Rifle advice

I'm getting off-topic here but I don't see how the .243Win is even in the same league as the .270Win or 7mm-08.

cartridge/bullet diameter/upper end of bullet weight for caliber
.243/.243/100-107 gr
.270/.277/150-180 gr
7-08/.287/160-175 gr


I have to agree with Taylorce1 on his reasoning. But then our opinions come from Colorado with the Roosevelt Elk (largest Elk species). No doubt the .243 with a 100+ gr premium bullet would do the job if the shot is ideal but it is hard to recommend it over a .270 or 7-08.
 
I have to agree with Taylorce1 on his reasoning. But then our opinions come from Colorado with the Roosevelt Elk (largest Elk species). No doubt the .243 with a 100+ gr premium bullet would do the job if the shot is ideal but it is hard to recommend it over a .270 or 7-08.
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Have to disagree with you a little bit here Twins. Colorado had the Rocky Mountain Elk or now known as the American Elk. The Roosevelt Elk lives on the west coast primarily in the rainforest's from Northern California to British Columbia. Another sub species is the Thule Elk that lives in CA as well. You were correct in the Roosevelt elk being the largest.

.243 is fine for elk if the hunter knows their game, and their range dope, and they are willing to pass on questionable or poor shots offered.
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Biker, that last statement just proved my point about the .243 Win not being used on a regular basis for elk hunting. Most people sure aren't going to risk a hunt for elk on waiting for the perfect shot especially if they are hunting as a non-resident. In some States .22 caliber center fire rifles are legal for elk, that doesn't mean it is used on a regular basis either. My point was while these firearms are legal, the use of them on elk isn't common or widespread as Peetza's statement implied. Your most common elk rifles you will run into around here is .270, .30-06, 7mm Rem, .300 Win, and .338 Win Mag. There are plenty of calibers in between used as well but they just aren't as common as the ones I mentioned.
 
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Well - I live in southwest Colorado, and have taken up centerfire shooting.
Here's what the merchants in western Colorado said when I was hunting for a rifle.

.270 works.

Was surprised to meet one guy (stalker) - who rifle hunts with a 30-30 (not a common cartridge out here).

The most widely recommended cartridges seem to be:

.300 win mag (drop any animal in North America)
.30-06 (ammo is very easy to come by)
7mm Remington (I like the ballistics)

Most will also hint that .270 and .308 will work
(in fact - everyone I talked to recommended .270 over .308)

I think .270 with an appropriate bullet will work - although I'm NOT speaking from experience.

I couldn't make up my mind - so I have:
30.06 (1903 sporterized) - for shooting, jawboning, and nostalgia
.270 (I found a rifle at a price I simply couldn't turn down)

Eventually - I'm picking up a 7mm Remington -- for serious shooting and hunting (I like the ballistics) .

I also like the .308. If I would have found a BLR at a good price, would have bought it - even with its curvy ballistics.
 
I also like the .308. If I would have found a BLR at a good price, would have bought it - even with its curvy ballistics.
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Please explain, Ive read this over and over again and I cant figure out what you mean.
 
Remember - I'm new with centerfire rifles - I'm just parotting what I was told.

- a .270 has 300 ft pounds more energy than a .308.

- the .308 will drops more than a .270.

- the .270 will break up more effectively

(is there an authoritive source for this information?)

"Curvy" is my own invention - likely a poor one.
 
I assume "curvy" ballistics = rainbow trajectory?


As for the OP, I have never hunted elk but I don't think there is any question the 270 is capable of doing the job. However, if you want to use this hunt as an excuse to buy a new rifle, there is nothing wrong with that. This is just my opinion but if I were to step up from a 270, it wouldn't be to a 7 mag. It would at least be to one of the 30's.
 
"Curvy" is my own invention - likely a poor one.
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Ok I wasnt sure if you meant the trajectory was rainbowish or if you meant something else. We were all new at one point or another so I can understand, I wasnt trying to be a smarty pants.
 
Okay, I sell guns so I have to play the devils advocate and recommend that you get a new Elk rifle!!!! :D:D:D:

Will the .270 kill an elk? Without question.

Will a .22 kill a deer? Without question, but who hunts deer with a .22?

