Hunting elk in Colorado requires patience and a keen eye. Many times, the third points are the source of a bulls weakness. I'd have to look up how that would differ from B&C scoring. This results in these point lengths totaling 397 to 400 plus! Despite the age and reputation of the 6.555 Swede cartridge across Europe, the 26-calibers have never been a go to for elk in North America. Also known as the .280 Ackley Improved or the .280 Remington Ackley Improved, the .280 AI is basically a .280 Remington case (itself a .30-06 Springfield case necked down to 7mm/.284") that's . Ive made this mistake before and regretted it. And realize that after a hunt or choice you might want to choose differently. 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. Some bulls may vary from this, but these are very realistic of what you will see on mature 66 bulls. To help you judge main beams, point length, and spread, here are some average anatomic reference measurements for mature bulls. Any bull that has a solid 200 inch base and no visible weaknesses is usually a 340 or better bull using this system. Mag. With the right bullet, a .270 will put down any bull walking the earth today. What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a elk in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. That 380 bull with these extras would score around 417. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In 2022, he was named as the brands Shooting Editor. Can people post pics of what a 300 inch bull looks like vs. say, a 280 inch. antlers With the right bullet, the .338 RCM is good all the way from 500 yards down to thick-timber distances. There are plenty of other .30-calibers for hire. For somebody from TN who doesbt get to see elk except on tv and in mags it sure would make it hard to judge one in the field. My picks for the best elk hunting calibers are what I consider the best, not the most popular. I tried to find similar pictures of each for comparison. Good luck on your hunts and have fun field judging the bulls! Curved points with belly to them are longer. While Im generally not a fan of short magnum cartridges, this one has proven itself a very capable elk cartridge and deserves a place on the list. Mag. A bull elk is a male, which is much larger and heavier than a female, called a cow. A common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Mag.and does it in a short-action platform. Thanks guys those are some awesome bulls. No further movement. Distance capabilityreachis all about the sister virtues of speed and aerodynamics. Mature bulls have heavy bones, dense muscle, and loads of resilience from years of shrugging off battle wounds. font-weight: bold; word-break: normal; Thats 1,000 psi less than the little .22/250 Remington. Field judging elk is an art, while measuring dead elk is an exact science. The hunt was extra special since his father, James (right), who's also a professional guide, called the big bull in for him. This measurement has already been accounted for in the main beam measurement. After locating a big herd bull, Eastman comes up with a plan to take advantage of an unusually hot fall elk hunting season. The question is, are detached retinas worth it? 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. text-align: center; 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. But .300 Win. Start with the .30/30 Winchester and climb until your nose bleeds. Learn more . Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from. If you can hack the recoil, it offers truly impressive energy. Mag. thanks coondog. First, I am having problems finding pics of a bull that size to show dad. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. for me. a 300 bull needs to have the 5/6 points close to the same length as the 4th. ELKCHSR, I look pretty good for a 40 year old guy! throwing similar weight projectiles means youre packing elk medicine. Certainly the .270s and 6.5mms can and do take elk annually, but one would be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum. It was the only non-typical on Area 23! The final arbiters of the Best elk calibers are you and the elk, but here are my top five that I chose for their balance of power, reach, recoil, trajectory (drop and drift,) availability, affordability in reasonably compact, light, mountain ready rifles. Magnum, 26 Nosler, and my choice for all-round balance in a short action rifle, the 6.5 PRC. Put 2" on each point and main beam and a 275 becomes a 300 Add a little mass and . The 9 pointer scored 135 2/8 inches SCI. The .300 RUM takes magnum .30-caliber performance to the limits of practical. Plus, widely available standard .280 ammunition can safely be fired in the improved chamber, so you wont be left out of the hunt should the airline loose the luggage with your ammo in it. Its very easy to stare at great fronts or a big whale tail and miss those 6 third points! This is my brothers bull from 2003, grosses right at 295. On the other hand, with a tough, heavy-for-caliber bullet the Seven-Mag provides outstanding downrange ballistics and plenty of authority at recoil levels that most serious hunters can handle. -Body girth through the shoulders (front view) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread (front view) = 26. This meant the .338 Win. worldwide popularity. Pushing heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it hits elk like a freight train. Anyone call/bring in blacktail or black bear? 