For general elk hunting I keep coming back to a tikka stainless T3 in 270win. I hunt a lot of spot and stalk, or sit and wait in areas I’ve already seen elk moving through morning/evening. Occasionally slow hunt the thick stuff as needed. With a vx2 on top it’s 7lbs even, which seems to both carry well and be easy shoot. Killed elk with it at 17 yards and out to 540 yards. It’s worn a variety of high end stocks (BC, manners, McMillan) but currently just sits in a plain jane T3x stock. It’s not fancy and I have way nicer rifles but has just worked for 99% of the situation I encounter here in Colorado. Farthest I have ever had to track an elk was maybe 50yards.
