In an effort to survive southeastern Pennsylvania's long and brutal winter, I risked life and limb to visit the some of the sport shows in the region. At the shows, I asked five western elk-hunting guides and outfitters what cartridges they preferred their clients to use. I was quite surprised by their answers because I had done the same thing using a larger sample at a show about 15 years ago. A decade and a half ago I obtained almost exactly the opposite results.

"I like to see hunters using .270, .30-06, 7 mm/08, or .300 Winchester magnum," said Don "Grizz" DeGroft, of Rawhide Guide Service, Montana. "Bullet placement is more important than using large magnums. Most locals use either a .30-06 or a .300 Winchester magnum."

DeGroft volunteered that his favorite bullets, both personally and professionally, are Nosler Partitions. "I don't say that because I have a relationship of any kind with Nosler, but because I have a whole bucketful of Nosler Partition bullets I recovered from dead elk that worked just fine."

Northwest Montana Outfitters, Inc.'s Reggie Carper answered my question by saying, "Elk hunters should use what they've been using for big game all along. All they have to do is put the bullet where it belongs." Clarifying slightly he said he meant using at least a.270, .280, .30-06, and other cartridges in that class.

While Carper is no kid, I am sure he is not old enough to have read first-hand legendary gun writer Jack O'Connor's repetitive advice back in the day regarding accurate shooting. O'Connor's advice, of course, is as valid now as it was then.

Brad Grebs of Whitetail Creek Outfitters, Wyoming, cut right to the chase, saying elk hunters should shoot, "Whatever they can shoot well. The .30-06 is fantastic. The .270 is great. You don't need magnums. If you can shoot well, you can kill elk with those cartridges."

I could have talked to Grebs all day; heck, the guy owns 400 rifles and spending time with him revealed he knows more than a little bit about rifles, cartridges, and their capabilities.

"Locals like the .25-06 and the .270," said Grebs. Both are top Western cartridges for anyone that knows rifle cartridges; they are flat shooting and recoil mildly both a bonus.

Sticking with the majority opinion, Amon Molsee said, "Elk hunters should shoot whatever they want to as long as they're accurate." Molsee, from Shattuck Creek Outfitters, Idaho, related that, "In the '80s, the .30-06 was king, now people are promoting big cartridges and they don't need them," he said emphatically.

"I prefer hunters to use a .300 Winchester magnum or a .30-06," said Dave Guiliams of Back Country Outfitters, Colorado. "For our country, they'll do anything you need." He explained that his area has few long shots and said, "You don't need anything too powerful."

Earlier I referenced surveying elk guides about effective elk cartridges about 15 years ago. About 80 percent of the 30 or so guides I queried then suggested magnum cartridges for elk, mainly the .300 Winchester magnum, but some even suggested the .338 Winchester Magnum. Today that attitude has changed.

All five of these guides have numerous years of experience with elk and elk hunters and their rifle-cartridge combinations. Are they the final word? No, but their joint knowledge and opinions should certainly be considered.

First, they suggested fairly modest cartridges with fairly modest recoil. Do not lose sight of the second part of that statement because heavy recoil is more damaging to accurate shooting than most hunters realize. Additionally, every elk expert pointed out the need for accurate shooting. Accuracy is always important, but even more so for big game that can easily weigh 600 to 800 pounds and is noted for having a tough hide.

Any hunter investing the time and money necessary to travel west for elk should invest money for practice ammo and the time to practice with it. Start practicing several months prior to your trip. I guarantee it is a good investment. Looking at your fallen elk will prove it.

While none of the guides suggested rockets, they certainly suggested rounds that are pretty flat shooting; most of them drop only seven or eight inches at 300 yards when sighted-in for 200 yards. Admit it; most of us are best served by shooting within 300 yards, preferably less.

Grizz DeGroft recommended Nosler Partition bullets, and I agree that it is an excellent elk bullet. There are other excellent elk bullets so I recommend a lot of research.

I have a hard time recommending pricey premium bullets for deer and other soft-skinned big game, but elk deserve the best. Not only will you have a lot of time and money invested for an elk hunt, but also you do not want to leave such a wonderful trophy to die a slow death because a bullet designed for deer did not work on a big bull elk.

There is no need to feel under-gunned hunting Western elk while carrying an "average" .270, .280, .30-06, are similar caliber rifle. The way to ensure hunting success is to shoot that rifle with superior accuracy.

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