Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting What rifle you taking

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.

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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