What a great experience for you! Not many of us will not get an opportunity like that.

don't take to heart what these experts tell you
you did fine.... and YOU happen to be eatin elk steak
wonder how these experts like their crow
fine job

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Exactly! Everyone is a critic sitting behind their computer.

...the thread that won't die...

Nice shooting. In calm hands, who don't try to stretch range, a .357 Magnum can take big game.
I knew people in northern Idaho who regularly took elk with a .30-30 carbine.
Out of state elk hunters would show up with a .397 Tubo Z Xtreme Loudenboomer, topped with a 12-power scope. Then get into the ravines and forests, where 100 yards might be the most you'd shoot, and 50 yards was common.
I knew one guy who got his deer every year with a softnosed .30 Carbine bullet. He had a secret spot overlooking a game trail, and never took a shot past 50 yards, he said. He put that tiny bullet into the neck or head.
Is the .357 Magnum ideal for elk? Heck no. But if you're a good shot, and can put it where it counts, it will do fine.
Before the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935, a lot of outdoorsmen were shooting big game with heavily loaded .38 Specials. I certainly wouldn't, but they practiced enough to be deadly accurate at short range -- and never took a shot they didn't feel confident with.
Nice photos. Nice elk. I'll bet every forkful was particularly satisfying.

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A hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .44!

Nice! I have seen more than a few elk killed with the 357 Mag, in the hands of a capable and ethical hunter, it works just fine.

I realize this is an old thread, but sometime I'm amazed at the number of dumbasses in the world. Just read the entire thread and congrats to the guy for using a tried and true weapon to take his elk.

The post just above prompted me to do more reading on this thread. Lots of comments-all kinda interesting-some more than others.

MANY elk are killed every year with 243's and 30-30s and I suppose 357s.
Shoot what you got is a common cliche around here. I suspect that shooting what you got makes one a better shot(ter) than one who has a safe full of queens. Having those Boomenslager Magnums with ammo at $3/shot also is a dteerrant to good accuracy/placement.


PS-nice elk and Id like to try a 357 on one sometime. I suspect if I get drawn it will be 'moosegooser' to the rescue (30-06). At 50 feet 357 is adequate. My son did a nice doe deer with 357. She went about 50 yards and almost ran him over before falling.
I just sent my son-in-law two boxes of 270's in 130 gr. He bought 150s as they would bve better for elk. I told him to use the 130s for sighting in and practice. Check her out with a few 150s before going hunting (in UT).

I believe the 130 would be more than enough for elk but didnt argue with him. Id rather he shoot usp a couple boxes before cutting down on the 'trophy'(freezer).

Here in MI the elk hunters are told at a mandatory meeting to shoot at the elk. Do NOT shoot again if more than one present. Too many hunters shoot at one, it dont fall, the shoot again and maybe again. Pretty soon two or more elk go down and they got trouble.

Great shot. Have to agree with the posts that state its the shooter not the firearm. Have hunted deer with 357 a couple of times. Used my Timber Wolf with 20" barrel though. Wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk under a hundred yards with the 357. Used to hunt mule deer with a 22 mag till I moved to NM where 243 is the smallest caliber. White tail I would use a larger caliber. Its all in the shot placement. Congrats on the table meat. Tastes much better than tag soup. Even with salt and pepper it doesn't make a filling meal.

I never thought my post would stay active for 4.5 years! It certainly stirred up a pot of controversy and interest.

I agree that 357 MAG is less-than-ideal for hunting big game animals. My experience turned out well because of shot placement and bullet performance. Those are the factors which produce deadly wound channels. Ballistic charts are helpful but do not predict bullet performance which destroy chest organs.

TR

Great job!!!! Alot of people told me to use the right tool for the job when I sot my deer with a 223, well the deer was killed with 1 shot, only ran about 25 yards and is in my freezer. So like your 357 and your elk, obviously it was the right tool for the job.

Congratulations, you'll get a lot of good eating there. I just hope my late season cow hunt goes as well.

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Good shooting! Shows placement is king!

Whether the 357 is "adequate" or "marginal" can be debated. I would not use it. The accuracy cannot be debated. The lowly 22 is widely recognized as inadequate but has likely taken more deer than any other cartridge and game up to elephant size. Bell used the lowly 7x57 (aka 275 Rigby) to take hundreds of elephants.

Not everyone is that good of a shot and knows anatomy that well.