The thread about what rifle you had your kid hunt with got me thinking that the next generation (or two) are better outfitted than we were.
That's a good thing.

So what did you carry on your first elk hunt?
Family heirloom? hand-me-down? something spankin' new? your deer gun? loaner from a mentor?

If you can remember what bullet please identify.


Me?
My only rifle at the time - Marlin .30-30 with open sights. I knew it wasn't the best but I naively thought I would be able to compensate for any range limits of the gun. I soon changed my mind about that.

I don't recall the cartridge but I'm sure it was NOT premium.

I used a winchester 94. Soon changed also.

I bought a 30/06 760 slide action remington as I was INSTRUCTED too by my mentors as they swore it was the best elk rifle they had ever found, and it worked! but being young and reading almost every elk hunting article posted at the time I soon saved up and bought a 340 wby...the elk shot with either rifle died , but being young I thought the 340 wby did a better job....and looking back I would not change a thing, but I also eventually came to realize the merits of that 30/06 slide action, lighter weight and it cost alot less and the recoil was minimal

Rem 700 Mnt Rifle in .338-06 shooting 225 Speer Grandslams.
Public land / do-it-yourself in CO. I got a 3x4.

Ruger MKII SS/Lam in 338 Win Mag. College graduation present from my father. Still my 'go to' gun for most rifle hunts.

Win 94 in 30-30. I actually stuck with it for decades for timber hunting.

Winchester Model 88 in .308 using the Remington Bronze points.

Can't remember the bullet weight

The hand-me-down in Winchester 94 in .30 WCF, now would be a Family heirloom, but has been lost from the family.

Bullet elk was 170 grain Core-Lokts from the local gas, bait, and grocery mart...the place were the pickled eggs smelled the same if the jar was open or closed. The "inferior" 150 grainers were carried if the 170 were not available.

It was the only rifle for 5-10 years for deer and elk, until I got my first 1903 Springfield -06 in full military surplus.

My old .30-06 model 54 Win. and my new BDL .300 Win. Had not used the .300 much, but had killed a pile of game with the old 06.. When the shot came, I happened to have the .300.. It has been my elk rifle since, with occasional use of other caliber..

Pre-64 Model 70 Fwt. .30-06 (the only kind Winchester made in those days) with 165 Partitions--the old kind.

I got my 1st elk at 15 with a Win 94 32 Special. Dad got it for me when I could 1st hunt at 12. It was an effective gun for short range hunting.

First time ever hunting elk I carried my Dad's Ruger M77, tang safety, in 7x57. Shot a cow using a handload with Hornady 154gr flat base bullet. Worked well. I ended up shooting a few more elk with that rifle, if I recall correctly. Dad still has the rifle and my mom has used it several times to shoot a few antelope.

I purchased a .243 Win Remington short action. I had the bolt opened up to accept a .378 Weatherby. The case was shortened to 2 1/4" with 45* shoulders slopping to a 1/4" long neck. It held the same amount of powder as a .300 Weatherby. I was still using Tasco World Class 4-14X scopes then. The stock was a Bell & Carlson.

Rem 700 in 270. Did not get a shot that year though. First kill was with a Browning A-Bolt in 338 WM.

Savage 110 in a 7 mag...

Wby Mk V 7mm Wby

Model 94 with a peep.

The first time I ever went elk hunting I was packing one of two pre 64 model 70s I owned, either a .257 Roberts or an '06. The first time I ever killed an elk it was with a Ruger 77 chambered for .300 win mag launching 180 grain protected point partitions.

I bounce around a lot on centerfires. Get bored easily. I've probably packed a .58 cal side lock TC more than any one single centerfire.

With a Herters Mauser Actioned .300 Win mag, set into a Flaigs stock....reciever sights ( YES!)
The parts were given to me by my uncle for graduation, thinking it would make a fine elk gun. I put it all together...and it did

Brand new Weatherby Accumark in 300 WBY. Topped off with a Zeiss4.5-14 Conquest. Bullet of choice was a 180 Barnes TSX @approx 200 yards. Great Colorado bull on opening morning by noon.

Rem 700 7mag
Missed the bull of a lifetime, day break, first morning. Thorofare in Wyoming

1983
Many, many nights over the years I've shut my eyes and replayed that shot.

Still sucks

ingwe, you still have that Herter's??? Long, long time since I heard that name mentioned..

That was your first elk hunt? Good job.

Dang, you were pretty sophisticated as a youngster.

Mine was an A-Bolt medallion in .30-06. That was before I realized I was taking my life into my hands by shooting an A-bolt. Don't remember the ammo, but it was factory 180s.

I still have it, but I sanded off the glossy finish on the stock and oiled it, looks much better now. It was always a shooter.

Here's a photo:

My first elk hunt was in Snake River country in Eastern Oregon in 1960. My rifle was a sporterized Springfield 03 serial #range 880xxx. I believe I was using a W/W 180 gr. silvertip. Had a Weaver 3x scope...the kind that didn't center the crosshairs. Got a 3x4 opening day. Probably was less than a 100 yds away. Was felled with a fusillade from me...was a little excited.

Still have the rifle. It's a family heirloom. Belonged to my late Uncle Jack. It's been much modified since then. A son-in-law and two grandsons have also harvested their firs elk with the rifle.

Funny how I can remember the details on the hunt. Must be old farts syndrome. Right now I can't remember where I left my car keys.

No kidding huh? Sometimes I can remember stuff I did as a 7 year old like it was yesterday. Other times I can't remember yesterday.

My first Elk Gun was a Ruger #1 with open sights in .338 Win Mag. It carried well in the CO Rockies but kicked like a fuggin mule!!!

Stainless laminated Ruger m77 MKII 338 win mag...

Winchester M 70 7mm Rem Mag "Westerner." It was a PF that I bought myself for a graduation present. Took it elk hunting the next year.

