Help with Rifle selection

[chuckD]

Well I am one of the guys that actually bought a 6.8 western. It's an xbolt mountain pro. Couldn't be any happier with it. Shoots amazingly well, very very accurate. I've killed a bull and a pronghorn with it so far. Ive stocked up on the ammo it likes and also bought a set of dies for it. Im not concerned about it going anywhere. The gun is a lot of fun to shoot. It does have the recoil hawg brake on it which lessened the recoil below my 25-06 i use to shoot. One day ill throw a suppressor on it.

Same, I adore the 6.8, so does everyone that shoots it!

 

[Tobe_B]

Looking for help on selecting a rifle and caliber for elk, it would also be my primary gun for whitetail right now. I would like to make sure it has plenty of juice to take an elk up to 400 yards. I also don’t plan to reload, also won’t shoot for fun besides a few rounds before the season every year to get dialed in.
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Can you measure or quantify how much “juice” a rifle needs to take elk? Honestly your .300WM would be just fine for deer with a lighter bullet of a different construction. Not sure you’re really gaining anything getting a lighter caliber if you aren’t going to commit to regular practice with it.


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[cnelk]

To the OP.
Keep the 300WM.
Get to learn how to reload.

You can go down to a 110gr bullet for deer and go up to a 240gr for elk if you want.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

My concern is you say you already own a .300 win mag so you don’t need a 7 PRC but you’re considering another .300 win mag with a brake? Seems like you’re talking yourself in circles.


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[Sully_44]

In regards to your statement that you’re not going to shoot for fun, I’d suggest looking at some of the small caliber threads for killing game. I was kind of in the same boat about 2 years ago until I started shooting smaller calibers. Now I can’t get enough. Get yourself a long range set up in a smaller caliber and you’ll want to pull over and shoot at every rock within 1000 yards. I now have a 6 Creedmoor and love shooting it. I killed a buck this year at 525 yards, my friend used it to kill a buck at 464, and my little brother just killed an elk at 625. All one shot kills. Bullet construction is more important than caliber. I use factory 103 grain Hornady ELDX and factory 108 grain Hornady ELDM.

PS, on Rokslide when you ask a question and someone tells you to go check out or search for your question, don’t get smart with them. That comment was actually as helpful as any info you’ll get. Use the Forum how it’s designed and you’ll learn a lot on here. Welcome to Rokslide

My buck

Brothers bull

Buddy’s buck

 

[Goseth04]

Do not buy the Roughneck in .300 WM as your primary. It doesn't solve your whitetail overkill problem. Instead, invest in a Tikka T3x Stainless in 7mm Rem Mag, have it threaded and braked, and top it with the best scope you can afford. This gives you a legendary, accurate, durable, and versatile rifle that will confidently take elk at 400 yards and deer at 50, and serve your family for generations.

Good luck with the draws

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Just a few things to get you started. Youve got years before you hunt, so read them all before you blow your $

Post in thread 'Frequency of practice—thoughts on how much is “enough”?'

Jun 26, 2023

My experience with seeing a large sample size of shooters and animals killed is that given a correct initial training program of 3 or so days and 400’ish rounds that encompasses optimum gun handling, manipulations, shot process, positional shooting, etc. that a person is generally on demand on game animals to around 450 yards or so in moderate conditions in broken, mountainous terrain by themselves; and to about 600 yards with someone spotting/calling for them.
On demand does not mean “if everything is perfect”. It means that if someone wants to kill an antelope/deer/elk/etc, they do...

• Formidilosus

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Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Dec 17, 2021

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...

• woods89
• Replies: 2,208
• Forum: Firearms

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Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jun 3, 2019

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

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“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...

• PNWGATOR
• Replies: 13,402
• Forum: Firearms

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Thread '6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game'

Oct 28, 2022

With the success of .223 and 6.5 threads on big game, thought I’d throw this one into the mix.

Show and detail your results harvesting big game (deer, bear, elk, moose, African game) using 6mm/.243 cartridges. Please detail bullet, MV, impact velocity, and whether hand load or factory ammo.

• BjornF16
• Replies: 3,035
• Forum: Firearms

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Thread 'Equipment versus practice posts and Rifle practice/shooting'

Mar 31, 2020

This isn’t in response to anyone I particular, but there is an up tick in the amount of “I want a XXXX distance hunting rifle” traffic the last few months. I am getting a lot of questions relating to this, which I do not mind helping, but thought a public post might help answer some questions. It’s an attempt to get to actually using your rifles.


People online tend to act like 600/800/whatever yards is a rifle, cartridge and BDC scope purchase away. When someone asks for advice, or says I’m building an -insert whatever rifle/cartridge you want-, people are discussing hardware not...

• Formidilosus
• Replies: 868
• Forum: Firearms

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Post in thread 'Max Effective Range for Elk: 7-08, 6.5C, and 308'

Feb 28, 2024

Opinions vary

It not opinion. It’s the whole of legitimate, medical terminal ballistics research.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/21037128_Gunshot_wounds_I_Bullets_ballistics_and_mechanisms_of_injury

Here’s a few of the relevant papers that you can google.



