Been debating what to take for elk hunting.. Time will be short will have roughly two weeks to get things together. So won't have to much time to do load development. So might end up taking my 325wsm. But might take the 338 wsm if I can get to my reloading supplies in storage have the data so no real testing needed.. But did pick up a 7 mag but that will require some tinkering for a load though.. Or use the 06 I bought off bsa use his load data just have to decide 180gr partition or 165gr partition or drag the 7 wsm out that shoots 162 hornady pretty damn good or the 270 wsm that shoots 140gr accubonds pretty good too.

Wby MkV in 30-06

Same caliber I've used for the last thirty years. 30.06. My Tikka T3 is my go to rifle with the M77 tang safety being the backup. I'll have two Colorado elk tags this year including one B list.

Savage Mod 16 lt wt Hunter, now wearing a Swaro Z3 3x10x44. 7-08 w/140gr Fusions. A pleasure to tote and will shoot the lights out.

Probably my old 700 .300 WM for sure..It has been killing elk most years for the last 40 or so.. May take my M70 in .300 WSM.. Not sure how seriously I will hunt elk this fall.

Cooper 338-06

7mm mashburn on a Remington action slinging 150 grain ballistic tips or a 7mm SAUM on a kimber montana slinging 150 grain ballistic tip of 160 grain accubond

Either an ultralight .284 or a .300 Wea; the former a Rifles Inc semi-custom and the latter a Blaser R8.

A 140-gr TTSX in the .284 and if the .300, it'll be a 180-gr Nos Accibond.

My 325 shoots the 200gr speers pretty good so never really bothered with anything far as different bullets. 338 wsm shoots 225gr accubonds pretty damn good.. Also will be attempting to hunt cow elk in unit 13..

That .325 WSM sounds like a good choice.

I will likely use my .338 Win Mag with 225gr TBBC factory or NPT handloads over RE-22. Another choice is one of the '06's with 180 grain NPT or TBBC over H-4350. I have a .35 Whelen and a couple of .308 Normas that would work well but I usually end up with one of the two above in my hands.

Best of luck.

Gary

This year, I'm taking a TC custom shop Renegade .58. I'll be pushing patched .570 Hornady or Speer round balls with 120 grains of Goex FFg lit by RWS magnum #11 percussion caps.

Praying for snow.

Tom

.444 Marlin, .375 Whelen Improved, and .358 Norma Magnum at a minimum.

New Ultra Light Arms 270 shooting 150 grain Nosler Partitions.

main gun is Tikka T3 lite SS 30-06 168 TTTSX
back up TC venture 270 130 TTSX
These rifles are just fine if I do my part.

Have a pre-64 M70 with a 280AI Kieger barrel in a Brown Precision stock. It shoots 160gr. Nosler Partitions very well at about 2930 fps. If I kill a bull this year it'll be number 9 for this rifle bullet combo. So far no complaints from any of the elk. Oh, and it has a 3x10 Leupold with turrets on it. All up and ready it weight in at 8lbs 2oz.

280 Rem, 160 gr Nosler Partition @ 2860 fps. Kills 'em right away & doesn't give you a concussion.

Late 60's vintage Sako L61R, 338.

Abolt medallion in 35 Whelen wearing a McMillan and a Win 70 fwt in 6.5x55.

Semi-custom 700 in 7STW
Custom 700 in 300 H&H

6.5mm, Barnes 127LRX at about 3,400 feet per second.

Just take them all. Geesh!! Sound like an old woman trying to decide which lipstick to use.... I'll be using this ol girl:



338 win mag...

CLR/NULA 280 Ackley and 168 ABLR..

Looks like I'll be using my 280 for my first elk (cow, Wyo). Ruger 77 All Weather (boat paddle) with a Leupold 3.5x10. Have some 160gr CT Fail Safes that I've been saving for years now. Or maybe the Barnes 145gr LRX will get the nod. Should know this weekend.

Kaiser Norton

In the first case, the 140 is over 52.5 grains of R17 for 3050 fps and in the second the 180 Accubond is over 92 grains of IMR 7828 SC for 3130 fps. The 284 carries 1500 ft-lbs to 400 yds, the 300 to, well, way out there. Ballistic bailing wire--you can get tied up in it.

