Minimum Elk Caliber. what do you think it is.

[rjthehunter]

100% sure about that… There’s no flies on the .243 for killing elk.

I agree, but I've seen gut shots anchor animals. Not just with a 338 though. But speaking generally I'd agree.

 

[DFS]

I’ll go ahead and say it elk are impenetrable I would start with a .33 caliber and go up from there. The big iron elk needs a caliber that hurts your shoulder.

 

[DFS]

They are hard to put down don’t quit shooting until they quit moving.

 

[Leterbuck86]

common sense wins everytime, any caliber works

 

[mtmuley]

Sounds like you might be ok

No, the .300 Remington Ultra Mag is not "too much" gun for elk
; it is a powerful and effective cartridge for hunting large game at various ranges, though its high recoil is the main drawback. The key is whether the shooter can handle the recoil and place accurate shots, as shot placement is more important than the specific caliber.

Pure sarcasm on my part. These threads are great. I'm dragging the cannon into the woods today. mtmuley

 

[Ringbill27]

I would say I’d go as low as 7mm08 but I’d only go as high as 30-06. Not going to beat myself up and go bigger. Both with the correct bullet will work well to 400yds and that the range I would like to stay in.

I get the small cartridge craze right now. The data is there. From what I’ve gathered they work well with the right bullet in a rifle you’ve practiced with. So it’s a shot placement, bullet selection and confidence thing.
I shoot the bigger cartridge just as well and just as much as the little ones so I’m going to use the bigger cartridge. I’d like to say 6.5 creedmoor as the low but I just got it and don’t have enough time behind it to make an educated decision.

 

[Dan-06]

I know 2 different families that use a243. They don’t go hungry either. My daughter uses her 25-06. She has never needed more than 1. Wife uses her 6.5 Swede. It just works. I’m still using my 1972 model 70 , 30-06. Bagged over 30 head.