Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk and the .357 maximum.

He want's a bolt gun?
Sounds like a smart kid to me!

Now this might be an unpopular view, but someone has to put your orignial plan in a different prospective.
You are proposing to give him a single shot rifle, with .223 energies, and a rainbow trajectory, and take him elk hunting????

Unless these elk are really tame, i.e its's private land and they haven't been hunted for several years, or it's a trip to the hay meadow to shoot one off the stack, I wouldn't take him into the field with that set up. I would feel like I was setting him up for failure.


He want's a bolt gun. Sounds like a smart kid with desires. Use that to help him work up to a real gun. Last time out it was the .223. I bet you have something in 6mm around? Try it, see what he thinks. Before long he will be in the 6.5 sweed/7mm-08/.270win range, and you can be confident that you are setting him up for sucess, not just something that might work at the margins. Remember, he's 10. What happens if he gets a little buck fevor and gut shots that cow? Oh, that leaves the two of you chasing a wounded elk (if it's a youth hunt, you might not be able to carry a gun) across Arizona with a single shot rifle, that has .223 energies, and a rainbow trajectory.

Yes, I do have a boltgun in a 6mm flavor around here.
I got a custom built .243 AI with a 8 twist bbl, the only problem is it weighs near 8lbs and I already carry his 5lb Contender for him as its too heavy/awkward for him to carry as he only has one hand and wears a prostetic on his leg.
He does sometimes trip and fall often...I like to think I carry his gun for safety reasons mostly because of that and like you mention I don't know if AZG&F would like that.
Might have to look into that too.

And I should add that he has shot the .243 AI off the bench and found it recoils less than his max and he liked shooting it.

Yes, I'd certainly talk with the game and fish.
In Wyoming, he would probably be eligible for a handicap permit, which would provide you with more accomidating rules. If AZ is similar, it could make a difference in what you choose for your son.

Yes it could, thanks

Gotta ask but why would the youth be eligible for handicap permit? I didn't see anywhere anything about a handicap but perhaps I missed it...?

Dober

This to me would make a ton load more sense than giving the kid a 357 Max in a handgun to have at it with! Good way to go here.

Dober

If I recall right that was out of a 257 Wby, to me comping those two doesn't even remotely make any sense...But, that's just the way I see it.

But, I do concur with the last part.

Dober

Yes, Mark, you just missed it.




In general, I also like it idea of the AI alot better. But since it's under his recoil max, he's getting close to 25-06 / 257 Weatherby range, either of which is approach a respectable youth elk load.

Got it now thx

Dober

Being handgun calibers are being considered, remember Ruger has a bolt action rifle in 357 magnum and 44 magnum. 357 magnum is light for elk IMO. The 44 could take anything cleanly at closer ranges and the right bullet.

The Hornady bullets are my favorite in my 357 magnum, and they MAY do ok at a little higher velocity and on bigger game than deer. I want to try the Speer 170 gr and Lil-Gun, but the availability is horrible. The Sierra 158gr do not feed in my Win 94, but they were my first choice and are very accurate.

Can the Ruger 77 357 be custom chambered to 357 Maximum, clip max COL? That would be a great rifle.

I would go with a full tilt load using the 185 gr cast FNGC from Montana Bullet Works (their stuff is top notch). Any which way it will drill and a 35 cal hole is hard to survive.

Hard cast would probably be the best choice out of the Max. Might also consider the old 150gr. Corelokt for the. 35 Remington I've got a bunch if you need some. I also have a ported 30-30...soon to be AI contender barrel on the way I'd offer up to the little feller.

Could you tell me more about that TC barrel.

Not yet...ain't here yet. From pictures looks like a 21" factory barrel someone threaded at 17.5" to add a muzzle break. Hope to get it this week then start playing with it this winter.

Sounds good.

If you want to try the hardcast route in your .357 Max, send me a PM. I've got two great molds for that chambering that would be good options for elk hunting, provided you're limiting to 150 yds or less. I've got a 190 gr. LFNGC and a 215 gr. Keith GC. I'd be happy to send some for you to sample. I used to run them out of my Encore in the 1650-1800 fps range and they were hell on Iowa whitetails. But I would also concur with the others that chimed in about a different barrel for the Contender. But if you want to try some cast bullets, let me know.

Selmer, thanks.

I once had gal say it's not the size of the pencil but how you siene your name.

She gave me a kiss.