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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,162 Likes: 3
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,162 Likes: 3 |
I have my FIRST elk hunt planned for this September in Idaho. I plan to take one of my 300s, weatherby, H&H or Winchester. I am convinced a 308, 06, 270, 7mm, 300 savage, etc will cleanly take an elk, so why the 300s? I think they hit harder and shoot flatter. Use the H&H.
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,053 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,053 Likes: 7 |
Sandpit: I would recommend a "magnum" Rifle for anyone wanting a Rifle dedicated to "Elk Hunting" (and I have lived all my life out west)! I have killed most of my Elk with a 7m/m Remington Magnum - I chose it not just for the additional lethality but also (mostly?) for the flatter trajectory it offers over "standard cartridges". I have also killed Bull Elk with these cartridges 270 Winchester, 280 Remington and 30/06. Yeah when asked (or like you observe "talk about") or when talking about Elk Hunting I do recommend "magnum" calibers. By the way I have seen (firsthand!) four different "experienced" Hunters kill Bull Elk with Rifles in caliber 25/06 Remington! Not MY first choice by any stretch, but it did get the job done there in the hands of patient, experienced Hunters. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817 |
I have to ask this,I'm from eastern orygun.why is it when most folks on here talk about coming out west to hunt they automatically think they need a magnum rifle?i don't understand the eastern thinking here ..................... That thinking from the east is probably because they think they need a more powerful magnum for extra down range killing power for elk along with having flatter trajectories for those longer open country distances should those situations present themselves. Imo, it is more of a "I need (or want) some extra assurance" thing. And if a magnum happens to be in their (east of the Mississipi) safe, then why not!....Magnum needed? Probably not. Magnum wanted? Yup. Magnumititus for the most part is more of a want rather than a need, especially for those who are more intrigued by the more powerful boomers who can handle them. I've been hunting elk in that open country for more than 50 years. In my experience, it's extremely rare to see a 400 yd elk that you can't get at least 100 yds closer to. A gun in the 308/270/30-06 class is plenty. I used a 300 WSM for about 10 years and took 7 or 8 elk with it. None of them couldn't have been taken just as well with a 30-06, which is what I'm now using. ...........Yep! As you say the 308/270/30-06 class is plenty.......But then again, you can always reduce the charges or use faster burning powders to approximate mid to high end 30-06 power with either the 300 WSM and 300 Win. Everybody seems to forget about that when talking about magnums vs non magnum cartridges. With magnum rounds you can always load down to approximate cartridges with less power. However, the reverse is not true. Cannot load up to approximate magnum power. And for a 400-500 + yard shot on a big elk, "should" that circumstance present itself, I'd prefer a 300 mag vs the 308/270 or 30-06 if choosing a 30 caliber. And if it doesn't all the better.
28 Nosler,,,,300WSM,,,,338-378 Wby,,,,375 Ruger
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,965 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,965 Likes: 4 |
If I had the luxury of hunting Elk annually I would get a 7mm Rem mag, load some 160 Partitions, and proceed to kill stuff. Or at least attempt to.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7 |
Getting a rifle chambered in a magnum cartridge and "loading it down" makes as much sense as getting a Shelby GT and putting a governor on it.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817 |
Getting a magnum cartridge and "loading it down" makes as much sense as getting a Shelby GT and putting a governor on it. ............I'll disagree! That is what reloading does and what it is for. Load up or load down to suit. And there was no mention by me, that if one owns magnums, that reduced loads should be used 100% of the time. Because if that were the case, only then it wouldn't make any sense to own a magnum... And btw, I own a 2011 Shelby GT500 convertible. It is speed limited from the factory at 155. Well below its top end potential if it were not electronically speed limited. And yet, I have not gone over 100 mph with it. More fun from 0 to 70-80......
28 Nosler,,,,300WSM,,,,338-378 Wby,,,,375 Ruger
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927 |
I learned a VERY valuable lesson regarding elk rifles this year. Hop up on my knee...whoa boy, you've been eating your spinach like a good boy.
Ok. Listen close. Here's the story, in a nutshell:
Sometimes, you don't even need a rifle. The end.
Translation: I had 99 problems and the phuqqing rifle wasn't one.
But its funny, that at the end of the day, the lowly 30-06 will handle yo bidness. Always has, always will. But never did...
I'll be back.....
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651 |
I have my FIRST elk hunt planned for this September in Idaho. I plan to take one of my 300s, weatherby, H&H or Winchester. I am convinced a 308, 06, 270, 7mm, 300 savage, etc will cleanly take an elk, so why the 300s? I think they hit harder and shoot flatter. Not a bad choice (of .300's) in the bunch so long as you can shoot them well. Suggested a .308 for Daughter #1 because she is recoil sensitive. And she shouldn't be shooting past 300-350 yards until she gets more practice. (Hopefully, now that she is again a Colorado resident, we'll get her to the range a lot more often.)
