How to Hunt Elk ~ Part VI, Rifles and Cartridges
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- Finding a rifle and appropriate elk cartridge may be as easy as going to your own safe! Despite the constant hype given by gun writers, internet gurus, and manufactures seeking your money, large bull elk have always been successfully and routinely taken by standard hunting rifles and cartridges for decades. Standard hunting rifles are not only effective, but are exceptionally so.
Lot of Elk here in Pennsylvania now and I am fortunate enough to live where they live. It is a conservation success story by the PA game commission.
Man, Do I love, love this channel. In the tens of hours that I have listened to it, I never got a whiff of Bull Shit out of it. All down-to-earth, precise and tested information. I have come to take it at face value. That's what trust is all about.
Yup, that is what we get. This man is very well read and just boils it down for video, with no embellishment.
Copy that
The history of the elk and Roosevelt is scholerly and fascinating.
Although I am in Canada, you my friend are a national treasure! You have a powerful, honest, way to deliver knowledge. Thank-you!
GunBlue thanks again for confirming for me once again that Jack O’Connor was right about the .270 WIN. As he used to say, “It is all about placement , period.” I also love the 270 WIN and have also used the 7MM REM MAG here or there. Both have awesome trajectories / ballistics but the 270 WIN is a gem. A good friend of mine has been using Remington CoreLokt 130 to 150 Grain for hunting forever and he always says “I have never had a deer or elk that has complained yet.” LOL. The Remington CoreLokt cartridge has been around for 80+ years and it works great. The manufacturers have to keep coming up with new calibers to keep people buying. Sad but true.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your knowledge on this overall elk hunting series and on cartridge selection. I think I can speak for everyone when I say we appreciate your cander and honesty based on experience. Great job as always and God bless you and your family sir!
Congrats on the successful bear hunt and glad to hear that the CoreLokt did its job. God bless and stay safe!
Well, I confess, I started this series with number six. Now I will have to go back and watch the other five. But I have to say thank you for calling out these folks who are shooting at game animals at extreme long ranges. There are just too many variables at play for there to be reasonable certainty of a humane first shot kill at 600, 700, or 800 yards.
You and gunblue are my favorite guys on UA-cam, maybe men of faith are drawn towards each other 👍
When my father taught me to hunt he told me I should be able to tell him exactly where I would hit the animal before I pulled the trigger. No my son knows the same.
I find it reassuring that respectable gun men like you, Gunblue, and Desert Dog all caution against unethical, ego shots!
There's no telling how many animals are wounded and die after suffering for a day or two because someone decided to take a chance at 800yds... Take care and be well!
Yes sir!
Totally agree with you guys. These extreme long range ego shots some people are taking is ridiculous and not ethical at all. Need to think about the animal as well. Hunting is about stalking your game and getting within reasonable ranges to take your shot and get a clean kill. Part of the fun and sportsmanship associated to hunting.
I've never hunted anything more than paper targets but this series was great. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Sir
I bagged my first elk about two months ago, in Arizona. I used a Winchester Model 70 chambered in 300WinMag with 180 Hornady Outfitter cartridges. I also used a 3-9x40 Leupold scope.
I've been watching your videos for over two years. You've taught me cartridge selection, gun selection, scope selection, and even the proper sling to use. Your knowledge has proven to be invaluable.
I owe you debt that I can never repay. But, I'll try by passing your invaluable lessons on to those I hunt with in the future. Thank you, Sir
270Win., 7x57, 7mm-08, 308Win., 30-06 are all good elk cartridges, and can be had in rifles of reasonable weight. Magnums will certainly do the job, but then generally need heavier rifles with longer barrels, and get more recoil.
If this section had been two hours, I would have listened happily. Thx for the work.
I am so thankful there are still men like you, worthy of respect and admiration
.
My grandad killed several mature bull elk with a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06 using 165 grain Nosler partitions leaving the barrel at 2800 FPS. He didn’t take shots over 300 yards and was a patient hunter. I killed a small bull with a 280 Remington using 150 grain Nosler partitions leaving the barrel of model 70 featherweight at 2850 FPS. I’ve also killed several bulls with either a 7MM Rem Mag or a 300 Win Mag shooting 160 and 180 grain Nosler Accubonds or Partitions. It’s all about shot placement with adequate cartridges using properly constructed bullets. I hope this puts things in perspective for novice elk hunters. Best of luck in the field and listen to this man!
Randy Shelby is another good guy to listen to about elk hunting. He is a little different flavor but good info as well.