Leupold 3x-9x scope,the very first Leupold I bought.

As far as bullet,IIRC it was a 160 gr NP.

Did not get an elk.

Savage 99 in 308 with a Bushnell scope ,shooting Winchester Silvertip bullets.

Ruger M77 tang safety in 7mag. 160 grand Slam.

Knight mk85 MZ .54 caliber with the 209 conversion. Ive never had the pleasure of hunting elk with a HighPower always been Muzzleloader or a bow. Now I use a early Omega in .50 caliber.

Golden Eagle bow...

First rifle hunt. Rem 700 3006, 165gr X behind IMR4350. 15 yard shot in the neck.

Kent

Mine was a Remington 760 in the 30-06 flavor. I ran into a few "westerners" that had never seen one before.

donsm70

Remington 788 in .308 shooting 150 gr Remington coreloks .

9 out of 10 one shot kills with one clean miss - slipped as I pulled trigger

bought from Smitty's big town , phx Az in 1978 for $150 with a 4 power tasco for my first elk tag - I've updated scope and it still out shoots my expectations

Pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06. I inherited it when my father died, so it was a family heirloom to me--still is. It had an old B&L 2.5x8 on it and I was shooting a 165 grain Hornady BTSP I had loaded. It killed a small raghorn with one shot, to this day the only shot I have ever fired at an elk. I still have the old Weaver K4 my dad put on it when he bought it new in the late fifties; one of these days I think I'll put that old scope back on and take it out hunting again.

So what did you carry on your first elk hunt?
--A Savage 99E in .308 Winchester. I didn't hunt elk until I was 28 years old.

Family heirloom? hand-me-down? something spankin' new? your deer gun? loaner from a mentor?
--It was my deer gun.

If you can remember what bullet please identify.
--Federal Premium 165 gr Sierra Boattail was what I shot my first one with. I also used Winchester Power Points on one.

A Win.Model 70 XTR in .375H&H! memtb

I did have a reply but I forgot what it was!

Serial # was 808xxx not 880xxx

My first elk trip, I carried my .284 Winchester. By the end of the trip, my little rifle sure felt good during my jaunt. It still is one of my luckier guns.

Kimber 84 Classic in 7-08 loaded with 160 Accubonds ahead of H414. It was a combo hunt and I didn't get an elk that year but got a muley.

The other rifles in camp were three .300 WBYS and a .30-.378 WBY! They were probably thinkin, 'poor rookie doesn't know any better!'.

Ruger tang safety 7mm RM with a Swift 3-9 scope 150 grain NBT loaded hot, after we all got deer we went high to chase elk then left early to avoid a big snowstorm so no elk. When the Swift crapped out replaced it with a 3-9 Conquest and got a bull with 160 accubond and a cow that year using Dad's old 30-06 tang safety and 180 partitions.

On another note I killed my first elk with a 348-06 Ackley improved I was using 220gr hornady bullets it was built on a 1917 enfield action set in a nice piece of black walnut and it had to weighed at least 10lbs LOL. My second elk I shot I was using Winchester 88 in a 284 using factory 150gr bullets.

First elk hunt resulted in first elk. Winchester M70 pre-64 .270 Win (GASP!) 150grain Speer reload.

A rebored Rem 700 338-06 with the 210 gr Partition at 2800 fps. A seventy yard shot plucked from a Colorado herd of at least fifty.

Pump action Remington model Six ( basically a 760 )30-06. Using 180 grn Nosler ballistic tips moving 2890fps. One shot kill at 407 yards. My dad gave the rifle after he traded a German shorthair puppy for it.

Left Hand 700 in 338-06 Ack Imp

This;


Husqvarna 146 I rechamberd to 9.3 x 62. From x 57. With old azz Redfield low profile 2x7. Original Swedish surplus mount altered to 1" rings.

Kay, that is a sharp rifle.. First I thought it was the .30 Newton that shows up from time to time.. Very nice..

T/C renegade 50 with a 370 maxiball. Got the job done on day 7 for me many years ago.

Thanks! It was a first year of production with 98 action. 1938. It's a cool old rifle!

I killed a 350 class elk with that rifle that year!

Remington 700 ADL 7mm RM

Rem model 7 in .350 mag, 250 grain Speer Grand Slams.

My Dad's Winchester M70 Pushfeed, 7mm Mag with a 3x9 Redfield scope. That was around 1990 or 91.

I remember getting handed a box of Core-lokts from my Dad, but I don't remember the bullet weight.

K: you killed an elk in 1938??

No the Husky was made then. I simply rechambered it one afternoon at work.
I used Year to refer that particular season I hunted.
Sorry for confusion! . I usually stay confused!

stainless BLR in .358. 225 partitions on top of 4320.

5x5 at about 40 yards on an excited trot broadside.

first shot to the neck (not lethal).

second shot to the (ouch) backstrap. ;(

Browning A-bolt in .270

Shooting 140gr btsp light mag ammo

Dead elk at 250ish yds

Maybe we should have added our age to the post too. I'll start off.

I was 12. 1954

Remington 700 ADL in 30-06 topped with a 3-9 Tasco. Saved up money mowing yards and other chores. It was used when I bought it.

First elk was a 4x5. Killed with a 165 Hot Cor Speer at about 100 yds. Dropped dead with a lung shot.

Sporterized $49 Turkish Mauser 425 yard shot on a cow elk. Using 185gr rem corelokts that performed flawlessly. Double lung shot.

I was about 35 at the time.

left hand rem 700. 6.5x55 120 ttsx 300ish yards dead cow

Jennings bow

Rem ADL 25-06 with a 90gr varmint bullet 1979. Never saw one but learned a lot.

Open sights.

I carried a bow my first elk hunt, second one too

340 weatherby mark V deluxe version fed 250 gr nosler partitions. Shoots clover leafs at 100. It's done 3 elk hunts but never spoke.

