Colorado elk rifle reccomendations

[slowS4]

Howdy all!
I'm looking for reccomendations on a new rifle! I've been hunting whitetail my whole life and have recently started elk hunting in colorado. I have used a 30-06 for the longest time so used to higher recoil and am comfortable with it.

From my research, a 300 win mag seems to be one of the best options but I'm open to other opinions.

As far as budget I'm looking to get something on the mid to high end that will serve me well for most big game hunting. I think 1,500 with wiggle room is a solid budget for the rifle (not including glass).

I've looked at some of the tikkas, and a few others but honestly have no brand I am dead set on.

Thanks!!

 

[WeiserBucks]

What's wrong with the 30/06?

 

[180ls1]

Any 30cal magnum and "any" 200gr bullet (+/- 10%) will be perfect.

As for the brand, pick what feels good to you. I'd go hold a bunch. I settled on a browning 300prc and it's been fantastic. 300wsm is often overlooked too.

 

[Brontosaurus]

You did the right thing by looking at Tikka first. That would be the route I would go.

Sako S20 Hunter .300 Win Mag 24" Bbl 1:10" Rifle JRS20H331

Sako S20 Hunter .300 Win Mag 24" Bbl 1:10" Rifle JRS20H331 For Sale

www.eurooptic.com

But this is a killer deal!

 

[6mm Remington]

30-06 and 165 gr. Accubonds or Partitions are awesome!!

I really like the Winchester Extreme Weather SS. It's a great solid rifle. My son has one in the 300 WSM which is a really good cartridge. Easy to load for and accurate. The 300 WSM would be one to consider in my book. Tikkas are good rifles as are Sako who actually builds Tikkas I believe. This is the Extreme Tungsten.

Model 70 Extreme Tungsten | Bolt-Action Rifle | Winchester

www.winchesterguns.com

Pretty SuperGrade!!

Or this in the Extreme Weather SS. 30-06!!

 

[DangerRanger]

Tikka + rokstock when it drops

Or

Tikka + eh1tk

 

[slowS4]

What's wrong with the 30/06?

Good question, it's a very inexpensive old rifle. That's not the biggest issue, I have just had a lot of accuracy issues with it. Tired recounting the scope, different ammo, Yada Yada and no luck.

 

[180ls1]

Good question, it's a very inexpensive old rifle. That's not the biggest issue, I have just had a lot of accuracy issues with it. Tired recounting the scope, different ammo, Yada Yada and no luck.

Keep it for backup. Funny things happen to rifles on road trips.

 

[slowS4]

Keep it for backup. Funny things happen to rifles on road trips.

Yup that's the plan. I also realized I wrote that post incorrectly and was unable to edit, I meant to say "I tried re-mounting my scope".

 

[greenomics]

Tikka in a 30-06 since you have the ammo. Maybe a 7mm.

 

[TheViking]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but I have a very lightly used Tikka 300 WM Roughtech for sale in the classifieds in you're interested.

 

[sndmn11]

Good question, it's a very inexpensive old rifle. That's not the biggest issue, I have just had a lot of accuracy issues with it. Tired recounting the scope, different ammo, Yada Yada and no luck.

What scope is in it and where are you located?

 

[DangerRanger]

Pretty SuperGrade!!

Nothing grinds my gear like Remembering they took a gorgeous rifle like the super grade and won’t even match the stock cut to the ejection port

 

[slowS4]

What scope is in it and where are you located?

It's a Redfield revolution 3-9x40 on a marlin xl7. Located not far from you.

 

[slowS4]

I plan on keeping the 30-06 and hoping to get it more dialed in and keep it for a backup. But regardless I do plan on getting a new rifle as it will be a gift from my family for a very important life achievement.

 

[LongWayAround]

6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....

8 pt whitetail, Ruger American Predator, 6.5 Creedmoorm, SS 10x MQ, 130 gr. TMK, 2167 fps impact velocity, 300 + yd. Took out the back of the lungs and liver. No exit and he made it only 15 yards. Took it directly to the processor and didn’t get any pics of the damage inside.

rokslide.com

 

[ElPollo]

6 mm/.243 is legal for elk in CO. One of the biggest bulls I ever saw killed in that state was killed by a woman with one shot from a now pretty much defunct 6 mm Remington handloaded with Nosler partitions. A 6 cm or 243 will do the same thing.

 

[sndmn11]

It's a Redfield revolution 3-9x40 on a marlin xl7. Located not far from you.

If you have had accuracy issues with it, I am happy to meet up and put a known happy scope on it to see if that alleviates the issue.

For $1500 you can get a lot of cool rifles, but the optic is probably the most critical piece of the puzzle.

 

[Ecampbell25]

Nothing grinds my gear like Remembering they took a gorgeous rifle like the super grade and won’t even match the stock cut to the ejection port

Agreed such a shame!

 

[Drumstick63]

30-06 and 165 Nosler Accubond works great on Colorado elk. However, I certainly understand if you want to justify the purchase of a new rifle though....