Since my first elk hunt in the mid '60s I've hunted with as small as 270 and 308 up to 375 H&H with several cartridges in between. Last Fall I got custody of a 404 Jeffery. It will push a 350 gr Woodleigh to about 2500 fps so the trajectory isn't too much more than a 308. where I'll be hunting shots over 250 yards are ill advised- so I'm thinking I might just focus on getting it ready for the end of October.

Sounds like fun. Keep us updated.

Your under gunned

Sounds like aq fun project.

Worked on the Chadwick Ram, probably work on elk.

I was going to mention that, but couldn't remember for sure if it was a .404 or not. I knew it was a caliber not normally thought of as a "Sheep Rifle".

But as it sometimes goes, whatever works.

You'll love it.

Ray B, that will work well. I am using a 375 Ruger Guide Gun with a Woodleigh 350gr. PP bullet traveling 2391fps average. I have taken an elk yet with this combo. You should get full penetration on an elk.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
I was going to mention that, but couldn't remember for sure if it was a .404 or not. I knew it was a caliber not normally thought of as a "Sheep Rifle".

But as it sometimes goes, whatever works.

I think it was even a Hoffman.

Figure if I can shoot a bushbuck with 404, then elk is fair game!

I read about a guy that used a 404 on a bighorn sheep hunt!!!!

I've shot about everything with the 404 encluding a couple of elk,,It kills'em good and quick, if they run you got a heavy blood trail..Doesn't blood shoot a lot of meat, and loaded warm its trajectory is flat enough for most hunting..The two elk I shot were taken at 341 yards and 223 yards..I shot one buffalo at 240 yards and that was one of two instant kills Ive made on buffalo. I used my buffalo load on all of them 400 gr. Woodleigh RN SP...Used same gun and load many times to collect meat for the table while on Safari.

The 404 with just about any bullet will kill elk for sure. A few years ago I used my 416 Rigby on a spike elk just because I hadn't ever shot anything but paper and gongs with it. I was using my practice load of 95 grains of H 4831 and a home made 400 grain jacketed bullet. A forty yard shot when he stood up from his bed that struck just off center in the front of the chest, he made it about twenty feet. I wont use that bullet again on edible game. He was bloodshot from end to end on his right side. I didn't find the bullet or an exit but, it sure did kill him.

I keep thinking I'm going to take an elk with one of my 577 doubles using cast bullets. I'm thinking that it should work if I can get within decent shooting range.

As an acquaintance in Seely Lake Montana told me a long time ago when I asked him why he hunted elk with a pre-64 375 H&H. He told me that his Dad gave him the rifle, it was his only one, and that "they don't get up"

Normally shooting elk or deer with the really big bores 40 cal. and up, with heavy bullets allows them to run a ways, but you get good blood trails, and much less blood shot meat unless you hit heavy bone that creates expansion, otherwise you can eat to the hole..When shooting camp meat in Tanzania or Zim we always try to shoot behind the shoulder thu the ribs, gets heart and/or lungs..those that expect instant kills on light game with big bores are usually disappointed, but they will get positive kills.

I want to use for moose and deer 350 grain fps.
Its a good load and speed .I use to shoot mine 200
Yards all the time .You just have to adjust to the
!