Elk Rifle

[JimP]

Yes

I think that is the problem.

A couple weeks ago someone using the app was having the same problem.

You might want to ask about it down in the technical support forum and link to the post that has the problem.

 

[Bill_D]

A small group of close buddies and I hunt a public land drop camp in Colorado every year, we have killed a lot of bulls. 75 percent of them killed 350-650 yards. I am by no means proud of shooting this far and myself really try to keep it around 500 max. The problem is on public land with extremely pressured elk, vertical terrain, 20 foot tall scrub oak, cross canyon stands, the animals only come out for a small 30 min window in am/pm and there is a very small chance you would be able to cross one of these enormous canyons and get closer and ever see the animal again.

We shoot 300 mags of one kind or another with quality bullets, I generally shoot 175 LRX and my buddy’s accubond, both have had great results.

Something like a Leupold VX5/VX6 3-18 WITH and zero stop lock. Then dial it in really good, get all your calculations triple checked and test your custom turret thoroughly when you get it, practice like crazy and also understand your altitude differences, I live at sea level and we hunt at 8,000 feet, there is a bit of difference there. Practice more.

Rifle: I love my 300 wsm model 70 crf. I prefer something that feels really solid to lay down over a backpack and shoot 500 yards but does not have the heavy target rifle feel, I still want it to be trim enough to pull up and shoot standing/kneeling at 50-100 yards. I traded the factory trigger for a 2.5 Timny. 7.5 pounds scoped is probably ideal rifle weight. In vertical terrain and packing out meat, your back pack and rifle just get so f***ing heavy.

If you want to go classic, I would not look any further that a new model 70 featherweight in 300 wsm if your more modern feeling go with something like a Christensen, glass bed either one.

One other thought, we all use muzzle breaks but we have all learned that the first thing we do when we spot and elk is to start fumbling around and try and stuff some kind of ear plugs into our ears. This becomes a huge pain, idk how I feel about this. Oh and practice some more, off a backpack and some kind of sticks too…

Good luck!

 

[SGW]

308 win because it’s the cheapest round to practice with above 7mm. Practice Practice Practice. If you hit an elk in the kill zone inside 400 with a 308 win and correct bullet it is dead 100% of the time. In my opinion though if your shooting beyond 300 your not hunting. Just my opinion guys. My favorite round of all time is 270 win and that will for sure kill and elk 100% of time with the correct bullet and placement.

 

[CZDiesel]

338WinMag is my choice though I’d have no problem taking my 264, 7STW, or 300 H&H…
They will all do the job but after having to recover elk out of canyons to mud bogs I’d rather plant them as quick as possible! My brother and his guiding outfit have guided hundreds of successful hunts and one thing both him and I will tell you is they are tough as hell!

 

[Tra3]

My current set up is a Christensen Arms in 7 mag with a trijicon scope. It weighs 5.5 pounds without the scope and ammo. (Approximate). A 7 ounce suppressor from silencer central and total weight is still under 8 lbs. I carried it one handed while stalking Mule deer in west Texas last week with Gizmo. Light and light recoil with good balance. I would have ventured into the 7 prc or 30 PRC but were unavailable when I was searching in left hand models.

What suppressor are you using that is 7 Oz? That is super light. I need one!

 

[Tra3]

While I admire the engineering to make a light rifle, I don’t prefer them for hunting. Around 9+ lbs is where I find I am more accurate.
7 RM mag is my favorite, with the .300 WM a close second. I’ve also shot elk with a .270 win and a 6.5 CM. All those calibers work, but the 6.5 CM is too small in my opinion.
Elk can take a bullet and stay standing, they are tough! I’ve always aimed for behind the shoulder, so I don’t know what a good bullet through the front shoulders would do, I don’t intent to find out as I hunt to eat the animal.

 

[krish]

For elk in the west it starts with 340 WBY and ends with 340 WBY. . I have almost all the mediam bore calibers both standard and magnum. My pick is and always will be 340 WBY for Elk in the west.
Krish

 

[Inkgardener]

I have been eyeing a 300 Weatherby in a Mark V lately, just for this purpose.

 

[skydiver386]

I have a CZ550 .375. It stays home when I’m hunting here in the mountains. WAY too heavy. You’ll only hunt in the mountains ONCE carrying a heavy rifle when wearing a backpack.

I may be physically larger than most, so I don't find a 10 pound rifle heavy.

Before I retired from Active Duty, it was not unusual for my team and I to carry packs close to 120 pounds in the steep mountains of Korea, and the 240B machine gun I often carried was 28 pounds or so, not counting 100 round belts of ammo. Any ground pounder that came from a combat arms MOS will tell you that after the insane weights we carried in the Army, civilian hunting gear of any weight is pure joy.

