Best rifle caliber for western hunting?

[Next Ridge]

Go hunt

 

[ozyclint]

I think the real question is why would you want another gun when you already have a .270w?

Load up a 150gr bullet and spend your money elsewhere.

 

[Deadspace]

Welcome to RS. We rarely help; get used to it.

We’re part of the problem

OP, your rifle is fine but if you need a new one, all those cartridges you mentioned will work.

 

[Wprinkle]

Welcome to Rokslide where 375 H&H is marginal for rabbits and 22 swift is overkill for elephant... LOL just go hunt bro, tags are expensive and experience is invaluable...

 

[ResearchinStuff]

The best way in your position to justify a new rifle is to research Remington trigger safety and reliability issues.

 

[BCDJR]

Hello all. I am looking at hunting out west in the future, specifically elk hunting and was wondering what caliber rifle you would consider to be the best for the job? Ideally id love to get one with my bow, but for the time being the rifle seems to be more obtainable. The majority of my hunting career I have used a .270 win which has dropped every white tail I've pulled the trigger on, but I know elk are a completely different animal. Im a reloader, so cost of ammo isn't a huge concern. Will 270 do the job or should I step up to something like a 30-06 or even 300 win mag? im thinking realistically shots under 300 yards.

.300 win mag….your 270 can cover the bases that any 6 can.

 

[mad_angler]

Hello all. I am looking at hunting out west in the future, specifically elk hunting and was wondering what caliber rifle you would consider to be the best for the job? Ideally id love to get one with my bow, but for the time being the rifle seems to be more obtainable. The majority of my hunting career I have used a .270 win which has dropped every white tail I've pulled the trigger on, but I know elk are a completely different animal. Im a reloader, so cost of ammo isn't a huge concern. Will 270 do the job or should I step up to something like a 30-06 or even 300 win mag? im thinking realistically shots under 300 yards.

270 is a fine elk gun.

I'd suggest focusing your money and effort on other areas (backpack, boots, binoculars, spotting scope (maybe), tripod (maybe), tags, preference points, ...)

But if you want a new gun, western hunting is a fine excuse...

 

[Chris in TN]

my main concern is "Can I justify buying a new X bolt in a new caliber for a hunt, or will the ole trusty Remington in 270 be enough?"

You should have just started there.

Your .270 is fine.

ETA: BUT I agree with what was said above - if you get a new rifle, go smaller, not larger. There's no way on earth I'd ever buy another rifle with *MORE* recoil than your old .270, for elk or moose or anything else.

 

[ChrisA]

The more times I open the safe and look at all the dies, powder, and bullets I've accumulated the more overwhelmed I feel. I couldn't have enough in my younger years and have rifles for many niches.

I'm at a time in my life of wanting simplicity, dont want to manage the care and feeding of many rifles. I want one high quality, never fail rifle that I know like the back of my hand. That includes the complete package; optic, sling, bipod, and load/loads. I'd trade everything for a great feeding and handling rifle that I shoot extremely well from all positions.

"Beware the man with one rifle" comes to mind. You have a lot of versatility since you reload and any caliber from 6mm on up could work. That said, I'd lean to 6.5 and above for elk. I'm really starting to like my 35 Sambar aka 35 WSM.

 

[KenLee]

im sure this will turn into "Ram vs Ford vs Chevy" but my main concern is "Can I justify buying a new X bolt in a new caliber for a hunt, or will the ole trusty Remington in 270 be enough?"

A new plain Jane x-bolt in 300wsm slinging 165 gr NBT is your answer. The recoil won't be noticeably worse than your old 700 270 with factory pad.
If I couldn't handle the recoil, I'd buy an x-bolt 7mm-08.

 

[Choupique]

These threads are always lame around here. No more love for big giant kabooms. OP has practical rifle already. Needs something 0.338" around or larger, IMO.

Something with a big obnoxious muzzle brake to blow the tin off the building at the outdoor range.

 

[180ls1]

130sst was my favorite .270 elk bullet.

I'd be tempted to try the 145eldx. Good luck! It'll do great.

 

[TradLife406]

22 Creed and or 6 UM Only thing more Rokslider would be a 223 and 6 UM


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[ChrisA]

These threads are always lame around here. No more love for big giant kabooms. OP has practical rifle already. Needs something 0.338" around or larger, IMO.