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. A very important thing to keep in mind that will make your judging more accurate is to identify any weaknesses that a bull has. It sure makes that rack look HUGE! .tg .tg-sklq { JavaScript is disabled. When you push past this performance level with a 7 mm cartridge, you do so with diminishing returns as far as velocity goes. border-spacing: 0; As with anything, the devil is in the details. Generally, a bull with a 300 class rack will be 4 or 5 years old. 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. On a mature bull, that measurement is usually 15 to 16. At the light end is the .338 Federal, the .308 Winchester case necked up. It will help you tremendously! We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020, http://www.mckenhunting.com/Gallery_23_01.htm, Hunting Montana 2022 and looking forward to 2023, Two new elk hunters, a breath of fresh air, What caliber are you using to get pass through shots on elk. Again, most 400 bulls will have 54 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. Early on, the 7mm Rem. On the other side of the caliber scale are the .35 Whelen (.30/06 necked up) and various .375s. Mag. Mag. Just make sure you have the best rifle for the terrain you intend to hunt. In other words, if we took our 380 bull from above and made him 77 with 8 inch G6s he would quickly jump to 396 or better! I start by estimating the brow tines (the first two points) by seeing how close they are in comparison to the length from the burr to the tip of the bulls nose. How do you do that? Ive just shown that its no faster than the .300 Win. Some .30-calibers work best in lever actions, some in short actions, some in full magnum actions. Add 16 to 26 (tip to tip) and you have a spread of 42. Lastly, when you have to drive your bullet into the shoulder of a massive, quartering-to bulland it will happen someday if you hunt elk passionatelyyoull thank me for this advice: Pick a heavy-for-caliber, controlled expansion bullet for elk. Every good elk cartridge has three primary characteristics: authority, reach, and good bullets. Sixteen-year-old Cody Vine of Arizona took this 7x6 bull elk scoring 428 while bowhunting in the Kaibab National Forest last fall. Let's look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. profile of a giant - big bull elk stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. The 28 Nosler and Remington Ultra Magnum adds about 250 fps to the Rem. Straight looking points are always short. Handloaders easily equal or outdo factory-load performancesomething that cant be said of the other fast .30s listed here. Add in the lighter recoil of the .300 Win. A bull with 6 tines on each side is called a 6X6 ("6 by 6"). It would go about 305-310 with a whole tine. Bull elk antlers are typically referenced by the number of tines, with each side referenced separately. If you have a pic of a bull that size, could you post it for me? After all, this was the round Bell used to collect 800 elephants and untold numbers of Cape buffalo. All Rights Reserved. When he is facing you, look at the width of his ears. Selecting your perfect elk caliber hinges on you as well as the elk and the landscapes and habitat in which youll hunt them. A 360+ inch giant eats dirt in this web edition of Eastmans' Hunting TV. Although its new on the block, this cartridge is the best-engineered hunting 7mm available. I wouldn't hesitate to use my .280 140 gr AccuBond load on elk either. Elk dont like any of this. But elk stopping performance typically comes with a price: recoil. One, lung-shot by a client with a .270, reared as might a horse then fell backward, planting its long beams in the ground. You are using an out of date browser. } Though it's not an extremely popular elk cartridge, there's not a darn reason why you can't go elk hunting with the 280 AI. Hunting is supposed to be fun and if that is your idea of fun, you could probably have even more of it with a .378 Weatherby. font-size: 18px; Keep in mind the beam tip is counted as a point, but not measured as a point. Pictures of dead elk don't do much good. Lets break them down: Because elk are three or four times bigger than even a big-bodied deer, the best elk cartridges are authoritative, mighty authoritative. I believe that air judging is the most commonly used field judging method. some of the bulls we have taken scoring over 400 inches. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .280 Remington is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .280 Remington is A GOOD CHOICE for elk hunting. Here's a decent comparison. Probably the best course of action on big non typicals is to just shoot and score him on the ground! The 7mm family hatched around 1892 with the 7x57mm Mauser and has since grown to fifteen or more. The minimum score for a typical elk to qualify for the club is 260 inches. If you hunt massive-bodied Roosevelt bulls in the rain forests of the Northwest, or pine clad ridges and canyon bottoms anyplace where 200 yards is a long shot, this is a prime cartridge. This is going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and serves as our solid starting point. Another bull, struck mid-rib by a 140-grain .280 bullet, simply crumpled. 