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,929 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18,929 Likes: 1 |
There are so many things that make a person a better elk hunter, but everyone always is hung up on the rifle/cartridge/bullet.
It's way down on my list of worries.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7 |
It's way down on my list of worries. True, but I do like paying for .300 Why. brass so I can load it down to '06 velocities, that's what reloading does.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817 |
It's way down on my list of worries. True, but I do like paying for .300 Why. brass so I can load it down to '06 velocities, that's what reloading does. .......Wise guy..lol......I don't recall mentioning taking a 300 Bee down to '06 velocities. A slight exaggeration. A 300 WSM and Win are more feasible in that dept on a part time basis as needed where max or near max loads are not necessarily needed....And thank all u 30-06 buffs. You have inadvertently complimented my 300 WSM Ruger Frontier shorty compact. Cuz whether you like it or hate it, ballistically from the muzzle, it is a 24" to a 26" tubed 30-06...
28 Nosler,,,,300WSM,,,,338-378 Wby,,,,375 Ruger
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 740
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 740 |
I've carried a 270, (several) 30-06, 300 wsm, 300 win mag, 300 wby mag and a .50 cal front stuffer for elk. I've killed elk with the 50, 300 wsm and wby, and 30-06. Never came down to anything except "I want to use this gun". And now I'm putting together a (hopefully!) 5 lbs 308, a 375 Wby and a 7mm-300 win....because why not. Guns are fun. I wish I could hunt 6 elk a year so I could use MORE different guns. Never felt under nor over-gunned with any of them. Shoot what you want, as long as you shoot it good.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7 |
That's kind of where I'm coming from with the tongue-in-cheek comments on loading down. If I want to shoot a big magnum, I'll have one in the safe. If I want to shoot a .308 I'll have one of those too. If I want really light mountain rifle, it won't be a magnum, and it won't be loaded down.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,755
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,755 |
Before my first elk hunt out west I was focused mainly on my rifle. Before my second elk hunt I was focused mainly on my boots. Most deer rifles with decent bullets work fine on elk.
He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.
- Albert Einstein
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927 |
....And thank all u 30-06 buffs. You have inadvertently complimented my 300 WSM Ruger Frontier shorty compact. Cuz whether you like it or hate it, ballistically from the muzzle, it is a 24" to a 26" tubed 30-06... A 16" barreled, scout scoped, 300WSM that shoots like a 30-06 and weighs more? Oof.....
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651 |
Before my first elk hunt out west I was focused mainly on my rifle. Before my second elk hunt I was focused mainly on my boots. Most deer rifles with decent bullets work fine on elk. That's what experience will do for/to you. Most of the fun you could have had obsessing about the choice of rifle and perhaps contemplating a new one --- pphhhhhtttt --- gone. Instead you worried about practical stuff like keeping your feet warm, dry and comfortable so you could enjoy the hunt. Hopefully the practical stuff is out of the way and you can go back to worrying about the fun stuff!
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,152 Likes: 7 |
Before my first elk hunt out west I was focused mainly on my rifle. Before my second elk hunt I was focused mainly on my boots. Well, what are you focused on now?
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817 |
....And thank all u 30-06 buffs. You have inadvertently complimented my 300 WSM Ruger Frontier shorty compact. Cuz whether you like it or hate it, ballistically from the muzzle, it is a 24" to a 26" tubed 30-06... A 16" barreled, scout scoped, 300WSM that shoots like a 30-06 and weighs more? Oof..... ...........Nope! A 16.5" barrel....Short changin me by a 1/2" uh??.....lol Without scope it weighs 7 1/2 lbs. And depending on what optic I`m using either my 3-9x40, my scout scope or the red dot, the weight goes from 7 3/4 lbs up to nearly 9 lbs..........Ok for me. Shoots like the 30-06?...Yep! It do.....Hit the link below and scroll down to the factory ammo chrony results using 180 grainers. Not to mention that with 66.3 gr of RL17 only (no pressure signs), it will do better than the best velocity of 2796 fps posted by Quinn. www.gunblast.com/Ruger_FrontierRifle.htm
28 Nosler,,,,300WSM,,,,338-378 Wby,,,,375 Ruger
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,927 |
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,755
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,755 |
Before my first elk hunt out west I was focused mainly on my rifle. Before my second elk hunt I was focused mainly on my boots. Well, what are you focused on now? Wondering how many more times my old legs will carry me up the side of a mountain.
He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.
- Albert Einstein
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