 

[Woodcarver]

Altitude acclimation, oh, and age, definitely seems to impact what people are capable of, or willing to, carry into our mountains. What part of the mountains and terrain also play a part in what's practical. Seems like I read a study a few years back that showed the top 3 calibers used here in Colorado for elk were the 30-06, 300WM, and the 7MM Mag, in that order. While I've used a 270Win with 130gr loads, I think that is on the light side for elk. Any 7mm or 30 cal on up is a good choice.
Personally I've used a 30-30 M94 with 170gr, a 30-06 shooting 180gr, a 300WM shooting 180s, a 45-70 Marlin shooting 405gr, and a 270Win with 130gr. I've also packed around a '74 Sharps 45-70 with 405gr and a Pedersoli 45-70 DR, but haven't shot an elk with either of them, yet. Most recently, I've been carrying a 9.3x62, a 9.3x74R, or a 375H&H with my 300WM sitting in camp as a backup. But it doesn't bother me to pack a 10lb+ rifle around in the woods. I also hunt dark timber still hunting, so shots over 150yd are non-existent. Shots over 100yd are rare.

 

[DLSJR]

I have a ton of options, but if I wasn't hunting off horseback, in which case I likely wouldn't go, I would grab my Cooper M92 in 280ai. Leica 2-10 on it, the all in weight is probably 7.5lbs. Grab an 8lbs jug of H4831, couple hundred Berger 168 LVDs and get after it.

With all due respect, you lost me at Berger VLD’s. There are much better choices available for big bodied bulls.

 

[YancyW]

With all due respect, you lost me at Berger VLD’s. There are much better choices available for big bodied bulls.

I agree with you, but I feel obligated to agitate the grumpy old men on here who hate anything other than A-frames.

But when shooting at 800+ those Bergers really do work well.

 

[Woodcarver]

I agree with you, but I feel obligated to agitate the grumpy old men on here who hate anything other than A-frames.

But when shooting at 800+ those Bergers really do work well.

That's why I didn't mention that most of mine fell to Core-Lokts, lol

 

[YancyW]

That's why I didn't mention that most of mine fell to Core-Lokts, lol

That can't be true, cup and core don't kill, they just explode on impact of the first hair.

 

[IvW]

I know they are not popular across the pond but a Kipplauf K95 or Hubertus in caliber 7x65R would be the perfect mountain rifle and caliber

 

[Luvthunt]

For elk in the west it starts with 340 WBY and ends with 340 WBY. . I have almost all the mediam bore calibers both standard and magnum. My pick is and always will be 340 WBY for Elk in the west.
Krish

+1

 

[MontanaGrant]

I’ve used a .338 win mag model
70. Also used a .300 win mag model 70. Both were solid stops.

Right now if I was to go elk hunting I’d take my Custom 798 in .375 H&H.

That was my dad’s elk round for years. He’s killed a bunch with his Interarms MarkX 375. Lots of punch to anchor them versus running a ridge over before expiring. His goal was to break at least one, preferable both front shoulders on the first shot.

 

[Beck]

My go to rifle is a 8mm Rem Mag. It’s better than any .30 cal, in my opinion, under 600yds and is almost as good as a 340Wby. In fact I would have a 340Wby if I didn't already have a 8mm Rem Mag. The only downside with a 8mm Rem mag is, it is pretty much a hand loader's cartridge. But man it packs a punch.

what kind of rifle?

 

[Beck]

Over the years, I’ve shot elk with a .264, .270, 7MM mag, 30-06, .300 Winchester and they all killed elk just fine. However, I settled on my elk rifle back in 1985, when I had a .338 Winchester built for me around a model 70 action. Once I started hunting with a .338 I never looked back.

Here’s my elk rifle:
Model 70 action, 24” Lilja stainless barrel, Timney trigger set to 2 3/4 lbs.
Brown Precision fiberglass stock with Pachmayr Decellerator pad
Leupold VX5HD with CDS & Firedot reticle in 2-10x, set in Talley mounts
I mostly shoot 225 Barnes TTSX or Federal Trophy Bonded Bearclaws
8.25 lbs. 3/4” groups with both loads.

It’s a fantastic elk rifle and pretty much everything else rifle. Easy to carry, milder felt recoil than you’d expect, hits hard. I think .338 Winchester may be the single best elk cartridge of all.

Gonna need a photo of this one!

 

[Beck]

My go to is a 300 Weatherby in a Mark V. It hits like a hammer and has the same velocity at 300 yards that a 30-06 does at the muzzle. 340 Weatherby would be my runner up.

I have a Sako in .300 weatherby, which is my go to plains game rifle, but it is a big heavy fucker(10lbs). Recoil does not really bother me, ideally I'd like to find something lighter with the same kind of punch.