Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Best Gun Manufacture for elk hunting in the mountains.

Gun makers have come a long way. Much of the practical difference between manufacturers these days is just how much you want to spend for pretty. Most of them make highly reliable, durable guns. You can pay twice the price for a laminated stock and craftsmanlike fit and finish, but it really won't shoot any better than a plain Jane Savage with a molded synthetic stock and that highly criticized barrel nut. It's not pretty, but it can shoot. Much of the difference is cosmetic.

Of the savage rifles I've seen and shot, I've been very impressed to say the least. However, I don't know if I'd trust the accutrigger out in the field though....: Some say they've had problems with them....

Yee Haaa - I hadn't check this thread lately. Last time I did it was dormant.

Your selections get all the goodies. Too bad we can't even order 1 like that from 1 of the 3.

When I get r&d and production underway, you'll be first on the list. PRE-PAY ONLY.
Jerry

Best Gun Manufacture for elk hunting in the mountains is which ever one you have in your hands while standing over your dead elk.

I have 2 Savages with the Accutrigger. So far, like in the last 7 or 8 years, it's been flawless.

I like Remington and Winchester...not a Ruger fan. Everyone has their preferences. Savage makes a good gun and will be cheaper if you plan on beating it up.

I've shot elk with three different rifles, Browning A-Bolt composite in 7mm RM, Weatherby Stainless Fluted in 300 WBY and a Weatherby Accumark in 7mm WBY. I still have all three and they still work flawlessly.

I own all of the big 3 manufactures. Remington, Winchester, & Ruger. My Rem. 700's usually shoot the best or most accurate out of the box, with factory ammo or handloads. My Rem. Custom Shop Alaskan Model 700 in .300 RUM w/ 180gr Partition would be my 1st choice.

My Winchesterr Featherweight in 7X57 would be my # 2 choice. It's my favorite Rifle of all the Rifles I own! Mine has Factory open sights, and a Leupold VX-III 2.5 X 8 mounted with Talley QD Rings. I love the way it carries, & with a 160gr Bullet, that caliber has taken probably every animal on the planet in the last 100 years from elephants on down. K.J. Bell literally killed thousands of elephants hunting Ivory in Africa with a 7X57. Jack O'Conners wife used a 7X57 to kill everything in Africa & North America.

That being said, my 3rd choice would be my little Ruger Scout in .308. It's a great handling "mountain" rifle in my book. And as to accuracy rumors. Mine will shoot 1/2" 5 shot groups @ 100 yards all day long with Remington Factory 180 grain Corelock Ammo. It will out shoot several of my Expensive Custom Rifles!
I love how it handles, silky smooth bolt, love the safety, great factory hunting trigger & I really like the detachable mag feature. I carry it with a 5 round flush mag & have a 10 rounder loaded in my backpack. With a Leupold 2 X 7, out to 250 yards, it's just plain Deadly. I hope to try it out on a big ass Aoudad in Ft. Davis Mountains in West Texas, next year.
If you can't kill it with a short barreled .308 180gr bullet like a Nosler Partition, than it probably can't be done....

IMHO, all 3 are what I call great Elk rifles in the High Rockey's, and I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with any of those choices in the Lower 48 States.
If Alaska was my Destination, though, I would take my Rem. 700 .300 RUM with 200 grain Partitions.... Hoping to do a Bear/Caribou hunt there someday.

Weatherby Accumark 340 cal hands down extremly accurate at any range and flat out knocks them elk down.

Ive killed more elk with my 340wby fibermark , than my sako 375 manlicher carbine , but both are about equally useful in my opinion

I have an 300WM older Mark X with a synthetic stock that has survived this long on horseback/mule riding hunts, it just works. That is all I know. It could be prettier, but it fits me and I trust it. Has S&K mounts and one piece rings holding a Nikon Monarch, and it inspires confidence just by picking it up!

Lots of opinions but how many here have actually hunted elk while riding mules??? Actually it is pretty hard now days to buy any rifle that will not get the job done.

Smokepole might be on to something in that the optic is more important than the brand of rifle and I might suggest mounts and bases play a big part in keeping a rifle zeroed while it lives in a saddle scabbard.

Do horses count?

Agree on the rifles...

Wonder who's more hard headed, you or the mules.....

Experienced with both, I would consider mules a little more diligent in respect to the things attached for the ride.

Horses seem as a rule to not care as much when it comes to tommy-knocking your knees, paniers and effects.

Green horses or mules don't have a lot to offer anything of real value on a hunt.
All bets are off with green stock, and the user might get what is deserved for not being better prepared !

Why is it we all probably seen our share of green stock?

If budget was not an issue, Holland and Holland.

K: Agree on the first part but never been on a mule.

Think I had a green one, once.

There are a lot of good Guns.

But for me the Remington Model 700 in 300 Win Mag, has been time tested, and is hard to beat.

Kevin

I have rifles made by Remington, Browning, Ruger and CZ in various calibers that I either have, or could use for hunting elk in the mountains. I wouldn't hesistate to use any of my rifles, although my Remington 700 (25-06) is a bit small for elk, but if it were all I had I'd use it. As Buckykm1 said, "There are a lot of good Guns".

Nope. Have to have a way to make my opinion much more important.

Its how the internet game is played, Bob.

Mules Rule!!!!