I read all the magazine hoopla on how big and tough elk are and how long the ranges can be, I went with a 28" barreled custom 338-378 WBY firing the original 250 gr Barnes-X bullets at 3350 fps. , had a small sandbag in my pack and a {merge together} range finder. lol

Shot my bull, [4x5] at 30 yards in the dark timber, could have hit him with a damn rock.

While dressing my bull a nice 4x4 velvet mulie crossed up a couple benches above me, popped him with a bloody trigger finger, lol, in those days you could buy a bull elk and mule deer tag over the counter, it was Colorado circa 1994, a fine hunt it was.

Model 70 30-06 with 180-grain Remington cartridges -- Don't recall the bullet type. Got my first elk three years later. Got buck fever the first year and missed. I couldn't squeeze the trigger, couldn't ever get a sight picture I was comfortable with. My big brother got tired of waiting on me to shoot and killed the elk. lol

Pre 64 Mod 70 .338 Win handed down to me from my father. 210 GR nos partition. Northern New Mexico. Didn't see an elk but proved we could survive a five day mountain snowstorm.

Ruger Model 77 tang safety 30.06 with 180 grain Nosler Partitions. Worked great on a 200 yard shot.

Remington M700 7RM that my grandfather won at some event in the 70s. I was the first to take it hunting, and have taken all my first of a species with it. Now I just need to draw a moose or sheep tag to add a few more "notches" to it.

I was in my 30s and bought "the elk rifle" for the trip - wood stocked Rem 700 in 338 WM. Developed a load with 250 gr Partitions over the summer. I squeezed ever last ft/sec from the load and recall it running right at 2700. It killed out both ends. I never shot an elk with it. About day 3-4 of that trip I decided a 10 lb wood rifle in 338 wasn't needed or appreciated after hauling it around. That trip started me down the looneyism trail - I knew I didn't need a 338 to kill an elk and 10 lb rifles in the mountains suck.

My next adventure was a SS Abolt in 300 WSM. Liked it well enough but wasn't overly fond of the 'recoil pad'. Traded it for a Kimber Montana in 300 WSM. Discovered 300 magnums in light rifles recoil a bit. Then went to a SS Rem 700 DBM 30-06. Didn't like the DBM so traded it for a Rem 700 in 300 saum. Worked well enough but started to really grow fond of M70s. Sold the saum and bought my current M70 EW in 300 WSM. Still have a SS m70 30-06 in the back of my head so doubt I'm done yet......

First elk hunts were with PSE bows.

Only "rifle" hunts were with 54 TC Renegade and Green Mountain barrel, 545 grain big conical, can't recall the brand, maybe no excuses?

Both bows and MZ shot extremely well, never had a clean shot on any of the hunts.

1996 western CO Uncomphagre NF. This Missouri boy was carrying a push feed model 70 338 Win mag with Burris 2-7x shooting Barnes X 210 gr. I tracked a group of elk through scattered snow patches all morning. Penciled one through a big cow at a trot at about 60 yards. Luckily penciled right through the heart. Exit wound not much bigger than .338 inch.

On my first Elk hunt in CO, I had a Ruger #1 in .280 with a 3.5-10 x 50 Burris. I killed my first Elk in MT with a Marlin 336 .35 Rem. I did kill Elk, Antelope and Deer with that #1, before switching to a A-Bolt II .280.

Excellent cartridge choice.

First one was with my Rem 700 BDL 7mm RM LH. Next will be with a similar one in 7mm STW or an A-bolt in 300WM LH

My first elk was with a 338 WM... I'd read all the gun-rags (pre-internet) and had concluded elk were nearly armor-plated.

After killing a couple with the 338 WM, I decided they were indeed flesh and blood and I might as well carry a lighter rifle that I enjoyed shooting, so my elk rifle evolution (or devolution depending) started.

I'm currently sitting quite satisfied with the 308 Win as my primary elk rifle. I'd be equally happy with a 270 Win.

I see no need for anything heavier or harder kicking...

Remington 700 bdl 270 winchester

Savage 99e .308 that my parents bought me for my 12th birthday.

I hunt with a savage 99 in .308 that was my grandfathers. Soon to be my sons.

Sporterized FN built Venezuelan 24/30 Mauser carbine in 7x57. Purchased for $37.50 in 1969/70. Williams 5D peep sight and and unknown make of ramp front sight silver soldered onto the barrel. Winchester/Olin 175 grain RNSP factory loads.

I went on my first elk hunt when I was 18. I went with my late uncle Bob, who used a Remington 760 pump in .300 Savage. I used the Marlin 336 in .30-30 that I had owned since I was eleven years old, and the Griffin and Howe on a 1903 Springfield action that I essentially inherited on my birthday the February prior.

The ammo I used in the .30-30 was a handload 170 grain Speer Hot-Core bullet over a full charge of W-W 748. That's what I shot the elk with. The load for the Springfield was a 180 grain Nosler Partition over 54 grains of IMR 4350 in ancient Frankford Arsenal brass.

The .30-30 worked and later, when I got a horse and started using her in elk country, I kept using the .30-30, too. It kept right on working.

I shot seven elk with it in my lifetime thus far.

I shot another seven with a .270, using 130 grain Barnes X bullets, mostly.

I shot my most recent one last fall with a 117 grain Interlock from my .257 Roberts A-Bolt II Medallion.

Model 70, 338. I never saw a bull but forgot what I was shooting, jumped off my horse on the last day, shot a grouse, scared my horse half to death and walked a couple miles until my brother brought the horse back.

Started off in the 90's with a 338WM and have over the years gravitated to the 270/30-06 realm of reality.

I see alot of similarities among many of our stories - big cartridges and rifles driven by thoughts of bullet proof elk. Kill a few then move to smaller catridges/lighter rifles.

