Your Elk Hunting Rifle

[WyoKid]

While I have 30-06 and 300 Win Mag, my go-to rifle is my Ruger M-77 tang safety in 270 Win for Elk, Deer, Antelope and Sheep. I started out with handloaded Nosler Partitions in 130 gr but now shoot Barnes TTSX. It has killed a lot of Elk and only a few took a second shot just for piece of mind. I had this rifle for 40 years since I was 16. I restocked it with a featherweight Ruger stock, this year had it Cerakoted and the barrel fluted and cut for a can. Trigger is set at 3 lbs.

Many say it minimal for Elk but it is all in shot placement and with good modern bullets, it works. I have not lost an Elk and will not trade it for the 6.5 nor something with more recoil.

 

[WyoKid]

It really depends on where you are hunting. My late season haunts are in very thick nasty country. There are some clearings for longer shots, but the advantages of having the gg in the thick stuff out way the long distance guns benefits. The bulls especially seem to like the thickest nastiest blow down areas post rut. places sane people don't go

I agree. GG is better for timber. Longest shot I have taken in timber is 65 yard but most of the time is is 30 to 40. If you do it right, they are close.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

While I have 30-06 and 300 Win Mag, my go-to rifle is my Ruger M-77 tang safety in 270 Win for Elk, Deer, Antelope and Sheep. I started out with handloaded Nosler Partitions in 130 gr but now shoot Barnes TTSX. It has killed a lot of Elk and only a few took a second shot just for piece of mind. I had this rifle for 40 years since I was 16. I restocked it with a featherweight Ruger stock, this year had it Cerakoted and the barrel fluted and cut for a can. Trigger is set at 3 lbs.

Many say it minimal for Elk but it is all in shot placement and with good modern bullets, it works. I have not lost an Elk and will not trade it for the 6.5 nor something with more recoil.

If a .270 is minimal for elk, I don't know what's ideal. Good grief! Sweet looking rifle that kills stuff. Enjoy it!

 

[WyoKid]

Thanks, jjohnson! It is my favorite rifle. I went through the mental gymnastics of thinking about buying a new rifle but realized it was more of a want than a need.

 

[BigCountry49]

300 RUM. I’m not into tracking.

 

[twdjr]

MGA Ultra-Light .270

 

[prm]

1) Kimber Montana 338 Fed
2) Tikka T3X 338 Fed
3) Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 CM

 

[yfarm]

Cooper M92 Lefty in 280AI, loves the Nosler 160 gr Partition. 1 shot/ elk last 3 years, son had a light primer strike with his Barrett this year, loaned him my Cooper and he missed a bull clean at 150 yds. Shooter not rifle problem.

 

[shotoutofacannon]

browning x-bolt sr in 6.8 western. couldn't be happier with the performance and its a great suppressor host.

 

[AXMC]

Tikka t3x, 6creed proof research all steel barrel, stockys vg carbon stock.

Have you taken elk with 6 creed? If so, how did it perform?

 

[Wyo_hntr]

Have you taken elk with 6 creed? If so, how did it perform?

Yes. It killed just fine. 108eldm. 218yds. Bull went 40ish yards after double lung hit times 2. But only a study of one for me. Form has extensive experience with 6mm cartridges and elk. I listened to him, and observed what he experienced. Pretty much the same performance as 6.5 140gr eldm in my experience,but even less recoil.

We'll see if I can replicate my success next weekend.

 

[Bleeb]

I came off my heavyish .340 Weatherby Accumark and went to a Savage 110 Ultralite/Proof Research barrel in 7mm PRC.

 

[AXMC]

Yes. It killed just fine. 108eldm. 218yds. Bull went 40ish yards after double lung hit times 2. But only a study of one for me. Form has extensive experience with 6mm cartridges and elk. I listened to him, and observed what he experienced. Pretty much the same performance as 6.5 140gr eldm in my experience,but even less recoil.

We'll see if I can replicate my success next weekend.

Thanks. Double lung hit x2 as in you put 2 rounds in him and they both went through both lungs?

 

[Wyo_hntr]

Thanks. Double lung hit x2 as in you put 2 rounds in him and they both went through both lungs?

Correct. Was able to watch both impacts as well. 1st shot he just stood there, 2nd shot dropped him, but he hot up and stumbled 40ish yards.

People on this forum have killed elk out to 970yds with 6mm short action cartridges. Have no fear, they work.

 

[hunterjmj]

Been shooting a Rem 700 300wm. Killed my 7th elk with it this year. Going .223/77tmk next year if I can get it all put together in time.
Shot a Browning Abolt .30-06 up till 2016 and killed several elk with it.

 

[AXMC]

Been shooting a Rem 700 300wm. Killed my 7th elk with it this year. Going .223/77tmk next year if I can get it all put together in time.
Shot a Browning Abolt .30-06 up till 2016 and killed several elk with it.

Sorry...are you joking (hard to tell sometimes with text)? A .223 for Elk ?

 

[hunterjmj]

Sorry...are you joking (hard to tell sometimes with text)? A .223 for Elk ?

Nope. Cow elk, .223 and a good bullet. There is a long thread on it in the firearms section. You'll need to take a few days off work and lock yourself in a bedroom to read it all.

 

[h10312]

.300 WM - flies true and I am never concerned about weight or kinetic energy.

 

[mavinwa2]

Browning custom Safari grade, 300 win mag, used for over 45 years now.
Made in Belgium.

 

[TheViking]

Always been a big bore guy - bought a Tikka 6.5 PRC last year, finally got to shoot an elk this year with it. Didn't go 20...