Bulls with curvy looking points score well. Notice by comparing these classes of bulls that misjudging a couple of points by a couple of inches will affect the accuracy of your score. As with any caliber, the lighter the bullet and lower the muzzle velocity, the easier the rifle is to handle and the closer you should get before taking your shot. Plus, ammo is available in just about every sporting goods shop across the West. Mag., some less. Note that most 380 bulls will have 52 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. Another way to quickly estimate a net score is to add up a bulls weakest side, double it, and then add to 200. for me. a 300 bull needs to have the 5/6 points close to the same length as the 4th. Thats why I like 7mm and .30-caliber magnums with tough, heavy bullets, and why I consider an elk hunter toting a .338 magnum a wise man. For elk, pick a really tough bullet and if possible, pick broadside shots. Looking for a Hunting or Fishing Partner. Its a 3.34-inch magnum cartridge that fits the same standard-length action rifles as the .338 Win. These totals amount to right at 320. Nevertheless, the 180-grain has long been the standard with elk hunters. There are big bull elk. His swords flared out. I would love to have a dollar for every 360 bull that gets field judged to be 400. It will break heavy bone, penetrate deep and straight, and kill quickly and cleanly. Youll appreciate that kind of performance if you can handle the recoil. In purely practical terms, no elk cartridge equals the beautifully balanced .300 Win. bullets, weight to weight, have a higher SD for potentially better penetration. The .30/30, .300 Savage, .30/06, .300 Win. Sounds like a deal, lets compromise. while Josiah used the 155-grain .280 Ackley . Is the mass heavy or light and how does it compare to 30 per side? color: #ffffff; Sales bloomed immediately when it released. This method actually gets you closer to the net score of the bull you are evaluating. Mag. Be careful not to air judge too quickly because once you start saying a bull is 325 and he really is 300 your judging scale gets skewed. But, because elk have big antlers and big bodies, some hunters believe it takes an even bigger bullet to kill them. From: WapitiBob 20-Apr-12 ELKCHSR, I look pretty good for a 40 year old guy! It scored under 300. What's New in Bowhunting World Certainly the .270s and 6.5mms can and do take elk annually, but one would be hard pressed to recommend them as optimum. I think sometimes I forget how nice a 300" elk really is when you read and get caught up in the numbers of 350+ trophy elk. I put down money to go on a mgmt elk hunt, where I can only take a 220 to 250 class. Bulls with straight looking points wont score well. Free ranging bulls of 350+ caliber will cost from $15,000 . cannot measure up to the .338 Win. Once you have this base to start from you simply start adding a bullstine lengths to 200. JavaScript is disabled. Jay Scott Outdoors I think if a bull grows it, he should get credit for it. This short-fat, looking remarkably similar to the 6.8 Western, adds around 200 fps to the best Creedmoor speeds, and that lets you shoot the same bullets with less drop, less wind deflection, and more energy on target. If the .338s are the best caliber on the upper end for elk, the 7mms are the best at the lower end. 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? Distance capabilityreachis all about the sister virtues of speed and aerodynamics. So many variables with scoring elk. notice the short 5/6 points on mtnman picture. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. Want the best cartridge for elk hunting? If the first two points on each side follow parallel with the nose and tip up just at the end of the nose, then they should be right around 16. When does everyone think is the best time to sell/buy vehicles? Mag. The immediate success of the 7mm Rem. thanks coondog. Not the greatest picture but that's around 300". After all, this was the round Bell used to collect 800 elephants and untold numbers of Cape buffalo. slug from the .300 Win. Then there are really big, world-record-class bull elk. 2022 GOHUNT, LLC. Bullets engineered to expand at 7mm terminal velocities are the ticket, and there are plenty of them. If you anticipate hunting big, open country or canyonlands where shots could go long, the .300 and .338 magnums should be on your list. In this case, the average weight of an adult male elk is approximately 720 lbs. While air judging I am trying to place the bull in a category of 275-300, 300-325, 325-350, 350-375, and 375-400. Again, most 400 bulls will have 54 to 56 inch beams, and a spread of potentially more than 40 inches. It sure makes that rack look HUGE! Mag. During my high school . 