Elk Caliber with Particular Rifle Considerations

[streamerfish]

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?

This comes up pretty much all the time, and turns into the same talking points all the time.....

To address a few points, 300yds and in sounds like a good plan.

I wouldn't invest a "ton" of money into a rifle system if your mostly a archery hunter, unless you have lots of extra money to spend.

The whole "knockdown" power thing mean absolutely nothing, erase it from your mind. Its a rather weird myth. But it would be cool if you could pick a certain gun and it would send the elk flying 10ft in the air and 10ft backwards ala chuck norris landing the knockout kick...(rip Chuck).

I'm not going to tell you what cartridge to buy. If you've done any kind of searching around here, or just some logical research, you know it largely doesn't matter.

A couple points I will bring up. .308 ammunition is extremely easy to find. And its much more fun to shoot recreationally then your other choices.

 

[EdMN22]

This comes up pretty much all the time, and turns into the same talking points all the time.....

To address a few points, 300yds and in sounds like a good plan.

I wouldn't invest a "ton" of money into a rifle system if your mostly a archery hunter, unless you have lots of extra money to spend.

The whole "knockdown" power thing mean absolutely nothing, erase it from your mind. Its a rather weird myth. But it would be cool if you could pick a certain gun and it would send the elk flying 10ft in the air and 10ft backwards ala chuck norris landing the knockout kick...(rip Chuck).

I'm not going to tell you what cartridge to buy. If you've done any kind of searching around here, or just some logical research, you know it largely doesn't matter.

A couple points I will bring up. .308 ammunition is extremely easy to find. And its much more fun to shoot recreationally then your other choices.

A 300 win mag doesn’t do that?!?

 

[Marble]

Like said above, any modern rifle in many caliber will fo the 300 yard range. 300 is but very far. I think most people who who haven't shot this far really don't understand it isn't difficult.

I'm not trying to give anyone a hard time or poke fun. Without the experience of trying, people just have a thought about it that simply isn't based on the right information.

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[JP7]

.308 works just fine on elk. Especially if you put the round through the heart.

 

[slm9s]

Out of those, pick the 308. But get one threaded for a suppressor and buy a suppressor.

 

[streamerfish]

A 300 win mag doesn’t do that?!?

Well, it might send you 10ft backwards....but probably not the elk lol.

 

[Kw168504]

If 300 yards is your max I would get a rifle that’s appropriate for pronghorn to elk. Probably 308 or 6.5. Only reason I would get a mag is if you’re planning on shooting out further. Im not a rifle guy though

 

[SteveCNJ]

Whatever your choice, if concerned with recoil I would get a decelerator pad. They really help with felt recoil.

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[MHWASH]

Please don't buy a 300 or 7 PRC. If you're newish to rifles, these hard kicking rifles will not help with developing skill. You want a light recoiling rifle. I suggest any of the short action calibers starting at 6.5 through 308. My personal recommendation is the 6.5 CM. Even the .270 in a lightweight gun like the Tikka has a fair amount of recoil.

 

[Ozarkansas]

The new smaller bore options, the .22's, 6mm's, and 6.5mm's may prove to be equally effective over time, but there is not near the field experience with them.

The 6.5 creedmoor is almost 20 years old at this point. The .260 remington a bit older than that. The 6.5x55 is 130 years old. There’s plenty of field experience hunting elk with 6.5s (and yes I know 6mms too but it’s not as well documented as the 6.5x55 is as an elk rifle)

 

[Beendare]

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.

I'm in the same boat as the OP....always archery hunted and wanted to buy a rifle though not necessarily for elk mostly smaller species.

I DID go down the rabbit hole on this....there is a ton of info here on threads here discussing light caliber success...maximum effective range etc. Worth a search.

I do have a 7mm rem mag I bought over 40 years ago and to @Seeknelk s point, I do not shoot it as well as my bull barrel .223 that holds one ragged hole.

I went with 6.5 Creed and my logic was; Ubiquitous ammo- its everywhere, very light recoil and thus I can have a light weight rifle and accuracy is less affected, I won't be shooting at 500y plus- so it will have enough poop at the ranges I will shoot to put anything down.

That was my logic, YMMV