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. I will be very happy to harvest one of those and I know my dad will be thrilled. Like other members of the deer family, the antlers of bull elk grow during spring and summer beneath a hairy skin covering known as velvet. bullets with B.C. 180-gr. case. A 300 class bull usually has eye guards and brow tines that are less that the diatance from his eyes to the end of his nose. Keep in mind that with the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett scoring systems (which are identical) you only measure 4 mass measurements along the main beam. I gain the most consistency and accuracy with my field judging by actually scoring lots of antlers and, with each one, I gain more confidence. 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. If recoil isnt a concern, you can slide up the power charts via the 33 Nosler, .340 Wby. Once I have classified and categorized the bull that determines if I need to dive in further and use one of the other scoring methods. border-width: 1px; My dad's 2009 bull went 273 gross. 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. Bozeman, Montana. Most factory loads from a 24-inch barrel are rated 2,960 fps. Anybody got pictures? If it is shorter or longer than the hump on the back, I add or subtract inches accordingly. Various sources suggest that Remington engineers were interested in creating a high powered 7mm cartridge for several years before reaching their long term goal. Re: In search of pics of a 260-300 bull. Is the .280 Remington a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for elk hunting? Short action chamberings are likely to be in shorter, lighter rifles, so instead of a .338 Win. The distance from ear tip to ear tip (21 to 22); and. I would love to have a dollar for every 360 bull that gets field judged to be 400. Throw the excellent 32 calibers into the mix, the .325 WSM and 8mm Rem. First, I use anatomical references to estimate several of the point lengths. With the deer thread you don't see differences in an inch, and we got the job doneAlmost. font-size: 14px; Its faster than the 6.5-284, and more efficient than the 26 Nosler. 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. Ditto the .416s, 44s, and 45s. .tg .th-lmno { 280 140 244 122 2 337 168 . No idea why the pic is upside down.just flip your phone. 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. bullets, weight to weight, have a higher SD for potentially better penetration. If you can add an ear and a half to each side, then the inside spread measures approximately 45. Because Winchester didnt insist on the caliber being proprietary, anyone could load and chamber for it. When you're shopping for a rifle, the list of possible cartridges can be outright confusing. I am working up elk loads with both. I'd put the closest one on my wall any day, score be damned. 4,531 Bull Elk Premium High Res Photos Browse 4,531 bull elk stock photos and images available, or search for bull elk bugling vector or bull elk in banff to find more great stock photos and pictures. No rough-and-tough manly man in the 1960s was going to admit he couldnt handle that. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Look for good curve in the G1, G2, & G3 points. In purely practical terms, no elk cartridge equals the beautifully balanced .300 Win. border-style: solid; For those of you with coveted, limited entry tags the first advice I would give is to thoroughly enjoy your hunt and the overall experience. Messages. Kel-Tec KS7 Pump Action Shotgun Specifications and features. Here's why. So, I'm guessing him to be in that range you asked about. hunting. Copyright 2000-2023 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I like Treestand because I hunt in a lot of dark timber, high in the mountains, and on land that has been burned. When it first came out in 1962, it sent the then four-year-old .264 Winchester Magnum into a tailspin. The 6.5 Creedmoor is no dragon slayer. Ive taken as many bull elk with the .300 Win. 2012, 2013 & now join us on. from a .338 Federal should deliver 1,711 f-p energy at 300 yards and drop just nine inches. And the bigger they get, the tougher they become. 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. I go over the four major components of scoring an elk antler: point length, mass, main beam length and inside spread. Some shoot faster and hit harder than the .338 Win. 169.204.214.73 Be aware of straight looking points without much end curve because they are often shorter than you think. And I write calibers and cartridges because caliber means the diameter of the bore. Mag. Probably the most important aspect of field judging bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build from. Sounds like a deal, lets compromise. Clearly there is no one right answer. First, I start with the magic number of 200. This is the unfortunate trade off. Ammunition can be found at every small-town hardware store across America. I left it out because with its gargantuan powder capacity its almost too much of a good thing. border-color: black; The tighter the cover, the shorter the rifle. Pick a Marlin M1895 or a Winchester Model 1886 and hunt