If you are like me, you see a bunch of single-shot rifles in big calibers like 30-06, 7mm magnum, and other big game hunting cartridges, and you wonder: Do you need more than one shot to kill an elk? After some research, here is what I have found out about hunting elk with a single-shot rifle.
Here is the short answer:
As long as you have a big enough caliber, there is no problem with hunting elk with a single-shot rifle. But if available, you should get a bolt action. A bolt action will outperform a single shot in almost all ways.
With the short answer out of the way, we can take a closer look at using a single shot for elk hunting. Like when you might want one, when you might not want one, and why there might be better choices.
Pros of using a single shot for elk hunting
So you can use a single shot for elk hunting, but are there any reasons to?
You have to focus on your shot. If you only have one shot, you have to make it count. And if you think about it right, you only have one shot which has to be perfect cause you have no backup shots.
Single shots are reliable. You only have one round in and one round out, not to mention the super simple system that is a single-shot rifle. Unless you somehow get dirt in the chamber, your single shot will work no matter what. So if you are elk hunting where in a situation where there is a lot of fine dirt to jam your rifle, you will want a single shot.
Single shots are cheaper than a standard bolt action. Single shot rifles often are super simple systems that have almost no moving parts; this means that single shots are cheap to make. If you are going into an area where your rifle could get beat up from hiking and hunting you may want a cheap reliable single shot.
Downsides to single shots
So we know why you might want a single shot, but what are some reasons you might not want a single shot?
The obvious downside to a single shot is the fact that it is a single shot. Elk are huge animals, so you will likely have to shoot twice. So if you have to shoot again, it will take extra time to reload and shoot again. In this extra time, the elk could run away, and it may run a lot further and decrease your odds of finding your elk.
Single shot vs. bolt action
We know the advantages and downsides to single shots, but how do they compare to a standard bolt action?
As far as reliability goes, a single shot is going to be slightly more reliable; but not to the extent that it will outperform a blot action. So you really don’t need the extra reliability.
Price-wise, a single shot will be a little cheaper. However, you shouldn’t cheap out on a rifle when elk hunting. So at the end of the day, you will only save about 100 dollars.
Capacity-wise, the bolt action will win. You will have more ammo and be able to shoot faster than with a single shot, and in the world of elk hunting, extra ammo and speedy follow-up shots are important.
Bolt actions will almost always outperform a single shot. So there is really no reason to use a single shot when elk hunting when you could get a bolt action.
How to increase your odds of killing an elk with a single shot
So if you already have a single shot that you want to use, here is how you can your odds of getting an elk.
To kill an elk with a single shot, you will have to put a bullet in the right spot. You will want to practice your shooting skills and be able to put a perfect shot on an elk when it comes down to it. You will only have one shot, so you will need to be able to put a perfect shot on an elk.
It will also help to be able to reload faster. With just a little bit of practice, you will be able to reload your single-shot pretty fast. And if you can reload fast and get a second shot on an elk it will greatly increase our odds of getting an elk.
Having the right caliber will greatly increase your odds of getting an elk. Because you only have one shot, you will want a heavy caliber like a 300 Winchester magnum or 7mm magnum cause you don’t have 4 or 5 rounds on backup if something goes wrong.
Conclusion
You can use a single shot for elk hunting, and it can even work in your favor in some cases. There is nothing wrong with using a single shot as long as you put a good shot on the elk. However, for most elk hunting situations you will want a bolt action rifle.