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. Hunting elk in Colorado requires patience and a keen eye. The second method requires you to actually break the elk down and measure him by estimating actual point and beam length, mass and inside spread. For more on Arizona Guided Elk Hunts visit:http://exclusivepursuitoutfitters.com/arizona-elk-hunting/ Once I determine the length of the first two points, next I extrapolate those into the rest of the points. Or even ten. I can make a 280 bull look a lot better with the right pose. .308-inch diameter bullet carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt they'll notice any difference. Check your email for a confirmation message. On a mature bull, that measurement is usually 15 to 16. Mag., 6.5 Weatherby RPM, 6.5-300 Wby. These totals amount to 303. 1. Like other members of the deer family, the antlers of bull elk grow during spring and summer beneath a hairy skin covering known as velvet. Killing a big bull at a steep quartering angle takes a very good cartridge, topped with a tough, deep-penetrating bullet. It was the only non-typical on Area 23! male bull elk bugling - big bull elk stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Finally, the .280 Ackley Improved is rocketing to western-hunting stardom. However, it possesses authority in spades, and when paired with a fast-handling lever-action its a classic favorite of big-woods hunters. The 9 pointer scored 135 2/8 inches SCI. Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. And I write calibers and cartridges because caliber means the diameter of the bore. If you want fast .30-caliber authority coupled with compact-rifle ergonomics, this is your poison. Shooting an elk with one, however, is about like shooting a gopher with a .30/06. Sixteen-year-old Cody Vine of Arizona took this 7x6 bull elk scoring 428 while bowhunting in the Kaibab National Forest last fall. I know small-framed hunters who happily pay the gravitational price for packing Granddads M1886 Winchester lever-action in .45/70. .284-inch bullet or a 180-gr. Mag. What is the average muzzle energy for a .280 Remington? Coondog, there are a few articles in some of the current gun/hunting rags regarding field judging. Hunting is supposed to be fun and if that is your idea of fun, you could probably have even more of it with a .378 Weatherby. Apr 28, 2020. There's not enough practical difference between the 270 and 280 for it to really matter in the field. border-color: #656565; But, credit where credit is due, its a great elk cartridge. Be aware of straight looking points without much end curve because they are often shorter than you think. I've never scored an elk and likely never will. 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. Elk bullets must be tough enough to provide adequate penetration. For big game hunting precise shot placement is critical no matter the cartridge, and its damn hard to place a shot precisely when you know youre going to get smacked hard enough to loosen your teeth and knock out your boogers. Keep in mind with this Base 200 system that as you go below 340 size bulls your base 200 numbers will need to be slightly adjusted as noted below. There is a persistent myth flying about that the 7mm Rem Mag shoots too fast. Many claim its bullets dont have time to open. Hannah Helmer's bull, harvested on the Sept. 24 opener of the elk season in the Hat Creek Unit near Crawford, was officially scored at 430 6/8 on Nov. 30 by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife biologist Randy Stutheit. vertical-align: top This bull had grown from an estimated 370 class bull in 1998 to a 400 inch plus, 52 inch wide, non-typical monster elk. Some are longer and some a bit shorter, but 50 is a good estimate to start from. Kent's trophy bull scored 401 2/8 inch, non-typical SCI! Free or royalty-free photos and images. This is my brothers bull from 2003, grosses right at 295. 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! Any rifle strong enough to contain the 7mm Rem. Although its new on the block, this cartridge is the best-engineered hunting 7mm available. 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. It has nice tails but the 4 is a little short as well as the 3. Mag. 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. Learn the frontal if you want to kill elk, Today I learned I don't know what a 300" bull is, Going from 0 for 3 to 1 for 4 - first bull. Here's how to set realistic expectations, get it done, and have a blast. 2012, 2013 & now join us on. Look to something that fires a 7mm or bigger heavy-for-caliber projectile at around 3,000 fps. Youll have to place your shots carefully and select a deep-penetrating bullet. Mag. Before modern rangefinders, it was the cartridge of choice for world-traveling hunters who liked its flat trajectory and emphatic impact. font-size: 14px; It will take 3 trips at 97 lbs per trip, 4 trips at 73 lbs per trip and 5 trips at 58 lbs per trip. We trot down the ridge, searching for a spot to glass the bull's position. numbers hitting .590 or so, keep velocities at 3,000 fps with carefully built handloads, and 300-yard drop is only 2.3 inches, wind deflection 4.7 inches, retained energy 2,700 ft-lb. .tg .th-lmno { The 300-inch curse has