Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Decision Time: Elk Rifle

I agree whole heartedly with those advocating taking BOTH particularly if you are traveling a distance to CO. Stuff happens, or can, on any hunt.
I'm one of the few who had a 700 extractor break in two on extracting a case after a shot at a big bull; it took me out of the hunt.

Another time I slipped and fell with a rifle and missed another big bull at 300+ yards before finding my scope was knocked a whole foot off of the previous POI at a hundred yards. I hesitated to check zero while in the area but found out after the would-have-been kill by re-zeroing.

So work 'em both up and have a back-up.

I'm partial to the 06. But I like to carry my tikka because its light.
As others have said bring both.
And once again go with better bullet than the sst.

I'd pick the lightest of the two.

I'd take the Kimber '06 if it were me.

Nothing ever replaces Confidence.

"First elk hunt in NW Colorado- was told shots would more than likely be less than 350 yds......so, which one to take? Anyone with real life experience to share? Over thinking?"

Yeah,,, probably overthinking.

Either is fine.

But I'd prefer the Kimber for 2 reasons.

#1 I think much higher of the Kimber action than the Remington action, and it is statistically a lot less likely to have need of repair.
Murphy's' Law applies in elk camp too ya know...

#2 I like a heavier bullet for elk if I can get it. A .264" 140 gr Nosler Partition or accubond is just fine, but in the 30 cal I can fire a heavier bullet and get full penetration every time. When you shoot elk in the timber they should bleed a lot. Sometimes they can be a bit of a problem to find without a good blood trail if they run 20-40 years after the shot, which they will many times, even when hit with a bigger rifle.
I have hunting elk for over 40 years, and this year I intend to try to kill my bull with an iron sighted 6.5X54 Mannlicher. But this is your first hunt and you'll be learning as you go. So an exit wound will be a very welcome thing if your elk doesn't simply drop.

Here's a story from last year on another board:

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=14316985#post14316985

The hunter used a 143 ELD-X from a .264 Win Mag, MV 3125.

It's about where you shoot them.






P

I took a 1000 lb bull with a 6.5 swede and a 130 grain partition. I couldn't get my hands on the 140's. Loaded it to 2830 FPS. The partition mushroomed perfectly and stopped just under the skin. They do their job if you do your part. the shot was 440 yards.

Where did you find a 6.5mm partition weighing 130gr.

I have 125 gr. partitions! 👍🏼

Just use the obsolete 30-06.

Shot my first Bull with 140 gr. Partitions out of a 7mm REM MAG at 375 yds. over 20 years ago.

Perfect broadside Boiler room hit on the first shot. He just stood there. (Actually he just wanted me to be able to shoot my rifle more, so I kindly obliged him)

There were several bulls and many cows, about 20-25 total. Pappa of the clan had 140 grains of lead in him and didn't bolt, so the family stayed put. Cow steps forward a few steps and stops with the tip of her nose just right behind his shoulder. My hunting pardner says, "Don't hit that cow". Boom. Second Partition in the Boiler room. (I guarantee you her nose hairs felt the hot lead go by)

Bull takes a few steps and stops. Cow steps forward out of the way. Boom. Third Partition in the Boiler room. Herd starting to move around. Pappa walks...turns away and puts his backside to me. Stops. (Hunting pardner tells me to hold on, he thinks I've busted him enough as I'm about to put one in the back of his neck). Pappa starts doing the teeter Breakdance. Pappa 6X6 Elk drops dead.

Hunting pardner says, "Now the work starts" as it started to snow.

Yeah, 140's will do the job. His CNS was just digesting the signals a little longer than normal.

I enjoy my 300 WSM as it will drive 165's at 3050 fps with predictable regularity. A 30-06 can do the same, I just don't own one.

While I am not opposed to 150's at all for Elk the WSM prefers 165's.

So, the point is, I'd rather engage such a sizeable critter with a 30 caliber.

You're one of the few that actually admit you've had an extractor failure with the rem 700. After having many extractor problems (at the range) with remington 700's and 722's, I finally just gave up on them. Just not my cup of tea for a real hunting rifle... Of the rifles mentioned, I'd take both, just in case something happens to either rifle. Nice to have a spare when hunting far from home...

Ditch the SST and use partitions Kimber.

What with all the current 6.5 craze, I suppose telling you that proper elk cartridges start with a .270 loaded with heavy bullets would amount to blasphemy and a trip to the town square to be burned at the stake. My first choice would be the .30-06 loaded with most any 180 gr lead core bullet with a good BC or a 165 or 168 gr TTSX. Always take a backup rifle that far from home.

I used my local range almost weekly back in OZ and mixed with the bench rest boys. It was not an uncommon comment from them that many Remington extractors are actually broken during installation whereby the pin was actually holding the 2 broken pieces together. If true, this could explain why the observation is that it broke with use.

I used the 140 gr. Partitions out of a 7mm-08 and they worked fine on elk.

LMAO. So you don't like them eh?

Elkslayer cannot be trusted in any way shape or form he's a bold-faced liar