New Elk boom stick, help needed.

[DoubleDown]

Snipers Hide member selling Sako Finnlight 300 win mag with swaro z6 for only 2k$

 

[TREE ‘EM]

6.5 PRC will do the job but it’s hard to beat a .270 Win for off the shelf availability or performance. Same goes for 30/06.

All rifle actions have their up sides, down sides, devoted fans and haters. Select based upon what your preferences are and run with it.

If going full custom have a serious conversation about delivery time. Make sure you can receive it at least 6 months before your hunt so you can shoot it plenty and sort out any issues well in advance.

I sent a rifle and barrel blank to Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Work in Nebraska in late winter 2016 for 2 hunts I had planned. He promised a 2-3 month turn around. I received it fall 2018 and he botched it so bad it couldn’t even chamber a round and trashed the action to where it was unfixable. Sent it back to him and haven’t seen it since.

One of my buddies bought a couple Cooper rifles and had a ton of issues with them from feeding and ejection to locking lugs not making contact and sights falling off.

I know a lot of people who have played the Kimber lottery, myself included and lost so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that route either.

For upper end off the rack rifles several people I know that have had good luck with Barret fieldcraft, Seekins and HS precision.

You could just buy a Tikka T3x or Ruger Hawkeye and have all the rifle you need with enough change left over for another hunt, but I’m not one for killing another mans custom rifle dreams

 

[TREE ‘EM]

Hard to beat this

WTS - Sako A7 Stainless 30-06 bedded into McMillan EDGE Classic by GA Precision

SPF Built this as the ultimate go-anywhere do anything rifle and it has been fantastic. Shoots the 168 Barnes factory load and the 165 Accubond load under MOA. Rifle weighs 6lb before optics. INCLUDES Talley Lightweights and original SOFT TOUCH Sako stock. Trigger is adjusted to...

www.rokslide.com

 

[Wmmichael20]

Ruger guide gun in 30-06/338 win mag...

 

[3sdad]

Seekins havak element. Mainstream would be 308. Off beaten path, go 6.5 prc.

 

[Miller8812]

Xbolt Pro in 270/308/30-06/300WM with a vx6 or a swaro z5 or a nightforce nxs.

 

[Steve O]

What rifles do you already have? With that budget I would take an old rifle and book a second elk hunt!

Yes this is perfect advice. You don’t need a custom rifle to shoot an elk at 400 yards!

 

[Peaks&Creeks]

84L Hunter 30-06 Sprg

84L Hunter 30-06 Sprg

www.kygunco.com

30-06, 5 pounds 10 oz. $550. Throw scope of choice on it.


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[Dust Rider]

300WSM or 300 WM. Lots of nice production guns like Kimber Montana, Barrett Field Craft or the new Proof Elevation in 308 or 6.5CM. These are all under 6 pound guns that will shoot out to 800 yards if you practice and learn how to shoot them.

 

[BrushyHillGuide]

Is there a caliber or brand that hasn’t been recommended in this thread? Lol! Just goes to show that you can use just about anything and it all comes down to personal preference. When you say, “lightweight” what are you talking about - sub 6lbs, sub 7lbs, sub 8lbs? Is that including your scope or bare rifle? Keep in mind, a lightweight rifle is nice to carry but significantly more difficult to shoot accurately, particularly the further out you go, over a heavier one. Especially when it’s windy or you’re winded! It’s a balancing act. Personally, I’ll take a weight penalty for something I KNOW I can make a great shot in bad weather and under pressure.

Since you have plenty of budget, my first question would be whether you’re interested in a custom. If you are, I’d give Clayton at West Texas Ordnance a shout. Talk to him about building you a SwitchLug rifle that meets your parameters. That will use up your budget but you’ll end up with a rifle capable of shooting better than you (probably) can. There are some good builders mentioned but I’ve fallen in love with the SwitchLug system. The ability to change barrels/calibers with nothing more than an Allen wrench for no more money than any other custom is where it’s at, imo. Why NOT have the option to build your rifle for this hunt and then, when you have an opportunity to hunt something requiring a different barrel length or caliber, just call Clayton and have him spin you up a new barrel for your rifle? With the measurements he takes, he can spin your barrel and send it to you without you sending him the rifle; and it will be just as accurate as if you had sent it to him. One bolt rifle that can be configured to other calibers is now possible! Why be chained to one setup? Best of all, you can get used to ONE setup that can become a .223 for practice one minute, a 6.5PRC for backpack elk 2 minutes later and then a 30wsm for long range Nikgai the next? It’s very economical in the long run and you get to shoot one stock/scope setup all the time which makes for comfort/consistency.

