I was 19 and had to go to western MT. to hunt elk. Used the family rifle, a 95 Winchester. No one I knew hand loaded. We all shot 180grain Silver tips out of the old 30-06. It came with buckhorn sights and they worked whether you were on foot or horse back. It is still in the family.
I'd like to hear more about sighting up an elk from horseback. Did you shoot?
On occasion I have been able to get close enough to elk on horseback to use open sights. With every horse I've owned or used I would have ended up in the next county if I had pulled the trigger.
