listed beyond the .30 caliber magnums are obviously very effective also. A detailed discussion of the .30 calibers was provided due to it's popularity.

I have taken several elk with a 7 mm Rem. magnum so I will start my list with the .284 caliber. I will also include the .308 on my list as well, especially if you're using the souped up ammo that brings it up to the 06 level. The .308 is limited without the use of the souped up ammo.

Now before I get to the list, here are the most popular calibers used for elk per surveys from elk hunters:

• .270 Winchester
• 7mm Remington mag
• .30-06 Springfield
• .300 Winchester mag
• .338 mag

The List:

• 7mm Remington Mag
• 7mm WSM
• 7mm STW
• 7mm Weatherby Mag
• 7mm Ultra  Mag
• 7mm proprietary magnums
• .308
• .30-06 Springfield
• .300 H&H mag
• .300 RCM
• .300 Winchester mag
• .300 WSM
• .300 Weatherby Magnum
• .300 Ultra Mag
• .300 proprietary magnums 
• .30-378 Weatherby mag
• 8mm Remington mag
• .325 WSM
• .338 RCM
• .338 Federal 
• .338 Winchester mag
• .338 Lapua mag
• .35 Whelen

It is assumed that you are using ammo designed for elk.

I consider the popular .270 Winchester as marginal for elk. I've been in two hunting camps where there were issues with the .270 when used on elk. In the first camp, the elk was hit twice but it ran away and was never recovered. This elk likely suffered a painful existence until it finally succumbed to its wounds. In the second camp the elk was located some 6 to 8 hours later and was still alive. This elk thus suffered for some 6 to 8 hours.

I know some of you will use a .270 because it's all you have. Make sure you use a bullet designed for elk and know the yardage where the 2,000 ft lb of energy occurs.

For the first time hunter or one that intends to hunt a limited number of times I'd recommend the .30-06 Springfield. For the hunter that intends to hunt elk many times I'd recommend one of the .300 magnums. I've taken elk with the .30-06 and a .300 Weatherby magnum. The elk shot with the .30-06  was just as dead as the one shot with the .300 magnum. It's just that the magnums extend your range.

In conclusion, there are many calibers capable of taking elk. The goal of any hunter should be to make a humane kill. Using a caliber on my list will do just that. And if your trophy elk is standing there at 325 yards you can be confident that you have enough gun to get the job done.

Agnew Smith Jr. - Client, Hunting With Montana Whitetails