The .284 lightweight is at 6.5 lbs with Z3 3.5-10 on board. The same scope is aboard the 300 for right at 8.5 lbs. Two pounds doesn't sound significant to the ears, but after a day in the mountains for a Medicared flat lander, the brain sends a memo to all parts concerned. And I'm in pretty good shape.

I'll probably take both.

Probably going to use my stainless model 70 30-06 in the winlite stock I just picked up here - 180 partitions. Other one that's ready to rock is the tikka t3 in 6.5x55.

Still trying to decide. Just won't be right without " ol' Meat I the Pot" , my 9.3 x 62. But I'm thinking of changing my luck and toting my old Model 54 Winchester, 30Govt 1906. Or one of my 1895 winchesters. I'll decide by the end of the week 'cause I wanna go shoot some more.

Remington 700 KS in 300 Wby. 180 gr. Barnes TTx.

Doesn't matter as long as your shoes match...

Taking my 6.5 06 in a 15" Encore with 140 nosler partitions. Its been great on deer and antelope with the 125 partitions but I have always used the 140's in 6.5 caliber for elk. I have a cow tag for an area close to town but the season is only 10 days long.

This 264 win mag is all i need.

Colorado first rifle. Be a 280AI shooting 168 Bergers.

I have it narrowed down to one of six choices. Will have to whittle that down a bit between now and then.

Probably my second most elk killing rifle ever, the Sako deluxe 300 WBY mag. I have put the first most killing elk rifle aside to give the WBY a chance, "Old Meat In The Pot" the killingest elk cartridge ever...30-06...

Black powder- Knight KRB 50 cal
First season- Remington 700 338-06

Says the guy who changed up rifles last year when it started snowing.. Like a women when it starts raining and wearing the wrong shoes...

That is one nice rifle that's for sure..

50 bmg, just wait till they line up and get 2-3 with one shot, like you do with hogs.

Model 70 pre 64 in 338 and my original 1886 in 40-82WCF. Plan on carrying the 1886 for the first few days of my Nov cow hunt.

The wife and I will be using the same tried,trusted,and proven rifles we've used since then early '90's! memtb

Kampfeld Rem 700 .30-06 shooting 180 gr Partitions.

When I'm doing a job the last thing that I want to worry about is the tool that I'm using. I hunt elk with a T/C Icon Weathershield 30-06. I haven't changed the load in fifteen years. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

KC

I have a gun safe full of 'elk rifles'-
.257 Wby.
.280
.280 Imp.
.270 WSM
.30-06
.300 Wby.
.375 Ruger

The .300 Wby., shooting Barnes 165 gr. TSXes, almost always gets chosen.

TC. Omega.

Sako 85 Finnlight 25-06 with a Leupold FX-3 6x42 and 115gr Partions

My 300 win with a 6x leupold shooting 200 Partitions.

My daughter will be trying to get her first elk with my friend's AR 10 308 with a 2.5-8 leupold. She's been shooting it pretty well. Pretty cute seeing a little blonde firing off the AR10.

No elk tag for me this year. However, I was lucky enough to have been drawn the previous two years. Rem 700 in 300 Win Mag. shooting 200 Gr Berger hybrids.

22-250

Browning Stainless .300 Win mag with Leupold 4.5x14 scope

It would probably be too mean to say anything about 22-250 and 7-08. So I won't.

30-06

.30-06. -- either a Springer or a Rem 700. Or a .375 Smalley.

thanks 79S it is a shooter.

Looks like it shoots well enough. Nice rifle too.

Shrap, we all know the 30-06 kills elk very well, but it is so damn boring...

. Smart woman ........Not..

Either this with Hornady 175'ers...



Or this with Hornady 286'ers...



The 9.3 Mouser is sooo 'elk-ish' but damn if I don't just love that little RSI to death...

B-29! Don't have to worry about bullet drop, and when you hit it, it skins it, butchers it and packages it!

In all seriousness, most likely my Ruger M77 MII in 300WM sitting in a Mickey stock.

You gtg for this yr? You headed to NM? Or staying in colorado?

