Your Elk Hunting Rifle

Joined
Dec 10, 2023
Messages
25
I have a X-Bolt HC Speed in 30-06 for the same reason you state. Mine is boringly accurate and will last forever. 180gr TSX kills 'em plenty dead.
I have the same rifle. I normally shoot HSM ammo loaded with 168 grain Amax through this rifle and HAVE never lost an animal. Yes it is a ballistic tip but these bullets are deadly.
 
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
541
Not the popular take around here but if it was available in the rifle I wanted, I'd have a .375 h&h elk rifle.
Lol yeah it isnt but truthfully theres plenty of 'sliders that havent hunted elk with rifle that speak their opinion as well. Not saying they're wrong but to claim that anything sub 6.5mm is plenty for an elk for any joe shmoe is generally a little inexperienced. Not everyone has or can or should shoot a bigger round but elk aint sissies amd a .375 would hit em hard!

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Joined
Jun 12, 2019
Messages
1,678
Used a Cooper M52 LS in .30-06 for a couple elk hunts but I'm about to sell it. All future western hunts (including elk) will be with my 6.5CM mid-weight rig but the scope will vary based on how much weight matters. I'll put specs below.

Scopes: Vortex Razor GIII 6-36x56 or LHT 4.5-22x50 in ARC rings with MDT Send-It Level and Aadland caps
Action: Mausingfield M5
Barrel: 22" Proof carbon sendero
Suppressor: TBAC U-9 G2
Trigger: Huber two-stage
Stock: KRG Bravo
Bipod: Atlas CAL with SC-ARC attachment style that locks onto the ARCA rail on the forend

So the weight with bipod, the LHT scope, and suppressor comes to 12 pounds. With the Razor it'll be somewhere in the area of 13.5 pounds.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 25, 2015
Messages
626
Here’s my elk rifle:

Tikka T3X 30-06 with a “custom” rattle can paint job
Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40
165 accubond (although thinking about switching to 175 terminal ascents)

IMG_5866.jpeg
 

LightFoot

WKR
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Messages
1,450
Location
Texas & Alaska
I wasn’t able to seal the deal in WY this year, but this is the one I took along.

7 PRC, 20” bbl + suppressor
Factory 180 ELD-M

ad0ea0245173459f1f3964e17432c5ac.jpg



>>>——JAKE——>
 
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
333
Location
CO
Lol yeah it isnt but truthfully theres plenty of 'sliders that havent hunted elk with rifle that speak their opinion as well. Not saying they're wrong but to claim that anything sub 6.5mm is plenty for an elk for any joe shmoe is generally a little inexperienced. Not everyone has or can or should shoot a bigger round but elk aint sissies amd a .375 would hit em hard!

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Careful, you just opened a can of worms...

Personally I hunt with a 270 win or 7 mag.
 
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
541
Careful, you just opened a can of worms...

Personally I hunt with a 270 win or 7 mag.
I know its a really big can but my experience with moving to Montana from Ohio has been generally easterners hunt with smaller calibers for deer and just want to use them for elk. Mostly ok. After being out here for a couple years ive realized why most resident elk hunters use 7 mag or bigger. Sure smaller works but man are elk tough and hard to get opportunities on. And i know about the whole argument about recoil of bigger calibers vs smaller, etc... I just think its a safer bet with a 7mm or larger

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jreyna

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 2, 2022
Messages
113
CA Ridgeline TI in .308 WIN, 20" barrel with Nomad suppressor. Been great on cow elk the past few seasons. May add a 300 WSM for bulls for just a little extra horsepower.
 
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