Elk Cartridge choices

Any of those cartridges will kill an elk, especially a Tule elk. Ammo is commercially available loaded with Barnes X bullets. Personally, I would carry the 7-08 or the 270.
 
I have killed with the 270 as have many of my friends. It is more than enough for elk when the round is put where it needs to be. I lean toward the 270 more than the 7mm08, but only due to my experience with the 270 and my love for bolt actions. The other two are also fine but dont sound like they are ready to go.
Location is important whether you are shooting a .222 or a 460 Weatherby.

GAR
 
I really like the .270 for elk. That is an extremely popular cartridge here even for big bulls. I have a .270 WSM that works really well, mainly because I shoot it very well. However, I might just choose the 7-08 in your case simply because I have 2 BLRs and really like carrying them.
 
Since you have no experience in shooting the 7mm Weatherby or 300 Ultra Mag, now is not the time to try to cram in some experience with them. It is much better for you to use a rifle that you are already familiar with, so I would recommend sticking with the .270 There really is little need at all to hunt with magnum caliber rifles in California. Ammo for both of those magnum calibers is rather hard to find in general. Finding a non-toxic load for them would be even way harder yet.

I would recommend Winchester's new 130 gr E-Tip load in .270 Winchester. It shoots very flat, and even delivers over 1,700 ft lbs at 300 yards. And it penetrates very well indeed. It should do just fine on Elk, if you do a decent job of placing your shot.

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They want to keep California Condors from ingesting lead fragments from the gut piles of animals shot by lead bullets...

The problem with all this is that to legally shoot a ground squirrel, I need to use a copper bullet or other non-toxic projectile.. Which is nuts!!!
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Well, but no such non-lead rimfire ammo exists in the marketplace. The Defacto effect is that no one can legally shoot ground squirrels in much of California anymore.

The Anti-gunners in California are easily winning the battle there. They are clearly against hunting.

The sport is slowly dying off in that state.

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Respectfully disagree

I've spent some time chronographing 7mm Weatherby loads (24" barrel) and there is no comparison to the 270. The WBY will push 150s over 3200 and 140s over 3300, easily. In the most common 22" barrel, a 270 will push 130s 3050, 140s 2900, and 150s 2800. Pull the scope off that 27 and put it on the 28.
 
I've spent some time chronographing 7mm Weatherby loads (24" barrel) and there is no comparison to the 270. The WBY will push 150s over 3200 and 140s over 3300, easily. In the most common 22" barrel, a 270 will push 130s 3050, 140s 2900, and 150s 2800. Pull the scope off that 27 and put it on the 28.
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The trend toward lower power is in style. I suspect better bullet selections, general ability to shoot lower recoil cartridges better, philosophy of current gun writers, etc. is influencing this. I can't say that it is a bad idea in general.

However, knowing that you can't kill something too dead, and knowing that if you make the perfect shot, that everybody uses to qualify using a smaller cartridge, you are not going to damage any meat anyway, I haven't seen the downside to taking the flattest shooting rifle your particular recoil tolerance allows you to shoot well.

A slightly out of position target, animal moves at exactly the wrong time, wind, nerves,...., there are a lot of factors that can get you off a little. And, the idea that a faster heavier bullet won't marginally be in your favor defies logic. To me anyway.
 
Any of them will work. Assuming that all are equally accurate, pick the one you enjoy 1) carrying the most and/or 2) shooting the most.
 
"Well, but no such non-lead rimfire ammo exists in the marketplace. The Defacto effect is that no one can legally shoot ground squirrels in much of California anymore."
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While lead-free .22 and .17hmr are difficult to get, they do exist. I don't like them as well as the traditional rounds but you do what you have to.
 
Rifle choice

Any of the calibers listed will work with proper loads.I would agree with the other posts and look at accuracy and weight of carry to make my decision.Good luck with what I hope will be a successful and enjoyable hunt.
 
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