I grew up in Wyoming and have killed a ton of Elk with both .270, 30-06, and 338-06. All of them have dropped Elk in their tracks. However, on those occassions that I didn't quite do my job and missed the heart or major blood vessel, the larger the caliber, the more quickly the animal dropped and/or fewer back up shots required.

So -- do you have to have a different gun? NOPE.

Would I go on my once-in-a-lifetime hunt with a .270? Only if I couldn't afford a larger caliber.

Now -- email me if you are in the market!!!! ;););)
 
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use any excuse to buy a new rifle......

That being said, you are fine with the 270.

As an aside, maybe take the funds you were planning on using for the new rifle and get yourself into handloading. That way you can make your own premium ammo.
 
Oh, and if you do decide on a new rifle, make it a 280. It's a better round.


JUST KIDDING GUYS DON'T MEAN TO START A WAR.:D:D:D
 
The .270 is arguably one of the flattest shooting rifles out there. I'm just going to repeat what most have already told you, get some good bullets ( I prefer Nossler Partitions) and make sure you're comfortable with the rifle. Practice till it hurts, once you can land a shot wherever you want at 200yds, your .270 will never fail you.
 
I also like the .308. If I would have found a BLR at a good price, would have bought it - even with its curvy ballistics.
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Please explain, Ive read this over and over again and I cant figure out what you mean.
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Lemmee see..... .308 WIN, in a lever action carbine length gun, with heavy bullets for elk ..... compared to the .270 WIN with 150 gr bullets ..... yep: curvaceous trajectory.
 
Oh, and if you do decide on a new rifle, make it a 280. It's a better round.


JUST KIDDING GUYS DON'T MEAN TO START A WAR.
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I have both... Its like a war with myself... The only thing gives the .270 an edge is when you are talking about the cost and availability of factory ammo..
 
I think you are fine.

I love my 45/70 and over time have gotten use to its "rainbow" trajectory and Judging distance.

There is no reason to feel like your gun is not enough gun. That said getting new guns is always fun.
 
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Don't know a lot about elk but they are smaller than a moose and I know of many moose that have been taken with a .270. It is not the most common moose round but a hunter that is a respectable shooter with good sense can do better and cleaner than those that are neither shooting a larger caliber.

I take a bit of offense at the slight of the .308. the difference in my 30.06 load and my .308 load is less than a grain of 4064 using a 165 gr SPBT in both. Either will drop a moose quite nicely thank you. If a hunter can't figure bullet drop at 200 or 300 yards I question whether they should be out in the field regardless of the caliber of their gun. I am not slighting any caliber, but there are only a few calibers that can make a killing shot at 100 (sighted range) vs 200 yards with out any correction for drop and the .270 requires that attention (and those that can are far less appropriate for big ungulates than a .270 or .308). So, you may say sight it in for 150 yards. You sure better figure out drop and rise when you get a 35 yd shot or one at 250 yds.
 
A .270 will do just fine on elk if you can shoot it OK. I have a old win lever 25-35 that I use for elk in the brush that has probably killed more elk and black bear than most on this forum has seen. Its a pee poor underpowerd round for elk but has killed more elk and black bear in a day than most can get tags for now in 5 years.
 
It has been a few years since I read the article,but seems like in PO Ackley's Handbook for Shooters there is a contribution by a guide named Les Bowman who has some experience with clients bringing elk out .I recommend it as a good read.Not only is the 270 enough in terms of terminal ballistics,it has another important characteristic.It is easy to shoot well.Modest recoil and flat trajectory.If you still have your eyes open,watching the crosshairs when the bullet leaves the barrel,things go better.
 
Practice, and really good shot-placement would be My thoughts as well as distance, and with at least 140 gr partitions, the .270 win is totally fine for elk. ( and if the wife wasn't lookin, I'd still buy another caliber rifle):D
 
I have both... Its like a war with myself... The only thing gives the .270 an edge is when you are talking about the cost and availability of factory ammo..
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Absolutely. I just like to hear the 270 boys hollar when it comes up.

I bought my first 280 maybe 17 or so years ago. I handload for everything I own and at the time, there were many, many more projectiles available to the handloader in 7mm than .277. With the newer .277 chamberings now out, that may not be the case any more. Performance wise there's not a penny's worth of difference in them.
 
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