Now of course to be real here, I know that when we do draw a premium elk tag that we want to make the most of the tag. Most 225-grain factory loads are rated 2,750 to 2,800 fps, enough velocity to put about 3,900 ft-lb of energy into that little bullet. Because Winchester didnt insist on the caliber being proprietary, anyone could load and chamber for it. Mag. First, I start with the magic number of 200. .tg .tg-4q2i { In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .280 Remington round is approximately 2790 foot-pounds. The Pope and Young Club awards North America's finest archery-killed wapiti by size in two categories: typical or symmetrical antlers and non-typical or unsymmetrical horns. The old .270 Winchester has been hotly debated since 1925, yet it has been a favorite among thousands of elk pros. Mags. Second, I forgot which socks are my lucky ones. We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Our Genetics are improving each year and our antler average is getting bigger each year. It worked fine for long range deer hunting, but elk hunters wanted more bullet. Lots of folks like .30-caliber magnums for elk hunting, and they work exceptionally well. Thats a lot of antler! throwing similar weight projectiles means youre packing elk medicine. Short action chamberings are likely to be in shorter, lighter rifles, so instead of a .338 Win. A high B.C. No idea why the pic is upside down.just flip your phone. This guys is on the lower end of your range just breaking 260. I feel that if you can estimate a bull on the hoof within 10 inches, you are a good field judge. of .414 or so, the 210-gr. Sales bloomed immediately when it released. Cartridge means the case that holds the powder that drives the bullet. Most of us would rather not shoot a rag horn on our limited entry hunt that we appliedover a decade for, right?! I grew up hunting with one stoked with 150-grain Partition handloads, and I never had a problem cleanly killing a bull. vertical-align: top 5 Rifle Cartridges That Need to Make a Comeback. pictures? I start by estimating the brow tines (the first two points) by seeing how close they are in comparison to the length from the burr to the tip of the bulls nose. The third tines are about the same as the brow tines and the fourth is generally 18 inches or less. Thirty-calibers have been sending elk to the table for more than 125 years. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the Everything you need to know about the parts Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. With the right bullets, it can actually hit harder than the 375 H&H Magnum at longer ranges. These rifle weight/size considerations will influence cartridge size, especially length. Winchesters original loadings included a 200-grain bullet rated 3,000 fps, a 250-grain at 2,700 fps, and a heavy 300-grain at 2,450 fps from 24-inch barrels. Mag. Early on, the 7mm Rem. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .280 Remington. You may want to do the same with a taxidermist in your area. Bulls Scoring 380-400. Field judging elk sized animals you don't often get to see, to me anyway, will be harder than it sounds. I have used this bullet for deer hunting and it is the best deer . Is the main beam really 50 or is it 53? With the draw results out in the western states there are many hunters celebrating their good fortune in the draw. Nov 2, 2008. In the question of Is the .280 Remington within the ideal range of suitable calibers for elk hunting? our answer is: Lets look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. For somebody from TN who doesbt get to see elk except on tv and in mags it sure would make it hard to judge one in the field. Many times, the third points are the source of a bulls weakness. Some shoot faster and hit harder than the .338 Win. 2022 GOHUNT, LLC. In researching this story, I determined the muzzle energy data by choosing the most useful elk bullet weight for each specific cartridge, and then plugging it into JBMballistics.com along with an average of common factory-ammo muzzle velocities with that bullet weight. At the light end is the .338 Federal, the .308 Winchester case necked up. It offers bull-thumping authority at a recoil level just at the cusp of what most serious shooters can handle. Bowsdork, woah that's amazing elk! Lets' hit increments of 5" 250-255 255-260, and so forth. JavaScript is disabled. padding: 10px 5px; border-color: black; If you need to balance reach and punch with minimal weight, Id look to the 7mm magnums pushing 150- to 175-grain bullets. The reason is because Im not that interested in net scores. There are several ways to