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Old 04-28-2016, 07:24 PM
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Default 270 , 30-06 or 338

So my neighbor is asking - he shoot's a 243 for deer and is now thinking of an elk cartridge ... His buddy to the south is trying to sell him a 338 wm .. Does he need it ? or stick with the 30-06, 270 ....what's the advantage of the 338 ?
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Old 04-28-2016, 08:02 PM
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30-06 or the 270 will be just fine. The 338 throws a bigger chunk of lead but may also recoil harder than he likes. If he decides on the 338 he might be wise to see if he can try it first. That way he knows if he can put up with the extra kick
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Old 04-28-2016, 08:42 PM
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338 win with a 225 partition was my go to for elk, bear and moose. Absolutely perfectly suited for it. I had stepped up from a 270 and boy did I need a lot of practice to get used to the recoil. Glad I did it though as I did find a noticeable difference in killing power, visual and audible reaction of a hit and how far the animal went after hit. Also can shoot almost any sized rifle now. But ya the recoil is not for everyone and may take some getting used to.
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Old 04-28-2016, 08:53 PM
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.270 or 30-06 will do fine. For elk, the extra recoil, weight and cost of ammo wouldn't be worth it.
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Old 04-28-2016, 09:40 PM
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I've shot for years (and very well according to my targets), but when I tried the 338 I just wasn't man enough..........had to sell it 'cause I just couldn't take the recoil.

7mm, 30-06, 270...all suit me just fine, and I can hit what I'm looking at.
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Old 04-28-2016, 09:50 PM
Ebrand Ebrand is offline
 
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Default 243-338 is a huge jump

I have shot a 338 win for 25 years. It is a very heavy recoiling caliber. If he is not willing to learn how to shoot it he is going to ruin his shooting experience. If he develops a flinch or fear of the recoil he will be back to his 243 if he wants to shoot well.

Quality ammunition from factory sources is very expensive and won't be found in most small town locations (he will want to reload for 338W if he is going to shoot lots).

Nothing wrong with 270 or 3006. A properly placed shot from either by a comfortable and competent shooter has way more killing power than bigger faster bullet that the shooter flinched on because he is not comfortable shooting it.

He should try it before he buys it.

My wife's 243 has more Moose to it's credit than my 338. I load her good bullets and she knows her limits and the limits of her gun. She makes good clean shots and has great success.

I would be replacing the 338 with am more civilized caliber if I was not so stubborn. Might have gotten that way from being kicked too hard?
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Old 04-28-2016, 10:20 PM
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They are all great choices.
My preference for Elk is 338/06. I know it was not given as an option but is a far lighter recoil than the 338 win mag.
338 cal bullets just kill like Thors Hammer
Of the three?
338 Win Mag
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Old 04-28-2016, 10:27 PM
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For elk go with .338 No tracking. I have killed some elk with my .270 aswell.
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Old 04-29-2016, 06:56 AM
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Buy it, worst thing that could happen is he has an extra gun. Can't lose.
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Old 04-29-2016, 07:54 AM
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In a real hunt situation you do not always get perfect bullet placement in the boiler. Also some times you get very close to your animal. I found the larger calibers can give you much more un-useable blooded meat.
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:07 AM
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300 win mag.
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:07 AM
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30 06.
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:19 AM
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Have lots of rifles and although my 270 is my go to rifle in most situations, for all around use I'd have to be honest and suggest the 30-06 over the 270, especially if elk is going to be thrown into the mix. Before anyone jumps in about the 270 being fine, it is, but the 06 gives the better choice of bullet weights etc and if you're buying new, why not give yourself the little extra the 30-06 provides?
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:34 AM
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For me personally it would be the 30'06. 338 Win mag is more than I can comfortably shoot, and the 270 is, well.....a 270!!
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:34 AM
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In my experience with Elk, they have will to live like no other animal that I have hunted.
when a new hunter asks what caliber they should shoot for elk, my suggestion is to shoot the largest one they can handle proficiently.
you can kill them with anything with proper shot placement, but in the field the shots aren't always ideal, and shooting a larger caliber can give you the difference between meat in the freezer and a long tracking job with no elk at the end.
I have shot 10+ bulls with a 30-06 and got tired of them not reacting to the shot, even when hit well at close range, so I made the jump to a 338 RUM and while not for everyone, I have not shot one with it yet that did not react noticeably to the shot, of the 6 or so that I have shot with it.

as far as moose are concerned a 30-06 works well on them as well, but again, I feel like with these larger tougher skinned game I owe it to them to shoot the largest gun I can reliably handle to make the quickest kill that I can.

so for your buddy, I would have to go with the 338Win as the best of the 3 for larger game, and if he cannot handle that, the 30-06 would be the second choice.

JMO
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:34 AM
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The question is less about cartridge and more about the operator..
1) what level of recoil can he handle?
2) is he willing to spend money on premium bullets/ammo?

A TTSX (trophy copper, gmx etc) out of a 270 is imo better elk medicine than a cheap bullet out of any other cartridge. We are no longer limited to cup and core or partition, so the caliber question is less important, or less quantifiable.

If he likes his 243 my guess is a 270 will be the max he wants...a 3006 launching 180 gr projectiles tends to create a pretty stiff kick. 338 win mag is asking for a flinch. Ymmv
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Old 04-29-2016, 11:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3blade View Post
The question is less about cartridge and more about the operator..
1) what level of recoil can he handle?
2) is he willing to spend money on premium bullets/ammo?

