.308 for elk?

I am planning an elk hunt for me and my dad and my dad has a 7 mag but the only rifle I have is a .308 win. Looking at the ballistics for a 180 grain silver tip bullet, it looks like it should still have plenty of speed and energy out to 200 yards but I'm not sure how well it would do beyond that. Does anyone out there know anyone who uses a .308 on elk or have any opinions about this? The outfitter I will be hunting with says that the average shot for his hunters is about 100 yards but people have killed them out to 400-500 yards with him. I'm not a good enough marksman to try anything beyond 300 yards I don't think so I am mostly concerned about the power out at the 200-300 yard range. It seems to me though that if you can kill an elk at 30 yards with an arrow that a .308 should do the trick out to at least 200 as long as it is a well placed shot (double lung, etc.) with a good bullet.
10,979
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:roll: your right just know your limits and you will be fine.
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You can teach a trained monkey to shoot out to 500 yards. If your outfitters allows you to even take this shot...first off he is an idiot.
I have killed several elk with my .243. Now I'm sure you thinking, this guy is not all that bright, however the longest shot I took was 70 yards.

The hunter is not made by how far he can shoot, but how close he can get to make an ethical, clean, kill shot. A .308 will work fine.

It is not what you use, but where you hit em.
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:lol: It is not what you use, but where you hit em.[/quote]
D-hunter you said a mouth full. Myself I hunt with a 264wm and always fill my freezer.
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"thunder264" wrote::lol: It is not what you use, but where you hit em.
 D-hunter you said a mouth full. Myself I hunt with a 264wm and always fill my freezer.[/quote]this year i hit my elk at 400 yard with my 7mm remington magnum it was an up hill shot he was standing towards me and he never took another step
i woulg say a 308 has a lot of hitting power at close range i say 200yards at the farthest
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So you can run the web sites and get updates on each ammo you can use-
you mentioned Silvertip
Product Symbol: X3083

Ballistic Coefficient: 0.383


Super-X® Silvertip®: Specially alloyed aluminum nose cap protects the lead core and allows for deep penetration delivering controlled expansion.
Description: Delayed, controlled expansion. Deep penetration through thick, tough skin, heavy muscle tissue and bone.

Packaging Options
Rounds Per Box: 20
Box MSRP: $21.45
Rounds Per Case: 200
Case MSRP: $214.50



Rifle Ballistics

Distance (yds) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Velocity (fps) 2620 - 2393 2178 1974 1782 1604
Distance (yds) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500
Energy (ft. lbs.) 2743 - 2288 1896 1557 1269 1028
Distance (yds) 50 100 150 200 250 300
Short Trajectory (in.) 0.2 0 -1.8 -5.2 -10.4 -17.7
Distance (yds) 100 150 200 250 300 400 500
Long Trajectory (in.) 2.6 2.1 0 -4 -9.9 -28.9 -58.8


happy hunting
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Stick with your .308 and keep a tight sling. Get off the bench and practice in hunting positions. An elk won't know whether it was shot by your .308 or a .300 magnum.within 200yds. where most people can't shoot accurately in hunting positions.
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djferguson

sight your rifle in 3" high at 100 yds
Ballastics are this has good speed least drop at 300yds
about 8"

PREMIUM VITAL · SHOK : CENTERFIRE RIFLE
Federal Load No. P308G-HE [NEW] .308 Win 180/11.66 gr Nosler Partition

get yourself a 2x10x10 piece of lumber - go out with your rifle and set up the target at 100yds on the ground [I set mine against the hillside in my pasture] shoot the target in the hunting positions- then empty your rifle shooting at the board you will get to where you can hit what is left of the board- then maybe [think about it- the target is the kill zone on the game you are going to hunt!!!]

you will note that the target moves, changes position-you will have to hit it lying down [that is the board not you]

good hunting and good luck!
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I think ya get the picture. 308 will be fine. I underestimated my win model 70 .270 last year. A 150 grain Barnes-X did the job at over 500 yards in Colorado.
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If you get the chance, use your .308 to hunt jack rabbits.
I used to do this with my 06, and I guarantee, when you get to where you can roll them jackbunnies, you'll have the heart/lung area on big game dialed in. Also, you'll really learn your hunting range, and have confidence at that range.
JD
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Boy what a great bunch of answers. Usually someone jumps up and claim's you need at least a 300 mag of some kind. If your interested, compareing a 308 to a 300 rem short act. mag: using the new Nosler mannual and the same nosler bullet for each. 308, 180gr @ muzzle velocity of 2718 fps (highest listed) is doing 2275 fps @ 200 yds with 2069 ft lbs energy. The 300 Rem short act ultra mag,180 gr @muzzle velocity of 2963 fps (also highest listed) is doing 2280 fps @ 300 yds with 2078 ft lbs energy.
Now, as for shooting at 400 to 500 yds, the 300 Dakota with the same bullet @ max listed velocity of 3103 fps arrives at 400 yds @ 2187 fps with remaining energy of1912 ft lbs energy, the numbers go down at 500 yds!
Basically, the 300 Dakota can't do at 400 yds,where I hope your not likely to shoot, what the 308 Win will do @ 200 yds, where your more likely to shoot!
Remaining velocities were arrived at with a Pact Mark lV cronograph. Remaining energy is figured by : velocity x Velocity divided by 7000 (the number of grains in a pound) divided by 64.32 (the specific weight of gravity) x 180 (the weight of the bullet). Someone a lot smarter than me figured that out but it work's.
Using a cronograph and knowing actual velocity's really make's a difference in how you see thing's.

Don[/quote]
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if you need a long shot i recommend a different gun like a 7mag or .300 mag. good elk guns. have more knock down at a long distance :1
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