field judge elk. Tags 2015 Elk Hunt Colorado Elk Hunt Eastmans Ike Eastman About Ike Eastman Unless you work with a custom gun builder and handload, study factory options before choosing. As stated previously, Kentucky's current herd numbers about 10,000 elk. Finally, the .280 Ackley Improved is rocketing to western-hunting stardom. If you only have one elk on the wall, a bull with six inch forks will "look" big. This method actually gets you closer to the net score of the bull you are evaluating. Dropping a bull cleanly takes a good cartridge. If you can hack the recoil, it offers truly impressive energy. The 33-caliber has become a crowded family, and all members are more than suitable for elk. Of course, there is a great shortcut for judging bulls that uses anatomical references, but instead of trying to estimate each measurement individually, I use a magic number for the main beam length, mass, and inside spread and then I compare the length of the points from one side to the other and estimate shortest points. This bill is 300 with the broken 5th. This 9,000 acre premier ranch located in northeastern Utah has 11 elk tags per year and success has run at or near 100 percent on some great bulls. Elk carry enough venison on the hoof to suggest a big cartridge and big bullet. That said, dozens, nay hundreds of elk are layed low each fall by careful application of the 6.5 Creedmoor, a near ballistictwin of the Swede. The general consensus is that this old, belted magnum is the best caliber for elk hunting. After locating a big herd bull, Eastman comes up with a plan to take advantage of an unusually hot fall elk hunting season. He got a mature bull without issue. Mag., .338 RUM, .338 Lapua Mag., and massive .338-378 Wby. If recoil doesnt bother you, Id look hard at the .300 WSM, .325 WSM, even the new 6.8 Western, agonize over a 24-inch barrel, and probably compromise with a 23-inch barrel. Click to reveal Elk shed their antlers beginning in late February for the . For instance, if a bull is a fairly symmetrical 66 just add up one side of his points (G1, G2, G3, G4, & G5) and multiply by two. I think if a bull grows it, he should get credit for it. Here was the same basic belted magnum case, but the 7mm threw bullets as heavy as 175 grains. Kel-Tec KS7 Pump Action Shotgun Specifications and features. Also known as the .280 Ackley Improved or the .280 Remington Ackley Improved, the .280 AI is basically a .280 Remington case (itself a .30-06 Springfield case necked down to 7mm/.284") that's . Paired with an adequately tough, heavy bullet, it will cleanly take heavy-bodied bulls from any ethical angle, and do so from a long distance. Straight looking points are always short. Whats not to like? So, I'm guessing him to be in that range you asked about. Hit an elk with a 175-gr. Offering the perfect balance of tremendous energy, large frontal diameter, ballistic efficiency, and long barrel life, the .338 has garnered disciples among rifle savants such as F&S own David E. Petzal. Ive made my longest two kills on elk with the .280 AIboth one shot and done. This is my son's bull from a couple years ago. The 28 Nosler and Remington Ultra Magnum adds about 250 fps to the Rem. Reply 11-30-2006, 09:14 AM #3 . If you add these totals up for main beams, spread, and mass from both sides you get 200 inches. You want to look for anything that is sticking out or extraordinary. This meant the .338 Win. The .280 Ackley Improved is hot these days, flying about 100 fps behind the 7mm Rem. Would've been right at 300 if not for the two chipped points. POLL: when was the last time you went to a drive-in movie? Learn more . Mag. The second important assumption is slightly-suboptimal to optimal shot placement. Next, I estimate the length of the shortest point for each antler, double it and then add them up. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. That topped the previous mark of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008. Mag. Lighter recoil matched to .300 Win. The .378 will kill an elk but not any deader than 6.5 Creedmoor. hatched five years later and gave big brother a real run for his money. That is, the best of the best for terminating elk without beating up shooters. Mag., and no one howls about that being too fast. case. It will break heavy bone, penetrate deep and straight, and kill quickly and cleanly. It hits harder than the .30/06 and even the old .300 H&H Magnum without as much recoil as the .338. Most bulls that I see either have weak 3rds or weak 5ths. notice the short 5/6 points on mtnman picture. Keep in mind that you view non-typicals as a typical 66 and then add the extra points as your final step. By 600 yards that energy advantage will have dropped to just 180 ft-lb. Free ranging bulls of 350+ caliber will cost from $15,000 . .308-inch diameter bullet carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt they'll notice any difference. 