Something with a big obnoxious muzzle brake to blow the tin off the building at the outdoor range.

Um, a 35 Sambar running 225 NAB at 2940 fps is pretty big medicine lol. It's actually not bad to shoot in a sub-ten pound rifle. But you're right, bring on the 338 Edge recommendations!

ETA: no brake or silencer on my Sambar

 

[WashCycle]

The 280 Ackley Improved which can also run 280 Remington!

 

[Ringbill27]

a cartridge capable of killing out west under 300yds? I’d say the 270win you have with a good bullet would work just fine.

If if you are looking to choose between the 30-06 or the 300win mag for 300yds and in I’d save the shoulder abuse and pick the 30-06. My tikka 30-06 thumps me enough.

I’d like to build a 6.8 western tikka with a 18-20” barrel.

 

[TaperPin]

Many western hunters have a ton of rifles - each animal can be an excuse for something just for it. Nothing wrong with something you call an elk rifle. The 270 does a great job. A popular step up is a 280 AI or one of the various 7 mags. Another popular step up from that is a 30-06 or 300 mag of some flavor. You could buy one of each for every day of the week and that wouldn’t be a bad way to go. Recoil tolerance is a factor. I would suggest someone used to a 270 could easily adjust to a 30-06 or 7 mag. If you know a 7 mag doesn’t bother you and a 300 or 338 tickles your fancy go for it. Big jumps in recoil tend to not be as successful as small jumps.

In many western towns deep in elk country, the 7 Rem mag or 300 win mag are two of the most popular on the rack or in ammo sales. I’ve never hit an elk with a 7 mag and 160 gr bullet that went far, and it’s easy to shoot. It makes a great all around gun for anything. If I’m deer, antelope or elk hunting it’s probably what’s in my hand even though I have a variety of cartridges in the closet to choose from.

A lightweight 30-06 is an ideal rifle for chasing elk in the timber. A lightweight 6.5, 270, or 7mm08 are even popular with backpackers.

A heavy varmint weight 300 win mag is not uncommon for the longest shots if it doesn’t have to be packed far. One guide who covers some wide open sagebrush herds, has a dialed in 300 his clients can use waaaay out there and last I heard it has a 29 and zero record past 500 yards.

Growing up I remember the old wealthy traveling hunters and their 300 Weatherby rifles that they couldn’t shoot well at the range, but the cartridge always seemed cool to me. It’s the 300 mag teenage me would have picked hands down. I have one now and it reminds me of those old guys.

338 becomes more popular the closer to grizzly country someone gets. It was designed in Wyoming back in the day so I have a soft spot for it. Not everyone cares for the recoil or shoots it well.

The best old elk hunter I’ve ever known uses a 257 Roberts and has a 380 point bull over the fireplace and dozens of 360 and 370 bulls on the wall in the horse barn. For shooting cow elk off haystacks with landowner tags a 25-06 117gr has a solid reputation. The 6.5 creed is not much different from the 25-06 in my mind.

Some marketing info will show the 6.5 PRC as being much better than a 270, but a closer look at what they both do under 500 yards and the difference isn’t much. Neither shooter nor animal would be able to tell the difference.

 

[RockAndSage]

The best old elk hunter I’ve ever known uses a 257 Roberts and has a 380 point bull over the fireplace and dozens of 360 and 370 bulls on the wall in the horse barn. For shooting cow elk off haystacks with landowner tags a 25-06 117gr has a solid reputation. The 6.5 creed is not much different from the 25-06 in my mind.

Can't say exactly why, but I have a really strong interest in getting a .257 Weatherby or 25-06 Ackley built. Both just strike me as really cool, very capable cartridges, but not excessive, maybe?

 

[OKHunter84]

Use your 270 and save your money. Buy the nicest binos, sleeping setup, pack and boots. You'll spend way more time walking, sleeping, packing crap and glassing then you will shooting.

 

[TaperPin]

Can't say exactly why, but I have a really strong interest in getting a .257 Weatherby or 25-06 Ackley built. Both just strike me as really cool, very capable cartridges, but not excessive, maybe?

I’m with you on the 257 Wby. It has to be one of the best Wby cartridges. I’ve often thought if one was next to the 25-06 I’d always pick up the 257 first to hunt with.