plagued piles of public-land hunters chasing elk in the West. Be careful with these estimates because whenever you double a measurement, it can make your score go up or down drastically. thanks coondog. The .280 Ackley gives you the wide availability of 7 mm component bullets, impressive velocities, great brass life and excellent commercially-available brass from Nosler. Some cartridges take root in the hunting world quickly, others fade . Mag. I am hoping for help here at the 'fire with the first problem. bullet like the Swift Scirocco will retain 2,350 ft-lb at 400 yards, 1,500 ft-lb clear out at 600 yards. Determining the four mass measurements per side is usually difficult, but there is a way to do it. Yes, the .280 Remington is A GOOD CHOICE for elk hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. border-collapse: collapse; His favorite Mossy Oak camo pattern is Treestand. Your taste in rifle weight, mass, and recoil will color your choices. Bulls scoring 350-380 . Big Game Hunting - 250 Elk - Hey elk guys, does anyone have any pictures of a 220 to 250 class elk. I gain the most consistency and accuracy with my field judging by actually scoring lots of antlers and, with each one, I gain more confidence. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. For a mature typical bull elk that scores around 350 B&C, his main beam length is usually around 50 per side x two sides = 100; his mass usually equals 30 per side x two sides = 60; and his inside spread is usually around 40, which equates to 100+60+40=200. If you think those measurements deviate from the magic number, just add or subtract the differences accordingly. Ill stick my neck out and say it: This is the best 6.5mm cartridge ever devised for hunting. It was and still is Everymans (and womans) 30 magnum. Bulls scoring 320-350 . My picks for the best elk hunting calibers are what I consider the best, not the most popular. The second important assumption is slightly-suboptimal to optimal shot placement. The 7 WSM and 7 SAUM just about match it in handier short action rifles. Various sources suggest that Remington engineers were interested in creating a high powered 7mm cartridge for several years before reaching their long term goal. Featuring a belt-free, standard-length case with a shoulder sharp enough to provide ultimate capacity and internal efficiency, yet not too steep for slick feeding, it outperforms even the .300 Weatherby Magnumand fits in standard-size bolt actions. Add 16 to 26 (tip to tip) and you have a spread of 42. Elk (Wapiti) have standing shoulder heights between 4'-5'7" (122-170 cm), head-to-body lengths in the range of 6'10"-8" (208-244 . Duck and goose hunters worry that unguided waterfowl hunting in Manitoba could eventually become a thing of the past for most Americans, Sometimesunder some circumstanceshunting is hard to explain. :wink: The other thing is how a bull makes 300. Your 280 with 150 gr partitions will do just fine on cow elk. Most factory loads from a 24-inch barrel are rated 2,960 fps. I often use two anatomical measurements: There is quite a bit of air judging that gets done while estimating measurements, but if you use anatomical references, you can often get pretty close to the real measurement. Dozens of indignant elk hunters sent up a wail when the first elk cartridges article went live on F&Sbecause I hadnt included their .300 RUM favorite. Your IP: Hunters looking to break into the B&C minimums or hunters looking to figure out the difference from a 370 bull from a 390 bull all need to dissect a bulls rack long before they decided to pull the trigger. And yes, shots on elk can be far. It has a near perfect balance of length, width, power, and recoil. Mag. In 1963, everyone knew the all-American .30/06, so they had a benchmark against which to judge this belted magnum throwing the same familiar bullets 200 fps faster. (The distance from the antler pedicle to the end of the nose on a mature bull is about 16 to 18 inches.) We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. When a bull has his head down feeding, I determine whether the main beam is higher or lower than the hump on his back above his shoulder. Keep in mind that with the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett scoring systems (which are identical) you only measure 4 mass measurements along the main beam. developed a reputation as a wounder because ammo companies and handloaders were stoking it with light, thin-jacketed projectiles meant for 757 Mauser speeds. It wallops big bulls with authority, and wallops hunters hard, too. Although the 7mm-06 wildcat had been in existence for . A 140- to 150-grain .264 driven to the same speeds as a .270 Win. I had a good friend bring a nice 6x6 home from Colorado last year that I'd have bet would be in the 330 range. The third tines are about the same as the brow tines and the fourth is generally 18 inches or less. Mag., look at a .338 Federal, .358 Win., or even 7mm-08 Win. 