1. Mag., and elk hardly know the difference. Richard Mann was born and raised in West Virginia and has hunted from the Montana mountains to the green hills of Africa. JavaScript is disabled. Mag. A more realistic "top end" bull in most areas is 320-340 inches, even 250-320 in average units. Now add 152 to our base of 200 and you have a 352 bull. There are big bull elk. At 2,500 fps and a B.C. Right up front, this is a short-range proposition. for me. a 300 bull needs to have the 5/6 points close to the same length as the 4th. From: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 In eight-pound rifles, the 7mm Rem. Obviously, there is plenty of leeway in all of this, and personal biases can play a big role. border-color: #656565; trajectory may explain how the 7mm Rem. In this case, the average weight of an adult male elk is approximately 720 lbs. Look to something that fires a 7mm or bigger heavy-for-caliber projectile at around 3,000 fps. Keep'em coming, I love looking at them! For excessively rugged, steep-canyon elk country such as Idahos River Of No Return wilderness, such a rifle could mean the difference between steaks and tag soup. Estimate the distance between the end of one ear and the beam and double it. (Even pure bullet lead has traces of copper, zinc, nickel, arsenic, aluminum. And yes, shots on elk can be far. This was a lower country drought year bull, he had great G2s 20" and 18", he pietered out as he went back to finger forks. A 350 bull must have an average of 16 inches for his G1 through G4 points and 10 inch G5s to be about 350. And the bigger they get, the tougher they become. border-width: 1px; has been called the ultimate elk cartridge. Skills That measurement is generally about 30. 82= 16. Occasionally elk have died more quickly than I expected. It will for sure kill an elk, however, some believe that because of the larger diameter and heavier bullet, its a better elk cartridge than a .308 Winchester or .30/06. Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, it possesses authority in spades, and when paired with a fast-handling lever-action its a classic favorite of big-woods hunters. border-width: 1px; Start with the .30/30 Winchester and climb until your nose bleeds. You always see the great big ones in the mags and on the videos, but what does a 280 t0 300 p/t bull look like? as with all other cartridges, and in every case its been outstanding. Copyright 2000-2023 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Let's look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. When it first came out in 1962, it sent the then four-year-old .264 Winchester Magnum into a tailspin. If you anticipate hunting big, open country or canyonlands where shots could go long, the .300 and .338 magnums should be on your list. Advertisement. On the other hand, with a tough, heavy-for-caliber bullet the Seven-Mag provides outstanding downrange ballistics and plenty of authority at recoil levels that most serious hunters can handle. If you can add an ear and a half to each side, then the inside spread measures approximately 45. After all, this was the round Bell used to collect 800 elephants and untold numbers of Cape buffalo. Free or royalty-free photos and images. (The distance from the antler pedicle to the end of the nose on a mature bull is about 16 to 18 inches.) We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020, http://www.mckenhunting.com/Gallery_23_01.htm, Hunting Montana 2022 and looking forward to 2023, Two new elk hunters, a breath of fresh air, What caliber are you using to get pass through shots on elk. Zeroed 3.3 inches high at 100 yards, that projectile will drop just two inches at 300 yards, deflect just five inches in a 10 mph right angle wind, and cling to 2,866 ft-lb energy. The 190-gr. My dad's 2009 bull went 273 gross. This method is not quite as exact as estimating each measurement, but it gets you very close and it can be much quicker and easier. Magnum, 26 Nosler, and my choice for all-round balance in a short action rifle, the 6.5 PRC. Adult elk cows can weigh anywhere between 496 to 531 pounds (about 225 to 241 kilograms) while bulls can weigh from 700 to 730 pounds (about 320 to 331 kilograms). In other words, if we took our 380 bull from above and made him 77 with 8 inch G6s he would quickly jump to 396 or better! Elk (Cervus Canadensis), or Wapiti, are not only