I don't hunt but still found this extremely riveting. I've grown to have much respect for hunters though..especially the ones who know what they are doing and understand ethics and conservation.
You should give hunting a try. It's some of the best medication out there. It's not the kill, it's the adventure.
As a hunter myself, thank you. We need more non hunters like you. People who understand it and are not anti-hunting simply because they don’t do it.
@@russellk6415 you are correct but piling a whitetail up with a high powered rifle is pretty nice too.
@@adamelam6385 as a lifelong hunter I can agree with russell. As a hunter who has turned down shots near and far for one reason or another and stayed empty handed I can’t and won’t try to contradict that confidence.
@@jcarry5214 yes, any experienced hunter passes on some but I’m not going to get so philosophical that I’m going to pretend like I
don’t enjoy the harvest when the right one walks by.
I’m sitting at home with the flu and found this both interesting and soothing. You are a fantastic educator.
Thank you for this great series on elk hunting. Just love your no nonsense approach to hunting. You truly put the truth out about hunting, shooting, reloading, etc....... You have a great gift explaining all of your knowledge to us! Thank you again, and God Bless!
That’s a wonderful thing to experience. Thank you for sharing. When you watch these shows glamorizing elk hunting…it is not what you have shared and filled with rich information and honestly love to listen
Watched every episode, really appreciated the whole series. Best resource I have yet found on the subject. Thank you.
I really enjoy listening to you talk. You are very plain spoken, and do a great job of stripping-away the marketing BS and talking about the history. Though 45 years ago in the Corps my lowest qual was 231, and I can still punch paper out to 300 with great groups, and have been hunting just over 50 years, I am a 150 to 200 yard hunter now. I hunt elk with a .300 Savage 99, 180 grain loads, deer with 150’s, and they don’t know whether they were shot with a magnum or a musket. I do my work before pulling the trigger, have great fire discipline, skipping marginal or longer distances (basically, I think about humping it out, and talk myself out of most opportunities), hunt for meat, not for trophies, and have never lost an elk (though one did take me on a long walk once).
You are right about older cartridges. I only have one magnum (7MM RemMag) the rest are standards. Though I own quite a few rifles, I hunt primarily with two, and practice my shooting with them most of the time.
If you read this far, thank you. Your video really resonated with me and got me ambitious enough to type a comment. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for your kind words. God bless.
The entire video was informational and entertaining but the most important part began at about 35:00!
Your discussion about ethics was priceless. I wish inexperienced hunters were required to listen to and then think about what you said!
Thank you, Sir!
Watching your videos is becoming a daily education for me. Brings me back to reality when it comes to ethical range, proper caliber and certainly my own ability……….
I struck gold by finding you.
I'm 54 years old and I'm going to go hunting for whitetail, for the first time ever, this year. First time hunting period.
I was given a Mark X .270 and as an average shot I feel confident in making a standing shot at 75 yrds all day and 3 out 5 at 100 yrds (at a 8" round steel).
I don't want to risk the animals comfort (days of dying because I screwed up) by taking a shot any further than that so hoping for an even closer shot, especially whitetail for which will likely be within 40 yrds in the woods.
My point, thank goodness I found you, a pro that is willing to say it's not right to shot beyond 400 yrds (even at your level).
Everyone else would have me believe I'm useless for not willing to take a 100 yrd shot.
You, Sir, brought me back to reality.
Thank you for yet another great lesson.
Always learning!
Thank you.
I just love the way you talk about hunting.
In every sentence it is obvious that you speak from experience.
I'm grateful to have gleaned a good deal of valuable information from you. I've owned a Ruger M77 in .30-06 since 1979 but life and kids and time got in the way and I haven't used it regularly. I've now been blessed to have a hunt scheduled with my grandson next fall in Montana for elk and deer. I've concluded that the .30-06 has been sufficient for over a hundred years and there is no reason why suddenly it should have become inadequate... I have noticed over the years that I've been connected to hunting on a superficial level, that the talk about what is adequate for deer, then elk, has shifted. A 125 grain bullet was commonplace for deer 40-50 years ago. Now it seems that the 125 grain bullet is a dubious choice. Everything seems to be shifting toward bigger and badder. It sure seems that way to me anyway. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. God bless. Miles
This channel is the real deal. Thanks for gifting us your time, experience, knowledge, and viewpoint.
It is so refreshing to hear someone with your knowledge and wisdom. Thank you for this video. It is very well stated.
I watched your series on the elk hunting, went and used all your advice the best I could. But the part about 2 pair of boots, and fresh socks in the pack really saved my back side, well, my feet more accurately. Thank you so much for this series. God bless
What a wonderful listen, great stories great knowledge. I felt like i was back home with the folks and we were just hashing hunting stories. Thank you for sharing.
