Is a 220 grain .30-06 bullet to much for bull elk?

[Elkoholic307]

Maybe someone should start a thread on the topic so we don't cram this one up.

[Old Hunter]

I expected these kind of replies. All I'll say is, for the kind of elk hunting I do, the 270 is inferior.

What kind of hunting would that be?

[Elkoholic307]

The kind that includes driving very heavy, large diameter bullets into elk at high velocities no matter what angle they're standing at and not having to worry about them running away.

[Old Hunter]

That's why they make big magnums. Nothing wrong with that choice.

I prefer closer shots in the vitals. My elk this year was with a muzzleloader and a round ball. Many with a 30-30 over the years. A few with a 30-06, and i'm using a .270 from now on. I still hunt timber, so the .270 is really overkill, but I like the gun. I use peep sights on it for a bit more of a challenge. I've never lost an animal in 60 years of hunting, but I do have to pass up a lot of shots. I don't mind. I consider it part of hunting.

I didn't mean to sound like I was busting your chops. I was just curious.

[Elkoholic307]

I admire your patience; I don't think I could do that! (pass up shots)

[Old Hunter]

Not the easiest thing for me either. My dad drove it into me in the 50's, and it stuck. I still struggle with it, but I can say i've never taken a risky shot.. I guess dad did a good job.

[trkytrack2]

Funny you mention that. A friend of mine double lunged an adult cow this year with his .270 and a 130 gr. SST and it went almost 2 miles before dropping. He had to shoot it a total of 3 times.

I would have to guess that your friend "thought" he double lunged that cow. I highly doubt it.

[Elkoholic307]

There was a total of 5 guys hunting together and they all told the same story at different times. I don't see a reason why they would lie.

Was it actually double-lunged? Possibly. Could it have been a bullet failure? Possibly.

I didn't gut it, they did. So, I really don't know but I can see it happening. An elk's will to survive may be stronger than a 270 in some circumstances.

[Wapiti slayer .270]

Never had an issue with a .270win nor the 150 gr. Partition. This one didn't go far and had pass through breaking the offside shoulder at a tad over 220 yards.

I use both the .300WM and the .270win for elk. At this point I see no appreciable difference in "killing power". I use that term loosely as it is always subjective to each of us.

To the OP, I think the idea of running the 180 or 165 in the 06 is very sound advice. Especially running premiums. However, dad has a couple dozen elk under the belt with plain old Core Lokts. So I tend not to dismiss the C&C style bullets. I also killed a bull with Win Power Points at over 300 yards and have a perfectly mushroomed bullet I found under the offside skin. Can't ask for more than that. 180 gr. out of a .300WM.

[Old Hunter]

Really nice bull. Congrats.

Funny angle to his front leg. Is that the shoulder that broke?

In my early years I killed a few elk with a 30-30 170gr core-lokt. I'm sure it's still getting the job done for some.