A TTSX (trophy copper, gmx etc) out of a 270 is imo better elk medicine than a cheap bullet out of any other cartridge. We are no longer limited to cup and core or partition, so the caliber question is less important, or less quantifiable.

If he likes his 243 my guess is a 270 will be the max he wants...a 3006 launching 180 gr projectiles tends to create a pretty stiff kick. 338 win mag is asking for a flinch. Ymmv
"THIS"
With today's bullets a bull elk's skin isn't that thick!
Not sure why anyone would want to beat themselves up.
I guess if he went the 338 route he would be ready for that Kodiak hunt.
Killed three bulls with 270win 110TTSX. They fall down immediately.
Another 4 with 140 TSX out of a 7mm Roy with same results.
Been lucky enough not to shoot one in the guts. But thinking 338 in the guts would have the same effect.
I guess its always comes back to bullet placement.

Regards.
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Old 04-29-2016, 11:14 AM
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338
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Old 04-29-2016, 01:00 PM
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I love my 338 WM with a 225 grain bullet...shots very flat and hits hard but if he has only shot a 243 rifle that's a big jump to go to the 338 so the 30-06 with a 180 grain bullet may make more sense for him to go to as his elk rifle.
But everyone should own at least one 338 WM in their lifetime and a 375 H&H as well.

Jim
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Old 04-29-2016, 09:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3blade View Post
The question is less about cartridge and more about the operator..
1) what level of recoil can he handle?
2) is he willing to spend money on premium bullets/ammo?

A TTSX (trophy copper, gmx etc) out of a 270 is imo better elk medicine than a cheap bullet out of any other cartridge. We are no longer limited to cup and core or partition, so the caliber question is less important, or less quantifiable.

If he likes his 243 my guess is a 270 will be the max he wants...a 3006 launching 180 gr projectiles tends to create a pretty stiff kick. 338 win mag is asking for a flinch. Ymmv
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wireone View Post
"THIS"
With today's bullets a bull elk's skin isn't that thick!
Not sure why anyone would want to beat themselves up.
I guess if he went the 338 route he would be ready for that Kodiak hunt.
Killed three bulls with 270win 110TTSX. They fall down immediately.
Another 4 with 140 TSX out of a 7mm Roy with same results.
Been lucky enough not to shoot one in the guts. But thinking 338 in the guts would have the same effect.
I guess its always comes back to bullet placement.

Regards.
gotta agree with this ... new boolits have equalized cartridges and calibre .... A 270 will do more today then awhile ago....
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Old 04-29-2016, 09:18 PM
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If he shoots the .243win good, why not just use it for elk as well!
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  #22  
Old 04-29-2016, 09:30 PM
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that's exactly the question .... can a 243/ 270/ 30-06 do the same as a 338 win ( nope ) ..why do we take the recoil ..or are we just getting older and wiser ?
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Old 04-29-2016, 09:37 PM
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If you can manage recoil then the 338 has an advantage in penetration if a poor angle shot needs to be taken.
If you are intimidated by recoil the stick with 30.06, it will do just fine 99% of the time.
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf View Post
In a real hunt situation you do not always get perfect bullet placement in the boiler. Also some times you get very close to your animal. I found the larger calibers can give you much more un-useable blooded meat.
Just out of curiosity, can you provide an example? I've heard that the larger calibers actually do less damage to usable meat.
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:46 AM
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I owned a T3lite in 30-06 and the recoil off it was way worse than the recoil from my 338 WM Ruger. Different people, different stock styles and different weights also make a big difference in felt recoil.

Of the 270, 30-06 or 338...I picked the 338 for elk hunting because I kept having grizzly bears coming into my elk calls...the 30-06 works fine for elk but I wanted to pack something with more thump for obvious reasons.
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Old 05-01-2016, 08:51 AM
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If he's used to shooting the 243 perhaps he won't be a fan of excess recoil. Have him try the other cartridges. If he's ok with a 338 then fill yer boots. Id suggest 308 win. You get a .30 cal that's just behind the 30-06 in recoil for those that don't hand load.
Also, consider 7-08 for lower recoil and plenty power. I am a short action guy



That's what she said!!

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Old 05-01-2016, 09:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Salavee View Post
Just out of curiosity, can you provide an example? I've heard that the larger calibers actually do less damage to usable meat.
Much of that has to do with bullet construction and the velocity they are running at. The heavier bullets tend to have bullets that are thicker jackets so on s deer for example , they still kill well , but do not destroy as much meat as a light jacketed bullet at higher velocity .
Cat
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Old 05-01-2016, 09:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fordtruckin View Post
.270 or 30-06 will do fine. For elk, the extra recoil, weight and cost of ammo wouldn't be worth it.
There it is, well said.
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Old 05-01-2016, 09:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Salavee View Post
Just out of curiosity, can you provide an example? I've heard that the larger calibers actually do less damage to usable meat.
Depends on the bullet construction. Velocity on impact etc so it really depends on too many variables to be an accurate statement.
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Old 05-01-2016, 09:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForwardBias View Post
30 06.
This is where I would go with a 165 gr pill out of it.
Might even sell the 243 to help cover some of the cost but it is always nice to have two rifles minimum.
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