I recently re-barreled a Remington 700 into a Remage. The Remington action and Savage system makes for an easy change out with proper tools.
You are pure wisdom!!! I wish you eternal health and life so you can keep doing what you’re doing, it’s apparent you love teaching.
Candid, honest, basic and just plain sensical (not sure if that is a word....) information. I love it. Thank you.
Well said sir. I happen to enjoy both the 270 and 30-06 for moose myself. There are times I have felt the need for a larger bore diameter and I have used a 338 Winchester magnum for a short while but found the destruction dissatisfying and simply not needed. I actually harvested a nice mature bull this season with my 270 with 2 shots. I am a simple minded hunter I too will never shoot past 400 most times I find myself taking shots under 250 yards. With how and where I hunt my 130 grain 270 loads are just fine for me. But that’s just my experience I understand everyone has their own perspective on things
AW, music to my ears, still at the top of my to get list is a Winchester Model 70 Sporter, in .270 WIN:) Can't wait to own that gun:)
Gun blue 490 what a great series. Always enjoy your videos. It’s nice to hear someone that knows the history of the Roosevelt elk. Not many do these days.
Here is a voice from where the Roosevelt live. We live amongst the Roosevelt elk here in the northwest corner of Oregon. I knew people that were the kids to the pioneers in the valley where I live. It was settled in about 1870s. There was no feed here for anything as it was covered with dense old growth forests. Black tail deer were here and other animals. There were also elk along the Oregon coast as Lewis and Clark mentioned them. As for the Roosevelt they were trained out here and turned loose not far from here. I did read an article in a book written by a pioneer of the valley that a man had killed an elk in 1919 and was sentenced to a 15,000 dollar fine and had to work it of by clearing a road into the valley from the Columbia River. There is a herd of elk that has fed us for three generations of our family. One has been felled for this years freezer. 5x6 Roosevelt is a pile of meat.
Yes sir my stepdads family homesteaded up on coast Mtns west of Newberg! Family farm sold! Thought for sure my grandma wouldn't last 2 weeks moving into McMinnville! 80+ years old! She'd call one of us grandkids up! To hang a deer or elk in woodshed! So she'd could bone it!! Don't think she ever spent more than $40.00 a month on groceries? She grew and canned her food! Her property basically became a game refuge! As civilization grew around her! Now it's wine vineyards & houses!
Glad to hear the comforting tinkling of a dog collar in the background! Bless you and your hound good sir.
There are a few states on the east coast that have re-introduced elk. But in order to hunt one, there's a lottery. Every year I get the opportunity to hunt in PA I always put my name in. With that being said, I agree you don't really need to go crazy in caliber and rifle selection. I also agree this long range stuff is nothing more than marketing BS. I also think these gun writers do many hunters a disservice. Sometimes these gun writers will mislead you. I fell into that trap. A good 7mm-08, 7x57mm, .270, .280 Rem, 308 and 30-06 is all you really need to hunt most critters in the lower 48 unless you draw a bison tag or go on an Alaskan Brown Bear hunt. I definitely enjoy watching your channel because of honesty and you tell it like it is!
A good ole 30-06 with a 200 grain partition will knock a bison over too.
I have owned many rifles and still own more than I really need. I have gotten rid of all my magnum rifles and replaced them with a 35 Whelen. The three largest elk I have ever harvested I got with my 7x57. If you can't tell me exactly where you will hit the animal don't pull the trigger.
This guy reminds me of the great gun writers I grew up reading ,Jack O Connor,Elmer Kieth,Jim Carmichael.etc.and just as entertaining 👍
Thank you. It's refreshing to hear some common sense advice on guns and hunting again, instead of marketing hype. I can't count the number of times I've been in a LGS and heard people (that seldom go in the woods) talk about the newest cartridge XYZ and how you can't kill an elk with some lesser cartridge (that actually has better ballistics, but is old, so...) and the eye rolls start. Again, thank you.
Large herds of Elk here where I live. I use my Win 70 30 '06 generally for both Elk and deer but the wby 300 cartridge in the Mark V is perhaps a better choice. Never had an issue with either but at 200+ I would use the Mark V.
Last Elk I took was near Chama with my drivers side mirror unfortunately. Your brother in arms, also a graduate of the 25th ID.
I don't think they had the Connie in WW2 amigo - great channel,
GunBlue 490, I’m so glad you brought up the shooting beyond 400 yards. I simply do not agree with these so called hunters. You are so right in saying all you said .