Well I know now, at least one of the rifles I'm taking (if not the only rifle I take) is going to be my Browning 1895 in 30 Govt 1906. And just maybe if I can get enough shooting time with my newest 1895 Winchester in 35 WCF, I may just throw it in the truck as well!!!!

I'll be hunting the woods and a few smaller openings more than the open meadow so they should do just fine!!!

101, that .264 is awesome!! Best of luck to you all..

M77 tang in .30-06 with 180 gr Partitions.

SS

Hoping to be GTG, have a surgery consult for my ankle beginning of next month, so hopefully I'll be able to hunt. Hunting down around Alamosa if I'm able.

Depends. Probably this one, a Ruger Hawkeye All-Weather .280 Remington.



Always subject to change, but it shoots very nicely with 120 and 140g Barnes TTSX and North Fork 140 and 165g bullets.

Not sure which bullet I will go with except it won't be the 120g TTSX, which might get used for antelope come October 1st.

Kimber Montana 270 Win shooting the 140 gr AB.

good to hear glad you are getting around better.. I'm headed up to unit 13 I have a cow tag for that unit for 3rd season I'm hoping to be back in time and its looking good so far.

My wife will be using a 280 Remington next week for her moose hunt using 160gr accubonds. What's your load data for the 140's ???

My daughter will be using a 270 as well for her moose hunt using 140gr Hornady BTSP's. I do have a lefty model 70 in a 270 Winchester. Should just take that load up some 150gr partitions or 140 accubonds and call it a day..

Savage Model 99, .300 Savage, Double Tap Ammo w/Nosler Accubond 165 gr. Limiting myself to 250 yard shots max.

I'll be using the same thing.

Get some pics when she gets one and post them. Thanks!!!

Blaser R8 in 300 Weatherby with 168 grain TTSX.

I have to be ready in case a whitetail crosses my path as I have both tags this year!

Rem 700 8x68S with 200 grain Partitions.

Remington brass, CCI Large Rifle primer
Ruger All-weather Hawkeye, 22" barrel

58.0g H4831SC, Barnes 140g TTSX, 2928fps
58.5g H4831SC, 140g Nosler AB, 2901fps
58.5g H4831SC, 140g North Fork SS, 2942fps (Most accurate load)

A 270 Win. would be all you need. Shooting 140 and 150 grain bullets. Heck, you would be in tall cotton.

Rodell, my 300 Weatherby is in an R8 also and the 168-gr TTSX was the first pill I tried. Didn't like them; it's the first rifle I've tried the TTSXs in that didn't shoot them well. Ended up with the 180-gr Accubond which it did like with the same powder.

Good hunting.

30-06 in either a model 70, pre-64, or a Dakota Arms 97. Both will be sighted in with 165 Accubonds and scoped with a Zeiss Conquest for the Winchester and a S&B 6x42 on the Dakota. I may swap out the Zeiss for a Leupold or Meopta 6x42 by then, however.

Always full-on class Jim.

Thank you George. That is very nice of you, although many would agree I am full of something!

Ours opens Sept. 10, I will go up on the 8th and set up camp.solo by choice this year. I will take two Dakota 76-.338WM rifles, Leupy 1.75x6 MHD scopes shooting 250NPs over 76-RE-22 and probably my Kimber MA-280AI, Swaro 3x9, shooting 160NPs over Magpro.

The Dakotas are in synthetics, but, weigh about 8-10 scoped while the Kimber MA is 6.5 scoped and I am old!!!!

Training hard now, am hopeful..................

SNAP, you are supposed to accrue wisdom with age; my vote goes to your Kimber 280 AI at 6.5. It has about a 100-150 fps on my 284 which weighs 6.25 with a Swarovski Z3 and I'm inclined to it on my own trip.

Stay hopeful and think seared tenderloins.

Kimber Montana in 708 120 ttsx, Sako A7 .243 100 grn. partitions

Cooper model 52, 280AI, shooting 168gr Berger Classic Hunters. Should be plenty.

.280ai Montackley stoked with 168 Berger classic hunters.

I should just say fu ck it and take my 270 fwt loaded with 150gr. nosler partitions....

You don't have the hair on your ass to do that

Lawrence I hope to be posting pictures sometime next weekend.