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. overflow: hidden; The 7mm family hatched around 1892 with the 7x57mm Mauser and has since grown to fifteen or more. Its faster than the 6.5-284, and more efficient than the 26 Nosler. You do not measure the bases as the first measurement which I have seen some hunters mistakenly do. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. For the second, I am prolly on my own, eh? 400 Bull: G1= 20, G2= 20, G3= 20, G4= 20, G5= 16. Here's mine from last season. That topped the previous mark of 409 7/8 taken by Dana Foster of Ogallala in Garden County in 2008. Anybody got pictures? Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .280 Remington is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest elk - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .280 Remington is A GOOD CHOICE for elk hunting. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. This was and is one key to the .300 Win. Here is my wifes bull, probably 290 (never really scored it) without broken tine. But I also have a 6-foot 2-inch 20-something friend who climbs with a little 6.5 Creedmoor and lays out 66 bulls with single shots at 400 yards. .tg .tg-sklq { I sat down with Craig Steele ofExclusive Pursuits Outfittersand we went indepth on picking apart an elk's rack. But if youre going to this narrow caliber, choose one with more velocity than the Creedmoor. Built into a titanium short action with a 20-inch Proof Research carbon fiber barrel and a McMillan Edge stock, it will weigh under six. Idaho Elk Outfitters 2113 West 3800 south Rexburg, Idaho 83440 208-313-3634. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Despite the age and reputation of the 6.555 Swede cartridge across Europe, the 26-calibers have never been a go to for elk in North America. Keep in mind that very few bulls are wider than 45 inside. Thats a lot of antler! These days certain 6.5mms have been growing in popularity despite relatively light bullets and muzzle velocities well under 3,000 fps. Might not make any record books but will be a good looking trophy to mount. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. bullets with B.C. Add in the lighter recoil of the .300 Win. Add these to the base of 200 for your total of 344. Recoil is light, and reach is outstanding. 3. Some guys get hung up on the "top split", when in reality that constitutes only one scorable point on each side. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The following methods I have used for a long time when picking apart a bulls rack. At the light end is the .338 Federal, the .308 Winchester case necked up. First, I start with the magic number of 200. If you have a pic of a bull that size, could you post it for me? background-color: #efefef; Another anatomical measurement that can be used when determining point length is the distance from the top of the back to the bottom of belly. Performance & security by Cloudflare. In late summer the velvet dries and falls off to reveal the bonelike structure of the fully-grown antlers. Pictures of dead elk don't do much good. -Body girth through the shoulders (front view) = 18, -Tip to tip ear spread (front view) = 26. Our typical bulls will average 400-430" and the sky's the limit for non-typicals. Enter the number of points. Scoring mounted bulls is a great way to improve your skills as well. 5 Rifle Cartridges That Need to Make a Comeback. 340 Bull: G1= 16, G2= 16, G3= 12, G4= 18, G5= 10. If you hunt massive-bodied Roosevelt bulls in the rain forests of the Northwest, or pine clad ridges and canyon bottoms anyplace where 200 yards is a long shot, this is a prime cartridge. In eight-pound rifles, the 7mm Rem. Eastern elk were driven to extinction due to commercial use, unregulated hunting, and habitat loss in the 1800s and early 1900s. Is the main beam really 50 or is it 53? Thats ok. Live and learn is a common aphorism for a reason. The question is, are detached retinas worth it? Those are better trajectory numbers than many .338 Win. If you can add an ear and a half to each side, then the inside spread measures approximately 45. Recoil in a standard-weight rifle without a muzzle brake is tooth-rattling, but down-range performance is oh-so-impressive. text-align: center; Throw the excellent 32 calibers into the mix, the .325 WSM and 8mm Rem. .tg { Its phenomenally accurate, pushes aerodynamic projectiles with high sectional densities at reasonable velocities that dont tear bullets to shreds on impact, recoils little, and has proven more capable than it has any right to be. If you can hack the recoil, it offers truly impressive energy. Magnum, 26 Nosler, and my choice for all-round balance in a short action rifle, the 6.5 PRC. For example: Fire a Nosler 168-gr. Shot opportunities come dear when hunting big bulls on public land, and nothing is better for tricky shot angles than a hard-hitting, deep-driving .338 bullet. Its inherently accurate, making long-range shots easier. Idaho Elk Outfitters. .308-inch diameter bullet carrying 1,500 ft-lb energy and I doubt theyll