People that shoot at those long distances are shooters not hunters.
The first rifle I acquired was a third hand bolt action Interarms Mk X in .270 Win. At the time I was clueless about rifles, much less cartridges. I was told that it was a 'good gun' for hunting in north central British Columbia and I went for it. I still have it and it's been one of my go to rifles ever since. Hunters in BC are blessed with a variety of game animals. As for big game (deer, moose, elk, caribou, bears, sheep and goats) the .270 Win will take them all with no issues if shot placement is adequate.
I've gone on to acquire several other rifles, from .222 Rem to .375 H&H. There's a place for all of them but the .270 Win is hands down my favourite big game rifle.
Mine too, followed by .243 and 5.56
watched every episode even though i'm certainly too old to hunt elk ( and everything else other than occasional paper targets). the emphasis on ethical hunting distances, i hope, is not lost on anyone.
The gun writers always wanted to push "conventional wisdom". I never listened to any of them. I tested my own theories and used what I found out in a lot of testing. But with that being said, I've taken many Elk with the simple 30.06, the same cartridge that has supplied my family with venison for decades.
As I've gotten older, though, I've moved to a .243 for deer, and have given up on hunting Elk. Mainly because of time limitations.
Thank you for the great series on hunting Elk. The best tasting game animal that the Almighty put on earth 👍🇺🇸
These discussions are interesting but often we lose sight of the fact that you could kill an elk with a 22. Given that, why wouldn’t a 30-06 be a good elk cartridge? And, why wouldn’t a 270 be just fine if the elk are farther away? Heck, a 30-30 will be fine if the elk are closer. Elk are not armored. They’re not developing immunity to non-magnum cartridges. If I were gonna hunt elk, I’d bring a rifle I can shoot well with. Shot place,eat is key.
@@ditto1958 my experience, exactly
My experience dear hunting is the 270 and 30-06 are more than needed for deer hunting. Deer are not that hard to kill. A 257 Roberts seems ideal to me.. I know of deer hunters that will only hunt with a 243.
@@jaybailleaux630 well Mule deer give up and just die from what I have heard and then all the Whitetail I have shot just don't do that and but do only run 100 yards
@@Bmuenks31 Here in Texas deer have been killed with about everything from 22 rimfire to buck shot to every cartridge under the sun . You can add automobiles. Whitetail deer do not seem to be that difficult to kill when hit in the vitals. Seen them run when hit with a 300 mag and drop on the spot with a 30-30. Knew of a poacher that was a believer in the 22 magnum rimfire and had the trophy deer to prove it.
I just use the 300 win mag have from the late 70s and it dose a great job
So happy to see a post from this channel after all these trying times!! Great to see you've done just fine GunBlue490
Loved the series GunBlue…Thanks so much!
So interesting …you sir are a breath of fresh air to the gun community 👍
Interestingly, and rare among hunting enthusiasts, you mentioned the 358 Winchester cartridge. That was a popular cartridge in its day, but fell out of favor for some reason. A couple of decades ago, I picked up a new Model 94 XTR Big Bore in 356 Win its lever action brother, for elk hunting in the timber. It's a wonderful elk cartridge in a quick-handling rifle for up to 150-200 yards. Mine is equipped with a Williams peep site, and I wouldn't stretch it out farther than 100-150 yds. I had gathered many boxes of 250gr cartridges before Winchester discontinued loading them, but can reload 200grain rounds at ~2400 fps. That's impressive for a lever gun.
Honestly, I totally agree. We are so addicted b to horsepower in everything. I have a 300 PRC and a 308 win. I can load some good Barnes bullets. Doing a lot of archery I have basically turned three 300 PRC into a fun gun. My light reliable 308 is my go to. I can load good loads for everything I hunt. Barrel life is amazing. Ammo everywhere to train with.
If I were to ever be lucky enough go on a formal elk hunt, it would be a M70 .270 shooting 150 grain Nosler Partitions. The spirits of Jack O'Connor and John Nosler
would guarantee a successful hunt.
A series on moose would be awesome as well
Thank you for your sharing this awesome series. I hope to venture from my hunting grounds in Kentucky out west one day to hunt these magnificent animals. Or maybe I will get lucky and get drawn for a Kentucky tag. Either way, I would feel confident in taking the .30-06 or the 7mm-08 I currently own.