I will be hunting this year very close to where I was born and raised; the area is VERY steep, rugged and densely forested from 1800 ft. above sea level to about 6000 ft. and goes to 11,000 ft. peaks.

The majority of elk are high in really thick timber and do not come out until about 10:00 PM and there are LOTS of Grizzlies, with attacks on hunters and others increasing greatly in recent years due to severe restrictions on hunting them.

So, I pretty much carry one of my 23* barreled Dakota .338s or sometimes one of my 9.3x62 rifles, old custom Brno ZGs and one CZ-550, with 286 NPs at 2400 as IF I get into it with a bear, I will get ONE shot, even then its dicey and I want LOTS of bullet in such a situation.

For some hunting in more open BC regions, I do prefer my smaller rifles as they are easier to hit with at long ranges and are perfectly adequate for ANY game we have here with a good bullet and if one can shoot well.

That said, the Kimber with my latest backpack, a Seek Outside Unaweep Divide and ultralight gear will allow me to do 3 day backpack hunts and still carry out boned meat....this, to me, is THE ultimate hunting. I have gone with some of BCs top outfitters on horsepack hunts in northern BC......not nearly as much fun as solo backpacking hunts and I do this for enjoyment of the challenge and a kill-meat is the secondary goal for me at this time of life.

I am getting to really like the .280AI, and I have never been into wildcats, I wish Nosler would bring out a .338 bore on this case................

Yea, the Bears do change the context alright; still a heavy 7 mm partition in the noggin'..well..

You're right; your style of hunting is the real deal.

... Yeah, I'll probably chicken out and grab the 338 right before I head out...

Very cool. Tell Patricia good luck for me!!!!

Big bears would definitely change my idea of what a proper elk rifle would be. As it is, herein Colorado I worry more about two-legged predators at least as much as I do black bears and lions. Although we've seen a lion in the pre-dawn light, I've never seen a bear while hunting.

I tnink my 22" .338WM or my Marlin .45-70 would be my friend in brown bear country.

As to your signature, my idea of golf is clay pigeons on the 500 and 600 yard berms for centerfires and the 100 yard berm with irons and a rimfire.

Ok, it's decided. This year's deadly duo for the mountings!

Will be taking my pack rifle. Model 70 300WM with 23 inch barrel, has 3-9 leapold. Shooting 180NP backed by 75 grains RL22.

Got it settled. Will be rocking my GAP 260 with the 127 LRX moving out at ~2925 fps and wearing a TBAC CB9 suppressor. The Ultra-7 won't be out of jail in time, unfortunately.

Lane Precision 6.5saum or the GAP 6.5saum...decisions decisions

Just got back from the range which helped me with my decision. My primary rifle will be my 300 Win Mag Browning X-Bolt and I will be using 180 grain Nosler AB's. I usually use Partitions but the AB's were just a bit more accurate at 300 yards. My backup will be my 7mm-08 Tikka T3 and I will be using 156 grain Norma Oryx. My hand loaded 140 grain Barnes TTSX are accurate and but at 200 yards, the oryx were equally as accurate and being a heavier bullet, I think the oryx will be a good woods round.

Great minds think alike!

It's either 30 US Army for me, or a .300 (savage)

which ever one looks like it needs a walk in the woods most.

leaning to the Model 95

Sycamore

BSA,

Grab that ole FWT 270 and go kill one for JOC. I bet you would be suprised and really enjoy toting that old girl.

.280 rem w/150 gr ballistic tips. Usually fire partitions in the .280 but have been wondering what all the hub-bub is about with the "beefier" ballistic tips... AKA shrapnel and others like such

.325 wsm 200 gr accubonds

25-06 rem 100 gr partitions

45-70 350 gr horn rn

.257 roberts 117 gr old school partitions

30-06 Damn thing just works with just about any bullets 150 gr. and north.

Terrain/mood will decide what rifle.... The wife kinda likes the ol' marlin lever gun in 45-70 though, might have to ask to use that one

I've got a few I always have ready for elk. Some times one of them will just call from the safe, "Take me, Take me"

Rem 700 300 WBY Mag 200 gr Sierra
Rem 700 350 Rem mag 225 gr Sierra
Ruger Alaskan 375 Ruger 270 Hornady- old stock
Rem 700 5 digit 30-06 200 gr Speer Hot Cor

They all like to go to the dance wearing Leupies.

