Big Enough For Elk?
Q: Is the .308 Win. big enough for elk? I'm getting mixed opinions from my hunting friends.
-Roger Holmes, Shawmut, Montana
A: I've used the Thompson/Center Encore handgun chambered in .308 Win. to take moose in Maine and moose and elk in Colorado. Although some hunters and shooters will tell you that the caliber is too small, the .308 Win., when it is loaded with the proper bullet that is carefully placed in the vitals, is a legitimate elk gun.
Shot placement and bullet construction will be the keys to success. But those requirements are the same whether you are hunting with that caliber or a big magnum like a .338 Win. Mag. or .375 H&H Mag.
-Larry Weishuhn
Mulling Over A Mountain Rifle
Q: I recently purchased a short-action Remington mountain rifle chambered in 7mm-08 Rem. I will mostly hunt deer, but want to consider hunting an occasional black bear. I have used 140-grain bullets and was wondering about other ammo options. What do you think will be the upper limits of the big game species that I can hunt with this rifle?
-Scott Lance, Blairsville, Georgia
A: I think that a short-action mountain rifle chambered for 7mm-08 Rem. is a fine choice for deer-sized game. I would draw the line and limit it to animals weighing less than 300 pounds, eliminating it for elk and moose. You should also keep your shot distances within 300 yards.
The Nosler Partition bullet will work well for black bears, and the Ballistic Tip has a lot of fans among deer hunters. Other ammo choices include Federal's High Energy and Winchester's Fail Safe or Ballistic Silvertip. Hornady, Speer and Remington also make rounds. As you can see, there are many ammo options for the 7mm-08 Rem., and that's what makes it so popular. -Bryce Towsley
Interested in bowhunting elk? Read "Elk on the Edge" by Chuck Adams.