Boy! Was going to ask about all the Roosevelt elk( 40?)? Oregon sold Kentucky about 20-25 yrs ago, maybe 30? Want a great hunt to go on ??? Come to Oregon & hunt our blacktail deer(aka as we call them the "Grey Ghost") twice the size of Eastern Whitetails & 4 times smarter. Elk hunting is great( or use to be!) But since Oregon fish& game! Decided to restrict elk hunting! By limiting number of general elk tags in prime elk country in eastern Oregon! By allowing big ranchers to take control & driving the herds on to their property! Then developing LOP( Land owner permits) to sell allotted number of elk & deer tags! For trophy hunters and those who can afford their private hunts! I've got 80acres outside of prineville Oregon & near some of the best elk & mule deer hunting in Oregon! With the 80 acres , I get an allotted 2 elk& 2 deer tags to sell to hunters! The more land you own the more elk& deer tags your given to sell! To hunt on your land!! So owning a 1000 acres that gets you 200 elk & 200 deer tags to sell! Most ranchers are putting up fencing to contain them on their ranches, providing feed & water giving them no reason to leave! Reports from Oregon hunters of helicopter's chasing elk on to ranches during general elk season!!!
Outstanding series!!! Thanks so much for the education. Your a national treasure! God bless you.
I watched many of your videos multiple times. This one more than most.ive commented twice.your/this video would be an excellent addition to any hunter safety course.its not safety based but it really makes a person think.thanks for sharing your knowledge,and maybe think about writing a book.i for one would buy multiple copies for the people close to me
The knowledge you are sharing is priceless.people are wrong you can take it with you
Another great no BS informative video. Thank You
The depression wiped out the White Tail deer in Kansas where I grew up in the 50s and 60s. There were NO deer. My grandparents and uncles were farmers in NE and E Kansas and I spent all my summers on those farms. No deer. I've heard the same story from old timers like me in central Texas. Now Kansas is the home of record White Tail deer. Praise be to the wildlife managers and the hunter licensing/bag limit system.
You are correct with your comments regarding hunting ethics. Hunting is my passion, and I hate to see unethical shooting tarnish our great tradition of hunting.
Excellent series. Thanks.
My 30-06 180g unbonded stopped exactly just inside the moose hide as you described. Not one spec of blood. A successful lung shot with a 50 yard run.
I've added 220g bonded to my collection just in case I ever get another opportunity.
130 grain interlock from hornady 270 winchester blew right threw a bull moose at 75 yards. Broadside shot .
Your channel has improved my knowledge and thoroughly entertained me with your practical no BS information. Thankyou sir!
Thank God for your wisdom .I've been hunting deer ,elk and all the small stuff .your ethics run right with mine.i set my limit at 300 hundred yds ,because I don't get as much range time as I should.i think it is very irisponsible for someone to go out and hunt with a supermag when they shoot 2 or three times a year.yes the cartridge is capable ,are they.not usually. I found a huge bull elk once shot just the way you describe. Beautiful but all bloated and stinky. I wanted his buglers but the smell was so bad I could not retrieve them .if we are hunters we have to respect the game we hunt .also teach that respect to the next generation of hunters.thanks for your experience and insight your right on the bullseye
Thank you so much for your information and knowledge! We appreciate your channel and God bless you and yours my friend!
Terrific series. Good dog stories. Cartridge selection was right on. Thank you.
I have a Remington 700 Classic in 280 Rem., it has a 22" bbl. I love it.
Great video sir. The one omission you & most others make when listing the order of models leading to the Remington 700 is the 725. Order of model manufacture was the 721,722,725 then the 700. I still have a 725 chambered in .280 Rem.
Even that caliber went thru name changes for marketing reasons. Started as .280 Rem. changed to 7MM Remington Express creating some confusion, then changed back to simply .280 Rem. Mine was purchased new in 1963 and is still a very accurate shooter.
For elk and moose I like the 300 Win and 338 Win Mags, because they hit harder and just give me more confidence on longer shots, say to 400 yards. I prefer to shoot closer, but want the option for longer shots, as hunting these days more limited and expensive. I once shot a running Bull moose, on the last day of the hunt, through the heart beyond 400 yards, with my 300. I most likely would have passed toting an 06. The magnum gave me the confidence. With elk I find the 338 thumps them! Especially compared to a 270, 06 or 7 Mag. Every of my 338 shot Bulls, went right down with one shot. Especially with 250 NPs. I like that. My favorite 338 Mag is a stainless Tikka T3, in a Bell and Carlson stock. It's nice and light and I never feel the recoil shooting at game. With it for elk and moose, I feel I have more than enough gun. I also find my 338 causes less meat damage than my 7 Mag. The last elk I shot with a 7 Mag took 3 well placed shots! I don't like that and why my go-to elk gun is my 338.
