Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting What - Rifle,Scope, Caliber, Bullet Are You Taking For Elk?

Sako Deluxe in 300 WBY. 180 grain Nosler BT at about 3200. Swarovski Z-6 3-18X50 scope with BR reticle, Bedded, Vais brake and decelerator pad...

Two of the last three Elk I've taken were with my 45/70. I have an H&R Ultimate Hunter and I load it with 325 gr Hornady FTX bullets going out at about 2270 fps. Two years ago I took my bull at 225 yards and this year I got a nice 5 point at 213 yards. Now that is the extreme end of that guns range, but it sure drops them quick even at 200+ yards.

This year I hope to use either my 9.3X74R Ruger #1 with a 1.75 to 5 power scope or my Mauser 9.3X57 with a 1X-5X.
That's what I'll carry anyway. If I USE one of them I'll post a report later. So far I have not USED either one.
No shots fired at elk by me yet this year.

Cpt. Canuck: I have a close friend here in SW Montana that Hunts with a 45/70. He does REALLY well with it.
He waits for fresh (quiet) tracking snow then heads for the thicker stands of evergreens and "tracks them down" in their beds often!
I am not sure which bullet he uses - maybe I should expand my horizons and try something similar?
Keep after'em.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Most likely the 6.5 CM. The .308 Win. has proven its value many times.

Remington BDL
Remington 8mm magnum
Leupold 3.5 x 10
180gr Barnes TSX

Interarms Mark X .35 Whelen.

Remington 700 BDL SS
McMillan Classic
Leupold VX-3 3.5 x 10 x 40
300 Win Mag
Fed Prem 180 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claws

Keahi: I have been so happy with the Leupold 3.5x10x40mm variable scope on my Elk Rifle - I have even used the "range finding" feature on it a time or two over the last 32+ years that I have had it on my favorite Elk Rifle (Remington 700 Classic in 7m/m Remington Magnum).
If I were to step up to a "more powerful" Elk Rifle it would be to the same caliber you shoot - 300 Winchester Magnum!
I have not had problems with my 7m/m Remington Magnum its just that more and more Grizzlies are inhabiting the places I Rifle Hunt Elk.
Hope you had a good season.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Kampfeld built .30-06 running 150 gr TTSX's over 58 grs of IMR 4451. Leaving for a cow elk hunt next Monday in Van Horn TX. Should be fun.

I thought that was your jack rabbit rifle...

Well as I said earlier my plan was to try out one of my 9.3s and I also had held some hopes that if I could get into the trees with some elk moving through the area, I'd try my 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer in 6.5X54. My 9.3s both have low power scopes (1X-5X) and my 1903 has irons only.

But my vehicles stabbed me in the back and I was unable to go at all after the 2nd day of my season. Both my 4WDs were broken at the same time and I could not get either one fixed in time to go back out.

So this year my elk hunt was a total bust.

My wife got a nice buck antelope with her Mauser 30-06 and I got a nice Mule Deer buck with my Mauser in 8X57. But no elk in 2017.

In 39 minutes 2017 will be a thing of the past.

szihn, bummer.. we have not hunted elk much.. a couple mornings.. My friend shot a fine 6x6, but I was too late.. I still have time but little ambition for elk.. Maybe it will happen.. Got my elk the next to last day in 2017 so I still have a chance.. My license is good til Jan. 31.. Mulies with an 8x57.. Haven't heard much of them since I was a kid.. Best of luck in the new year..

I carried my Browning A-Bolt in 30-06. It sports a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5x10 scope. I shoot the 165 grain Sierra HPBT in reloads at a muzzle velocity similar to a 308 Win. I tune my reloads for maximum accuracy not muzzle velocity.

Achadwick: Indeed "shot placement" (accuracy!) has the edge over velocity IMO for Big Game Hunting.
By the way I have a nifty customized "Mt. Rifle" Remington 700 in caliber 308 Winchester.
In which I shoot the quite accurate and VERY lethal Nosler 165 grain Partitions - I have killed all kinds of Big Game with it including a Boone & Crockett All Time Records Book Mt. Goat.
If you ever have any doubts or questions regarding the 165 grain Sierra's you are using be sure to try the 165 grain Partitions.
Keep after'em.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Szihn: Sorry to hear about the "bad luck" with the vehicles.
Reminds me of many times over the last 58 years I have been Hunting Big Game when "vehicle troubles" (boats, trucks, 4 wheelers & planes) have caused me grief with their foibles.
Worst incident, I believe, was a Missouri Breaks Elk Hunt my partner and I were on when under load the Dodge Diesel truck we were using broke a motor mount sending the fan into the radiator!
In short the misery we suffered included a world record (at the time!) $685.00 tow bill and countless hours on the phone a ridge top near our wilderness camp trying to co-ordinate hurried shipments of radiator, fans, fan shrouds and motor mount parts to Glasgow, Montana!
Plus we had to use a 4 wheeler to try and Hunt from for 8 days while parts arrived to Glasgow and the local mechanic there put the truck back together.
Then when the truck was ready my partner had to hitchhike the 65 miles to Glasgow to get his truck while I waited in camp.
On the way back to camp at night in the freshly repaired Dodge diesel my friend hit an Elk in the dark wiping out the grill, one headlight, the turn signal light and his Warn winch!
THANK GOD the Elk did not make it to the radiator!
We taped up the grill and headed back home (520 miles!) cutting our tough to get tags for, ill-fated Hunted short by a week.
Take the good with the bad - they say.
Better luck next year.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Just acquired a stainless, lefty Tikka TX3 in a 300 WSM. Will mount a Leupold (gasp) FX3 6x36 with LRD in Talley’s tapped to 8x40’s. Since I have 30 cal 168-grain E-tips and R17 on hand the load will be comprised of those. Am adding a LimbSaver or Kick-EEZ pad and that should do it.

Earlier posted I’d take my custom 284 with the a Swaro Z3, 3.5-10 in Talley’s. Load there will be a 140-gr TTSX again or the same weight Fed TTB over R17 again.

As to which hunts which days, it’ll most likely be by by-guess or by-golly.

Incidentally, my tastes in cartridges does not correlate to short, fat women.

George,
I’m interested in your results. I have a new to me 300 SAUM and some of those 167 grain ETip seconds, and some R17 also. Should be pretty close to your 300 WSM....

Tikka 06 168ttsx