Need an new Elk Gun!

14” 22 creed with OG 6.5 if max range is 500 yards. In 6mm minimum then 16” 6 creed.

I would sell the 308 and buy a suppressor.

This is the perfect suggestion. I took an elk yesterday will a 6 Creed I bought from hereinAZ.

If you want something more simple then a Tikka T3X in 6.5 Creed (if not shooting over 500) or 6.5 PRC (if shooting over 500). Use 143 or 147 grain Hornady factory ammo. You do not need bigger unless you are shooting over 1000 yards. Sell the 308 and put a suppressor on the Tikka.
 
You can't go wrong with the Tikkas for a good OOB gun. I have 2, but up until recently I believe, none had threaded barrells so I ended up buying a Bergara 7prc and love it so much I'm selling the two Tikkas and buying my son a LH Bergara in 7PRC. Neither of us really ever want to shoot without a suppressor again :)

The Tikkas are 270wsm and 7mm-08 and both easily shoot sub moa with factory ammo. I was really pretty amazed how well both shoot and how accurate they are.
 
The old question again...


I'm traditionally a Midwest hunter and have used the 308 before on elk hunts. But...I'd like to buy a new gun! and why not! The gun I'm buying is light, at or less then 7lbs. Ideally, and I think there's not "too" much to argue, the 300wm would be the ultimate elk round but I'm not fond of the recoil on such a light gun. Not a "huge" fan of muzzle brakes and not looking at suppressor...yet.

You're at the gun buying store, your wife gave you money for a new gun, dedicated for elk, it's around 7 lbs give or take, it's not threaded (nor will be), the only other gun you have is a 308. So, what caliber would you choose and why? But again, your only other gun is a 308...keep that in mind when deciding.

Factor in your own max range, but state that if it's important in your decision.
300wsm x-bolt plain Jane. 6.5 pounds. A real pussycat to shoot.
 
I would also advocate, especially if wanting to get higher end at a good price, to look at the classifieds here. I didn’t before a recent purchase and somewhat regret it.

FWIW, as someone who bought two new rifles in the past year, I’d wish I’d have bought one and put the $ towards other areas (gear, tags, etc)


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I would also advocate, especially if wanting to get higher end at a good price, to look at the classifieds here. I didn’t before a recent purchase and somewhat regret it.

FWIW, as someone who bought two new rifles in the past year, I’d wish I’d have bought one and put the $ towards other areas (gear, tags, etc)


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Only buy one rifle a year? That's just crazy talk!
 
I read your post and commented. I just re-read it. I stand by what I said. You aren’t looking at suppressors yet.
You should be, and you should just buy one. Nothing wrong with a 308. Put a can on it. Or sell it to buy a lighter rifle with a can on it. Or buy a different stock to lighten your 308 with a can on it. Or pay a gunsmith to take metal off the rifle to lighten it with a can on. Or spend more money and buy a 30 cal can, THEN a rifle for the can when your wife gives you more money.

Those are my suggestions to you, but my wife doesn’t give me money, so we are on different boats I suppose.
 
Been there, weighing out the perfect elk gun, after I already got one with my 300 win mag, and had numerous deer rifles to choose from.

A day at the range in a t-shirt with the 300win mag, was punishing, and no help in accuracy.

Reaching out, flat shooting, with less recoil, were top priorities for the new gun.

The more you look at the 300 wsm, the more you will like it. Not as popular and its older sibling, but introduced decades as the Winchester’s new and improved 300 magnum shouldn’t be ignored. Some people just don’t like change.

I ended up with Brownings X-bolt pro 300wsm, which fit the bill perfectly for an elk gun. Then took it a step further by adding a suppressor, which took the already manageable recoil to something that is a pleasure to shoot, and is reflected in long distance accuracy. The suppressor balances the gun out well.

Very satisfied with this combo and I’d do the same again.
 
Hard question? Bro you clearly haven’t spent any time reading on rokslide if you’re asking what caliber/cartridge for elk. Gets asked on the daily. Dudes will shoot them with 223’s all the what up to Lapuas


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Bro...Reading is tough, I get it. I understand there are a ton of calibers that kill elk...that wasn't the question, bro.

Question was, bro, What caliber would YOU buy if you were to buy an elk rifle under 7lbs and your only other gun was a 308. Pretty simple.
 
For a light rifle I like your 308 with 165 gr bullet. It’s only 100 yards behind a 30-06 and 200 yards behind the 300 mag.

A 284 is a classic light weight mountain cartridge. 280 AI is the same performance 100 yards further out. 7mm08 with 140 gr bullets is popular for good reason.

270 or 6.5 PRC and 140 gr bullets work well and doesn’t recoil any more than a 308.

I just bought a 270 WSM barrel and would probably take it just because it’s new to me, but a 7 SAUM or WSM, or 300 SAUM or WSM would be equally useful.

In this middle range any of these would work just fine. Throw a dart.

Personally, I walk around with the scope set for 300 yards and prefer cartridges that drop around 10” (two hand widths) at 400 yards just to make the math in my head easy. The 270, PRC, WSM/saum and the 7 AI are right in there, the others are mainly two fingers lower and the 308 is probably two hand widths, two big fingers and two pinkies. Nobody with a 308 has ever starved to death because of the two extra pinkies. 🙂

What are your thought on a lightweight rifle chambered 7mm prc? These gonna kick like a mule?
 
You can't go wrong with the Tikkas for a good OOB gun. I have 2, but up until recently I believe, none had threaded barrells so I ended up buying a Bergara 7prc and love it so much I'm selling the two Tikkas and buying my son a LH Bergara in 7PRC. Neither of us really ever want to shoot without a suppressor again :)

The Tikkas are 270wsm and 7mm-08 and both easily shoot sub moa with factory ammo. I was really pretty amazed how well both shoot and how accurate they are.
How was the 7prc to shoot without the suppressor? I know the Bergara is slightly heavier, but would the 7 fair well on a lighter gun?
 
Bro...Reading is tough, I get it. I understand there are a ton of calibers that kill elk...that wasn't the question, bro.

Question was, bro, What caliber would YOU buy if you were to buy an elk rifle under 7lbs and your only other gun was a 308. Pretty simple.

Alright man, you keep worrying about what “calibers” to shoot them elk with, I’ll keep working on shooting them. May not be any left by the time you figure out this conundrum ;)


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300wsm x-bolt plain Jane. 6.5 pounds. A real pussycat to shoot.

[mention]Pulleye16 [/mention] this, please please please listen to this! Think of all the elk you will be able to spare by missing them!


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Currently shooting a 7PRC in a Browning X-bolt with a brake. The gun with scope is going to weigh more than 7 lbs with scope and mag full of ammo. Recoil is manageable, but not as good as having a can on it. I stayed with the brake this fall on my bighorn sheep hunt as I didn't want to deal with the length, especially on a horseback hunt. Wear earplugs and anyone else around you when shooting and you will be fine. The 7mm is an excellent elk cartridge using the 175 grain ELD-X or comparable bullet. I have a 300WSM and a 300WM sitting in the safe. On next year's elk hunt, I'm taking the 7PRC with one of the 300's as a backup. Definitely get something with a threaded barrel.
 
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