Can someone publish this 'book', post it as a sticky on every board? <G>

Ruger 77 Mk II 7mm rem I bought off a kid in college that needed money. I loaded some 175g speer grand slams that I bought on a close out sale for about 50% off. Used an old can of H870 and got them going 2900 fps called it good.

Dropped a cow the first day about 375 yards out and a 2 point mule deer buck the next day. It was a two point only area at the time. It worked well on both but I've moved on to higher bc bullets.

Bb

Yup. What else caught my eye was those pre 64 model 70s.
I guess that back in the day they used to be the ordinary guy's rifle.
Nowdays you'd have to give your left nut to get one.

Sometimes they want both nuts.

Started with a 300 Weatherby. next 300 win mag rem classic now rem 700 in 7mm-08.

I killed my first bull year we moved to 1977 and I was 35yrs old. I used 7mag with 154gr Hornady and haven't missed a season since then.

A 300 Win Mag on a Rem 700 action (originally a 7mm RM). I think the handload was topped with 200-gr NP's.

Didn't bust a cap on an elk that trip but could've taken a nice Shiras.

Voere (Mauser action) 30/06 with a Weaver 6x fixed power scope, Remington 180 grain Core-Locks as I recall. No elk that year but connected in year 3 with it.

Remington 700 SS mountain rifle in 270 with Leupold 2.5-8.

Loaded with old school Barnes X, 140gr.
It worked. This was circa 1993.

7mm RM in a Remington 700 BDL topped with an Leupold M-8 4 x scope in Redfield mounts 175 gr Nosler Partition made on a screw machine, fueled by 4831 surplus 20mm cannon powder in a Winchester - Western Case and a Federal 215 primer! Come to think of it, it would be good one to take even by 2015 standards!

LH Remington Custom KS in 300 Win mag.

7mm RM the first year and for 20+ years following.

Scope was a Bushnell Sportview 3-9x which I never liked. (I have one on my Daisy pellet gun and don't like it either, but it came on a Marlin .30-30 I bought and I'm too cheap to buy something better for the Daisy.)

Have to say the Bushnell never gave me any problems but the glass (plastic?) lenses weren't great and the scope was marginal in low-light situations. It took a beating over the years and finally died after I put it on my Marlin 375 (.375 Win).

Remington stainless synthetic BDL with 3.5-10x40 Leupold shooting 175 gr. Nosler Partitions. Worked well on a 5x6 bull at 125 yards.

An old, beat up Mod 70 in 243 Win. The stock had been shortened and the rifle was passed around between all of the kids in the family.

Remington 700 FS in 7mm Rem mag

Ruger 77 Tang .338 WM, Simmons Variable, 210 NPT Handload. Killed a Raghorn I followed around the mountain, not realizing a massive 6x6 was behind big pine in same meadow.

That was a few weeks before Bush 1 got elected and I ain't been since. Sold the .338 after we had our third child in '94 because wife wasn't working.

Goin first rifle in CO this year with Tickler .260 CTR wearing Leupold Mk 4 LRT 3.5-10x40 m1 and 123 AMAX loads Because can't find Scenar.

Winchester model 70 in 30.06. Got a nice fat cow for my first elk. That was 35 years ago. I still have that rifle and it gets me an elk or 2 almost every year.

The only rife I owned at the time. It was a Savage Model 1899 with open sights in 30-30 caliber shooting 150 gr. Winchester Silvertips. It was in 1965 and I was 16. It was handed down to me from my Dad who received it from my Grandfather. I killed my first elk with the gun that year. A few years later I purchased another Savage lever gun in 308. My son now has the 30-30 and the 308. He killed his first deer with the 30-30, but used the 308 on his first elk.

A model 8 Remington chambered in the 35 Remington with a Lyman peep shooting 200 grain Winchester Western Silvertips in 1959.

Now that was classy!!!!

Model 71 Winchester, iron sights, factory 250gr Silver tips. 1959, in the Slough creek area, pretty far south of Big Timber. Was loaned to me by another guy who'd hunted that area a few years earlier.

Marlin 336 in 35 remington when I was ten. 200gr Silvertips and a Bushnell 3-9 in seethroughs. Scope promptly fogged solid the first morning of season so I removed it and used the irons.

260 Rem Model 7 with 140 GrandSlam Nitrex factory loads, M8 4x up top was next when I was about 13. Burned all 12 rounds I was carrying without cutting a hair as a big cow stood and looked at me. I think I might have been excited.

Got a sporterized 03 in 30/06 when I was 15 and managed to knock my first bull down with a single 180 X bullet I'd handloaded. I was 19 at the time.

I had a hand-me-down Savage .270 for years. The I bought a Browning .270 when I got out of the Army and used it for years too. Always seemed enough.

Now I primarily hunt with a .308.

for my first elk hunt. I borrowed my Dad's 30-06. It was a sporterized 1909 argentine mauser with a late 70s weaver 4-12 scope. I didn't kill an elk on that hunt. By the next year, I had my own rifle: post 64 Win 70 7mm Rem Mag topped with a 2.5- 8 vari-X III. Hunted exactly 25 minutes on opening morning and killed the smallest yearling in the herd. I think I took a little over 100# of meat and bone to the processor. Still some of the best elk I ever ate!

I was stationed at NAS Whidbey WA and in 92 bought a used Win Model 70 Super Grade in .338 Win mag (one of the 1991 built on the P64 tools) from Kesselrings for $700. Spent the summer playing with bullets and loads and ended up liking the 225 Gr original Barnes X.

I hunted Bethel Ridge with another Aviator out of a rented Scamp camper from the base MWR and apparently everyone else did too! There was actually a guy shot on the ridge and killed but it came out it was a paid hit from his wife the next year.

I bailed out of that zoo and hunted further south blackpowder towards Yakima the next couple times with a .50 Hawken I built from a Cabelas Kit. I did see some Elk but it was a spike only area and never saw one.