Good luck and Happy Hunting to all the elk chasers.

BSA,

How fast are you lobbing those Partitions out there at?

LH Ruger model 77 in 35 Whelen, 200 grain Barnes TSX

Too damn windy to set up the chrono. It would have surely blown over, but I'm hoping right around 2,470 fps with the 52gr. charge... We'll see the next time out, I hope....

Ruger MK II 7-08 and 120 NBT

Brno 21H built in 1950. It is wearing a Leupold 2.5-8, chambered in 8x57IS, I will be using handholds with 200 gr. Nosler partitions @ 2500 fps. So far I have not shot any game with this rifle. I think it will work.
It's the top rifle.

Dad is in town visiting and just gave me his Savage 99 in .308. Think there is a change in the line up now.... 165 gr Partitions should do the trick

Nothing wrong with change. I often switch rifles out. 1 for every day of the hunt...

My line up may look something like this:

Day 1:
7 3/4 pound 338 win mag. 5 round capacity, custom pre 64 model 70...


Day 2:
New to me Remington 760 30-06 running 200gr. partitions:


Day 3:
Pre 64 model 70 270 fwt running 150gr. partitions:


Day 4:
Pre 64 model 70 30-06 fwt


Day 5:
Pre 64 model 70 375 H&H in coyote bomber swirly



Just sold my 9.3x62mm elk sledge hammer, so that one won't be going. Good luck with your elk hunting guys. Hope you all get what you are after...

Headed to Colorado next week and am taking my 300 Weatherby built by Karl shooting 180 NABs and a Ti 280 AI built by Redneck and finished by Eddie shooting 140 TTSXs.

BSA,

It would be way cool if you hammered an elk with that ole pump gun.

Besides you should give Remingtons a try, they ain't all bad.

Nah, they aren't. I just like giving some of the guys a hard time here... .... Remington made a few good rifles, like the Remington 720, and the 30 express...

yup, just a few

Packed my gear this weekend,ready to leave Thursday morning. First 7 days will be archery hunting, rifle opens the 17th. Bringing the .308 with 130gr ttsx and the .243 with 105bthp.

My new to me rechambered pre 64 300 win mag. If I do my part it shoots those 180 grain Nosler Partitions fantastically. Course, if I can find some 250 grain pills for the 358 Norma, and get a load fixed up, it'd be damned tough to leave it at home!

One of these will get in the truck with me.....both are 30-06 but one is my 150 gun and the other is my 180

I carried The God Rifle this weekend. '03 Springfield .280

Levergun.
7mag
The blue is mostly worn to bare steel and the optics are no longer bright but it has a long record of killing elk.

Tikka T3 super lite in 7-08 with Hornady 139 grain Spirepoint "American Whitetail" ammo

7-08 fitted with Accubond's and Varget

You ever going to use that rifle the campfire put together for you???

After going shooting over the weekend it's the most likely rifle to be used, although all 3 are probably going to elk camp!

Well, it's not exactly "Elk", but I'll be taking my .338-06 after moose and black bear in a couple weeks.

[img:left][/img]

Not going after elk this year, but if I was it would be with my Tikka T3 30-06,topped with a fx-ii 6x36, shooting original speer 180gr grand slams.
I will just be whitetail hunting this year so will use same setup, but 165gr. sierra hpbt instead.

Tikka T3 super lite 30-06 with Leupold 2.5-8x36 wide duplex.
180 Hornady flat base interlocks

My lightweight, compact .308 keeps racking up elk kills, so more likely than not, I will just use it.

Going to take this one and do my best to blood it this year:


.338 Howell (338-284 Improved, 30 degree shoulder)

This one will go along for those nasty days and open country:


Weatherby Vanguard Back Country .300 Win Mag

I've decided after great debate that the .270 will be sufficient.

Used my late 60's vintage Sako 338 Win Mag. I used North Fork 225 grain bullets at 2800 fps and it put my bull to the ground rather quickly. Pics in my New Mexico Success thread posted below. I really liked the performance of those North Forks...really pleased with them.

