Man, you guys are really disappointing me on this thread. It is apparent the OP wants to buy a new rifle so lets think up ways he can justify it instead of shooting down his ideas?
I've shot elk with 338 WM, 300 WM, 30-06, 300 Weatherby, and buddies have shot them with all of those as well as .270, 280, and several others .... so, armed with all that evidence and feeling comfortable with my choices of rifles, loads, bullets, and scopes, among other things- I went right out a couple years ago and built a 26 Nosler just because it sounded neat and had some of those fancy high BC bullets to its credit. It shoots great, handles like I expected it to since I dropped it in a stock I've had for quite some time, the 4.5 - 14 scope I put on it works perfectly for my type of hunting, and I can find components for it most of the time... so I went out the first year I hunted with it (last year) and promptly shot a spike elk at about 125 yards with it and dropped it like a sack of potatoes.... something anything from a 25-06 up to a 375 H&H could have done, I suppose- but it felt a lot different doing it with my NEW rifle....
So let's get on board here and help this guy buy a new rifle- isn't that what this forum is all about- to help each other with justifiable excuses for new toys?
Bob
Good thread. Its always fun to see what others have used and suggest. Glad to see other guys love the 200gr partition as much as I do as well. That is a phenomenal bullet when launched from a 30-06 or 300 magnum. It punches right through elk and kills fast. However, A couple years ago I really wanted to try the 175 LRX in my new to me 300WBY. I felt that bullet and many others (165 and 168TSX/TTSX) like it would work very well on an elk. As for cartridges I've used: I've shot them with cartridges ranging from 7mm08 to 9.3x62mm and have used different bullets, some Sierra gamekings, Partitions, Interlocks and most recently TTSX in the little 7mm08. Hit them right with a good bullet and they all work well. I wonder if the OP has bought a new rifle yet?
I was in the local gunshop the other day and a newbie hunter was in there, asking the shop owner what rifle he should buy for deer and elk hunting. The shop owner was an advocate for the 300wm. I asked the guy if he had ever fired a 300 winny, he said no. I said the recoil is pretty stiff. He said his dad has a 30-06 and it kicks hard. I said he may not like the 300wm then. The shop owner was one that wanted to push magnum rifles on this guy. He really hated it when I told him I shot my last elk with a 7mm08 and it was DRT. Then the shop owner starts talking about shooting them at 1,000 yards. I said the guy is new to rifles and the newbie says, "yeah, I am not even going to try to shoot past 400 yards". I said that is smart. I told him to buy something that he will feel comfortable shooting a bunch and learning the rifle and cartridge, "not something that is going to beat you up". Something like a 308 even works well.
