Need an new Elk Gun!

I have the Tikka T3 super light. My elk rifle is in 30.06, I also have a Tikka Super light in .223 It feels exactly like my 06 and I have the same scope on it which means I shoot it a lot at prairie dogs, coyotes, and targets and consider that great practice for when hunting elk. Pick the caliber that you want, it'll work.
 
MT_Wyatt said:
In some respects I can understand asking a simple question and wanting a simple answer, without the extra fluff. Sure.

But, you’ve repeatedly been insulting and critical in your responses. To the point I could care less to answer your question - but something that starts with 6 was a good answer actually. No one “owes” you a specific constrained answer. You asked a very contrived question and most are going to involve a few things that matter - range, bullet, and availability in certain rifle platforms.

This place has always been a “detail” kind of forum, very gear driven, etc. If you don’t like that, or the people or answers, no reason to stay and complain. It’s not really what you are asking or saying - it’s how you come across. No one is purposefully looking for an “internet fight” about the idea of your elk rifle.
Click to expand...
to be fair...not everyone is the same boat. If someone asked me a question that I'm proficient in, I'd address the question asked, and offer suggestions they may take into consideration. If you want to answer a question rudely, I'll respond rudely. I've only been critical to the ones that have their own agenda, and just like to talk. I know some forum people think you need the biggest and best of everything. Others think whatever they own is the best. I'm not like either.

Like most forums, you can get some good feedback, you just have to weed out the bad ones. (it's great being a lurker on forums as you can get an idea of what or how certain people will respond before even asking questions).

I appreciate your thoughts and recommendation.
 
No can? So I can figure on a 20" barrel instead of 18" and still be easy to tote and swing in a treestand. The smallest caliber I'd consider for a dedicated elk rifle would be a 6mmGT. The largest I'd consider would be a .280AI.

Note that those are .473" bolt face calibers - I woudn't even consider larger, nor smaller.

In between you have 6mmCM, 243W, 243wAI, 25CM, 25-06 or 25-06AI, 6.5x47,6.5CM, 7-08 or 7-08AI, and finally the monster, bigger than you need, 280ai.

I would probably land on the 6.5CM simply because it allows you to 'wallop' them with a big heavy 147ELDM at sufficient velocity to get waaaayyyyyy past the 500 yards or so I consider 'maximum' for my personal use.

There is no way on earth that I would seriously consider a magnum bolt face or a case larger than the .280AI case capacity, and even the latter is doubtful - I would likely land in the 6mm or 6.5mm Creedmoor capacity range. YMMV. Elk and other game animals are not hard to kill if you hit them halfway well. They are hard to *hit* and that requires practice with your hunting rifle. Lower recoil facilitates this. So stay with the modest recoil stuff.
 
My 2 cents: if you like a cartridge but concerned about recoil, you can solve that through a heavier gun or a brake or suppressor. If one of those aren't an option, then you are going to have to go to a less recoiling cartridge of your choice. This group has gravitated towards "less works" so you need to consider that mindset. Ultimately, you need to get a gun that you shoot well and are confident when you squeeze the trigger that you will get the results you want. That means you need to shoot it enough to become confident in your ability to shoot it well at the range needed. I played with 4 guns this year before I settled on the one I became confident would meet my needs.
 
Pulleye16 said:
to be fair...not everyone is the same boat. If someone asked me a question that I'm proficient in, I'd address the question asked, and offer suggestions they may take into consideration. If you want to answer a question rudely, I'll respond rudely. I've only been critical to the ones that have their own agenda, and just like to talk. I know some forum people think you need the biggest and best of everything. Others think whatever they own is the best. I'm not like either.

Like most forums, you can get some good feedback, you just have to weed out the bad ones. (it's great being a lurker on forums as you can get an idea of what or how certain people will respond before even asking questions).

I appreciate your thoughts and recommendation.
Click to expand...
I watched a single 108gr 6mm Berger kill a cow elk in less than a minute, with very little travel after the shot, at 500 yards last year. That expereince and opening up that animal to see the damange really changed my perspective on "elk rifles."