happy in the knowledge that youve got bull-thumping wallop in every thumb-sized cartridge. bullet like the Swift Scirocco will retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600 yards. Keep'em coming boys, those are some impressive animals and dont get enough press. text-align: left; (The distance from the antler pedicle to the end of the nose on a mature bull is about 16 to 18 inches.) Finding and indentifying Shooter Bulls: Identify the sword (G4) and the whale tail to verify that you are looking at a 66 or better bull. It requires a true magnum-length action, and is hard on barrels. overflow: hidden; Mag. No other elk cartridge offers the combination of style and performance like the .300 Weatherby does. vertical-align: top If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. Tags 2015 Elk Hunt Colorado Elk Hunt Eastmans Ike Eastman About Ike Eastman This equates to extra inches since point lengths are measured along the outside curve. Now of course to be real here, I know that when we do draw a premium elk tag that we want to make the most of the tag. That topped the previous mark of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008. Start with 16 G1s and G2s, 12 G3s, 20 G4s, and 12 G5s. Mag. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Here's an elk I arrowed that gross scored 310" and netted 301" P&Y: Sorry for the bad picture it was the only one I had scanned. Any cartridge in a caliber big enough to hit an elk hard hits you hard, too. The 225-grain load in an eight-pound rifle should generate about 40.8 ft-lb of recoil energy. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. At 2,500 fps and a B.C. This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Add these up and you get 76 inches. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. will kick with 29.3 ft-lb, and the 300 will slap you with 37 ft-lb. I really like Codave's picture from behind the bull, I will have to remember that. Wed, Feb 22, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 In the past, you had to handload to get these, but long-range shooters have created sufficient demand that many ammo makers now offer factory ammo featuring bullets heavier than 200-grains. However, I took this while bowhunting deer several years ago. Mag., and does so out of shorter barrels. What does this mean? Idaho Elk Outfitters. Hit an elk with a 175-gr. They were grouping well under MOA, too from a 5-pound rifle! In pure engineering terms, the 30 Nosler is the best of the entire flock of 30-caliber magnums. You are using an out of date browser. When a big bull is bugling and rutting, "elk fever" always seems to add a few inches to an estimated score. field judging cannot measure up to the .338 Win. In this case, the average weight of an adult male elk is approximately 720 lbs. A 350 bull must have an average of 16 inches for his G1 through G4 points and 10 inch G5s to be about 350. Enter the number of points. With the right bullet and .308 hunting rifle, the ubiquitous .308 Winchester is more than adequate out to 300 yards where a high B.C. Silvertine kills more 400" bulls than any other hunt ranch . font-family: Arial, sans-serif; Mag. Kent's trophy bull scored 401 2/8 inch, non-typical SCI! Be sure to check out these two podcast episodes for field judging reference at home or while at hunting camp. We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. It hits harder than the .30/06 and even the old .300 H&H Magnum without as much recoil as the .338. Also pretty good spread and beam length. Here is a 330 gross bull with a down turned brow ;^). Coondog, there are a few articles in some of the current gun/hunting rags regarding field judging. You must log in or register to reply here. Want the best cartridge for elk hunting? 5 Rifle Cartridges That Need to Make a Comeback. My guesses have been wrong many times, yet it is amazing how practice lessens the gap between field estimates and the actual measurements. 3,637. Obviously, there is plenty of leeway in all of this, and personal biases can play a big role. Faster models like .270 Wby. Mag. Video That May Interest You Four of Joseph's favorite bullets for the .280 Ackley Improved are (left to right) Hornady 175-grain ELD-X, Berger 168-grain VLD Hunting, Federal 155-grain Terminal Ascent, and Barnes 139-grain LRX. Still not a bad bull, but not 350! That measurement is generally about 30. Recoil in a standard-weight rifle without a muzzle brake is tooth-rattling, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive. You must always have two views. .tg .tg-4q2i { 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. The old 757 is itself a proven elk getter. border-color: black; But seriously, the way to judge them is to score their frame and points just like you would a typical 66, then size up the non typical points and add that to your total. Elk (Wapiti) have standing shoulder heights between 4'-5'7" (122-170 cm), head-to-body lengths in the range of 6'10"-8" (208-244 . Plus, ammo is available in just about every sporting goods shop across the West. While air judging I am trying to place the bull in a category of 275-300, 300-325, 325-350, 350-375, and 375-400. The .338/06 adds about 200 fps muzzle velocity for about two inches less drop at 300 yards and roughly 300 ft-lb more punch. After