I've lived and learned and for my 2016 hunt I'm taking a 1949 Win Model 70 Super Grade in .300 H&H. I figure I'll never need anything more for any hunting the rest of my life.

On my first elk I was 22 and used a Winchester model 70 Supergrade in 300 Win Mag pushing a 200 gr Sierra Gameking. Funny story to go with that rifle too. When I was 20 I was engaged to a girl that I had been dating for 2 years and things were going great at first. Then after a couple of months she started becoming more and more controlling and gripping and complaining every time I would go do something like going shooting with my dad or just going and hanging out with my friends. So after about 3 months enough was enough and I ended that relationship and took the ring back and 3 days later took it and traded it for the Supergrade. Best decision I ever made!!

Ruger m77 in .280 with Federal 150 Nosler Partitions

Welcome! Sounds like you will fit right in around here.

Thanks! Been lurking around here for a while but finally registered so I could get in on the fun.

Good trade.

Still remember it like yesterday even though this season will mark 25 years for me.

Rifle was a Ruger boat paddle .270 Win with a Leupold vari-xII 3-9. It was my first rifle and i bought it with lawn mowing money about 1 month before deer opener.

I shot my first buck on the second day of season with a 130 Balistic Tip. Well i shot him with 5 actually, all behind the shoulder landing in about a 3" area. Only about 1/2 of 1 bullet penetrated the lungs and was found mid heart. That bullet chunk weighed 58grs IIRC. Last Ballistic Tip i ever shot aside from varmint rounds.

3 weeks later i shot a nice 5x5 bull on opening day with a 140 Partition.

That rifle with the NP's accounted for several more deer and elk before i traded it off on a custom 700 in .264WM

These days its eithery 338 RUM or if hiking a long ways my Montana in 300WSM.

Dads Ruger M77, 180 Gr PSP core lokt, redfield 3-9. He still has it.
almost 20 years later, I use 06 .

I just came full circle tonight. I started elk/muley/bear hunting at 12 years old with a 30-30.

I just traded my muzzleloader for a 30-30. So, i'm back to my roots with a gun most say is too weak to kill anything bigger than a whitetail.

It will go well with my red and black plaid wool clothing with my pants tucked inside my boots.

Life is good.

Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Mag shooting 175gr Nosler Partitions.
Took a 5X5 elk and a Mulie with a 36 inch spread.
Heck of a hunt.

Sounds like a wise move!!!

Damn, I'll bet you miss the old boat paddle ruger don't you??

I finally got into the elk hunting game quite late...in 1992 at the age of 36. Before that time raising kids and work restrictions had kept me from fulfilling my dreams of going after elk.

Even though I was not able to actually hunt elk earlier.....I could still prepare and dream. I built my "elk" rifle in the mid-1980's....a Mauser 98 action I stocked and modified, barreled in .338 Magnum (thank you Elmer Keith). I killed a number of whitetails and hogs with that rifle before I made my first actual elk hunt using that rifle. I was successful in taking a smallish 5x5 bull (which looked like a world record to me after years of hunting mostly whitetails) on that hunt.

I continued to use that rifle for deer, hogs, and occasional elk for the next 10 years or so, until I foolishly traded it away for something I just "had" to have at the time. I can't even remember what I traded it for, but I know I regretted the deal almost immediately.

I suffered for a few years without a "real" big game rifle (although the elk, buffalo and moose I shot with the "underpowered" .30-06 and .358...and sometimes even lesser rounds,...didn't seem to notice the difference).

Then in 1998 or 99 (can't remember exactly when) I went on one of my regular "trade safaris" where I would load 8-10 guns in the truck and make the rounds of a dozen gun shops and pawn shops in search of "deals".

At my last stop (just 15 miles from the house) I walked in and looked over the gun rack....and found nothing I really wanted to trade for. The owner (who I knew quite well) asked what I was looking for....and I told him I wanted a "big" rifle, .375 or maybe a .338. He grinned and told me to stay where I was standing....as he put it "Don't move, I've got a deal for you".

He went to his back room and came out with a Remington factory box. Inside was an unfired Model 700 Custom Deluxe rifle, full factory engraved, and chambered for....338 Magnum.

I was in love, but I also knew what those rifles retailed for. When I asked, "how much", he responded with a price that was a few dollars less than a brand new Model 700 ADL. I asked him, "What's wrong with it?". He knew I had operated a gunshop/gunsmith business for years and was honest.

"I bought one of these a couple of years ago when I went to Africa", he told me, "and my supplier talked me into buying a lot of 3 of them at a price I couldn't pass up."

"And you found out there isn't as lot of market for a .338 in Deep East Texas," I responded. "Right!", he said, "I managed to sell one in Houston at a break-even price, but I'm ready to just get this one out of the shop."

The serious dealing began. I went out to the truck and brought in my "trade material" and asked how he wanted to trade. He looked over my stock and laid 4 of my guns to the side and said "Even". I moved a couple of the chosen guns to my side of the counter and added a couple of others from my "stash".

He frowned and said, "Can't do it. I'll break even on the others, but you just took out my "profit" guns."

We tried a few other combinations until finally told him, "To be honest, if I was on your side of the counter, the first offer you made is exactly how I would trade too...it's really fair, but I can't take your first offer or I would not be able to hold my head up as a "gun trader". Can't you throw in some ammo or something so I can feel I won?".

He grinned and ran back into the rear of the shop. He laid 3 boxes of Federal High Energy ammo loaded with 250 grain Woodleigh softpoints....and a set of engraved scope rings... on the counter. "The ammo is so you win the trade. I'll never use it unless I get back to Africa and that might be a while," he said, "The rings are from me because I like to do business with you. Make it up to me on another trade later."