I think a 6.5mm cartridge is easy to jump into from a .308, like a 6.5 creed, total easy button. That's plenty to kill elk with the right bullets, but lots will choose a 6.5 PRC which is also great, just more recoil to deal with. Unbraked/no can, I'd choose a standard bolt face short action cartridge. IF you can find a rifle you like in 6mm (creedmoor, .243 etc), I have to say, it's just incredibly enjoyable to shoot and practice with. So much so it makes you want to shoot more and more with it, which obviuosly would make you more effective targeting elk. Also more pleasant to carry day to day. Going smaller than .308 is counterintuitive (308 would be plenty fine for elk) but with some of these modern bullets, it really is a possibility.

Hope that helps.
 
You want a light(er) "elk gun," no muzzle brake or suppressor, not a .300 Win Mag (or greater magnum?) and you already have a .308.

Not a 6 point something-or-other, because you said an elk rifle, not an all-around rifle that sometimes gets used on elk.

Not an '06. You already have a .308, so an '06 is not the answer because it's too close to the same thing. The ‘06 advantage is heavier bullets. You probably don’t want to shoot 200s or 220s, so that leaves 180s. An ‘06 with 180s isn’t significantly different than a .308 with 165s.

That pretty much leaves calibers in the .270 Winchester to 7 Rem Mag class as your options.

Unless you like slower, bigger bores like .35 Whelen or 9.3x62. Those would definitely be considered “elk guns.”
 
You can't save them all. Some just can't stop themselves.

The OP is now requesting suggestions on the best type of wood for their new bat. My opinion is hickory is good but a metal variant would suit the task better.

1764949226834.jpeg
 
tstowater said:
My 2 cents: if you like a cartridge but concerned about recoil, you can solve that through a heavier gun or a brake or suppressor. If one of those aren't an option, then you are going to have to go to a less recoiling cartridge of your choice. This group has gravitated towards "less works" so you need to consider that mindset. Ultimately, you need to get a gun that you shoot well and are confident when you squeeze the trigger that you will get the results you want. That means you need to shoot it enough to become confident in your ability to shoot it well at the range needed. I played with 4 guns this year before I settled on the one I became confident would meet my needs.
Click to expand...
Very helpful! This is a great answer, thanks.

Question, how did you "play" with 4 guns? This could help me a lot and maybe even get me on a path to a magnum caliber. I don't have access to a lot guns in that range. Do local gun clubs have this option? Heck, can you return a gun??? I kid but maybe you can?
 
MT_Wyatt said:
I watched a single 108gr 6mm Berger kill a cow elk in less than a minute, with very little travel after the shot, at 500 yards last year. That expereince and opening up that animal to see the damange really changed my perspective on "elk rifles."

I think a 6.5mm cartridge is easy to jump into from a .308, like a 6.5 creed, total easy button. That's plenty to kill elk with the right bullets, but lots will choose a 6.5 PRC which is also great, just more recoil to deal with. Unbraked/no can, I'd choose a standard bolt face short action cartridge. IF you can find a rifle you like in 6mm (creedmoor, .243 etc), I have to say, it's just incredibly enjoyable to shoot and practice with. So much so it makes you want to shoot more and more with it, which obviuosly would make you more effective targeting elk. Also more pleasant to carry day to day. Going smaller than .308 is counterintuitive (308 would be plenty fine for elk) but with some of these modern bullets, it really is a possibility.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Very helpful and thanks.

Again, not trying to be rude, was just looking for help on a gun that fit my shoes, not a dream gun or someone else dream gun that I could make work.

Quite a few other suggest the 6.5 creed so now I just need to find one to shoot!

Thanks,
 
roadrunner said:
.277 on caliber.

.270 Win on cartridge.

500 yds max range for factory ammo offerings, depending on bullet.

Edit: we have taken elk from 40 yds to just under a smidge over 500. You hit them in the lungs with complete penetration (aka hitting both lungs), they have no other option than to take a trip to your freezer at the end of the day.
Click to expand...
This is my preference. Many will also consider this as an all-around caliber that gets used effectively for elk instead of an “elk gun.” But many elk have fallen cleanly to it.
 
6.5 Creedmoor is the easy button. 143 eldx or 147 eldm factory loads

To the question of what I would buy? I am hoping that I have saved enough money for a Seekins PH3 by the time (and if) they make it in 25 Creedmoor. If they don’t, I will have to decide between the 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Probably go with the 6.

