Looking for lightweight elk rifle

[BeWitty]

They don't make them in 338 anymore but they can be found used. I may have a lead on blued one....

 

[luke moffat]

Of those choices I would get a 300 WM Tikka no doubt. I had one for a season and it was a very nice shooting rifle, just went to save a pound or more by going to Kimbers is the only reason why I changed.

 

[Backstrap]

You're really asking about two different machines meant for two different styles of hunting. This begs the question, where will you most likely hunt elk, in thick timber or open country? If it is the former, the .358 is the way to go (you already have a rifle that can reach out and touch 'em to certain degree and especially within your stated range parameters with the '08) and if it is the latter, the .300 is the way to go.

I have a Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester that was the predecessor to the .358 so they are ballistically similar except the .358 has maybe 50-100 more yards of effective range with the pointed bullets over the flat nose .348's.

Both are fine rifles within their style and type with nod probably going to the BLR since it is higher end manufacture for its type of rifle. I own both in different calibers and wouldn't hesitate to buy either again.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

My UL Elk Rifle is a 6.5lb Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in .338Ultra w/ 26" barrel.
W/ the 225gr AB it's about 24" down at 500 w/ a 300yd zero and
packs a full TON of energy to like 700-750.
Several bull elk and 4 bear later nothing has gone more than 25yds.
Hunt'nFish

 

[Reggie]

You're really asking about two different machines meant for two different styles of hunting. This begs the question, where will you most likely hunt elk, in thick timber or open country? If it is the former, the .358 is the way to go (you already have a rifle that can reach out and touch 'em to certain degree and especially within your stated range parameters with the '08) and if it is the latter, the .300 is the way to go.

I have a Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester that was the predecessor to the .358 so they are ballistically similar except the .358 has maybe 50-100 more yards of effective range with the pointed bullets over the flat nose .348's.

Both are fine rifles within their style and type with nod probably going to the BLR since it is higher end manufacture for its type of rifle. I own both in different calibers and wouldn't hesitate to buy either again.

Ill be hunting in Idaho's Frank Church wilderness. Most of my hunting will be in timber but there is opportunity for 0-1000yd shots. That being said my personal comfort level for shooting at game is sub 400 yds, withing the effective range of the 358. Yes they are 2 totally different tools but both can serve my purpose. Looks like we can all agree the tikka in 300WM is a solid choice, especially since I am familiar with tikkas. But I was hoping to hear some more about the 358 caliber. It is reassuring to hear that loading up the 7-08 is a solid option too, which I will look into as well.

 

[Backstrap]

A BLR in .358 with a see through mount scope would fit the bill nicely for your application then. You can reach out and get 'em at range or have quick shot capability with iron sights in the timber if that's where you find 'em. The .358 is a powerful efficient cartridge that fits in a handy short action rifle. If you don't reload, I could dig up some loads from the manuals for you to compare if you can't find any on line.

 

[Reggie]

Reggie - I always used to shoot 175's and slid back to 140 all of last year, I did way too much load development with nothing else - I killed 3 elk this past fall, all with 140 Accubond or TTSX and I can say for myself that I'll not shoot elk with anything lighter than 160 from here out and if I can get that 175 Partition load to shoot again that is what I'll shoot - I shot a 6 pt bull at right at 200 yd and watched the entire caper go down - the bull died sure enough but he didn't know he was dead for way too long - a 160 7mm planted in the proper spot has so much more authority and a 175 even more, I hadn't put that much thought into it but when I hit an elk I want it to KNOW it's been hit - I'm actually seriously contemplating going back to a 338 Win Mag - a 225 "ANYTHING" is a heck of a lot more dramatic and a 200/210 does a heck of a job too - A lot of it boils down to personal opinion or preference because, as has been said before, "put any bullet into the right place ...." but also as said before "I want the animal to KNOW it's been hit" and those bullets START at 7mm / 160 and climb steeply from there (IMHO)

GK what changed your opinion on the 140 grain bullets? When I start looking at some load data between the 160s and 140s it seems the velocity will be hard to achieve in the 160s to make it worth while. Now with saying that I haven't made any loads up with 160s yet to know for sure. What loads have you found successful? I do tend to agree with you that I want the animal to know its hit as well, that's why the 358 peaked my interest so much.

 

[Trr15]

They don't make them in 338 anymore but they can be found used. I may have a lead on blued one....

The Tikka website lists the .338 as an available caliber for both the blued and stainless version, but I've never seen one available at any of the gun shops that carry tikkas. I'm hoping they are still in production because I'd love to get my hands on one.

 

[bikerdavet]

I looked at one at SW in Loveland in 338 before Christmas. I opted for the 300 win mag. Adding a limb saver. I got the SW stainless fluted version.

 

[Trr15]

I looked at one at SW in Loveland in 338 before Christmas. I opted for the 300 win mag. Adding a limb saver. I got the SW stainless fluted version.

I'll have to stop in there and see if they still have it. Might be down that way this weekend.

 

[GKPrice]

Reggie - I should have qualified my statement a bit more - I killed 4 elk in 2014, all with 7mm 140 bullets - I know it's only 20+ grains to upgrade and 160-175 class bullets and I know that "on paper" there should be little difference but there is ... I've killed a whole bunch of elk with 175 Partitions and with a good hit there is a dramatic ending (if the shot is good) and I've not seen that with any good hit with a 140 - In 2013 I sneaked to within 175 on a mature 6 point and put a 140 Accubond in the boiler room, was able to watch the entire thing from hit to fall and I was not impressed at all - 2014, first kill at around 300 was unimpressive, second kill at 400+ and elk died sure enough but not impressed at all, third kill at 258 and she stood for way too long (didn't go anywhere but stood there), fourth kill at virtually the same distance as the third and she stood there for a good 3 minutes then fell and slid down a very steep slope, piling up against a pine tree so I could not get a kill shot in - 3rd and 4th were big mature cows,the hits were good ones that should have knocked each off their feet - hate to ponder on how a BIG bull would or would not have reacted - Elk in particular are extremely tough critters, I've seen them do amazingly tough things over the years - They "deserve" better than being shot with light for caliber bullets (or making bad shots, I've done both) and for "me personally" I'm gonna use heavy for caliber bullets and know my ordnance for the remainder of my hunting career - I'm not criticizing any one brand or style of bullet but "flat trajectory" is not "always" the right thing to focus on when hunting big game - besides, what difference does it make if one has to correct by 20" or 30" ? with today's equipment virtually any correction for bullet trajectory is the same as another, it's all "lobbing" and can be mastered with practice

 

[tony m]

Everyone needs a levergun..mine is a blr takedown.It is a 270 win shortened to 38 1/2 " , with a 19" barrel.The 7mm/08 is a great choice too.The bullet choice is more important than the headstamp.

 

[SMITTY1HUNTER]

Since you already reload you could stay with a .284 bullet if you want to use them for the 7mm 08 and just go up on case size to another round. Of course you'd have to get some heavier bullets, or at least I would. Not saying you couldn't use the 7mm 08, just saying if you want a new rifle, which is never a bad thing, you could go that route. I'd either go 7mm Rem Mag or 7mm WSM if staying with a .284. If you don't care about the reloading aspects I like a .300WSM for elk or the good ole 30-06 if you think you would use it for other game as well. I'm actually doing just that this year and will be going with the Winchester Extreme Weather.