Your perfect elk rifle

[Montana Slim]

Heaps of beautiful rifles on this thread, but how about an old "Westernfield" .30-06 made in West Germany that was my grandfather's? I think a Montgomery Ward's gun - but a Heym, and a tack-driver to boot... love this gun

 

[Wmmichael20]

Heaps of beautiful rifles on this thread, but how about an old "Westernfield" .30-06 made in West Germany that was my grandfather's? I think a Montgomery Ward's gun - but a Heym, and a tack-driver to boot... love this gun

Nice rifle, didn't husquvarna make them at one point in time for store brands as well?

 

[LightFoot]

Caliber?
.308 because it is more than enough but not too much. Lots of bullet options s from 150 TTSX to 215+ VLD and so much in between (and more)

Cartridge?
Magnum, take your pick: win, WSM, Nosler, PRC, Norma... the 308 Win is more than elk-capabke to 300 but beyond 400, magnum is the right answer.


Rifle model?
Any factory or custom rifle and scope that shoots sub-moa with reliable optics that dial/track consistently. Total weight 9 lbs or less.

Bullet type and weight?
150 copper bullet at 3200+ fps or 200 ELD-X at 2900+ fps. Of course, the 180 Partition is never the wrong answer for big game.

Scope?
I would go with the most rugged optics, a NF NXS or NX8. Most likely the 2.5-10 in some robust rings like the NF, Hawkins, or similar rings with bubble level.


Santa! Are you reading this post?

Spend your money on experience before you spend it on fancy gear.

 

[excaliber]

I had to send the scope back to Leupold because it would not adjust at all right out of the box. They had to do something with the erector( repair or replace) It's working fine now but I have no confidence that it will continue to dial accurately. I would not buy this scope again.

What do you hate about it, if you don’t mind me asking? My dad is considering that scope

 

[Teaman1]

I’m the same way. If I have to send a new scope in to be repaired, I’d be nervous with it

 

[Speeddmn]

Howa 1500 in 7mm08 has worked just fine from ‘yotes to Elk!

 

[nicsegebrecht]

My Christensen Arms Ridgeline 300 RUM
210 great Berger VLD's
Vortex Razor

 

[idahoan]

I run a Bergara Ridge in a 300 win mag. night force nxs 3x18. 212 grain eld-x with h1000 powder. Its a great big buck gun as well. I wouldn't want to go much smaller than that. I know lots of people who harvest elk with smaller but I just like what the 300 win mag does.

 

[Dinger]

Can I play?...other side of the planet I know, but we have some big deer here that get up to small elk size. And if I ever get over there for an elk rifle hunt this is the gun I'd bring anyway. After an armoury worth of customs and LW's this little unit gets the job done keeping the freezer stocked.

Blaser K95 8x57R
200gr Nosler Partitions
Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42

 

[Whitetail3]

My current build which is a 375 rum +P chamber.
28” Bartlein barrel
Trued rem 700 action
PTG magnum bolt
Timney Calvin Elite trigger
Manners T4A stock
Terminator T4 brake
Nightforce 4x32x50 NX8
Undecided on mount and rings but i want to buy once and cry once. Looking at Sphur and Nightforce options.

Hoping for 2900fps from the 329 grain hammer hunters!!

 

[270quest]

Seekins Havak 6.5 PRC, NF SHV 3-10X42, 139 scenars

 

[Wapiti1]

.340 Weatherby Magnum
Interarms Mark X Magnum length action, 26" Douglas #3 barrel, XX English walnut stock with dual crossbolts.
250gr Nosler Partition loaded to 2950fps
3-10X42 Swarovski Z3 BRH Reticle, maybe a 2-10X42 Leupold VX5 HD CDS

Jeremy

 

[Teaman1]

.340 Weatherby Magnum
Interarms Mark X Magnum length action, 26" Douglas #3 barrel, XX English walnut stock with dual crossbolts.
250gr Nosler Partition loaded to 2950fps
3-10X42 Swarovski Z3 BRH Reticle, maybe a 2-10X42 Leupold VX5 HD CDS

Jeremy

Before I decided to go the lightweight route, 340 is what I wanted. For some reason I always thought the 340 Weatherby and 358 Norma were true BIG game rounds

 

[Wapiti1]

Another would be the .358 STA (Shooting Times Alaskan). My custom .340 is a lot of fun, and, IMO, fits elk/moose/large bears perfectly. It's only fault is length. The rifle above weighs 9lbs scoped with a full mag. Not bad to carry, and not bad on recoil.

Jeremy

 

[Teaman1]

If I ever replace the 325, it’ll be a 340 Weatherby or 35 caliber. I was undecided on the 358 STA recoil haha

 

[WyoKid]

Savage 111 .270 Winchester, Leupold VX5 HD 3-15x44.
Bullet: Nosler Accubond 140g.
Powder: H4350 49g.

I am with you in the .270 win. - been shooting this old Ruger 77 tang safety since 16 with handloaded 130 grain Barnes (Nosler partitions over H4832 before I went to Barnes) with a Leupold 2-7. 10 years ago I re-stocked it with a light weight stock. Never lost an Elk and shoots like a dream.

 

[WyoKid]

I will add that I have an 06 and 300 win but the 270 is my go-to gun. Plus I've become a pussy when it comes to recoil and never needed to shoot over 275 yds.

 

[merickson04]

Just for fun because most of my friends don’t do much “gun talk.” If you could use one rifle to hunt elk with for the rest of your days, what would your setup look like
Caliber?
Rifle model?
Bullet type and weight?
Scope?

300 win mag!

 

[Smithb9841]

Nice rifle, didn't husquvarna make them at one point in time for store brands as well?

Yes they did I have a .270 that my grandpa left me when he passed away from the 60s or 70s. Absolutely love that gun. Still hunt with it occasionally.

 

[debevemos]

I came into hunting through marriage and have loved every minute of it. The only thing my wife's family uses for elk are Remington 700's, topped with a gold ring scopes, and shooting federal premium nosler ballistic tips.