[fragout]

What do all of you elk and moose hunters feel about using 308 for hunting?

What kind of hunting load would you recommend, or do you feel that 308 is underpowered?

I have been on a few elk hunts, but do not consider myself to be an experienced elk hunter by any means.
0 moose hunts for me.

[30-30remchester]

Hello while I have never shot a moose I have shot 33 elk plus many head of other game animals. Also though I have never shot any game with a 308 Win., I have shot or seen shot many, many head of game including elk, using a 30-06. Ballistics of the two rounds are close with a 75 yard advantage with MOST 30-06 loads. I was a big game guide for many years and have seen many animals taken. The 308 should work quite well to the 300 yard range as long as premium heavy bullets are used. I have always prefered Nosler partitions and have never had a failure with them. The 308 is used by many proffesional hunters in Africa to thin herds in state parks. One such control hunter stated he had fired his 308 over 20,000 times.

[freefall]

I have shot 2 moose and 2 black bears with a .358 win which is a .308 necked up to .35 caliber using a 200 grain bullet. They all fell straight down, which I have NOT seen with any other caliber including my now standard .338 Win Mag. Your .308 should do just fine. I myself would probably use 165 grain Nosler Partition bullets.

[fragout]

Thanks for the imput guys. (I've never even seen 33 head of elk to my recollection)

[Dshusker]

I don't have near the experience with Elk that the gentleman who has taken 33. Personally, I would not engage an Elk with a 308 past 200-250 yds. I just don't feel comfortable, even with a 168 gr bullet. Just my opinion and I am sure many will disagree. I have taken three with a 30-06, 180 gr.

[Dgunsmith]

180 grain Nosler Partition and you can take them all without any problem what so ever ! Either purchase Federal Premium or handloads.

[fragout]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

From what I have been told, our shot opportunities at moose will be inside of 200yds, where we will be hunting. I'll be taking 2 rifles (both in 308) for this trip, provided that it all pans out.

Still lookin into an elk hunt at this time, and have no idea what distances I might be lookin at.

I have hunted whitetails with one of these rifles, and more TX hogs than I can count with both of um. Good results so far with 150-168 grain bullets. I'll defiantly look into the Nosler Partition bullets, and see how my rifles shoot them.

[Hombre]

Shot placement and premium bullets...
I've take large elk, some at considerable distances, with a 270 Win... .257 Wby...7mm RM...and 300 Wby....
My personal choice....7mmRM

[keymastr5912]

i have shot caribou with a 308 and have witnessed my son shooting several moose with the same rifle. use good 180gr like the partition and keep range sensible and a 308 will work fine.

[Patrick Sperry]

I've also guided and taken more than my fair share of Elk, according to the statistics anyways. Like so many others have already said, go with Partitions. I have also seen great results with Swift "A Frames." Most of my Elk were taken with a stick and string. Plus my only Moose.

Placement is king, and if your guide can't get you within your effective shooting range tell him you need to be closer for a solid hit.

Do you know which area you will be hunting? If it's 12, 15, 16, 33, 39, or 51 shoot me a kite and I can give you some ideas as those were the main areas that I hunted, along with the general area between Meeker and Craig. Also which season? Glassing the snow is a whole different game than cat footing around in the black timber.

Good luck! Shoot Straight & be Safe!