It worked, shot a spike bull in the neck while it was running at about 100 yds. Used an old RWS factory load, 198 gr. at about 2500 fps.

In the morning the Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 with 480 gr cast bullets will get the chance.

I'll be elk hunting this year in grizzly country. I normally use my 30-06 with no hick-ups. This year, I think I'll use my 338-06 and take my 300 win mag as a backup.
Should be fun, looking forward to getting away. Last two weeks of the season in the great state of Montana.

I have reached the point in time with elk hunting that I reached with deer hunting 25 years ago-I really don't care if I kill another big game animal. At 68 years old, I still really like being in the brush and hunting, but I am over the killing and packing part of the deal. So, the dozen tricked-up elk hunting rigs I have will remain in the safe and my Marlin 336W 30-30 with a Williams receiver sight will be in my hands on opening morning. I am going hunting this year for the pure-ass enjoyment of the sport and only if an ideal shot for me with an open sighted 30-30 presents itself will I think about pulling the hammer back. CP.

CP, I agree 100%, just being in the woods hunting deer or elk is great. Heck, it doesn't have to be deer or elk to be fun. A bird hunt is top flight as well. Yeah, being in the woods on a hunt is 99% of it for me. If I get the chance to take some game, well that's just the cream on top.

I agree with the gun thing. That's why I mostly hunt with a 30-06. Some of my friends say, " you still using that 06." I say, yes I'am.

Hunting with these guns this year is just doing something different. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. I gotta tell ya, It feels very odd maybe leaving your favorite rifle home when you go on a hunt. I have not left yet. That 06 may still end up in the truck when I head out.

Wishing you all good times this fall.

I'll be dragging around an old Vanguard in 300 Weatherby wearing a new Zeiss 3-15x50 for 3rd season in CO this year. She is too ugly to post pics after seeing some of the beautiful rifles here but the gun shoots very well. Have a deer and cow tag in the safe and will pick up a bull tag when we get there.

No backup rifle of mine, a cousin's TC 300 Win will fill that role for both of us instead of my trusty 7 RM.

I can enjoy deer season just for the experience and don't depend on a kill to make the hunt a success. Elk hunting is a very different season - I can't wait fot the day to arrive and without some delicious meat to bring home it isn't really a good hunt.

Elk hunting is much the same for me as it is for CP and hammer, except now I would rather fool with my dogs and birds than hunt elk.. However since I only have to go a few miles to elk hunt I will probably go several mornings next week.. But I will carry my favorite .300, I can't hunt big game with out it.. I will also have something else in the truck.. My 24" half mag. Marlin .30-30 may just be the thing!!!! Good idea there CP..

I think that I will take a Tikka T3 in 270 with 130g Hornady "Whitetail" ammo and hope I don't see any elk cause I'm sure that "whitetail" ammo won't work .

Actually if not in moving mode and would have been driving out I think I would have probably taken my .40-65 Marlin 1895 or a custom Springfield '03 in .358 Norma - just do not trust the airlines with either of these ones so I'll have to do that another year

And actually agree with both CP and Hammerdown I can't wait to just be out there amongst the animals for a week

Good luck to everyone that is going out!!

PennDog

I'm hunting elk during Thanksgiving week in northern NM just outside of Raton. I'm taking two weapons:
1) a Savage 111 in a 35 Whelen ==> with a custom SS barrel, syn. stock, and tigger, firing a Hornady Superformance in a 200 Grain SP or perhaps a Federal Fusion in a 200 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail or even a Barnes VOR-TX TTSX in 180 grain bullet, and a
2) Weatherby Vanguard S/S in a 300 Win Mag. firing a Barnes VOR-TX TTSX in 165 grain or perhaps a 180 grain bullet.

Both have Vortex scopes and are 1 MOA or less, especially the Whelen.

I plan on visiting the Whittington Center during the weekend before I begin the hunt on Monday to make any altitude or other last minute adjustments etc.
:-)

I'm petty sure I will end up using one of the riles that starts with .338 or .325

Well this one did the job last evening. Loaded with those dang Remington 180 Grain RN corlokts

Now that's cool kaywoodie Have any pics with the elk - just love seeing those rifles in that setting

PennDog

This past weekend...

Saw zip. Don't know if they have gone nocturnal due to pressure and lunar phases or what..

