Elk rifle upgrade

[probablymissed]

As stated I'm looking for some wisdom on a direction on my next elk rifle. The last 2 trips I took a 308 Ruger M77 from probably the late 80s. I was shooting some 180g terminal ascent and it had 2-3" groups at 100. I wasn't thrilled about the groups and didn't have enought time to explore some other bullets.

I will be shooting suppressed and I would like to keep the bare rifle in the ballpark of 7lbs. I have a viper 5-24×50 to mount on it. I was leaning to 7prc but a couple trips to different stores kinda pushed me towards 300wm just for the ammo availability since I don't reload.

Most of the guys I hunt with have their rifles sighted in at 300, since the short shots are 200yds.

I was leaning towards the Begara B14 Crest or maybe a Seekins Element if Santa is good to me this year. Tikka was on the list but I have a Bergara bmr that is awesome so im a little bias. Christensen is meh to me and fierce is towards the end of the line. I'm not much on the Browning magazines so I scratched them off the short list.

Is there something else I should be checking out or am I on the right track?


If all else fails I just dust off my grandpa's 243.

 

[VuduDoc]

What’s the .243?

Could always rebarrel the M77 to a different short action cartridge with a standard bolt face. A new stock can make it a whole new rig too.

One or both of those things would be more affordable than a new factory option too. The money saved could go towards a better scope and more practice ammo.

But as they say, “mo’ gons is mo’ betta.”

 

[eric1115]

How old is your Bergara? I had a Ridge from 2019ish that was fantastic, but it seems from what I've seen that somewhere late 2020 or early 2021 that something changed with their manufacturing and QC that resulted in a substantial increase in problems. I get the appeal of sticking with a brand that's done right by you, but I won't be getting another Bergara with the way things sit right now.

I'd 100% do a plain Jane Tikka and put the extra money toward a more reliable scope vs spending Crest or Seekins money on any rifle and then putting a Vortex Viper on it. Order a Rokstok to put it in, and just shoot the factory stock while you're waiting.

I'd also take a hard look at chambering. 6.5CM will maintain upset velocity way way out there, past where 98% of guys should be shooting at animals. 6CM too, but we're talking barrel swap then.

Short version of my recommendation is that several years ago I was shooting a 7mmRM Bergara for my "do it all" rifle and now that role is filled by a suppressed Tikka .243AI in a Rokstok and I am so glad to have made that choice.

 

[probablymissed]

What’s the .243?

Could always rebarrel the M77 to a different short action cartridge with a standard bolt face. A new stock can make it a whole new rig too.

One or both of those things would be more affordable than a new factory option too. The money saved could go towards a better scope and more practice ammo.

But as they say, “mo’ gons is mo’ betta.”

One is a Winchester model 100, it's semi auto; kicked around the idea of making it my hog gun. The other is a Winchester model 70. I have no idea when the last time either of them have been fired but both scopes are fogged up.

 

[probablymissed]

How old is your Bergara? I had a Ridge from 2019ish that was fantastic, but it seems from what I've seen that somewhere late 2020 or early 2021 that something changed with their manufacturing and QC that resulted in a substantial increase in problems. I get the appeal of sticking with a brand that's done right by you, but I won't be getting another Bergara with the way things sit right now.

I'd 100% do a plain Jane Tikka and put the extra money toward a more reliable scope vs spending Crest or Seekins money on any rifle and then putting a Vortex Viper on it. Order a Rokstok to put it in, and just shoot the factory stock while you're waiting.

I'd also take a hard look at chambering. 6.5CM will maintain upset velocity way way out there, past where 98% of guys should be shooting at animals. 6CM too, but we're talking barrel swap then.

Short version of my recommendation is that several years ago I was shooting a 7mmRM Bergara for my "do it all" rifle and now that role is filled by a suppressed Tikka .243AI in a Rokstok and I am so glad to have made that choice.

I bought the Bergara this year, I might have 100 rounds through it. My thermal is mounted on it to keep the raccoons from getting after my ducks.

I looked at Tikka and kicked around getting another 308 that I could use with my can and beat on that I wouldnt feel bad about it. My current one has some sentimental value and I'd rather not change it.

I honestly never looked at the cm or the 243 as an elk gun. I probably assumed it was "underpowered", for the distances I am looking at.

Where would I get a rokstok if I go that route? I have seen it pop up on some threads and kinda thought it was just an inside joke of the forum.

 

[eric1115]

I bought the Bergara this year, I might have 100 rounds through it. My thermal is mounted on it to keep the raccoons from getting after my ducks.

Sounds like you may have gotten a good one, though just 100 rounds is just starting to possibly show what's what.

I looked at Tikka and kicked around getting another 308 that I could use with my can and beat on that I wouldnt feel bad about it. My current one has some sentimental value and I'd rather not change it.

They excel in hard use. Most reliable feeding, magazines, triggers, dust/ice/whatever other conditions of any main line manufacturers im aware of.

I honestly never looked at the cm or the 243 as an elk gun. I probably assumed it was "underpowered", for the distances I am looking at.

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.' https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-mountain-goat-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/

This has almost become Rokslide required reading. Yes it's long, but the amount of info contained in that thread will change your life if you let it.

Everyone is skeptical when they start reading, and almost everyone who actually tries the stuff in that thread ends up "converting" to small diameter, heavy for caliber match bullets. You don't have to go all the way down to a .223 to see the benefits of lower recoil, cheaper and more productive practice, and maximized wound channels for a given cartridge.

I killed a mule deer this year at 1900fps impact velocity with a 108 ELDM. 20+" penetration, 3" diameter wound channel. That would equate to a 700-800+ yard shot with a 6CM, depending on barrel length and elevation. Lots of us now consider the bigger 6.5's to be at or above the big end of the ideal cartridge size. Guys are killing moose, elk, griz cleanly with .223, heavier 22's (22creed, fast twist .22-250), and all kinds of 6mm's shooting heavy for caliber match bullets like tipped match Kings and ELDM's and not going back to bigger stuff. I used to be all about my 7mm 180gr Bergers, but not anymore.

Where would I get a rokstok if I go that route? I have seen it pop up on some threads and kinda thought it was just an inside joke of the forum.

Thread 'RokStok' https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/rokstok.329754/

Unknown Munitions sells the Rokstok. There's a ton of chit chat and meming and "where is my order?" in this thread, but the first several pages have the good info on the what and why of the stock and how it's different. I've been super impressed with mine.