Gun for Elk Hunting in Thick Timber

[SouthernCharm]

Browning BLR in 325wsm

 

[Caseknife]

Your '06 will work fine, just keep your scope on the lowest power.

 

[KBC]

Is it douchey to even build an AR for hunting? I never see them out in the field and like the look of traditional hunting rifles but couldn’t I custom build one at a proper caliber, semi auto for follow up shots, and a red dot with a magnifier in case I have to take a 300 yard shot? Just brainstorming here.


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I was building an AR10 in .308 before the turd banned them in Canada. I figured it would be my best bet hunting in grizzly country and it not being legal to carry a pistol.
Please build one for me

 

[S-3 ranch]

Hard to beat a .375 ruger with 235 or 250gr TSX on elk in timber or more open country , that 9.3 is a great elk round also

 

[Pharmseller]

Realistically, your 30-06 is fine. As others have said, dial your scope down.

Not a big bull, but if you look at the environment it’s pretty tight. Not reprod tight, but I shot him at 68 yards only because I couldn’t see 70.



One 140 grain Partition from a 7mm-08. He took a step forward, a step back, and fell over.



Shoot them through the lungs, you’ll be fine.






P

 

[egreen4257]

Appreciate everyone’s input, I had my scope down to 3x, I guess it was more of an issue of how fast I’d be able to scope in and take a shot and was looking for something more ergonomic and faster to have a follow up shot. But tbh I should just focus on being a better hunter and not spooking them, I was in a really dense spot with deadfall everywhere so didn’t know if Id be better suited with another load out. CNElk had a good point, I can just look for a different area. I was just hoping I could find something close to a one size fits all but that doesn’t really exist.


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[cnelk]

^^^ I killed elk in that unit 25 years ago.
Back then it was much easier to hunt.
Seriously, look for a better area without all that deadfall.
You’ll have a much better experience

 

[Luke S]

A suppressor is really nice in close hunting because you don't have to worry about getting ear pro on at a moments notice. I lost some hearing from missing that once and I don't want a repeat. If you can legally have one where you hunt I'd spend money on that before I change rifles or scope.
As far as scope... I would keep a scope not a red dot or something like that. If a bear was charging yeah I'd change it up. But in timber you might actually want a bit of magnification to see the target between tree branches.
Last bear I shot was a black bear behind the house. He was peaking out of the bushes so I dialed my scope up all or most of the way to 9x and shot him.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Is it douchey to even build an AR for hunting? I never see them out in the field and like the look of traditional hunting rifles but couldn’t I custom build one at a proper caliber, semi auto for follow up shots, and a red dot with a magnifier in case I have to take a 300 yard shot? Just brainstorming here.


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12.5” 6.8 with 120gr MZK handloads. 1-6x LPVO on 1x. Bull was walking at 30-40 yards and got hit with 3 rounds in the lungs in probably 1.5 seconds. Went to his knees then rolled over and kicked a little bit. The combination of technique, 1x, suppressor, adjustable gas, low mass carrier, and 3.5lb flat face trigger allows me to stay in the scope and shoot fast…and accurately…

If that’s douchey, then I’m a huge douche.

 

[WCB]

You could just get a more compact type rifle with a 2-7x scope on it or whatever. IMO if you can't hit an elk moving in Timber with the rifle you have and different setup is not going to help you. Just my 2cents. Practice moving shots is the only way to get good at it...How...start predator hunting and there will be plenty of opportunity.

If it is thick timber I don't see a follow up being an issue as you'll probably one have one shot anyways.