Got three weekends left.

The 9.3 Bock with 286 Hornadys.

I used my old 1963 model Remington 700 30-06 last weekend. It is topped with a Leupy VX-2 2-7. Loaded with Speer 200 gr Hot Cors. Shot her about 100-120yds. Got a rib on both sides and clipped the off side shoulder, turned everything inside to mush. Not much blood shot at all. Cow walked about 10-15 feet after the shot and fell over dead. Pretty uneventful shot.

A Savage in 338-06 or 6.5x284, either will do fine.

Congratulations, job well done.

Thanks fellas!

Sorry. I don't have the rifle in this pic. Had been toting my old 95 in 35 WCF. But decided to carry this one Sunday evening. I can see its sights better.

kaywoodie thanks for the photo it really can't get much better than that - beautiful country, nice bull, and all with a vintage rifle!! Getting me pumped up to be out there next weekend really wish I lived out there sometimes - would love to take my .40-65!

Thanks again,
PennDog

40-65 would be awesome!!!

Nice!

Too cool man! I have a 54 winchester in a 270 I like to try and get an elk with..

Do it 79S! I have a 54 in 06! Mebbe next year!

I'm headed to idaho in November to elk hunt so I might us it their.. I been reading when the 270 was introduced it was with a 130gr bullet. So might have to buy some 130gr partitions and try em out I should be good out to 150 yds with open sights.

.30 Govt?


Sycamore

While I had intended to take my virgin .280 Remington using 140g AccuBond bullets, I used that rifle to take my antelope at 272 yards a couple weeks ago.

Bow I'm not sure. In any case, two rifles will go. Last night I made more 140g BT practice loads and AB hunting loads for the Ruger All-Weather .280 Rem.



Also looking at these two, a semi-custom Ruger MKII .338WM wih 225g AB and a Ruger MKII .30-06 with 150g AB.


The current plan is to take all three to the range on Sunday and shoot them off the sticks at ranges out to 600 yards, then decide. If that doesn't work out for whatever reason, including possible rain, the .280 Rem and .30-06 will be the winners as they were both checked out at the range a three weeks ago.

Model 700 Remington
.338 Ultra Magnum
2.5 X 10 X 50 Nikon Monarch Gold
250 grain Swift A Frames 2880 FPS

Too late to edit the original post but to correct the record, the antelope was taken at 373 yards, not 272. My typo.

Instead of the 300 H&H I always bring, this year on a colorado cow hunt I used my M70 280 AI, 150 TTSX's worked well...I'll also take that rifle next month to Mt to chase elk and mule deer.

My 270 Win Kimber Montana performed well. First time out with it and I am now hooked on that rifle.

Savage 110 in 30-06. 150 GMX

Good for you Ed, Nice to hear it worked well.

Awesome! Congrats!!

My Remington SPS 7 mag, topped with a Leupold 3.5x10 with B&C reticle loaded with 160 partitions at 3006 fps will go on my annual Wyoming cow hunt. The rifle has allowed me to take elk at 326, 400 and 443 yards. Either another 7 mag, or my Ruger American .308 will go as a backup.

Using the Whelen again this year in Northern Colo for cow, going to run 180 gr Barnes "X" original this go instead of the 250 gr Hot-Cor. My wife will be using the 6.5x55 with 120 gr Barnes "XFC" for her first bull elk. For back-up (I never hunt without a back-up, I've learned that lesson) a 7mm-08 with 140 gr Partitions should be the ticket.

My 7 mag will get the go ahead again this year.
Remington 700 running the 195 EOL topped with a Leupold scope.
I'm very excited to see how these new bullets will perform on an elk.
They sure are shooting very well so far.

For deer, I'll pack the same rifle probably, and for antelope I haven't
decided yet between my Remington 700 243 with 105 VLD's and a new
700 I built in 280 AI running the 168 VLD's. I know time is ticking on
that goat tag, but next week starts a little vaca time!!

I carried my Kimber84m in a 260. I shot a Spike the first morning, about 125 yards, 1 shot through the ribs as he was quartering away. I am shooting 120 gr. Ttsx's at 2800 fps. I recovered the bullet. It only weighed 101 gr. I was a little disappointed. They usually retain all their weight. It clipped the bottom of the spine though.