Lindsey D: The idolatry of velocity, or lies, damn lies, and ballistics.

Swan KG, Swan RC, Levine MG, Rocko JM: The US M-16 rifle versus the Russian AK-47 rifle

Ordog GJ, Wassererger J, Balasubramanium S: Am Emer Med

GM, Sim FH: Missile wounds of the extremities: A current concepts review...

• Formidilosus

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[NMJM]

You say " also won’t shoot for fun besides a few rounds before the season every year to get dialed in". You are setting yourself up for failure. Your 300 will work great, reload or buy factory ammo and go out and shoot for fun all year so you are dialed with your equipment.

 

[Pharmseller]

The 308 Winchester is hard to beat out to 400 yards. It will do 95% of what 99% of hunters needs done.

True statement, applicable to the younger brother, 7mm-08.

My nephew killed this bull with 150 ELDX, similar to the factory option, nine yards farther than your max. Stainless Tikka.



My dad used 140 AccuBond to kill this bull at 275 yards. Again, similar to the factory option. Also stainless Tikka.



I have more examples but you get the idea.

400 yards is a loooong way if you don’t practice. For the casual shooter who only shoots a few rounds each year you might want to limit your distance.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

True statement, applicable to the younger brother, 7mm-08.

My nephew killed this bull with 150 ELDX, similar to the factory option, nine yards farther than your max. Stainless Tikka.

View attachment 980431

My dad used 140 AccuBond to kill this bull at 275 yards. Again, similar to the factory option. Also stainless Tikka.

View attachment 980430

I have more examples but you get the idea.

400 yards is a loooong way if you don’t practice. For the casual shooter who only shoots a few rounds each year you might want to limit your distance.

I agree completely with the thoughts on cartridge choice, but would add my opinion that 400 yards on a live animal is a long way even if you do practice. If a hunter isn’t hitting an 8” target shot after shot - from field shooting positions - at a given range, he has no business shooting at a deer at that range.

I see very few people who practice at further than 100 yards and very few who practice from any position other than prone or seated at the bench.

It seems to me that a lot of hunters throw out a ludicrously high number for their maximum range - one far beyond their proven capabilities, if not their rifle’s potential - to avoid looking unskilled on the Internet.

I was helping a new hunter sight in his Marlin 336 at the range. Before he asked me for help, he was shooting 6” groups at 50 yards off a lead sled. Once we got his scope properly mounted (it wasn’t even finger tight), I tried to help him with some basic fundamentals. By the time he was done, he was shooting 4” groups seated at the bench (no bags) at 100 yards and feeling pretty good. He asked me, “that means I should be good to 200 yards, right?” We had a good rapport, so my reply was, “sure, if you can carry this table through the woods.” I recommended that he stick to 50 yard shots unless he had the opportunity to sit down or find a good rest. I also advised him to get a Marlin 39 or similar .22 LR for more practice in field positions and working the lever while maintaining some semblance of sight picture.

 

[Slick8]

Man, you already have a great elk gun. I say to invest that money wisely in something like Hookers and Coke. It wouldn't last long but would make for a great weekend

Seriously, you already have a great elk rifle. If you're looking to add a rifle to your collection and don't reload perhaps looking for something deer sized that could do elk in a pinch. To me, that's 6.5 creed, 308, or similar.

 

[BigB2893]

It’s completely up to you, the 300win is versatile and can go down in bullet weight for whitetail. If you’re just wanting a new rifle 6.5 PRC is a great round and will handle both deer and elk to the distance you stated. I’d personally keep the 300 win shooting as my elk rifle and buy another if you choose. Good luck


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[mjh8828]

I’ve got 3 bergaras that are all tack drivers. The non “premier” models can be found on sale at that price. Not sure about the 6.8 bu they offer 6.5prc and 308 in several models

Same here. Multiple bergaras in our household. Would not hesitate to get another

 

[Elkoholic87]

Get a bow.


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[Wizzum]

A new Tikka gen 2 t3x in 243 win. They are 1:8 twist. Suits your white tail needs and can use the heavy for cal bullets in boutique ammo or handload if able.

 

[K9kodi]

You’re asking our opinions. Here’s mine, not a fan of short mags. See no point.

300wm for the win. You can load or buy up for big guys or load or buy down for smaller game.

It’s funny, people will talk about shooting smaller diameter bullets and less powerful cartridges, which is completely fine, but then they always say when you start lowering diameter and power bullet design is huge. And I agree, and if you can shoot a lower power rifle w the right bullet at big game, you can certainly buy the right bullet and lower the weight of a 300 for smaller game. 300 for the win.

 

[madtinker]

You’re asking our opinions. Here’s mine, not a fan of short mags. See no point.

300wm for the win. You can load or buy up for big guys or load or buy down for smaller game.

It’s funny, people will talk about shooting smaller diameter bullets and less powerful cartridges, which is completely fine, but then they always say when you start lowering diameter and power bullet design is huge. And I agree, and if you can shoot a lower power rifle w the right bullet at big game, you can certainly buy the right bullet and lower the weight of a 300 for smaller game. 300 for the win.

I see what you did there.