Favorite elk Rifle

[tdhanses]

My 300wsm, around 6.5lbs bare rifle, shoots lights out and recoil isn’t bad at all.

 

[LightFoot]

7mm for myself and these old guys this will be their 48th yr I just don’t pack heavy browning barsView attachment 222165

Great photo. It makes me smile how they all have the same rifle.

>>>----JAKE----->

 

[amassi]

Great photo. It makes me smile how they all have the same rifle.

>>>----JAKE----->

Probably same scopes and ammo too

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[DavePwns]

Tikka 300 WSM with 22in proof barrel and 5 inch TBAC suppressor is what I'm building for a dedicated elk rifle. Will probably put the alltera arms stock on with aftermarket bottom metal and magazine.

 

[Coach529]

I have been wondering the same thing. I am currently packing around a 9lb Winchester Model 70, 7mm that kicks like a mule.

I would love less recoil and lighter weight to tackle this steep N. Idaho terrain.

 

[Hunter56]

.300 Weatherby Magnum

 

[w squared]

My current designated elk rifle is a Steyr Dragoon Scout in .376 Steyr with a Leupold VX-R 1.5-5X33.

The recoil is best described as "brisk" if shooting from field positions. I don't really want to characterize what the recoil is like if firing it from the bench with full power loads. It takes a certain sort of mindset to take a six and a half pound rifle and put 7/8 of a .375 H&H Magnum in the magazine.

 

[gearguywb]

Took this guy in Utah this year with a 28 Nosler, factory Hornady 162 ELDX

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ve used .260 on everything for decades. It’s fun to break out the .28 Nosler on long kills, but if I had to pick one like you mentioned it would be a lightweight, accurate, and reliable rifle chambered in .260.

 

[Mackay Sagebrush]

It is a tossup, as I have a favorite all around rifle, that I carry more than any other. It is a 20" T3 .308 in a McMillan Edge stock, with a 2.5-10 NF on top. It has killed a bunch of critters.

When I expect shots to go long, I quite often will grab my T3 .300 wm, also in a McMillan stock (Sako Hunter), topped with a fixed 10x Mil/Mil SWFA.

 

[Elkhntr08]

This is a tough one! It’s a toss up between a Model 70 in 325 wsm or Weathermark in 300 Weatherby.
For strictly elk, probably the 325 wsm.

 

[1shotgear]

We are split between the 28 Nosler with 180 grain Bergers and the 300 PRC with 215 grain Bergers. Both are so good, it's hard to pick a winner!

 

[coiloil37]

My dictated elk rifle is a 6lb 15 Oz kimber .338 win mag but I’m just as happy with my montana in 30-06.

 

[BAKPAKR]

My new-to-me Remington 700 KS in 300 RUM sure feels good in my hand. If I am able to work up a decent load with a bonded or mono bullet, it will likely get to go after elk one of these days.

 

[Boiler]

Rem. 700 BDL S/S .338 with a Vari-X 2 3-9

 

[Tobey]

280 remington, unimproved. Get a can of 7828 ssc and some 160 accubonds. Eat a bunch of elk.

 

[Spirit Walker]

So much for treating every gun as if it’s loaded.

I dropped a loaded/chambered BAR out of a tree stand. It fell 15' and landed on the butt, pointed straight up at me.
It cracked the stock at the pgrip, and half extracted the round.

 

[couesaddict13]

With modern bullets available up to 195 grains for .284 calibers, given you have a rifle that has the twist and throat to handle such bullets, a 280 AI in my opinion is a good all around rifle.

 

[Ross]

No worries they pop the clips and slide the actions together to verify guns unloaded, have noted on prior posts of this photo.....agreed they could have been more careful with the muzzles.....my own 7mm much lighter

 

[rootacres]

Whats your favorite elk cartridge if you could only have one.
I'm really considering going back to 7mm

The bullet and velocity plays a big roll. If I was just planning on elk I think a 30 of some kind is the best. I got back from a trophy elk hunt in NM in the last week. Two of the three of us used 300 win mags, I was the odd one with a 7mm WSM. After seeing the performance of the 300 and listening to what the longtime owner/operator/guide of the outfit had to say I think I think a 30 is the way to go. A 300 WSM, 300 WM, 300 PRC etc with a bonded or mono bullet would be great. After seeing the results below I would steer away from a cup and core type bullet like the Berger Classic Hunters for elk. The internal damage was devastating but the bullet not holding together at close range is concerning. If you want a lightweight 7mm WSM id stick with a bonded bullet of some kind. Im going to try some accubonds or ABLRs, maybe some barnes monos.

Bull #1
300 WM Tikka
180gr Barnes TTSX ~2950 fps
250 yard shoulder shot, bullet was found lodged in opposite side upper leg joint.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Bull #2
300 WM Browning
185gr Berger Classic Hunter ~2950 fps
two shots, 150 yard shoulder shot, bullets broke up on impact, only small fragments were found, the lead core (non bonded) detached from bullet jacket.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Bull #3
7mm WSM Custom
168 Berger Classic Hunter ~2850
325 yard shoulder shot, bullet was found in opposite side shoulder, the lead core remained intact.

No video