Awfully excited! Heading out in a few hours to get setup for Wednesday's opener. A five day any bull season. Been 12 or 13 years since I've seriously hunted elk. Doing a solo nonresident hunt so I can go to a place in (secret spot) Oregon I'm familiar with and confident has elk. Not as prepared for longer shots as hoped but not a place I'd suspect the need. Primary rifle is my camoed up Ruger All Weather 35 Whelen VX-R combo shooting 250gr Interloks with a couple wood-n-blued steel rifles to back it up. Will carry whatever feels good that day. One I just got, a 1965 Husqvarna HVA 30-06 which sighted in dirt simple with Federal bluebox 150s and just feels good. The other is a special to me Kimber of Oregon Mod 89 BGR 270 which is minute of elk with ubercheap Privi 150s now wearing a Leupy 6x42 LRD. It's purdy and slick as snot but yet to be tamed with handloads. Still might decide to leave one home - but then again - might not. Fingers crossed!

Semi-custom mountain rifle: Remington Model 700 in 30-06.

Last year I got a 5x6 and this year a spike and both were with a 270 win and a 130 gr bullet.

Congrats buddy!!! Glad to hear you got one. I'll be going out next weekend. Just shot my 338 today and she's still dialed in...

Kaywoodie
Good going!
I plan on lugging around with my 1890 circa Winchester 1886, built same year my grandad was born. She's chambered in 40-82 and likes Goex pushing a 260 grain cast bullet. Really hoping to fill my cow tag with her.

I used to get an elk about every year when bowhunting, but since I started rifle hunting I get skunked. So I carry the lightest rifle I can.

We're blessed with rifle season immediately following the rut. The bulls are kegged up recuperating in an area about 7 square feet in a vast sea of hundreds of thousands of acres of dense brush and trees. That's my standard excuse and disclaimer and I'm sticking to it.

This year I averaged 1 fresh elk track every six miles of rough ground, and zero sightings in 6 days. Every imaginable cow scent and sound was utilized in my failure. I used to love hunting elk in Oregon, now, not so much. While in Nevada deer hunting with my pal, we called in 6 point bulls for sport. Here, I couldn't if my life depended on it.

Sorry, ranting...

I feel the pain brother... I'll just leave it at that.

Elk is in the bag with a Sako in 300 Weatherby, but I still have 2 deer tags and 2 unbloodied guns I need to get out. One deer gets it with the Winchester 1895 in 40-72, the other in a Winchester Pre-64 featherweight in 270...

Was out this weekend with the crew and carried a Tikka in 7mm-08.

If I get the chance to test it out some more and get a good feel for how and where it's shooting, I will take a 300 WSM Montana to try and get an elk.

Thinking about taking my daughter somewhere to try and get her an elk for her first year. If I do, she will be shooting a Montana chambered in .243 win.

Shrap! Be sure and post the results of the 95 hunt!!! I should be headed to Deep South Texas in a couple of weeks and I'll be toting the 35 WCF. Depending on how many first time hunters we have in camp depends on me hunting. Much rather see them get a critter and do the helping with their animal. But if one of them blue Bulls shows his devilish face around me, I'll try like hell to send a 250 grain round nose Hornady thru his corpus!!!!

This is loaded with 380 grain cast bullets that will easily pass through an elk. I plan on testing it on a doe mule deer...

Excellent!!!!!

Took my Ruger .383WM/225g AB and .280 Rem /140g AB rifles.

Ended up using my buddy's LH Ruger 7mm RM/160g Grand Slam to take a 6x5 at 400 yards..

It was fitting as he took his first in the late 1990's with my RH Ruger 7mm RM and a 160g Grand Slam.

During the hunt he announced his diabetes related problems make this his last hunt. The hunt became much more about doing what he could do than doing what we needed to do. Still, we had a great time, hunted a lot of places we used to hunt and got mine on the morning of our last day. Details to follow in a separate thread.

Elk is over for the year and my "new rusty" 700 ADL 30-06 will sit out the Missouri deer rifle season for good behavior in Colorado

3 deer tags to fill and my 9.3x62 Mauser will plow the way