His SwitchLug system can be adopted to most actions so you can chose most anything you want. He’s building me one on a a Bighorn SR3 (floating interchangeable bolt head) and another in a Tikka. After this season I’m sending him my custom Mike Bryant 6.5cm, built in a Deviant action, to be converted to the SwitchLug. I’ve shot a bunch of them and LOVED them. So, now I’m taking the plunge.

That 6.5PRC will be perfect for elk at the ranges you’re talking! It shines with shorter barrels. 22” is a great length for that caliber. Build something with a carbon barrel and an McMillan Edge filled stock and you should have no problem getting into your budget. Hope this helps.


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[Zzhartless]

Only thing I could add to this is caliber I'd personally select 7mm (.280) or 30 Cal variety. If all your concerned with is weight savings, don't go with a bigger magnum, due to increased overall weight added in rounds and everything else associated. If not that concerened, then you have a hell of a decision ahead of you. Good luck shopping and on your hunt.

 

[Lionhound1975]

I'm all for spending money on guns and optics (i think all of us are otherwise we wouldn't be on this forum) but for a shot out to 600 yards on elk i think you could get a nice setup for way under your $5000 limit. There are plenty of rifles that will shoot 3 shots of quality commercial ammo under 1 MOA which is enough for any hunting situation.

You can buy some good rifles for under $500 from Savage and Thompson Center that will shoot under 1 MOA. You can up it to a $1000 limit and get a really nice rifle from Tikka or Bergara. You can also spend $2000 on a some well-known companies that will group at 2-3 MOA. So i would go with the accuracy since at the end of the day, you will likely only be taking 1 or 2 shots on your hunt and they need to count.

I would spend more on optics that the rifle itself. And include quality rings since that will affect accuracy.

As far as calibers i would go with 270 or 30-06. The 6.5 PRC I'm sure would do fine since many guys have taken elk with a 6.5 Creedmoor using good bullets. You can go heavier but in a lighter rifle you will pay for that in recoil and heavy recoil will affect your accuracy. Any you want to be shooting that thing accurately from standing, sitting, kneeling, etc.

The big thing would be to buy a lot of quality ammo and practice shots from all different positions using the scope you select. Being proficient with the rifle you select will have more effect on if you get a good hit in the kill zone that the difference between shooting a 30-06 vs a 30 something magnum round.

 

[tdot]

I'd second the vote for a switch barrel. I don't use a switch lug, just a shouldered barrel. It's still super easy and repeatable. I do have to remove my action from the stock, but it's a 5 minute affair. But the WTO system looks awesome too. It just increase the utility of the gun so much. I have a 338 and 6.5, I can shoot the 6.5 a ton, get super familiar and comfortable with the ergonomics of the rifle. Hunt most animals I'm after, but Bear or Elk, I can switch the 338 and it's not an unfamiliar gun.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

I’ll second the Alamo precision recommendation. I ordered a tier 1 build when they did the Texas bowhunter group buy and I am more than happy with it. Tons of custom and lightweight options, as good as anything out there from a custom shop and quick turnaround. For the money, can’t beat APR for a custom build. I got mine in 300WM and it stacks rounds with 215 berger hybrids.

 

[HookUp]

Go with a .30 caliber. I have known plenty of guys watch there elk run off after being shot with .284 and .270. No idea why the 6.5 is being tossed out. It will work but its not ideal. I would go 300 WSm, 300 WIn MAG or 30 Nosler, PRC, etc.
My 300 WSM has dropped my last two elk as they stood with one shot. That isnt happening with a smaller bullet plan on pumping follow up shots into the critter= with smaller diameter bullets.