I live in southwest va. I just recently got permission to hunt a new piece of property that borders KY. As some of you may know KY stocked elk in that area. Some of those elk have been wandering across state lines and Va for some reason or another, want them stopped. There is a open season for either sex elk the entire deer season. I have found some sign that they have been around where I'm going to be hunting. I hunt with a encore 308 win. I am an above average shooter and I'm comfortable taking a shot out to 100 yds at deer. My question is if a elk were to come wandering by, would the 308 have the stuff to take care of business. I've read that they are a tough animal to take down. I shoot a 150gr nosler partition. If I take the shot as if I was shooting a bow, meaning behind the shoulder quartering away. Would I be taking an ethical shot. And if so, what should I limit my range?
Thanks,

Osprey,
I have never hunted elk before but, I just returned from Africa and I killed several plains game animals including Kudu and Gemsbuck, all with a 308 and 150gr bullets. I would say that your 308 with the bullet you are shooting would be fine to whatever distance you feel comfortable shooting. In my opion, shot placement and bullet construction are more important than bullet diameter and kinetic energy.

Good luck,

If you can do your part the .308 will do it's part well out to 300 yards. I assume you have a 15" barrel, which will be comparable to my 16" and I would not hesitate. I would use a heavier Partition or Accubond bullet for better penetration tho. The .308 is one of the most versatile cartridges around, go for it.

Yes it is capable.
Proper bullet+proper placement=dead elk
couple hundred yards for sure.

Proper bullet+proper placement=dead elk

Way to put it XP

I've had some personal friends in Wyoming that have hunted elk for years with .308, and were always extremely successful.

i think you have enough gun for the job i would use a different
bullet maybe a 180 gr. but like said the gun will do the job.
larry

Oh yeah that 308 will do the job, I would prefer a 180 gr Nosler or a Barnes, but in reality that 150 Nosler Partition is one tough bullet and you will do fine with good placement like everyone else said.

Hey Osprey, Welcome to the HHM Forum.
Vin

Yes, it will work, with proper placement.

osprey,
One thing I forgot to mention I have killed 2 bulls and a good number of cows with a 7mm 140 grain partition. Cartridge was the 284 Win in a XP.
Sometimes elk will act as if they have not been hit, even when they are "dead elk walking (standing)."
Keep sending the bullets until the elk goes down and if you shoot and a elk goes over the ridge, do not assume you missed, but go and check throughly.

This is very true! I hit a 300 class 6X6 bull with a 444 gr .50 caliber bullet and the bull showed no sign of being hit. He ran about 150-200 yards down the mountain before dropping. I thought there would be at least some indication of a hit with a bullet that size.

I've sen the same thing pab1 With my 450 marlin. Some fall and some run for miles.

lars

I have seen many elk killed with an old model 94 win in 30/30.The big thing is to make a good heart/lung shot or if close enough shoot them in the neck at the base of the skull. They cancan be tough last my buddy shot a 5x6 that had a arrow head inside the rid cage that was completely healed.I get to start elk hunting on saturday cant wait.

Thanks for all the info and opinions. I have some 180 barnes tsx that I bought for my 300 RUM. I might load me up a few and see how they shoot. I tried some 180 core lokt factory rounds and they didn't not group worth a hoot. Anyway, Thanks again.

I don't know for sure but the Barnes may not open up as well at the lower velocites-Something you might want to check into.

Good luck on your hunt. No doubt countless elk have fallen to the 308; hopefully one will to yours. Welcome to the forum.

Osprey, A lot of good thoughts from previous posters. I love the 308, it's one of my favorite cartridges. Never taken an elk with the 308 but have shot kudu, waterbuck, lechwe, sitatunga, and many other plains game species not to mention several different species of ibex, all with Winchester's Ballistic Supreme 150 grain fodder. When one of my bags (the one with the ammo) didn't show up in Zimbabwe once, I had to borrow some 308 ammo in FMJ, until my luggage arrived. First day out, we bumped into a cow cape buffalo that had been caught in a snare and walked with pronounced limp. The PH advised if I wasn't going to shoot this buffalo, he would. Needless to say I did take this cape buffalo with the 308 using FMJ bullets. Certainly wouldn't want to hunt cape buffalo with a 308 but under these circumstances, it worked. Good luck with your elk hunt and I'm sure the 308 will do just fine with proper shot placement. Best of hunting.

Elk are not as hard to take down as a lot of people think. I used to have a 308 encore pistol and carried it on many elk hunts. The 308 pistol has plenty of power and range for big elk IMO.

.308 won't have a problem taking an Elk. Yes they are big and strong, but as was stated as above many have fallen to 30/30's.

If you can't kill an Elk with a .308 there is something wrong. It should be more that enough to do the job IMHO.