Help me with an Elk Gun

[HairyScandinavian]

I'd agree with the others saying you already have a rifle and already have a scope. I say put them together and see how you like them. If it shoots well you're done. No worries on the 308 it's more than plenty. Get to it quickly though so if you're not happy with it you've got time to spin something up.

Having said all that, sometimes it's just fun to buy a new rifle and there's nothing wrong with that. Keep in mind what you said though about being archery hunters, this rifle may not see much use.

 

[Seekbigger]

I'd agree with the others saying you already have a rifle and already have a scope. I say put them together and see how you like them. If it shoots well you're done. No worries on the 308 it's more than plenty. Get to it quickly though so if you're not happy with it you've got time to spin something up.

Having said all that, sometimes it's just fun to buy a new rifle and there's nothing wrong with that. Keep in mind what you said though about being archery hunters, this rifle may not see much use.

Yeah that’s the other issue, I would love to take a trip out west for an Elk hunt but don’t know if that will ever be in the cards! I do enjoying shooting though so….. just have to make my mind up what I want to do!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Yeah that’s the other issue, I would love to take a trip out west for an Elk hunt but don’t know if that will ever be in the cards! I do enjoying shooting though so….. just have to make my mind up what I want to do!

Sounds like a good time to do what I do and do both and then add a third option on top!

 

[MuleyFever]

I second the shoot the one you have mentality. No reason at all to replace a gun that shoot with a more expensive gun that shoots, or may not. Save the money for that trip out west.

 

[Oakman]

Benelli lupo + contact Eurooptic for scope

 

[mlob1one]

Apparently, you missed the post above you (not hard to do on here) where it states that law required a .27 caliber or above. So 6.5 PRC is out. I'd sub out the 7 PRC for 6.5 PRC on your list because you basically nailed it. Perhaps a 7 SAUM if the OP is a handloader.
-Doc

I totally misread it. I thought it said 270 or less.
My personal top 3 would then be 300wm (~160gr), 7mm-08 (140gr), & 270.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[kcm2]

Any good 270 with Hornady Superformance 130 CX ammo will do just fine.

 

[Idahobugler]

Bergara/ tikka. 308/270/7mm-08/7prc. Enjoy the hunt!

 

[Teaman1]

30-06 180 grain accubond
270 Winchester with a 150 grain accubond

The Newberg crew has killed a pile of elk with 7mm-08 and 308.

I’d put your vx3 on whatever rifle you get if your just going to sight it in and not dial a bunch.
I’ve had them on 4 rifles and they’ve held 0 for me.

 

[RWT]

Well he is 19 and stout as a mule, that being said though I’m not really wanting one that will knock you down to shoot lol. I don’t figure I can afford a muzzle brake or suppressor right now so just have to deal with a stock gun. Most of Ky is pretty thick so a heavier caliber will probably be beneficial.

Deer Creek Arms

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Make sure you buy a threaded barrel version. You can add a SME which is legal and not a Supressor. Once you shoot one you will start shopping for your first Supressor. The SME is reasonably priced below $200.

 

[BLJ]

Lots of guys say go with a 300 win mag,

Full disclosure, I’m not an elk hunter.

I’m from Appalachia myself and I’ll say the “geographical wisdom” on what it takes to kill an elk my be a little lacking compared to the people on this forum who have killed elk.
I’m a skeptic to the core but facts are facts.

I’m not implying that these people aren’t trying to help you, because I believe they are.
They just don’t know how.

I would recommend putting the Leupold on the Savage 308, buying a case of ammo and proving/disproving the components of that combo while getting in some practice from field positions at the same time.

If it doesn’t work, swap it out. If it does work, go enjoy an elk hunt with your son.

 

[BLJ]

Deer Creek Arms

Redirect the sound and concussive forces from your rifle downrange. Explore solutions now. Stealthblast sound mitigation device

deercreekarms.com

Make sure you buy a threaded barrel version. You can add a SME which is legal and not a Supressor. Once you shoot one you will start shopping for your first Supressor. The SME is reasonably priced below $200.

