Timber Rifle for Elk...what one?

[jayquiver]

Looking to purchase/build a bush Elk rifle. Looking for some insight on deciding on the right rifle/cartridge for the job. Want a .308 cal or .338 cal sending 200 to 225 grain bullets for Elk in Alberta bush and cuts. I would say 90% of shots would be under 400 yards absolute max.

Options

1. I have a Kimber Montana 84L in a 270 that I could turn into or 338-06 or 30-06. Weighs 5pds 8oz bare. Holds 4 down
2. Looking at a Kimber Montana 8400 “fat belly” action in 338 win mag. Weighs 6pds 13 oz bare. Holds 4 down.
3. 300 PRC, not sure which one yet. Not really a bush gun but can shoot bullet weights I want and also a better long range rifle if I need it.

I like the fact that the 338 win and 300 PRC have good factory options, but I do reload. I am thinking recoil may be similar between the two Montana’s as their weights may even it out.

Thoughts on intended purpose?

 

[bushpilot]

If you goal is bullet weights are 200-225 I wouldn’t go for a 30-06. 300 magnums or 338 win mag are good platform for that projectile. My 338 win mag spits out 250gr bullets for the big critters in the bush. Mind you I almost always am carrying my Kimber 280ai loaded with monometals when chasing elk, bush or not.

 

[Montucky]

375 Ruger

 

[keystone112]

Lots of good choices.

Classic: 30-06
Different: 338-06
Max: 338 WM

My 338 WM weighs 8 1/4 pounds. The recoil is substantial with 225 loads. If the accuracy was better, I would live with it.

If I am lucky enough to draw an elk tag, I’ll be carrying my 30-06 this fall.

If I were you, I would go with a custom barrel and the 338-06.

 

[Shraggs]

I can do it in a short action, 358 200 GR hammers at 2670, good past 400 yards

 

[wsharp3750]

Could always rebore yours to 35 Whelen. That caliber has been killing elk for many years. Pretty impressive ballistics out to 400 yards when loaded up.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have mainly been a close range elk hunter and I have been thinking about a new rifle myself. I like the idea of a lighter weight (but not ultra lightweight) 338-06 with a 22” barrel - something in the 7 to 7.5 pound scoped/loaded range. It would be unbraked, and I would probably stick to 200 to 213 gr bullets to minimize recoil.

 

[J_Jacobson196]

Keep an eye out for the new 375yukon that's coming out soon!

 

[Vaquero 45]

Up close and personal I have downed two with my Browning BLR model 81 "takedown" in 7MM WSM . Iron sights , fits better in my scabbard .

 

[ldmay375]

Looking to purchase/build a bush Elk rifle. Looking for some insight on deciding on the right rifle/cartridge for the job. Want a .308 cal or .338 cal sending 200 to 225 grain bullets for Elk in Alberta bush and cuts. I would say 90% of shots would be under 400 yards absolute max.

Options

1. I have a Kimber Montana 84L in a 270 that I could turn into or 338-06 or 30-06. Weighs 5pds 8oz bare. Holds 4 down
2. Looking at a Kimber Montana 8400 “fat belly” action in 338 win mag. Weighs 6pds 13 oz bare. Holds 4 down.
3. 300 PRC, not sure which one yet. Not really a bush gun but can shoot bullet weights I want and also a better long range rifle if I need it.

I like the fact that the 338 win and 300 PRC have good factory options, but I do reload. I am thinking recoil may be similar between the two Montana’s as their weights may even it out.

Thoughts on intended purpose?

I have an early Kimber Montana 338 Winchester. It appears to be 3 in the magazine capacity.

Definitely a lighter weight rifle. I have not shot this one, yet. I had the barrel cut to ~23".
If I recall correctly, with a Swarovski 1.7-10x42 it weighs 7 pounds 6 ounces.
If it groups as well as the Kimber Montana 325's that I have, I will be very happy with it.

 

[TheHammer]

I recently shot a friend’s savage 110 bear hunter in 338win. He was trying to sell me on the idea of one for Alaska over my wm or wsm… it was a nice rifle and falls well within your budget.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

30-06 with a 200g or 220g bullet is a great option if you handload. A 200g partition or a 220g inter bond makes a great round out of the 30-06. I have a Winchester m70 extreme
Weather with a nightforce shv 3-10 on it, I’ve got it dialed in with 220g Interbonds as a mid range moose and bear rifle. It would make a great elk rifle. Only downside to that setup was a that it’s like 8.5lbs empty. I’m hat dosent really matter that much to me though, not every rifle needs to be ultralight.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I recently shot a friend’s savage 110 bear hunter in 338win. He was trying to sell me on the idea of one for Alaska over my wm or wsm… it was a nice rifle and falls well within your budget.

Savage even has the brush hunter in 338 and 375 Ruger.

 

[11boo]

Your terrain is different, but when I hunt our timber this goes. 2x Leo. on the 45-70.

 

[MAP1]

Could always rebore yours to 35 Whelen. That caliber has been killing elk for many years. Pretty impressive ballistics out to 400 yards when loaded up.

This^^^^

 

[Leaf Litter]

Another vote for 35 whelen. Getting a 200gr bullet to 2900 FPS from a standard bolt face is a spicy meatball. Barrel could be chopped to 20" or shorter with little loss of performance.

 

[SloppyJ]

30-06 with a 200g or 220g bullet is a great option if you handload. A 200g partition or a 220g inter bond makes a great round out of the 30-06. I have a Winchester m70 extreme
Weather with a nightforce shv 3-10 on it, I’ve got it dialed in with 220g Interbonds as a mid range moose and bear rifle. It would make a great elk rifle. Only downside to that setup was a that it’s like 8.5lbs empty. I’m hat dosent really matter that much to me though, not every rifle needs to be ultralight.

I cannot get my m70 to shoot anything over 165gr bullets accurately. It is consistently the most picky gun I own. I've spent a considerable amount of time testing new loads for it in the 200gr range and my best is around 2moa. It took a while but it likes a lighter load of 4350 and a 165gr accubond. I've tested that 3 different times and gotten around 0.5 to 0.7". I can live with that but as soon as you up the weight, it starts spraying. Even tried multiple different powders. Mind sharing your load? Mine is also cut down to 20" but it had this problem at 24" too.

Sorry to hijack. For the OP, I think the 338-06 is an interesting round. But I'd tote around my 280ai in lieu of buying another rifle. That thing is a tack driver. It's a Savage Timberline.

 

[t_carlson]

30-06 w/ 200 Partitions will penetrate as good as most .338 loads

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I cannot get my m70 to shoot anything over 165gr bullets accurately. It is consistently the most picky gun I own. I've spent a considerable amount of time testing new loads for it in the 200gr range and my best is around 2moa. It took a while but it likes a lighter load of 4350 and a 165gr accubond. I've tested that 3 different times and gotten around 0.5 to 0.7". I can live with that but as soon as you up the weight, it starts spraying. Even tried multiple different powders. Mind sharing your load? Mine is also cut down to 20" but it had this problem at 24" too.

Sorry to hijack. For the OP, I think the 338-06 is an interesting round. But I'd tote around my 280ai in lieu of buying another rifle. That thing is a tack driver. It's a Savage Timberline.

I’ll have to check my notes but it’s h4350 powder.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

I’ve always been intrigued by the 338 Federal cartridge. Brass can be made with lapua 308.