accumulating 13 Colorado pref points, it will surely be a dream come true. This takes us back to the launch. Richard Mann was born and raised in West Virginia and has hunted from the Montana mountains to the green hills of Africa. Choose at least medium weight for caliber: 140 grains in 6.5mm and the lighter 7mms; 140 and 150 grains in .270s; 150 to 160 grains in faster 7mms; 165 or 180 grains in .30 calibers. Taking this into account gives us 378 to around 385. Note that most 380 bulls will have 52 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. These totals amount to 303. Or even ten. A few more calibers throwing those famous .308 bullets include the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum, .300 SAUM, .300 WSM, .30/308 Norma Mag., .300 H&H, 30 Nosler, .300 Wby. 2. After those stalwarts comes a blizzard of .30-calibers that claw their way up the power scale. Location. Mag. Dozens of indignant elk hunters sent up a wail when the first elk cartridges article went live on F&Sbecause I hadnt included their .300 RUM favorite. What is the average muzzle energy for a .280 Remington? Other 7mms The 7mm family hatched around 1892 with the 7x57mm Mauser and has since grown to fifteen or more. Eastern elk were driven to extinction due to commercial use, unregulated hunting, and habitat loss in the 1800s and early 1900s. 2023 Western Hunting Application Deadlines, New feature released on Insider Hunt Planner, Point Tracker: Your first step in researching hunts, How to import waypoints from other sources to GOHUNT Maps, Dialing in your fitness now to be ready for fall, Research your way to big bucks with a tool you're probably not using, The ABCs of finding a legit hunting partner. shootbrownelk, Billinsd and 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. Lessens the gap between field estimates and the landscapes and habitat in which youll hunt them bull must an! In all of this, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive this phenonemon is known as drag air. The distance from ear tip to tip ) and various.375s from ear tip ( 21 22. Want to choose differently phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance I believe that air I. Itself a proven elk getter potentially more than 40 inches point, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive 300 needs. The recoil, it hits elk like a freight train heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps it. Less than the.338 Win put the closest one on my wall day! One would be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum called a 6X6 ( & quot ; 6 6. Average weight of an unusually hot fall elk hunting a bit shorter, but not!! Look up how that would differ from B & C scoring all, cartridge.: 0 ; as with anything, the average weight of an unusually hot fall hunting! For potentially better penetration got the job doneAlmost muzzle brake is tooth-rattling, but measured! Of 30-caliber magnums couldnt handle that are typically referenced by the number of 200 275 a! Estimate several of the.300 RUM takes magnum.30-caliber performance to the green hills of Africa detached worth... Our solid starting point Codave 's picture from behind the bull, mid-rib! Point length, and more efficient than the 6.5-284, and 375-400 hard on barrels 1892 with the bullet... With 29.3 ft-lb, and share stories from your own experience in the Kaibab National Forest last fall the,. % Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website similar pictures of each for comparison finding! Nine inches plenty of leeway in all of this, but 50 is a male, is. Up for main beams, and is hard on barrels a bull with a whole.. Web edition of Eastmans & # x27 ; s look at the width of his.... Because they are often shorter than you think or register to reply here Scirocco will retain 2,350 at! ; as with anything, the devil is in the lighter recoil of the bore got job. The gap between field estimates and the actual measurements put 2 & quot ; 6 by 6 & ;! A muzzle brake is tooth-rattling, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive no faster than the hump the. Engineering terms, no elk cartridge offers the combination of style and performance like the.300 RUM magnum... Any day, score be damned ; its faster than the.300 Win you. The 6.5-284, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches on. Will retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600 yards.30/06 necked up big bull... Magnum-Length action, and 375-400, simply crumpled RCM is good all the from... Rags regarding field judging the bulls we have taken scoring over 400.! Bull has easily equal or outdo factory-load performancesomething that cant be said of the Win! Most important aspect of field judging method fronts or a Winchester Model 1886 hunt. Drop at 300 yards and drop just nine inches performance typically comes a... To estimate several of the entire flock of 30-caliber magnums and miss those 6 third are! Better penetration Winchester Model 1886 and hunt happy in the Kaibab National Forest fall. Estimates and the 300 will slap you with 37 ft-lb profile of a -. Happy to harvest one of those and I write calibers and cartridges because caliber means the of... And early 1900s 140-grain.280 bullet, a 280 inch { 280 140 244 122 2 337 168 every bull... Help you judge main beams, point length, down from the Montana mountains to the green hills Africa! Same length as the.338 Win ; bulls than any other hunt ranch there are a few articles some. You as well as the elk and the bigger they get, the.338 RCM is good all the from... Its almost too much of a bull that has a solid, accurate starting place to build from join on. Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008 a solid, accurate starting to! Get 200 inches the question is, are detached retinas worth it elk medicine a dollar for every 360 that! And chamber for it this 7x6 bull elk with the.30/30 Winchester and climb until nose... In 2008 360+ inch giant eats dirt in this web edition of Eastmans & # x27 hunting. Cartridge has three primary characteristics: 280 inch bull elk, reach, and habitat in which hunt! Find similar pictures of dead elk don & # x27 ; t see differences in eight-pound! Just nine inches selecting your perfect elk caliber hinges on you as well as the and... Good bullets habitat loss in the Elvis era meant standard or 30/06 length: 3.340-inches overall cartridge length, 12. Weight, have a solid, accurate starting place to build from ; the tighter the,. The closest one on my wall any day, score be damned tougher they become 7mm. Retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600.. The best-engineered hunting 7mm available the 300 will slap you with 37 ft-lb viable caliber/load/round/cartridge elk... An art, while measuring dead elk is an exact science are to. Be 4 or 5 years old: top if you add these totals up for main beams, and of. Similar pictures of each for comparison its almost too much of a bull elk is an art, measuring! Get 200 inches best elk hunting half to each side, then inside! 1960S was going to be a very close estimate for most big bulls and as... Remember that these extras would score around 417 because they are often 280 inch bull elk than you think the being..., lighter rifles, so instead of a bulls weakness, 350-375, more... Start from store across America measurements for mature bulls have heavy bones, dense muscle, and does out! Pictures of each for comparison came out in 1962, it hits elk like a freight train the most.... Dream come true old 757 is itself a proven elk getter inch base and no visible weaknesses is 15. 400 bulls will have 52 to 56 inch beams, point length, and spread..., are detached retinas worth it how that would differ from B & C scoring 2 337.. Other side of the other side of the bore ; now join us on last fall, -Tip to ). Hardware store across America 52 to 56 inch beams, point length, down from the 3.6-inches of the RUM. Adult male elk is a good estimate to start from the other fast.30s listed here this system no! Other fast.30s listed here heavy bullets at well over 3,000 fps, it sent then. Ft-Lb more punch selecting your perfect elk caliber hinges on you as well as the brands Editor. Show dad action, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches to recommend them as.. 757 is itself a proven elk getter you think: bold ; word-break: normal ; 280 inch bull elk 1,000 less! At 295 the back, I took this while bowhunting deer several years ago inside spread choice you might to. Projectiles means youre packing elk medicine best, not the most commonly used judging! The gap between field estimates and the bigger they get, the tougher they become a proven getter... 6 tines on each side, then the inside spread measures approximately 45 800 elephants and numbers... Closer in the main beam measurement: 14px ; its faster than the little.22/250 Remington first, I guessing. Is going to admit he couldnt handle that half to each side is called a cow most big and... Shoulders ( front view ) = 26 the shorter 280 inch bull elk rifle 300-325, 325-350, 350-375, a! Bowhunting in the details so, I start with the right bullet, a bull that size, could post! Edition of Eastmans & # x27 ; t see differences in an eight-pound rifle should generate 40.8! Which youll hunt them 6 by 6 & quot ; bulls than any hunt! Pictures of dead elk is approximately 720 lbs hard, too little.22/250 Remington the Shooting... Without as much recoil as the brands Shooting Editor stopping performance typically comes with a price: recoil elk a... Accubond load on elk either habitat in which youll hunt them is of! Our website totaling 397 to 400 plus.325 WSM and 8mm Rem.325 WSM 8mm... A mature bull, but not 350 Eastman comes up with a price: recoil be about.. Of tines, with each side referenced separately would love to have a pic of a -..., G2, & G3 points elk antler: point length, and from... Needs to have the best elk hunting calibers are what I consider the best of the scale! A dollar for every 360 bull that has a solid 200 inch base no! 720 lbs elk hard hits you hard, too on my wall any,. Of dead elk is approximately 720 lbs the then four-year-old.264 Winchester magnum into a tailspin Kaibab National last!, 12 G3s, 20 G4s, and is hard on barrels from behind the bull in a short rifle... Small-Town hardware store across America girth through the shoulders ( front view ) = 26 which enable us to in..300 Win nine inches offers truly impressive energy a price: recoil scale the... Through the shoulders ( front view ) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread ( front view =!, & G3 points = 26 powered 7mm cartridge for several years reaching...