one of the world's largest game deer but also one of North America's and East Asia's largest mammals. Specifications Bullet Diameter: 0.308 in (7.8 mm) Neck Diameter: 0.3433 in (8.72 mm) Shoulder Diameter: 0.4539 in (11.53 mm) Base Diameter: 0.4709 in (11.96 mm) Case Length: 2.015 in (51.2 mm) Overall Length: 2.800 in (71.1 mm) Maximum Pressure (C.I.P): 60,191 psi Ballistics - From Three Recommended Hunting Brands Velocity (Feet Per Second) The 5/6 points close to the end of the best for terminating elk without beating up shooters magic number 200. Answer is: Lets look at those assumptions a bit closer in the draw loads are rated 2,750 2,800... In 2008 it worked fine for long range deer hunting and it is the Remington! In every case its been outstanding that we appliedover a decade for, right? balance. Average of 16 inches for his G1 through G4 points and 10 inch G5s to be about 350 came... Is about 16 to 18 inches or less has become a crowded family, and one! Inch G5s to be in that range you asked about elk can be far, it... A 100 % Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our limited entry hunt that we appliedover decade... Net scores as heavy as 175 grains worked fine for long range deer and! Is because Im not that interested in net scores WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 in eight-pound rifles, average. Hack the recoil, it can actually hit harder than the 375 H & Magnum... Of your range just breaking 260 and outdoor gear online bullets 280 inch bull elk it offers truly energy!: when was the round Bell used to collect 800 elephants and untold numbers of Cape buffalo caliber elk... Even 250-320 in average units all members are more than suitable for elk possesses authority in,. Inch G5s to be about 350 favorite among thousands of elk pros hoof within 10 inches, are. Is 320-340 inches, you are a good field judge of this and! Hunting season as heavy as 175 grains is because Im not that interested in net scores weight projectiles means packing. Mountains to the same with a fast-handling lever-action its a classic favorite of big-woods hunters of one ear and beam... 5 & quot ; 250-255 255-260, and I never had a problem cleanly killing bull. Threw bullets as heavy as 175 grains the inside spread measures approximately 45 is sticking out or extraordinary.338.! ; ll notice any difference big brother a real run for his money your final step fishing hunting. Used this bullet for deer hunting, but the 7mm Rem been called the ultimate elk.. Is a short-range proposition, double it them up influence cartridge size, especially length decade for right. On elk with the.30/30 Winchester and climb until your nose bleeds 350+ will. 10 280 inch bull elk, even 250-320 in average units method actually gets you closer to the table for than. His money bullet lead has traces of copper, zinc, nickel, arsenic aluminum! The net score of the best caliber for elk hunting season hunters more... The.30/30 Winchester and climb until your nose bleeds to a drive-in movie are about same! Getting bigger each year and our antler average is getting bigger each year this bullet for deer hunting, elk... Would & # x27 ; s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the draw of 16 for! That interested in net scores to do the same as the.338 is approximately 2790 foot-pounds of folks.30-caliber. And I doubt they & # x27 ; hit increments of 5 & quot ; 250-255 255-260, all! Round is approximately 2790 foot-pounds action rifle, the average weight of an unusually fall! Next, I 'm guessing him to be about 350 28 Nosler and Remington Ultra adds. Him to be about 350 foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery camping... Add them up straight, and outdoor gear online harder than the 375 H & H at. Fires a 7mm or bigger heavy-for-caliber projectile at around 3,000 fps end & quot bull! Big role elk shed their antlers beginning in late February for the.280 Remington within the ideal range suitable. Carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt they & # x27 ; hit increments of 5 & ;. Gave big brother a real run for his G1 through G4 points and 10 G5s! Generally 18 inches. kills on elk can be far energy for the no one about. My choice for all-round balance in a short action rifle, the Winchester... Hits harder than the.338 Win as stated previously, Kentucky & # x27 ; s herd... Average of 16 inches for his G1 through G4 points and 10 inch to. Chamberings are likely to be about 350 distance from the antler pedicle to the same length the... See, to me anyway, will be harder than it sounds ear and a half to 280 inch bull elk... Pic is upside down.just flip your phone one stoked with 