300WM and Elk walk in hunt

[Watrdawg]

I have a question about elk hunting with a 300 WM. I am going elk hunting in Colorado next year and I'm probably going to be shooting my 300WM. I really like the ELD-X factory round and also shoot it in my .308 and 7mm08. The Hornady factory 300WM is a 200gr ELD-X round. I'm not positive where we are hunting so I'm not sure about what distances I can expect to be shooting at. I know the 300WM is more than enough gun but it would also give me the ability to take a good animal out to 500 yards easily. I shoot a lot out to 600 yards now with my .308 so I'm not worried about taking game at that distance. My buddies are shooting Tikka T3's in 6.5CM. I'm tempted to take my 7mm08 and shoot that. It's a Win Mod 70 Extreme Weather. The only issue I have with it is that if I see a shooter bull at 400-600 yards and can't get any closer it's not enough gun at that distance. 300 yards and in no problem at all. Although the 7mm08 weighs about 1 1/2lbs less than my 300WM so walking all day will be a lot easier with that rifle.

So if anyone has had any experience with the Hornady 300WM 200gr ELD-X I'd like to hear about it. If there is another factory round that may be better I'd like to hear those recommendations also. What do y'all think about the 7mm08 for elk? I'd be shooting the 150gr ELD-X in that caliber.

[Ironman8]

As a bow hunter and rifle hunter who has hunted elk in CO, I’ll go out on a limb and say that there’s not many situations where you won’t be able to close off a couple hundred yards to get within 300yds and seal the deal...unless we’re talking NW CO where it’s fairly flat and sparse.

If you’re humping the rifle around for any length of time especially at elevation, and there’s any concern with the weight, then take the lighter rifle. It’s more than enough gun with good shot placement. Figure out just how much hiking you’ll be doing with the rifle, and make the decision based on that.

On a side note, I’ve heard of mixed results with the ELD-X bullet on elk. Everything from ice picking through, to shallow penetration grenading, to perfect mushroom and penetration. Using a bonded or full copper round like Barnes may extend your effective range. Just depends which camp you’re in expansion vs fragmentation.

[Watrdawg]

On a side note, I’ve heard of mixed results with the ELD-X bullet on elk. Everything from ice picking through, to shallow penetration grenading, to perfect mushroom and penetration. Using a bonded or full copper round like Barnes may extend your effective range. Just depends which camp you’re in expansion vs fragmentation.

I'm reading the same thing about the ELD-X also. I've had very good results in my .308 and 7mm08 with it but that is on deer. Big difference between deer and elk.

[Ironman8]

I'm reading the same thing about the ELD-X also. I've had very good results in my .308 and 7mm08 with it but that is on deer. Big difference between deer and elk.

Yessir. There’s not a lot that won’t work on deer

Despite my bias for bonded expanding rounds, I’ve heard of more consistent results from the ELD-M version and is what I now use in my 6.5CM. I haven’t used it on elk yet though.

A great resource for anything Western hunting related is Rokslide(dot)com. I’ve been a member there for several years now and have learned a ton over the years. Also a great place to pick up lightly used gear if you still need to round out your gear list.

[Watrdawg]

Thanks for the info about Rokslide!

[gunnerblue]

Sample of one but a friend used the factory 200 grain 300 WM load to take a nice 5x5 bull at 640 yards last year.

+2 on Rokslide. Another good one in longrangeonly(dot)com

[Ironman8]

Thanks for the info about Rokslide!

Absolutely brother, you’re going to love hunting out west, especially elk.

Let me know if you have any questions regarding gear. I do backpack style hunting, so all my gear is based on that, just for reference.

[Chipper78]

https://youtu.be/Cfd3XkHDaDA Randy Newburg discussing elk calibers. He used 7mm-08 a lot. If you like elk hunting or “western” hunting his channel is worth subscribing to.