Thanks for the excellent video. I still enjoy cracking open Ken Waters "Pet Loads ". Have you ever thought about publishing your own? I believe that the written word is of extreme value...for when the grid goes down, and when the thought police restrict our capabilities.
You missed a good opportunity to plug the 35 Whelen! I shoot Elk with a Ruger no.1B rebored to 35 Whelen. As you know it pushes Iarge bullets at lower velocities that translates into great killing power, with little blood shot meat. Also, recoil is very manageable for most hunters, and does not demand a real heavy rifle. The 35 W. is a 300 yrd elk cartridge, no problem...I also like a lighter remington 700 30 06 mountain style rifle I own... Nice series, thanks!
Ahh yes, the 35 Whelen. Great you mention the Whelen here as a very efficient and effective elk hunting/hunt anything cartridge. IMHO, If there ever was/is a do all hunting cartridge, the 35 Whelen must be heavily considered in the top 3.
Towards the end of the video, he does praise the .35 Whelen. "It doesn't get any better than that." It's a great cartridge. I wish I had a rifle in that chambering.
Another great thing about a 35 Whelen is you don't need premium bullets that cost over a dollar apiece now days. Standard cup and core bullets work fine at 2700 fps and less.
I have a Lipsey's Ruger #1 35 Whelen. I load 225 grain bullets that average right at 2800 fps. It is truly the poor mans magnum.
@@russellkeeling9712 I find the the least of the 35 cartridges ,the 35 Remington to be a great killer . The 35 Whelen hast o be awesome on anything less than Africa's largest dangerous game and even then could possibly get the job done with the best bullets.
I am a Virginia person. No elk. My only elk experience was a trip to CO with other cops. I like to hunt with single shot guns, muzzleloader and other black powder guns. I had a C. Sharps 45/120 I intended to take on that hunt, but try as I might I could not make that gun shoot anywhere near like Quigley. My hunting friends told me I would need a scoped bolt action rifle that would kill at 400 yards, which the Sharps could do if I could develope a load. At the last minute, I settled on a Savage .338 Win Mag, the recoil of which was nothing compared to the Sharps. The bull I killed took not one step when hit. The thing that upset me was the animal was only 40 yards away when taken. I could have easily taken it with the Sharps! My dream is to go back with my .50 caliber flintlock, zeroed at 100 yards. Hey, thank you, sir, for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Hmm..yes..indeed. When Uncle GunBlue speaks…I LISTEN! 👍
I hunt deer to put meat on the table. I chose the flat trajectory of 270 so I can reach out to 300 yds and confidently harvest meat. 50yd zero is great. 300 yd drop is only 6in. No major hold over needed. If I ever get the chance for elk, the 150gr will do the job.
Finally!! And first. Thanks for these videos.
Thank you for the series! Very well done.
The Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester Is My Go To Elk Rifle and Cartridge 😊😀😇👍🏼
Absolutely incredible advice. I don't watch many channels regarding hunting and guns due to their misguided nature. Thank you!
Thank You
proficiency of the shooter is the key
Thank you sir for the time you put into these videos. Very enjoyable. Switched from a 8.5lb 7mm mag to a kimber 270 wsm loved the weight of that rifle. But not the blood shot meat was horrible inside 150 yrds. Just started hunting with a kimber montana in 270. Almost too lite of a rifle. Hard to steady it off hand. But sure is nice to carry. Have a 300 win I bought as a loner rifle for people. 9lb gun with scope took it out 1 hunt for elk and wanted to throw it off the mountain after 3 days. I think your spot on for elk a 30.06 or similar cartridge rifle at 6.5 to 7 lbs would be perfect. It was the same thing my dad always told me. I'm just rebellious. Can't tell you how many people I see right before the hunts at the range that can't even sight in their rifle. They end up paying 3 dollars for the guy at the range to sight it in. Please practice and often as gunblue said in the previous videos.
Try a full copper projectile. Will likely reduce meat damage because it doesn't fragment like lead does. I have had great results with Barnes TSX for expansion, penetration, and meat preservation.
I am very much with you on the ethics of hunting. 👍👍👍
Starting out with bow-hunting forces valuable hunting habits and skills; I started bow-hunting with a Bear compound set at 70 lbs. for deer and elk; but I eventually preferred the rifle and I haven’t taken game over 400 yards. I for one, am never impressed with shooters (not hunters) bragging about their 600-1000 yard “kills,” it only shows their unproven hunting skills- Scouting, stand locating and still-hunting.
