Elk Caliber with Particular Rifle Considerations

[EdMN22]

Hello. I am interested in purchasing a rifle for elk hunting. I have experience with shotguns, 5.56, and archery. I have been in the rabbit hole, both on rokslide and elsewhere. I prefer archery hunting but a group of us are planning a trip for rifle season. I’m between 3 or so choices and I just can’t make a decision.

Tikka T3x Lite in 308
Seekins Ph3 in 7 PRC
Bergara in 300WM.

My concerns are:
308- Pros- Lightweight/Shootability/ Concerns-“knockdown” power
7 PRC- Pros- Larger Seekins- Rifle cost, ammo quality/availability (I’m not a reloader)
300 WM-Bergara-Pros- 30 Cal, velocity, Cons- Weight, recoil

I have a max 300 yard range I shoot at. I really don’t think I’d take a shot further than that no matter the rifle. It wouldn’t be ethical without a lot of practice at those distances. I would imagine most elk are taken within that distance? Has anybody ever hunted with a 308 and wished for more? I don’t want to wound an animal. Is there a caliber I should consider outside of these? Should a 30.06 or 7 REM Mag be a consideration?

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Simple go with the 300 win mag, plenty of options for bullets, knock down power, put a muzzle brake on it to cut down recoil and you’ll be just fine


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[North of 60]

Any of those choices will work with a good bullet and practice within 300 yds. .308 Win is the easy button. Factory 7 PRC ammo should be reasonably obtainable. Many will suggest a 6 Creed or even a 22 Creed with the right bullet.

Whatever you get, i most recommend a suppressor to make your shooting experience even better IME a suppressor will tame recoil approximately as much as a radial brake.

All in all though I would learn more about your options via the many threads on RS regarding caliber options before choosing...and it is a very deep rabbit hole.

 

[MuleyFever]

Just depends on what you are comfortable with. At 300 yards any legal caliber will kill an elk just fine. You would probably be best off with something around 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[TravOC]

You can't go wrong with any of those options! The tikka T3x are hard to beat at their price point. The seekins PH3 I have heard great things about. I would go with the tikka in 308. It's light weight for humping up vert. Moderate recoil, so you'll be more accurate with it. Ammo is cheap so you can practice a lot. I would try and put at least 200 rounds down the tube before hitting the elk woods. Practice shooting seated and kneeling, with tall grass out west it can be hard to get prone. 308 has plenty of knock down power inside of 400 yards. Especially at elevation. This is all just my opinion no hard facts but in all reality you can't go wrong. Pick the one you'll be most excited about shooting a lot and that you can afford to shoot a lot.

 

[1000yards]

To be blunt, if you're concerned about the 'knockdown power' of a 308 then you haven't been down the rabbit hole yet. But to answer your question, if it has to be one of those options then get a 308, get a suppressor, and use the right bullet.

 

[MTBackroads]

First centerfire? Get the .308 and spend the difference on glass or boots.

 

[jimh406]

308 with good Elk bullets because you need to practice (ammo is relatively inexpensive), and you aren't used to a magnum kick of the 7 PRC or 300 WM.

 

[cole96]

Shoot the win mag. Recoil isn’t bad. Most versatile option listed

 

[NDHUNTER24]

If your dead set on those three..308. But don't overthink it. Either one of them will work. The 308 is cheaper to shoot and the recoil is less. Hell i shoot a 6.5cm for elk. I've evolved from a 270win and 300win, down to a 6.5cm. Whatever your most comfortable and accurate with will do the job.

 

[Seeknelk]

Tikka t3x 6.5 CM is wayyyyy more than enough "wallop" for any animal in North America especially 300 yards and in. 308 is also but it's more recoil than needed to get the job done. Every single person shoots less recoil better. Period. And enjoys it more. And shoots more. So then shoots better yet.
Absolutely nothing marginal about either the 308 or 6.5 or 243 or whatever. Bullet selection and placement is important, head stamp is not.

 

[Mtslackcountry]

Tikka in 308 would be my choice. Win mags kick really hard without a break and is more gun than you need for your ranges. The seekins will cost more which you can spend that extra money on scope and ammo. Very important would be spending time reseaching the bullet you want to shoot, and a scope/rings that are proven to be reliable (hold zero, and track properly) . SWFA, Trijicon, nightforce have all done well in the scope dept accross multiple models. Scopes to avoid that are widely used would be Vortex and leupold.

The 6.5 PRC is a fine round to consider as is the 6.5 creedmore. Euro optic is a great spot to buy Tikkas and Trijicon scopes.

This is a handy litlle 308 that is cheap and barrel already threaded : https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x...10-5-8in-x-24tpi-synthetic-blued-jrtxe31620mt

Heres a nice stainless 6.5 prc https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x-lite-stainless-65-prc-243-1-8-bbl-rifle-jrtxb319

 

[RockAndSage]

Which one can you afford to shoot the most?

Which one will be easiest to shoot the most?

 

[whoop]

all solid choices, i would suggest a tikka in 6.5prc.

 

[43.6N]

My friend, the difference in these cartridges at the distances you are shooting is minimal.

It’s the equivalent of shooting 70lbs, 75lbs, or 80lbs draw weights with your bow. All are more than enough.
You pick the one you can practice with the most. How many shots with your bow are you taking before archery season? Try to get that same type of practice volume in with your rifle.

The comment above about shooting over tall grass is real. Your chances of getting prone for a stable shot are slim.
If your range limits you to 300 yds, I would make sure I practiced seated with my rifle resting on crossed trekking poles or frame pack.

A lot of us have moved to smaller cartridges that recoil softly and are cheap to reload. The reason being that we want to practice a lot, and be able to shoot more accurately in inherently less stable positions.

I won’t tell you which rifle to pick. But I promise you the ballistic differences won’t matter to the elk. However, a lack of real practice will absolutely matter when it comes time to make your shot.

Good luck. And welcome to Rokslide.

 

[huntnful]

I wouldn't take any of those over a 6.5CM or 6.5 PRC for a 300 yard elk. Tikka variant of whatever makes you happy. Practice with cheaper ammo (will still likely shoot excellent) and hunt with the 147 ELD, 140 hybrid berger or 156 berger ammo.

 

[EdMN22]

Thanks everybody for the advice for this flatlander. This was helpful and alleviated a lot of the concerns about needing a magnum cartridge. The advice was great!

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I’d echo @huntnful for sure. If you’re looking at .308 (nothing wrong with that) I’d consider just getting a 6.5CM and calling it a day. Magnum isn’t a good place to start if you’re not used to center fires, and since 300 and in really no reason to go there.

 

[43.6N]

Thanks everybody for the advice for this flatlander. This was helpful and alleviated a lot of the concerns about needing a magnum cartridge. The advice was great!

If you do end up picking up a tikka 308, there is a great thread covering all things 308. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/all-things-308-win.390564/post-4596562

This would be THE factory ammo I would stock up on to hunt and practice with: commonly known as the T308T.

Federal Tactical TRU 308 Winchester Ammo 168 Grain Tactical Tip MatchKing - T308T

Federal Tactical TRU 308 Winchester Ammunition 168 Grain Tactical Tip MatchKing - T308T for sale at Target Sports USA with free shipping available. En|^||^|

www.targetsportsusa.com

Federal fusion would also be a close second option.