How many times have I (we) heard this? How many articles have I read that imply this? People telling me that a .270 is not enough gun for certain game. Why would you buy a 30-06 when you can go with a magnum load. I have never owned a rifle with the word magnum after it. Why? No reason, I just never bought one. I think they're great, but are they absolutely essential?
I have hunted deer for the last 7 years with a Remington 7400 chambered in .270. Great round. The main reason I shoot a .270 is because at 6'3" 235, I barely feel any recoil, and I can hit what I aim at all the time. I've been fortunate, everything I hit with it, went into my freezer. I took it on my first elk hunt in 1997. Everyone there had a 300 or a 338. They called my .270 a pea-shooter, even though they all completely believe in the .270 as a great deer round. Now, the reason I brought my .270 was because we were not on a big bull hunt. We had 5 tags for four cows and a spike. We are talking 400-500 pounds maximum. This was not a trophy hunt. I was using 150 grain grandslams, and had some 130 grain bronze points for back up. I tagged elk #4 on that trip. I had a difficult head on shot at about 90 yards. My 150 gr Grand Slam went through the neck, through the right shoulder, and kept traveling on down the mountain. The elk dropped like a stone. I got teased that night.
#1 nice shot with the pea shooter.
#2 only 2 of the other 5 guys had bagged an elk on their first hunt.
I am a believer in the .270, for exactly what I used it for. Deer, cow, and Spike elk. I also now own a Sig SHR 970 chamber in 30-06. I will qualify next year, point wise, for a 'any bull tag.' My brother in law hunts elk with a .300 Weatherby. He asked me if I was going to step up from my new 30-06 to a 'real gun' if I get the tag. Now, I realize that he is half joking, but it is begining to bug me. I have two boxes of Federal High Energy shells, one each of 180gr TB & 180gr NP. I have every confidence that a well place shot will get the job done. I think most of you will agree.
Is the word Magnum required to hunt trophy elk?
I have hunted deer for the last 7 years with a Remington 7400 chambered in .270. Great round. The main reason I shoot a .270 is because at 6'3" 235, I barely feel any recoil, and I can hit what I aim at all the time. I've been fortunate, everything I hit with it, went into my freezer. I took it on my first elk hunt in 1997. Everyone there had a 300 or a 338. They called my .270 a pea-shooter, even though they all completely believe in the .270 as a great deer round. Now, the reason I brought my .270 was because we were not on a big bull hunt. We had 5 tags for four cows and a spike. We are talking 400-500 pounds maximum. This was not a trophy hunt. I was using 150 grain grandslams, and had some 130 grain bronze points for back up. I tagged elk #4 on that trip. I had a difficult head on shot at about 90 yards. My 150 gr Grand Slam went through the neck, through the right shoulder, and kept traveling on down the mountain. The elk dropped like a stone. I got teased that night.
#1 nice shot with the pea shooter.
#2 only 2 of the other 5 guys had bagged an elk on their first hunt.
I am a believer in the .270, for exactly what I used it for. Deer, cow, and Spike elk. I also now own a Sig SHR 970 chamber in 30-06. I will qualify next year, point wise, for a 'any bull tag.' My brother in law hunts elk with a .300 Weatherby. He asked me if I was going to step up from my new 30-06 to a 'real gun' if I get the tag. Now, I realize that he is half joking, but it is begining to bug me. I have two boxes of Federal High Energy shells, one each of 180gr TB & 180gr NP. I have every confidence that a well place shot will get the job done. I think most of you will agree.
Is the word Magnum required to hunt trophy elk?