Buying new elk rifle

prm

WKR
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Mar 31, 2017
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Whichever one you’ll practice and get proficient with. And whatever appeals to you. You do not need a 300WM to kill elk, but if you want one, it’s fine choice. I’d focus more on fit, feel, and desired weight of the rifle than the cartridge.
 
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
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A 300 win mag is never the wrong answer. My long range elk gun is a 6.5 PRC and my UL elk gun is a 280AI. I have moved away from magnums. I actually owned a 6.8 western for a couple days before I sold it to a friend. Fits the same niche my 6.5 and 280AI did. I met a guy at the range last week shooting a 6.8. Asked if I could take a pic of one of his rounds next to my PRC cuz I am a nerd like that. 0128B1BF-8D75-4A2F-B732-4EECDE92EE39.jpeg
 

BarCO

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 6, 2023
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A 300 win mag is never the wrong answer. My long range elk gun is a 6.5 PRC and my UL elk gun is a 280AI. I have moved away from magnums. I actually owned a 6.8 western for a couple days before I sold it to a friend. Fits the same niche my 6.5 and 280AI did. I met a guy at the range last week shooting a 6.8. Asked if I could take a pic of one of his rounds next to my PRC cuz I am a nerd like that. View attachment 517633
I have a similar set up 6.5 prc and my UL is a FC .270 win chopped to 19.5” .
 

fmyth

WKR
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Mar 14, 2019
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Arizona
The inability to get 30-06 ammo stopped me from ad one.
Ammoseek.com has over 500 links to online retailers with 30-06 hunting ammo. available for as little as .97 a round.
 

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Joined
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I have a similar set up 6.5 prc and my UL is a FC .270 win chopped to 19.5” .
I wanted a FC sooo bad. I held out for the rumored 280 AI and then they shut down production. I ended up with a ridgeline FFT and its cool, still part of me that really wants a FC tho :)
 

WyoKid

WKR
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Aug 6, 2019
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313
I would ask what you are using now? i have a .270 Win. Ruger M77 tang safety that I have been shooting since 16 YOA that my father gave me. Are there possibly better calibers and more accurate guns now? Yes. But, I have never lost an Elk, Deer, or Antelope to that .270 and rarely had to shoot twice. I went through the struggle of buying a new rifle and caliber. Why? Because I could afford it. However, I did not need it - wants are not the same as needs. Instead, I upgrade my glass and took my family on a vacation. It is your $ so do what you want and makes you happy IMHO.
 

BarCO

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 6, 2023
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I wanted a FC sooo bad. I held out for the rumored 280 AI and then they shut down production. I ended up with a ridgeline FFT and its cool, still part of me that really wants a FC tho :)
I really like it, I had the Stock shortend to 13.5”, cerakote, and chopped to 19.5” with a suppressor. They shoot really nice.
 
OP
Iowafarmer

Iowafarmer

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 5, 2023
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I would ask what you are using now? i have a .270 Win. Ruger M77 tang safety that I have been shooting since 16 YOA that my father gave me. Are there possibly better calibers and more accurate guns now? Yes. But, I have never lost an Elk, Deer, or Antelope to that .270 and rarely had to shoot twice. I went through the struggle of buying a new rifle and caliber. Why? Because I could afford it. However, I did not need it - wants are not the same as needs. Instead, I upgrade my glass and took my family on a vacation. It is your $ so do what you want and makes you happy IMHO.
I’m shootings a B14 in 300WM now topped with a viper no I don’t need a new rifle but I have $ and it’s getting to be worth less everyday so I might as well spend it and I like guns and yes I’ve killed elk with my 700 in 270win 🤷🏻‍♂️
 

5811

WKR
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Jan 25, 2023
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389
If I won the lottery I'd be after a Bergara wilderness thumbhole carbon in 300 wm. I'm partial to thumbhole stocks, though.
 

WyoKid

WKR
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Aug 6, 2019
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I’m shootings a B14 in 300WM now topped with a viper no I don’t need a new rifle but I have $ and it’s getting to be worth less everyday so I might as well spend it and I like guns and yes I’ve killed elk with my 700 in 270win 🤷🏻‍♂️
Well, in that case, I might go with something you don't have. Maybe 6.5 prc or 6.8 western or even 300 prc. A 26 Nosler or 28 Nosler is another one that would be fun to play with depending on your preference for 6.5 or 7 mm bullets. Of course, ammo might be a problem for those calibers. Since you already have a Berga, maybe a Christian Arms, Kimber Mountain rifle or Nosler Mesa. I don't have any of these high end rifles but covet them.
 

Watrdawg

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
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141
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NC
I've gone back and forth a bit between my 6.5PRC and a 300WM. Both are easily less than half MOA guns with a variety of ammunition. The came the 7PRC. I had 2 6.5PRC's and sent one back to be re-barreled in 7PRC. It was a long action so easy peasy. I can do everything with the 7PRC that I can do with a 300WM with a bit less recoil and better or equal performance at all distances. I'm almost at the point where I've talked myself into selling my 300WM.
 
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