That Remington 700 is my current "elk" rifle and has served me well over the years. I still wish I had my old Mauser back, but this one is everything one could wish for. A number of elk, buffalo and blue bulls....not mention several deer and hogs....would agree totally. Good looking, accurate and powerful enough for any task. I still think Elmer was right....the .338 Magnum is the "perfect" elk rifle.

When I got home and told my wife I'd traded 4 guns for the one rifle I explained the trade by telling her, "You don't know how much this puts my mind at ease. For years I've worried that some morning I'd step out on the back porch with my morning coffee and there would be a lion or bear or rhino would be standing there....and I'd not have a proper rifle to handle the situation."

She named it....and it's known to this day in my family as...."The Rhino Rifle".

Great story Rick. Thanks for sharing..

BSA I had one of those boat paddle rugers in a 280 Remington that thing would stack 140gr Remington cor lckts onto small groups like a real dumb ass traded it off.

October 1975, using my Dad's Pre-64 Model 70 270 WCF with a K4 Weaver and 150gr. Partitions.


Life was so much simpler then.

SC

Remington 721, 3006, in 1961 I killed my first elk using 180 Partitions. Moved up to a 300 WM in 70 and never looked back.

+1 Enjoyed reading that.

Remington ADL, 130gr Partition. Elk didn't know .270s bounce off... Maybe they weren't as tough in the '70s.

Ha ha John. I had an opportunity to buy a real nice stainless boat paddle 270 win for $270.00. We were on vacation at the coast at the time and I didn't buy it because it was a 270. Now that's a dumb ass for you!!!!

Yep i do miss it. It shot super well with the 140 Partitions and was all i ever needed. Youth and money make dumb choices.

Replaced it with a blued 7mm-08 boat paddle i found at a small mom and pop shop about 7 years ago. It too shoots very well.

Sadly it too will be leaving my safe soon.

I don't want to divert this thread so will put up a new thread in the general big game.

Good man. You'll be starting that young man off right with a great rifle. Good on you!! I have 1 boat paddle Ruger m77 left, it's a 300 win mag that I gave to my dad. I know it's in safe hands, as he never shoots it and will never sell it. He's offered to give it back numerous times. I always tell him it kicks too damn hard. Maybe one of these days I'll turn it into a 338

Damn it bsa you beat me to my edit. Lol

I will repost in general big game.

On my first elk hunt, I carried a Remington 700ADL 30-06. Used that rifle for 30 years. Never should have sold it.

KC

Browning auto 30-06 165 gr. boat-tail dropped the first one at 125yds everyone i was hunting with had magnums i thought i was under gunned but i was wrong.:)

30/06 with 150 eTip

Remington 700 SS SPS, slightly customized, in .30-06. 168 TTSX

Back in the early 70's my first elk hunt in central Idaho, I had a sporterised '03 Springfield with a 1.5 - 4 Weaver and used 180 gr. Rem factory corelocts. Wouldn't want to carry that rig uphill and downhill and across hill today; but would be comfortable with the scope and ammo choice.

A MDL 64 in 32 Win Spc. Took it out shooting with old man last week and had a blast. Definitively not how I roll today.

'06 with 180gr Nosler partions.....went 2 for 2

My new then 1969 German 300 Wby MKV, 2-7 Loopy, shooting handloads with 180 gr Sierra Sptz.

Used a 10lb hawken 58 caliber muzzle loader in 86 or 87. Learned that you don't need a 10 lb rifle in the mountains. Almost froze to death since I move to Colorado from phoenix. No elk. Traded for a tang ruger in 30-06. Killed a lot of deer and elk with it.

Pre 64 Winchester model 70 375 H & H.

My 1st Elk Hunt was early 70's, so some details are foggy.

Lee-Enfield Jungle Carbine that was "sporterized" kicked like mule.
.303 British 180 CIL SabreTips IIRC

Another pre 64!
One of the holy grails on my wish list.

So did you get a shot opportunity?
I've looked at my .303's (mine aren't carbines) and thought that they had all of the elements to be good candidates to be sporterized.

A bow, and let a raghorn and cow walk. Wanted a big bull. Silly me.

I hunted elk self guided with a friend four times while bow hunting and didn't kill one back in the late 80's early 90's.

Went on a guided rifle hunt in 2004 and killed my one & only elk, a 5x4. I couldn't have been happier!

Used my ULA 300WSM and 180gr Nosler Partitions........



I had a great guide (T. Mike Murphy) but he sucked as a photographer.

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.

I used a Remington 700 BDL in 300 winmag that I had bought from a friend from work. He had bought it new in 1964 for a deer hunt in Wyoming. It is the model with the stainless steel barrel. 180gr Nosler partitions, Federals. Bull was a nice 4x4 on first morning near Grand Junction, CO on my first guided horseback hunt.

Alamosa What I was saying, not to clearly, was open sights are preferred for horseback hunting. Not so apt to be knocked of of zero. No I would not shoot from the top of a horse. I like a saddle horse to well to do that. And the chance of hitting from a mounted position is remote for me at least. Locate the game and then do the sneak.

On my very first elk hunt I set off into the woods with a scoped, 7 ½ inch, Ruger Super Blackhawk loaded with Federal’s now discontinued 220 grain silhouette bullets. I was able to hunt elk that year at least partially most days for about 6 weeks without being able to close the distance on the bulls I did see. Finally, with several days left to go in the season, I borrowed a Remington 660 in 308 to try to put my first elk on the ground. The weather was miserable, torrential rain mixed with snow at times. A lot of miles from my truck I popped out of some timber into a meadow and there was my bull standing 15 yards away. A 150 grain Remington Core Lokt slipped behind the near shoulder did the trick.

2 years later, however, I was able to get it done my Super Blackhawk. This time I was using 240 grain hard cast lead bullets; and a single one of these at a little over 100 yards behind the shoulder got her done. The rag horn bull was completely unaware of my presence and never reacted to the shot at all. About 20 seconds after the shot the elk simply tipped over and the hard work began. Almost 30 years ago but still one of the most fun hunting experiences of my life.

