WTB First elk rifle

[dtreeps]

A friend invited me to hunt Elk in Colorado and I need to get a rifle. Looking for a 308 or similar caliber. Something light or inexpensive enough that I could buy a light stock for it. I've got three kids and one on the way so the budget is limited!

Thanks,
Dan

 

[realunlucky]

Ruger American gets good reviews thinking about getting one for my kids

 

[COlineman78]

The best cheap rifles are Ruger American or Weatherby Vanguard. I wouldn't waste my money on anything else in that price range. My brother picked up a Vanguard with a scope for $500 at a pawn shop a few years ago. Best cheap scope is a Nikon Prostaff, great glass for the money.

I'd say the best Elk calibers are .308, .270 or .300 win mag. My personal favorite is 270 as it's a flat shooter and you don't have to adjust much for distance.

 

[rodney482]

Savage Axis .270

Under 3 bills and it will get the job done

 

[Greg Beck]

I have the Savage Axis in a.270.....its a fine gun, not excellent by no means but it's accurate and I'm a real tight budget!!! I've heard good things about the Ruger American series.....

 

[rangerman]

I have a like new in the box stainless Remington 700 .308 Win with a Nikon Bucmaster 3x9x40 with the BDC reticle that I bought brand new just a while back that I might be willing to part with. It shoots less than a MOA and has less than 75 rounds down the tube. This would make you an excellent light weight elk gun that if loaded with the right bullets would serve you quiet well. I can send pics if you are interested. Just send me a cell phone number if you would like some.
Thanks,
Brian

 

[gonhunting247]

Personally I'm a Winchester Mod70 guy, but I helped a friend on a tight budget pick out a gun. We went with the Ruger American in .300 WSM and it's been great. If I was looking to go cheap and keep cost down I'd opt for the same gun in 30.06. Good Luck and have fun on your hunt.

 

[next30years]

Weatherby Vanguard S2 or Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 with a Nikon Monarch 3 2-8x32 would put you at about $800.

You would be able to get great elk loads less than $30 a box.

Another $100 and you could get a Zeiss Terra 3-9x42

A Remington M700 SPS would be a few bucks more and you would have a whole lot of options s for lightweight stocks.

Manners makes a great ultralight stock for Wby Vanguard/Howa (Manners EH-SL)

Good luck.

 

[husky390]

This is my go to gun for elk this year.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?29776-My-Mountain-Ascent-PBR-Edition

 

[rodney482]

Throw a $125 boyds thumbhole stock on it and a 5 min trigger job and its a very nice gun.

I have the Savage Axis in a.270.....its a fine gun, not excellent by no means but it's accurate and I'm a real tight budget!!! I've heard good things about the Ruger American series.....

 

[Murdy]

The Savage 11 / 111 series is priced similarly to the Vanguard V2's, and also a good gun (I own one as well as a Marlin xl7, which I also like)

 

[rileybassman]

I use a Savage 116 30-06 (Live in the rainy part of the country) with a B&C Stock and a Nikon Monarch 2.5-10.

Great shooting gun!

Dad has the Weatherby Vanguard S2 Stainless... Also a very nice gun!

In my opinion, if you stay stock, the Weatherby is a little nicer, if you throw on an aftermarket stock, I like the Savage better.

 

[hunting1]

I can only tell you that there is no difference in killing between the 30-06 or the 308. 06 gets the nod once you go heavy, but both things being equal a 165/168 one at 2750 the other at 2850 flip a coin. I have a Ruger American in a Boyd and I would call it a great deal if I did not hate the magazine. My money says Remington ADL or Vanguard.

 

[COlineman78]

I can only tell you that there is no difference in killing between the 30-06 or the 308. 06 gets the nod once you go heavy, but both things being equal a 165/168 one at 2750 the other at 2850 flip a coin. I have a Ruger American in a Boyd and I would call it a great deal if I did not hate the magazine. My money says Remington ADL or Vanguard.

I have heard arguments that 30-06 is the way to go if you are going to hand load because you can load more powder, but the Marine Corps .308 loads are certainly able to stop a human out past 1000 yards so IMO seems to be a toss up to me. Like I said earlier, I think .270 is such a flat shooter it makes a great beginner caliber because you don't need to adjust as much for distance and/or angle. It's what I learned on and what I would suggest to anyone else.

That said, I own a 700 5R Milspec in .308 (Marine Corps sniper rifle) and a Weatherby Mark V in 300 Wby Mag. The latter is a great rifle and a great caliber, but costs a minimum of $2/round. My buddy had a cheap model Win 700 and the thing couldn't hit the broad side of a barn so I would never go with that myself.

 

[sasquatch]

what kind of range are yall getting out of these calipers? I am in the same boat but I have a sako finnlight 308 and a howa and savage 270 already? What bullets would yall suggest for these? Off the shelf ammo suggestions?

 

[topher89]

Weatherby Vanguard Series 2. I have one in 30-06 and it has been great. Sub-MOA and very reliable. I feed mine with 165r Accubonds.

 

[COlineman78]

what kind of range are yall getting out of these calipers? I am in the same boat but I have a sako finnlight 308 and a howa and savage 270 already? What bullets would yall suggest for these? Off the shelf ammo suggestions?

Your 270s should be flat out to 300 (4-6" drop) and I would trust it to take down an elk with the right bullet out to 500, maybe 600. 308 will have a more significant drop out past 300 (6-8" drop), but according to the military it is lethal to 800 and there have been recorded kills out to 1300. That being said, all of this assumes the right bullet and a range that YOU are comfortable with. All of this depends on a number of factors such as muzzle velocity, bullet weight, BC (Ballistic Coefficient), etc.

Factory loads can be a nightmare. The more specialized the gun, the harder it will be to find a good load. It's can be an expensive process, but find one that shoots well out of your gun, not someone else's. As far as bullets go, a lot of people use Nosler Accubonds or Partitions, but my gun doesn't like Nosler's loads so that one is off the table for me.