[Redneck420]

I am thinking about going elk hunting but I cant decide on a caliber: 7.62x54r, 7.92x57, .300 wsm, or 50 cal. Ml.

What do you guys think?

 

[hardluk1]

300 wsm by far a better cartidge. Better choice in a modern rifles and better choice offactory loaded bullets in a faster flatter shooting cartidge.

But of course there allways some guy want'n to hump a 50 around then go right a head , just a bit hard to carry a little heavy and darn hard to shoulder to fire after even a 1/4 mile walk and stalk. .

 

[locutus]

I'd suggest a .30-06 or a .308. Elk are big animals, but they're not T-Rex.

.30-06 and .308 have more than adequate power, far less recoil and readily available ammo. And the ammo is about half the price of that magnum stuff.

 

[Dearhunter]

I have taken two 6X6 Royal bull elks. The first was with a 30.06 at about 150 yards. I put two in the death spot and watched him run over a hill.
We found him at the bottom of that hill.
My second bull elk was shot with my newly purchased Colt Sauer .300 weatherby mag. at about 350 yards and he was down on the spot. End of story.

 

[SSGN_Doc]

What is your hunting style?

Are you going to actively stalk? Are you going to stalk in close or find a herd, track and engage from a distance? Are you going to try to cut off a herd and position yourself and wait for one to get close?

While teh 7.62x54R and 8mm Mauser rounds are capible, the selection of bullets is not that great. A .30-06 is a good all around caliber with a large variety of bullets to choose from. a .308 has a shorter action and can make a lighter rifle for packing around with perfromance similar to .30-06 but may be better for someone stalking game or planning on shots inside 300 yds.

 

[kalboy26]

Love my 300wsm. Shoots fast, hard, and super flat which is nice for shooting at a distance. I have never had a problem finding ammo like people always say. It's my favorite rifle.

 

[nitestalker]

It really depends where you are hunting. If you are hunting "Sand" elk in the desert where the range is long you would want a rifle that carries a 400 yard pay load. If you are up above the snow line where the cover is scrub and Juniper difficult stalking a good flat shooter with a heavy bullet. Hunting on hay meadows most likely an 06 or .308 will do. Dark timber a heavy hitter like a 35 Whelen .338 WCF shootin heavy slugs. In the Nat'l Park areas Grizzly encounters are going up every year. You may want a Grizz rifle to shoot your elk. My favorite for the past 40 years has been a .338 with a 250 grs. bullet it covers the list.

 

[oldpapps]

"I cant decide on a caliber: 7.62x54r, 7.92x57, .300 wsm, or 50 cal. Ml."

With the listed options, this is easy (for me).
7.62X54R - don't like them, it personal.
7.92X57 - don't like them, again personal.
Both of the above will do the job.
.300WSM - duh, that's a simple choice.
.50Cal - not realistic.

If these are what you have, kudos on the last two listed, go for it. If you are in the looking stage, look at other 30 cals and the 7s and 284s (same cal, diff loadings).

 

[NotMormon]

Elk are some tough SOB's so you should probably go with the fity......hope you are in shape. All four of your choices will make an Elk very dead if you place your shot correctly. 300WSM is the no brainer of the lot.

 

[locutus]

Elk are some tough SOB's so you should probably go with the fity......hope you are in shape. All four of your choices will make an Elk very dead if you place your shot correctly. 300WSM is the no brainer of the lot.

I must have run into some real "sissy" elk! Mine have gone down with one shot from a .30-06.

Stalk to a decent range where you can make a good shot and no problem. I don't hunt out in the sand, so no need for long range.

 

[nitestalker]

Locutus you need to get a "Sand" Elk tag some time in the Red Desert. That area West of Baggs and North of the Little Snake River.

 

[locutus]

I've hunted deer NE of Baggs, (south of Rawlins) in the canyon country, but never elk.

Might be worth a try.

 

[JimRau]

I am thinking about going elk hunting but I cant decide on a caliber: 7.62x54r, 7.92x57, .300 wsm, or 50 cal. Ml.

What do you guys think?

Personal I have killed more elk with a 270 Win (with 140 Barnes or 150 Nosler Partitions) than any other caliber. BUT I would recommend a minimum of the 30-06 with at least 165 Nosler Partitions. I lasted hunted elk with my 35 Whelen (225 Barnes TXS at 2700 fps) but none of the great animals blessed me with their presents! My other 'elk' rifle is my 7 RM with 160 gr Nosler Partitions.
Choosing the 'right' bullet is just as important as choosing the right rifle.

 

[jpattersonnh]

Personal I have killed more elk with a 270 Win (with 140 Barnes or 150 Nosler Partitions) than any other caliber. BUT I would recommend a minimum of the 30-06 with at least 165 Nosler Partitions. I lasted hunted elk with my 35 Whelen (225 Barnes TXS at 2700 fps) but none of the great animals blessed me with their presents! My other 'elk' rifle is my 7 RM with 160 gr Nosler Partitions.
Choosing the 'right' bullet is just as important as choosing the right rifle.

I do agree on almost every point. A .35 Whelen w/ a 225 at 2700 fps is about 100fps faster then max loads and 200fps more then average load. Still a great round. I use a .286gr Partition in 9.3x57 in the same way at 2100fps. More or less both are 200 yard thumpers.
As Far as the 8x57, it is as capible as the .30-06, even more so useing 200gr bullets. 180gr can easily be driven to 2700fps and well above, closer to 2800+ and 196..200gr to 2700fps. .308 w/ a 165gr is good to 300 yards, 8x57 or .30-06 400 yards w/ 160 or above. Barnes does tell you if you call that you can use partition loads that are within 5 grains safely, but start on the low side.

7.62x54r w/ a factory 203gr bullet will put a big hurt on Elk if you keep it within 300 yards.

I'm not a fan of the WSM cartridges. 7MM Rem mag is a good choice w/ 140 or 160gr barnes. I have more of these two bullets to reload then almost any other. Past 400 yards the 160gr wins.

BTW, When it comes to 8x57 or .30-06 the platform matters.