Winchester 30/30 brand spanking new for my birthday. As far as ammo, most likely whatever Western Auto had at the time.
Had a good mentor so I knew right off the bat it's capabilities before my first hunt that fall.

At age 14, I borrowed Dad's Remington 721 in .270 Winchester. Unsure of the load, but probably Federal 130 gr. spitzer. Killed a 4x4 bull while Dad was knocking over a different 4x4 bull around the corner from me. 1977 IIRC.

This story made me smile- great stuff!

3584ELK i loved your story, well written. Had me rooting for you, i thought for a minute that last gun dealer was going to pull your old rifle out of the back:)

Rem. 700 BDL .270. Shot over a dozen elk with that gun before stepping up to a .300 Win. mag. Only reason I bought the .300 Winny was a planned trip to AK. for moose.

My first hunt was last year. FN Model 70 featherweight (made in USA) in a McMillan in 7x57 with a Leupy 6X on it shooting 160 partitions. It worked great.

Ringman, I hope you wiped off your feet before you come home! lol

My first elk hunt was with a Model 54 in 270, with a peep sight. The rifle was handed down to me from grandfather, to Dad to me. The cartridge was a core locked 150 grain and I got a 5x5 raghorn bull at about 60-70 yards. The year was 1973, and the rifle was mfg in 1931.

Bart

those old 54's are neat rifles.. I have my grand father's.. Never shot an elk with it though.. My first wife did kill her first elk with it though..

Love those old Huskys. Nothing wrong with those old azz Redfields, either. My wife's 7-08 Ruger wears one just like yours. Still gets the job done.

Well, going on my first elk hunt next year and I have plenty of time to decide, but so far, I'm down to these choices:
1. Model 70 300 H&H 180gr TTSXs
2. Weatherby MKV 300 Weatherby (same bullet)
3. Sako 75 Deluxe 300 Win Mag (same bullet)

Remington sendero in .300 Win Mag.
Leupold 4.5-14x40 VXIII with mildot.
Hornady heavy mag 180 grain.

Heavy but deadly.

A LH Browning A-Bolt in .300 Win Mag. Hornady 190 gr. factory ammo. Got an elk, too (a nice 6x6, no less).

I later replaced that rifle with a Remington 700 KS in .300 Win, which I still have. The .300 Win. is about the only caliber I've ever used on elk. I do have a .340 Wby Fibermark that I'm going to try out this year, though.

A used 270 Sears M-50 with a jap 3x9 scope. Loaded with 140 grain Bearclaws. I bought the rifle for my new wife at a gun show in Denver. However, after a good cleaning I shot it. It was a tack driver and would place three shots well under an inch at 100 yards so I carried it for my first hunt rather than my minute of pie plate 742 in 30-06. I killed 2 elk with it, but both took multiple hits so I moved up to a 338 a few years later.

Perry

I had bought a sporterized 96 Mauser with factory stepped barrel lopped off at 20" in 6.5x55. Was in a laminated thumbhole stock with Timney trigger, Leupold base and lowered bolt. Put a Leupold 3-9 compact on it and loaded it with 156grain Norma Alaska ammo. The barrel looked like a sewer pipe but would absolutely stack about anything you fed it. Never saw an elk on that first trip but took a nice mule deer buck. Two years later took the same rifle but this time wearing a long tube M8 4x Leupold, loaded with 160 grain Sierra semi-point over Reloader 22. Took a decent Mulie then my first elk. Luckiest shot of my life. My brother had bumped a group of elk and a bull was following about 6 cows at a full run on a hill side above me. I dropped down to a knealing position settled the horizontal line on the Bulls back and gave the trigger a squeeze. Bullet entered just behind near shoulder angled forward and through the lungs and top of the heart being caught by the hide on the off side. Like flipping a switch, went right down Later ranged the shot at 273 yards.

First hunt was in Colorado and I used a Remington BDL Stainless Synthetic in 7mm Rem Mag shooting Federal Premium 175 gr Nosler Partition. Shot 5x5 bull at 80.

Savage 99 in 308 Win.

1972 in AZ unit 7

.54 Renegade.

Passed on a cow at about 40 yards. Havent had a chance to kill an elk since. Maybe next years draw will change that.

M70 SS Classic with 160 Barnes TSX.

A Remington 725 in .280 Remington. In 1973 I was using the Remington 150 grains PSP and it worked just fine for me in Colorado.

L.W.

A Win Mdl 64 in 32 Win SPL. The old timers mostly used 300 Sav and 308 Win. That was big medicine. A 3006 was for Californians that couldn't shoot.

Stainless M77 MKII with plastic stock and loopy 3.5-10X40 running 180 grain partitions.

Mod 70 270 PF

S&W 1500 in 300mag with 3.5-10x40AO shooting the 150gr Nosler Soild Base.

1973 near craig colorado and used a post 64 win model 70 in 30-06. Bullets were probably factoy 150gr silver tips. No elk killed but did get an antelope on the front range the following week. Killed my first elk the next year near craig using a browning recurve, which I believe was a nomad stalker. These days I use either an 06 or 270 win.

TC 50 cal Thunderhawk shooting 370 gr Maxi-balls over 110 gr of 777. Shot a 5x5 at 80 yards. One of the best hunts I've been on.

Same one I choose today. Mk V 300 Wby made in Japan 26" barrel. Only the bullet and my legs have changed! Began with the still great 180 Nosler Partition and transitioned some years back to a true elk killing machine, the 168 gr TTSX.

30-30 in Savage Model 340 bolt action carbine. Killed a spike at a range of 4 inches.

Salvage Weather Warrior in 325 WSM. Sold that bad luck SOB and never looked back.

