.30-06 or .270 wsm for elk

1

1of2predatorpals

New member
My brother and I are having a kind of quarrel over which would be better for elk- his 30-06 or my 270 wsm. His argument is that physics says that more mass behind pressure, more power. He is shooting a 150 grain bullet.. My argument (for .270 wsm)is that I am getting about 300-400 more ft. pounds of energy and much more velocity. Any thoughts? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
If you make a poor shot then neither of the guns are better. If you make a good shot then either one will kill an elk no problem. So maybe you should argue who is the better shot.Haha Jk. I would go with the 30-06 with a 180gr Bullet. And if I am reading correctly they are both shooting about the same velocity with most bullet weights.
 
I'd bet a dollar to a donut that no elk would be able to tell the difference. This is the same silly argument of which is better the 270 or 30-06.

If your really want a good elk killer go with one of 8mm's or 338s. I've been whacking elk here in Idaho and Moose in Alaska since 1978 with the 8mm Rem mag pushing a 220 grain spitzer boattail at just over 300 fps. My old hunting partner uses a 30-06 and kills them just ad dead. I've got friends that love the 338 Win mag and the 338 Ultra-mag.

Several folks above brought out the point that good shot placement is the key to good kills and they are absolutely right. A poor shot with a 416 is as bad as a poor shot with a 270 WSM.
 
One important point in elk hunting is to use a premium heavily constructed bullet designed to retain most of it's weight. The key in a critter the size of an elk is to get good penetration. I'm with IDBob. I use either a 300 Win Mag, 300 Wby Mag, or a 338 Win Mag. I really like the 338 Win Mag. With the right bullet you have to see to believe what it will do to an elk. When you're hunting in rugged c ountry you don't want to be tracking a wounded animal. You want it to drop like a safe. Dan
 
When I started elk hunting in the early 60's my go to the woods gun was a 308 Norma mag. This is ballistically identical to the 300 Win mag and preceded it. In 78 I was stationed in Alaska and wanted something with more power, but with the same ballistics of my old 308 Norma. The 8mm Remington mag attracted my attention. If that hadn't come out I'd probably be shooting a 340 Weatherby mag.

What 10 Bears said is very good advice. Years ago I gave up doing a heart lung shot when I helped pack an elk out of "Frying pan Canyon". That's a place a dead animal can run with it's heart blown completely up before it decides it's really dead. you're better off just to take in a frying pan and eat it right there than attempt to get it out. I now do a front shoulder shot if I'm anywhere I think an animal that going to run a hundred yards before it drops will be a pita to get out.

This is being a little facetious, but where I hunt if you break both front shoulders most elk won't go for more than a couple of steps. That takes a well built bullet and plenty of power to do that.

Keep in mind that Jack O'Conners favorite 270 was a great elk rifle, but he was sitting in camp having a drink while the guides were fishing out the elk from a place where he certainly wasn't going to go to get it.

Here's some typical Idaho elk country. You decide which cartridge you'd like to shoot here.

LoloCreek.jpg


3-28-05TriptoNorthFork083.jpg


BigCanyon3.jpg


GravesCreekfromtopofDumaq.jpg
 
either will do if I had my druthers and had to pick one I would pick 270wsm faster & flatter shooting that the '06

the elk won't be able to tell the difference honestly

I shoot a 300wm it is my choice and I'm sticking to it
 
While the WSM is flatter shooting, you are religated to a 150 grn bullet max and that negates the better trajectory for the most part. I second the opinion that the 30-06 180 grn bullet is a premier Elk gun in a non Magnum chambering. The Potential of the 30-06 far surpasses the 270 WSM. But if your going 150 to 150 grn bullets the 06 still outshines the 270 due to kinetic energy and diameter. But there are so many variables that is why this argument has been going on for sixty years or longer.
 
I use 06 with a 168gr bonded (Hornady Interbond) bullet. Never have had any trouble putting down ELK here in AZ. I feel the lighter bonded bulled really is a great compromise between speed and power.
 
I have used a 270 WSM to kill 4 elk in the last 5 years. These were all cows, but this year I used a 300WSM to kill a spike. I feel that a 270 wsm will be enough for any elk if you shoot it in the right place. I used factory ammo that had 140 accubonds and all were 1 or 2 shot kills.

Jon
 
I have killed 20 elk and multiples of deer with the same 30/06. I used 220 grain bullets in close timber. 180 grain bullets in more open areas. I have never lost an elk. The 220 bullet really allows the expansion to bleed them out fast. I have had two foot wide blood trails in the snow, and they didn't move far. I had one friend shoot a bull five times with a .270. He finally got him but it was bad.
I have never liked any of the Mags recoil.
I'm a 45/70 man now. Have four of those.

Pack
 
Quote:
While the WSM is flatter shooting, you are religated to a 150 grn bullet max and that negates the better trajectory for the most part. I second the opinion that the 30-06 180 grn bullet is a premier Elk gun in a non Magnum chambering. The Potential of the 30-06 far surpasses the 270 WSM. But if your going 150 to 150 grn bullets the 06 still outshines the 270 due to kinetic energy and diameter. But there are so many variables that is why this argument has been going on for sixty years or longer.



I am feeling a bit cantankerous tonight. I don't really think you can prove those conclusions looking at some energy charts.

270 WSM 150 grain bullet
http://www.winchester.com/products/catal...TTQ==&use=8

30-06 180 grain bullet
http://www.winchester.com/products/catal...lbGQ=&use=8

Here is the 150 grain 30-06
http://www.winchester.com/products/catal...3ByaW5nZmllbGQ=
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top