notice any difference. POLL: when was the last time you went to a drive-in movie? They are attractive, and perhaps that is why they are hunted in different parts of the world for sport. Assumnig it is not deformed,anything with 7-8 inch 5th & 6th and bigger 4ths is going to put you there. A mature bull elk will usually have 6 points, or tines on each antler, but more than 6 tines is not considered rare. Non Typical bulls are undoubtedly the hardest to judge in the field. If a Berger (hunting) VLD from a 7mm Rem mag can effectively kill bull elk with enough downrange velocity and energy out to 900 yards (with the right optics of course), as I`ve seen on TV, then certainly a 280 Rem can do the job within all reported (long and short) AVERAGE hunting distances for elk, which are mostly all within 500 yards. Mag. If youre shopping for the perfect elk caliber/rifle, determine how much recoil you can tolerate without flinching and how much rifle weight you might enjoy packing. I decided to cross reference my anatomical measurements with Clay Goldman of Mogollon Taxidermy. Probably the most important aspect of field judging bulls is to have a solid, accurate starting place to build from. font-weight: normal; So match your 7mm elk dreams to your recoil tolerance and select among this big family. Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in elk hunting. in a 22-inch barrel. Fine options include the old .264 Win. Best bullets are the 7mm 155- to 175-grainers, and the .30-caliber 180- to 200-grainers. The 225-grain load in an eight-pound rifle should generate about 40.8 ft-lb of recoil energy. elkkill2006 # 3957463 04/01/10. The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet. 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. The outfitter only takes 3 or 4 hunters per week, September 7 to 12, 18 to 23 and October 5 to 10 giving the ranch a rest between hunts. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. 280 140 244 122 2 337 168 . Calibers lighter and heavier than the 7mms through .338s can be considered excellent for elk. launched 2,600 fps will still be churning some 1,800 ft-lb energy. field judging Straight looking points are always short. Usually your first impression of a bull is pretty honest and accurate. 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. It offers shocking good performance in a beltless, standard-length case and is becoming the go-to, extreme-range hunting cartridge. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. 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. "Average" will vary with different areas, but if they are anything like those in southern Wyoming, the average is going to be closer to 240-250 than 300. Ask yourself if the bull is young or mature, then move on. A common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. If recoil isnt a concern, you can slide up the power charts via the 33 Nosler, .340 Wby. What is the average muzzle energy for a .280 Remington? One grosses about 315 and I can't recall exactly, but the other is in the 260-270 range. It would go about 305-310 with a whole tine. So we have the 250-255 range covered, lets see one in the 255-260 . Many elk hunters consider the old .375 H&H the ultimate elk medicine, but not everyone cares to handle their recoil or the kind of rifle mass that tames it. The right .30/06 load should add 100 fps velocity and 100 ft-lb energy. First impressions of a bull while air judging is extremely important. With the right bullet and .308 hunting rifle, the ubiquitous .308 Winchester is more than adequate out to 300 yards where a high B.C. Believe it or not, with the right bullet, it can hang right with the .300 Win Mag without the recoil. Second, I forgot which socks are my lucky ones. In essence, good elk cartridges drive tough, heavy bullets of healthy diameter, and drive em fast. Tines can reach 18 inches long or longer. antlers arrived in 1958 as a short magnum derived from the .375 H&H belted magnum case. Dropping a bull cleanly takes a good cartridge. The author, center, with a 6x6 248 . Some shoot faster and hit harder than the .338 Win. The resulting cartridge was based on the .30-06 case necked down to 7mm (.284"). #12. longbowelk said: I have a 7mm 08 22 inch barrel Savage model 11 and a custom 280AI, 26 inch 1 in 9 barrel. It was my choice when I drew a limited entry Utah tag and dropped a 402 B&C gross (official) non-typical with one 180-grain Federal TBT. But the .338 Win. If you can add one ear length to each side, that should put you at a 37 inside spread (22 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 37). will handle the .338 Win. The easier the terrain, the heavier the hunting rifle youll be able to tolerate. You start by taking the first measurement at the smallest diameter between the first and second point, and then so on until you have 4 measurements total per side no matter how many points (tines) the bull has (See Coreys section on Scoring Elk).
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