223 AI, thu tha hart. 800 yds.

No that was the second one or it was a 270 WBY mag. with 150 NPs.
The same peashooter i took a mulligan moose with west of Williams Lake, BC just east of the Coast Range.

First was with an 80 lb pull custom Oneida Eagle up the ridge on the north side of Whitehead canyon at timberline on the east side of the steam engine line just a few miles south of Silverton. 4x4 raghorn.

Took my first elk a few miles S. of Silverton also.
Pretty steep terrain above that rail line!
It must look different now that the Animas is bright orange.

Remington 700 in 30-06 with core lokt 180's.

My son now uses that rifle.

John Browning would be proud.

300WM in model 70 push feed. Load was 200 grain NP with 76 grains of RL22. Age was 12 and the recoil cut my forehead wide open. Dads first response is put snow on the cut and don't tell mom.

I'm going to tell my wife's (before she was my wife) story. She was 24, first year hunting with a borrowed .243 Win, hunting with husband and friends on a feed ground south of Jackson, WY near Hoback Junction. Her ex sent her up a ridge while he headed a different direction (I'm sure to get her out of the way). While easing along, she met another novice hunter (also with friends but his hunting season had ended). While walking, conversing and approaching the top of the ridge, they came across several more hunters at about the same time a group of elk came running by at about 100 yards. Trying to impress the other hunters, she said “I'll take the lead cow!”. At this moment it's not certain who was more surprised, the elk which had just been hit in the brisket (almost a miss) or my wife. The elk goes down, but not yet dead. Wife runs closer to about 25-30 yards, took a rest on a tree (shaking the rest of the fall leaves from it's branches) and took 2 more shots before hitting the cow in the head before finishing her off. She had no knife to bleed out or gut the elk. The novice hunter had a knife, and while actually never gutting an animal, said “I've read about it and I'll talk you through it!”. She slowly walked up to the elk, poked it with the knife, it quivered and she flinched. After several attempts of trying to talk the novice into at least cutting the throat for her, she noticed her friends coming towards her. She returned the knife to the novice and told him “I know my friend will gut it for me!”.
As the novice was leaving, he asked her if she wanted him to find her husband and tell him she had an elk down. She described her husband and he headed in the general direction of where she thought her husband was. The novice actually did find her husband, telling him that his wife had an elk down. His initial response was “Not my wife!”. When the weekend hunt was over, she was the only one taking an elk. Her first year of hunting was actually quite a success! With that same borrowed .243, she killed a doe mule deer and got her first moose (young 2 yr old bull) with her husband's .264 WM; thus fueling her passion for hunting. Since that season, thus far in her hunting career, she's taken many antelope, elk, mule deer, two moose, two bear and a very nice Big Horn sheep. From a .243, a .264 WM, and her .270 Win, she moved up to a .338 WM in the early 90's and it has become her one and only, go to hunting rifle. - memtb

At least she attempted to gut the cow!

When my feet hit the ground in elk country I was toting a fairly new Rem 700 CDL in 35 Whelen. It was loaded up with 225 gr TSX's. No elk that year.

My first year elk hunting, I toted a m77 tang safety .243 win stoked with 100 gr. hornadys... I too read and was told elks were tough as ol' barn nails and wondered a little about the caliber.

Next year a brand new m77 .280 rem was slung over my shoulder stoked with 160 gr. grand slams I handloaded myself. Killed a very nice 5x5 @ 60ish yards. First shot it was dead, perfect broadside heart/lung shot. The next 4 were not really necessary...

Been near 30 odd years ago and the same ol' 280 still goes elk hunting.

The 225 gr. .35 caliber TSX is one flat out elk slayer. Just ask me how I know.

My very first elk hunt was in IIRC 1975 or 76. Toehold memory banks don't work quite as well as they used to. Any, after reading elk were irc lads I convince my wife I need something bigger so I bought a Mark X Mauser in .375 H&H. I've shot .375's before so was no stranger to the recoil. Practiced on pocket gophers prior to the hunt and considered myself good to go.
First day of the hunt I'm on stand at the edge of a clearing and off a bit to my left are two trees a few feet apart with a fallen tree making the whole scene look just like a door way. My thought was wouldn't it be cool if an elk popped out through that "doorway"?
Well about 45 minutes later that just what happened. A legal spike came right through that doorway and I was set up just perfect for a shot. Here I have a spike elk stopped dead still staring in my direction, my crosshairs smack dab in the middle and I squeeze off the shot and it's a miss. Mr. Elk flees the scene before I was able to get off another shot.
Comes now the rest of the story. I'd set my rifle down to go take a dump away from camp. While I was gone the recital orifice and messed with my scope adjustments. All of us were from the same town in Nevada and he and I really didn't get along. I didn't find out about it until we'd come home after the hunt when someone told me about it. I still think I should have called him out on it but my wife talked me out of it. I did tell him that I knew what he did and he'd best not do it again.
That started a very long 35 year string of bad luck elk hunts that finally ended in 2010. Shot one elk and when I went to get help gutting it it gets stolen. The rest of the time if I had cow tags, I only saw bulls. If I had a bull tag, I only saw cows. Finally did a landowner hunt in New Mexico and broke my jinx, almost. Got the animal to the butcher shop and the meat was bad de to an infection and smelled rotten. The game warden was on his day off and refused to come out to certify the animal bad and issue me a new tag. Went again the next year and things have been 100 percent ever since. Be going again next January. Oh yeah, my "lucky" rifle is a custom Mauser in .35 Whelen. I won't leave home without it.
Paul B.

Wow I would of beat ol boys ass... That is some bad luck for sure... Glad to see it changing for you.

PJG - That's a rough go of it for a while there.
Hope things even out.
You deserve a run of good luck after all that.

Paul, best of luck in the future.. You sure have had a run of bad luck...