If I’m accurately reading between the lines on your posts, it seems like you’re shying away from the smaller cartridges, as well as bigger cartridges. 270 Win has been a solid choice for nearly 100 years. I’ve personally never shot a 280 AI, but the cartridge intrigues me, and I would guess has manageable recoil. You might look hard at the 6.5 PRC. Absolutely fantastic cartridge that seems to be fairly accepted as an elk round. The 7mm-08 is also quite underrated.

But for me, it will be one of the Creedmoors. I spent many years hunting in the southern whitetail woods first with a 30-06, then a 300 Win Mag. I bought a cheap 6.5 Creedmoor 7 or 8 years ago for no reason other than it was on sale at Cabelas. I thought it was a great gun for my sons (which it was!), but I found myself reaching for it more and more. Now that I live in a great western state, and elk is my first priority, I have sold my big 30’s, and carry the 6.5 exclusively ( my boys are now old enough to have their own guns😊). My sample size on elk is only 3, a bull and 2 cows. No drama, just meat in the freezer.

No regrets yet. Maybe I’ll change my mind somewhere down the road 🤷🏽‍♂️.

My .02. Sorry for the long post
 
Sled said:
You can't save them all. Some just can't stop themselves.

The OP is now requesting suggestions on the best type of wood for their new bat. My opinion is hickory is good but a metal variant would suit the task better.

View attachment 979183
Click to expand...

Two years from now he’ll ask the same question again.

Maybe, by then, he’ll learn the difference between cartridge and caliber. Keep in mind there’s no such thing as a magnum caliber, like he says in post 91.

Remember, he’s asking for advice on caliber, not cartridge.

I said 7mm. But which 7mm cartridge? Doesn’t matter, that’s not what he asked.
 
I've killed elk with:
6mm Remington
6.5 CM
6.5 PRC
7mm Rem Mag
308 Win
30-06
338 WM
35 Whelen
44 Rem Mag
Have many others that I have carried, but haven't had the chance to kill an elk with yet. Some of the above had killed multiple elk, some only one.
That said, many different cartridges can be dedicated elk killers with well placed bullets. Personally I don't have a dedicated elk rifle, just grab one that interests me at the time. Know this response doesn't answer your question specifically, but you have been given many options and there really is no single definitive answer to your question. Good luck in choosing.
 
@Pulleye16 I do good things for you here

Pick one
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Make friends with @EuroOptic so they hook you up.
 
Pulleye, I was getting ready for a bighorn sheep hunt so bigger wasn't needed. Sorted out 4 existing rifles, 2 in 6.5 CM, a 6.5-300 Weatherby that I had used on a mule deer hunt and a 7mm PRC. Prior hunters in my unit said that needed to be capable of 600 yards. I shot them all. I ended up using the 7mm PRC as I had the most confidence in its performance at the longer distances. I took a 6.5 CM as a backup which I didn't need. I had shot to 600 yds before I left and adjusted to the elevation difference which was 2" at 100 yards at 10,000'. Did a chart from 0 to 650 with 2" high zero at 100 yards. Actual shot was an adjusted 430 yards on a steep downhill at 12,500 elevation. No way to get closer. The 7mm PRC has a brake and recoil is manageable. Just wear hearing protection.

Whatever you choose, you need to practice with a bunch before going hunting. If you are going to take a shot over 300 yards, plan on knowing how the load you are planning on using will perform. Get a good chronograph if you don't already have one. You need to know how your gun performs with that load. Speed is going to impact the trajectory of the bullet. I got a Kestrel shortly before I left but didn't use it as I didn't have time to develop the proficiency I needed to use it as needed. The 7mm PRC was basically point and kill to 300 yards with a 175 grain bullet.
 
Pulleye16 said:
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.
Click to expand...
6CM, but Tikka does not make that in a factory rifle yet, so it would be a Tikka 243 with a 1-8 twist.
 
MTlan66 said:
If I’m accurately reading between the lines on your posts, it seems like you’re shying away from the smaller cartridges, as well as bigger cartridges. 270 Win has been a solid choice for nearly 100 years.
Click to expand...
Yes, and it will continue to be.
 
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