The last two Roosevelt bulls I observed was during Western Oregon Blacktail buck season, they browsed their way out of dense second-growth forest into the partial-cut (fir seed trees left @30’ apart) I set up a stand in; they continued grazing up the boundary just 50 yards from me.
Imho, the mark of a good hunter is one who can get to game under 100 yards and experiences the dilemma of too much tissue damage and which bullet and cartridge to use for short distances. My 260AI and Nosler Partitions have been my choices.
One point ignored in this episode is wound channel and hydrostatic shock. Deep wound channels and long hydrostatic shock is desirable over over-expansion and disintegration near the entry point, or under-expansion prior to the exit point; so seeing a bullet @50% of its original mass shows a good expansion-penetration balance because the shedded pieces were flung off at high velocity, thus creating massive vitals damage.
45-70 sharps, 405 grain hard cast bullet at around 1,300 fps. Great for deep penetration without damaging too much surrounding meat. Good for woods distances if you can handle the weight.
Google halfway Oregon. It's right on the Idaho border the snake River divides the 2. Anyway I digress, pine valley unit(41? Off hand) and Imnaha(42? I think). They are the units in that area, there's another unit I forget it though. We call it high desert, it's rolling hills of sage brush and grass for thousands of acres. You'll find where the locals set up 500 or 1000 yard ranges out there. It's very fun! Now this year we will be hunting the timber with the drought. Lack of snow and all! Deer hunting should be nice though.
I've hunted elk in Colorado and the guide confirmed my thoughts on distance. If you need your scope to determine if it's a bull or cow, it's too far. Now I never measured the distance between where I was to the elk I've shot but I'm pretty certain none of them were beyond 300 yards.
He's a good guide.
Excellent series thank you. We don't have Elk here in Ireland altough we have its cousin the Red Deer. Typically males will weigh in at 300-350 pounds but the lowland Reds can grow bigger due to genetics and good feed.
Our smallest deer is the Sika, with pure bred Stags averaging approximately 125 lbs. These were introduced from Japan to Ireland as part of a game park but these little deer adapted well to the Irish mountains, hillsides and spruce forestry and are the most populated deer in Ireland.
Pound for pound and inch for inch these little lads are much tougher then thier cousins the Red Deer and altough, due to previous political issues here, they were hunted with .22-250 for many years todays experienced hunter knows that a rutting Sika stag needs a well placed shot with enough umph to knock it down and stay down, especially hunting tight timbers.
They hyberdised with Red Deer making and interesting quarry for those that choses to hunt them. Although I've taken all three in the past with .243, nowadays I prefer a 270 or '06.
Keep up the good work, nice to see you and Benny are still here and your family is thriving.
I remember growing up in Wis in the 60’s when the only way you could see an elk was at a game preserve or a zoo. Magnificent creatures. They’re back here now, but I have not seen one in the wild. Many other animals are now commonplace here that were not seen when I was a child. Bald eagles, pelicans, egrets, red-tail hawks, sandhill cranes, wild turkeys, coyotes, bison, foxes… I know I’m forgetting something, but all of these species are here now that we’re gone 60 years ago. The river that runs through our town that was poisoned by paper mills is now clean and walleye pike abound. White-tail deer are now so common that they’ve become urban pests. Hope I can see some elk in the wild some day.
Great video and especially great for calling out the problem with long range hunting
He mentioned the 280 Rem a couple of times, and I am a huge fan ! I've shot 6 elk with a Ruger 77 280 Rem.with factory loads - 150 grain and 165 grain. Granted, where I lived I was able to scout out some small wallows and find a hidey-place within 200 yards or so - max was probably 275 - a heart shot dropped them immediately. And I mean dropped instantly.
.280 Rem AI is the most power in a 7mm for the recoil
@@FISHUNTREECOUNTRY - eh, i load for a 280ai and a 7mm mag. For the slight increase in felt recoil (barely) i can push a 7mm mag over 300 fps faster than my 280, plus i can push a heavier bullet if i wanted to. I actually choose my 280 cause mine is more accurate then my 7mag, but for power i choose the 7mag all day
Here in New Brunswick - Canada - we had Caribou until the 1920's and 30's. About the same size as Ellk and Moose. Cheers
Good stuff. About to go with my uncle in montana. He's lived and hunted there since the seventies. Im hauling whatever he shoots out of there.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Back when I was a younger buck, I was checking regulations for Elk hunting, but can not specifically remember which state, said bullet dia. had to be a min. of .284 at that time anyway. As you say, know where you are going, know the reg.s, and be honest with yourself about your ability’s, its only fair. Thanks and blessings to you, yours, and benny.