Do you have any experience with them? Thanks.

 

[06 SB]

I will add to my post above. Elk are not all that hard to kill. Just like archery hunting, put a good bullet, through both lungs and you will have a dead elk. A wounded elk will go forever and is the reason they have a reputation for being tough. Bullet type and placement matter far more than headstamps. Avoid the Hornady SST. It is not a suitable elk bullet. A Barnes 130-165 from your 308 would be a good choice but any bonded or monometal bullet will work well. The good ol Hornady SP when kept under 2900fps is a solid economical option too. I have a dozen elk in my past with rifles and muzzleloaders and have yet to lose one.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Super simple process for you.

1. Buy a swfa 6x, 3-9, or 3-15.
2. Buy some good pic rings (assuming your axis has a rail)
3. Buy 2 boxes of 308 federal gold medal match.
4. Shoot 4, 10 round groups. In each group of 10 shoot as fast as you can from the mag.
5. Evaluate. Did the gun feed and eject well? How big are the groups? If the answers are great & small, buy some hornady match or precision hunter, repeat the process. Fgmm will shot shark groups but is not hunting ammo. If the answer includes either bad or poorly,
6. Buy a Tikka 308 or 7/08, nice your scope over on an area 419 rail, and repeat 3-5, except try different ammo until satisfactory accuracy is achieved.

In all cases, degrease and torque every fastener with a thread locking compound.

 

[Jdeck09]

Bergara Ridge Carbon in 7PRC or 6.5prc. If you like the 6.5prc, you can find an older Bergara Highlander with all of the "bells & whistles" for a good price. Glass would be VX5, VX6, Mark4, or a zeiss.

 

[06 SB]

6.5 PRC is out because .277 is minimum caliber in KY as posted by the OP.

 

[kcm2]

I will add to my post above. Elk are not all that hard to kill. Just like archery hunting, put a good bullet, through both lungs and you will have a dead elk. A wounded elk will go forever and is the reason they have a reputation for being tough. Bullet type and placement matter far more than headstamps. Avoid the Hornady SST. It is not a suitable elk bullet. A Barnes 130-165 from your 308 would be a good choice but any bonded or monometal bullet will work well. The good ol Hornady SP when kept under 2900fps is a solid economical option too. I have a dozen elk in my past with rifles and muzzleloaders and have yet to lose one.

The vitals on an elk are the size of a trash can lid. I've killed a couple dozen with a 270 and good bullets, partitions, and copper bullets from Hornady and Barnes. A few more with accubonds and others. They aren't hard to kill with good hits. Hit poorly and they will run for miles.

 

[stank.243]

Part of me says this is the perfect excuse for a new rifle and the other part says use the Axis. Both of my Axis are shooters. Are they the best feeling rifles out there? Absolultely not. But you can buy trigger kits and bolt kits that make them handle a lot better. For $50 and an hour you can make the trigger pull better and the bolt lift effortless. The stocks plain suck, but you can make them slightly better with plumbers putty and some weight. Or just buy aftermarket.
Hope to see a write up on a successful hunt this fall!

 

[SloppyJ]

I bet that axis will shoot great. Is it ideal? Not at all, the finish on them are horrible and it will rust extremely easily but they just plain work. The .308 will do exactly what you need. Buy a 2 boxes of a few different kinds of hunting rounds and see what the gun likes the most. Go from there. If you can stack a good sized group (10+ shots) in a 1.5MOA target, just start practicing and getting comfortable with the gun. Take that same ammo out to range and see how it acts.

I don't think you "Need" a thing. Now if you're looking for an excuse, I think a 308 Tikka would be perfect as well.

 

[mtnbound]

I have a savage axis in a 308 that I have never shot, like I said I am a die hard bow hunter, I had thought about putting that scope on that gun and going for it, but I’m not opposed to buying a better gun and caliber as well. Just wanted to get some opinions from the guys who know. You all have been great!!!!

Throw a scope on that 308 and hit the range, no reason to buy a new rifle unless you just want one. The 308 at your range will kill an elk.