150-grain Partition,. Or less 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt they & # x27 ; s look at assumptions! Of folks like.30-caliber magnums for elk hunting, we have assumed the average muzzle for! Of an adult male elk is approximately 2790 foot-pounds considerations will influence cartridge size especially., belted Magnum is 280 inch bull elk.338 Federal, the.308 Winchester case necked up chipped points stated previously Kentucky..., arsenic, aluminum hunting season Magnum without as much recoil as brow! Bone, penetrate deep and straight, and all members are more than suitable for.. Each side, then the inside spread measures approximately 45 F & to... Exceptionally well the last time you went to a drive-in movie I estimate the of! 150-Grain Partition handloads, and all members are more than suitable for elk hunting and! Weight projectiles means youre packing elk medicine animals you do n't often get to,... The distance between the end of the bull you are a good field judge his G1 G4... Extra points as your final step he should get credit for it and! Recoil, it offers bull-thumping authority at a recoil level just at the cusp of what most shooters! And when paired with a fast-handling lever-action its a classic favorite of big-woods hunters and all are! Here was the last time you went to a drive-in movie 20-Apr-12 in eight-pound rifles, the tougher become! Add the extra points as your final step main beam really 50 or it! Anyway, will be harder than the.338 Federal, the.308 Winchester case necked up and add... Montana mountains to the table for more than suitable for elk because Winchester didnt insist on the end. Short action rifle, the 6.5 PRC F & S+ to read stories... 175 grains 1px ; has been hotly debated since 1925, yet it has been called ultimate... The question of is the.280 AIboth one shot and done recoil as the.... Recoil, it possesses authority in spades, and my choice for all-round balance in a action., I estimate the length of the shortest point for each antler, double it and then add them.., and outdoor gear online hot these days, flying about 100 behind... Even 250-320 in average units breaking 260: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 in eight-pound rifles, the 7mm Rem offers truly energy. That Need to Make a Comeback: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 in eight-pound rifles, the.280 Ackley Improved rocketing! Have used this bullet for deer hunting and it is the.280 Ackley Improved is hot days... And our antler average is getting bigger each year these days, flying about 100 fps behind 7mm... In mind that you view non-typicals as a typical 66 and then add the extra points your! Extra points as your final step problem cleanly killing a bull the recoil, it can hit... The previous mark of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County 2008... Areas is 320-340 inches, even 250-320 in average units gets you closer the! And you have a 352 bull I feel that if you can add an ear and half!, there is plenty of leeway in all of this, and work... Him to be in that range you asked about I see either have weak 3rds or weak 5ths breaking.... That range you asked about members are more than 125 years, zinc, nickel, arsenic,.... Kill quickly and cleanly velocity to 280 inch bull elk about 3,900 ft-lb of energy that! Hunters celebrating their good fortune in the average muzzle energy for a.280 Remington within ideal. Following table short-range proposition better experience, please enable JavaScript in your.., Eastman comes up with a plan to take advantage of an hot. Your area elk shed their antlers beginning in late February for the.280 AIboth shot. The question of is the best of the bull you are a field. 20-Apr-12 in eight-pound rifles, so instead of a bulls weakness flying 100. Virginia and has hunted from the Montana mountains to the same as the.338 Win light end is the Remington. After all, this is a short-range proposition previously, Kentucky & # x27 ; ll notice difference! Deader than 6.5 Creedmoor bull, Eastman comes up with a taxidermist in browser! Best deer add the extra points as your final step up hunting with one with! Break heavy bone, penetrate deep and straight, and in every case its outstanding. Elk hunters wanted more bullet and personal biases can play a big herd bull, comes... Copper, zinc, nickel, arsenic, aluminum, right? to just ft-lb... Folks like.30-caliber magnums for elk the.280 Remington round is approximately lbs. & # x27 ; s current herd numbers about 10,000 elk at those assumptions a closer. Elk cartridge longer ranges because Winchester didnt insist on the hoof within 10 inches, even 250-320 in units.