In this sooo popular hunt rag; "it was a Perfect Heart shot at 714 3/4 yards with my super wizz-bang..." Yeah, rite... Good show, Bro! Rite ON! BTW, I quit using cup and core boolitz except for practice long ago, and only shoot Nosler partitions at live game. All have gone thru, all brought the game home. I fully agree on SD. God Bless, Jerry.
One of my friends was an elk guide in Montana for many years. He said the longest shot they ever took was about 330yds. The gun companies are going to be mad at you for speaking the truth.
I don't get much support from gun companies. If I did, I would not be telling the truth.
My longest shot on any animal was an elk at about 325 yards. The shot was good and the elk died close by, but I don’t intend to shoot that far again. My goal for elk is a max of 200 yards and that’s usually pretty easily manageable.
@@GunBlue490 😂😆😂😆 I'm sure your like a few of us!!! Our morals & values can be bought!! That's what makes us very rich! Money CAN'T buy!!
I have both a 338 Win Mag and a 7mm 08 and have taken elk with both. I don’t feel undergunned at all with my 7mm08 when I take it for a elk. As you said actually hunt the animal, get close and put the bullet in the vitals.
I look forward to the next series. Thank you sir.
I prefer the 300 Win Mag myself. I love the 270 as well.
Hi GunBlue490, Thank you. This is much appreciated.
I have 30-30, 300 savage, 308, 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag. All that I use for hunting white tailed deer. The 7mm is overkill but I typically only use it if I’m hinting open fields. I only use 150 grain core lokt projectiles! I haven’t yet gotten to hint an elk!! I hope to soon and it’s good to know that I have more than a few firearms that will take them down!! I’ve never had an issue dropping a deer and like you said no matter where you hit them vitals or not they can still run!! And the core lokt ammo I use punches a big hole. I’ve rarely had the off shot where I didn’t hit where I was aiming!! Partially cause I don’t take pop shots!!! And I site in my rifles the week before the season!! And I make sure it’s in a good case and it stays there while hunting season is in!! I wipe them down when done but I do it carefully!!! But I’ve double lung heart shot deer and had them run 40+ yards!! the blood trail makes it easy to find them!! The holes those 30 caliber bonded soft point projectiles punch a hole!! Not a year had gone by that I haven’t used my Remington 742 Woodsmaster carbine 30-06 semi auto!!! Thank you for your time and knowledge!!
Try 35 Remington on those whitetails....no tracking needed.
@@toddjohnson271 I definitely plan to use that 35 Rem for whitetail this year, my dad always talked about a 35 Rem. And he wanted 1 but never had the $ and the opportunity to pick up the rifle at the same time. I on the other hand am a collector/hunter/shooter in 1. I love older and vintage and odd ball stuff. So I’ve got a decent range of rounds I can use ti hunt with. That’s half the fun of it. Buying 1-3 maybe 3 new to me rifles at diff times in the year, trying them out and then at random you choose which rifle you take which day.. seeing what each round does and getting to use a different rifle.
@@michaelgrimes83 You'll never look back....goldilocks 150-200 yard whitetail. DRT.....enjoy
I was surprised you didn't mention the .35 Whelen and I totally agree about 400 yards. For me its 300 yards.
Bought my boys 3006s for elk hunting. We believe in them.168gr bullet
This video provided some solid reassurance... I wasn't to certain about the .270 for elk, but I'll take GB490's word any time.
270 load 130 ttsx and 150 swift a frame are my favorite elk loads
@@tylarhaugan7908 - Of the two, which one do you prefer. I just worked up a load with the 129 grain LRX. But I’m not sure wether to use that or the 150 Partition or A-Frame (a little tougher than the Partition). I keep it under 350 yards.
@@falba1492 id take a frame over partition any day but me i prefer bonded bullets or copper
@@falba1492 for elk id use a frame for deer id use barnes
@@falba1492 if they made a 145 lrx in 277 id use that for elk if my rifle could stablize that heavy of copper
His wisdom on the subject is unparalleled but I’m mainly here to hear him say “catredge”.
303, 308, 30-06, 7.5 Swiss or a 7.62x54r...all good. A standard 30 will always work for anything in North America, not be excessive or too little, easy to get ammo for, are cheap and easily transportable OUTSIDE the US too. Nothing more or less in my book, though 270 Win to 338 WM is tolerable, but not ideal. The 08 or 06 is a classic, either one.