Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Which rifle for elk?

Thinking about a future elk hunt. Do not plan on buying another rifle. Of the ones I have the most suitable look like a .280 (Rem 700 Classic) with 3X9 leupold, a .380 (Kimber Montana) with 2X7 leupold, or a .350 Rem Mag (700 Classic) with 1.5X5 leupold. All have 22 inch barrels, all will shoot 1.5 in or less a 100 yds (all will group at least some loads into less than an inch). The Kimber .308 is my current go-to deer rifle, but I have hunted with the others. I have a rangefinder, should be OK out to 250-300 yds, not comfortable thinking about longer shots - no practice/experience at real long ranges.

So...recommendations? opinions? experiences?

Please stick to these calibers - I'm not buying another rifle!

Your go to deer rifle will make an equally good go to elk rifle but all of them will knock an elks dick in the dirt if you take out the vitals

Any/all/either of the rifles you describe would be great at the ranges you mention, and then some. It really is about hitting the vitals with a bullet that will damage them enough that you can recover the animal. All of the cartridges you named, and the platforms you have, will be used hunting elk this year. A lot of gack about elk guns out there. The bullet is at least as important as the cartridge/platform.

I would use the lightest weight rifle, if hunting in the mountains.Scope wise I would use your favorite.Good Luck!

Both of the aforementioned Remington 700's will not kill elk. I repeat the WILL not kill elk. You should send them to me immediately.

bigswede358

just send a blank check

IMHO, the Montana in .308, with the 2-7, would be the right choice. Any of those will work, but it sounds like you are very familiar with the Kimber.

donsm70

Consider it done, just watch for it in the mail. It will be there any day.

PS You don't care if my name is on the check do you?

If you had to bet me $200 on your first shot hitting a pie plate at 200 yards from a field position, which rifle would you choose?

Take that one...

Haven't tried that in awhile - can hit a 15" plate at 150 yds offhand/standing, farthest target available at the rifle range I've been using. Easier with the non-magnums - haven't been shooting the .350 RM enough to be used to the recoil.

308 Montana..

Take the 350, the elk will just fall over from being scared so bad.

The 280 or 350 would be my picks. 300 yards is a very fair range to keep your shots under and both of those (to include the 308) would do fine. It'd come down to which rifle handled and shot the best for me with sling in field positions and bullets you use in the rifles.

No question: .308

The better question is which TWO rifles do you take. Always take a back up. I would take the 350 as the main gun, and probably the 280. But thats just me. Any combo of those guns are good. You can't make a wrong choice

+1, take the one you shoot the best and have most confidence in. If it's the lightest, that's good too.

Use the 350! Why not? You can't beat it as a timber gun and it will do just fine out to 300 yards. I will be taking two rifles elk hunting this year, one will be a 35 Whelen and the other a 280AI.

The .308 Montana is of course the lightest, will need to try some premium bullet 165 and 180 gr loads and see how it likes them. It's probably the most finicky in terms of ammo it likes.

The .350 was my Alaska rifle when I was sent up there for a couple of years in the 80's courtesy of the Army. Haven't used it much since then, but take it to the range once in awhile and did take a deer with it last fall when my 308 was out of action with a scope mount problem. Have some 225 gr nosler partition loads on hand that should be about perfect. Could borrow a 2x7 off another rifle and up scope it if I feel the need. Should probably be choice #1.

I've used the 280 the least, and it's the heaviest, but its identical to the 350 except for action length, and a good shooter.

Well I have a .308 and a .280 Rem. but not a .350 Rem. Mag. However I do have a .35 Whelen which is basically the same thing in a different package. I can push a 225 gr. Barnes TSX to 2700 FPS from a 24" barrel and have taken elk with it at 350 yards. Most have been under 200 yards though. I think the TSX is a good bullet but may be too long for use in the .350 Rem. Mag. Dunno what the velocity of your 225 gr. Partition load is but I'm betting it's an elk slayer deluxe.
The Whelen will be going with me as my primary rifle for another elk hunt come next January. I'll probably do like I did last January and hunt one day with a 7x57, the nest dat a .280 or 30-06 depending on what I bring and if no liver in the pan yet the the Whelen will be called up to save the day. It's been my lucky elk rifle ever since I bought it.
I screwed up royally one my last hunt. The outfitter offered me a buffalo hunt for a very reduced price and I turned it down. Not enough room in the freeze and after paying for the hunt just couln't swing the price of the hunt and a new freezer. The wife and I talked it over and if given another chance at that buff hunt you can bet the farm I'll take it.
Go with the .350. You'll never know what special oppotunities might pop up.
Paul B.

My son killed his only one with a 30.06 ( Rem 700) at 230 yds. DRT. He fell like a tree. Big bull too. I didn't think he could shoot that well.