Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting You have a choice of rifles

I used to own 7mag, 7 weatherby mag, 300 mag and 338. All killed elk... but no better than my 3006.

The worst rodeos I had were with folks shooting my magnums vs the 06, seems they are just harder to control the shot in field conditions with less experienced shooters.

Those guns are gone, now my 'here shoot that elk' guns are my savage 99 308 and Tikka 708. My 3006 had a long run of elk and deer, best year it killed 4 elk. But it has sat for years now and I may make it into a 6.5 284.

Kent

I’m pretty sure you misunderstood the question

I understood the question perfectly.

My answer reflects my opinion, which is that if I am at the time in my hunting career where I'm picking cow elk off a ranch from a lawn chair, I will certainly be at point in my career where I would not want to shoot any rifle/cartridge combo that has more recoil than necessary. I'd sell off a rifle or two of those mentioned and get an accurate 6.5 Creedmoor to replace them. I'd find a load for that 127 LRX (not too hard to do) and fill the freezer with good, wholesome, healthy meat for the family.

Elk makes good tacos.

30-06 / 150 TTSX

Yeah, it is--particularly since the original question was which rifle to pick of four, and when several people with actual elk experience suggested the .30-06, the OP said he really wanted to use the .300 H&H or 9.3x62. So why did he ask the question in the first place?

Ron I'd love to see it someday.

The 99 was my first rifle I bought, dad found it in the paper for 100 bucks, it came with a 4x redfield wide angle. I used my high school summer ranching money. Killed my first buck with it in Tonto basin above the old Bouquet ranch ruins... He was my biggest buck, no pictures or rack, back then the old boys that taught me the outdoors didn't bother with that, I remember them bringing back large Kaibab bucks and tossing the heads out at the corrals for the dogs to drag off and chew on. Damn trophy hunters would have a heart attack now days.

Anyway that buck jumped out below me and was crossing a low ridge running full out broadside, at around 200 yards he was between junipers and I swung on him like shooting quail and fired before he disappeared over the edge and around a tree. Thought I missed and pissed, crossed over to check for blood and he was piled up on the other side of that juniper, high shoulder shot dumped him... that 99 killed a bunch of deer after that.

Like a dummy I sold that 99 after buying all those other 'better' guns. Then Enrique had an old one that I bought and setup simular. In 2010 I drew a leftover Hopi cow tag. I loaded 150gn hndy gmx, same as a barnes ttsx, to 2650mv... just because some folks say you can't kill an elk without 'knock down power'... Shot her at 175 yards, high shoulder and dumped her DRT no finishing shot needed.

Kent

Yep, because you're a rifle loony!

300 HH, hands down, the 06 is a great cartridge, but as I have stated I moved up to a 300 mag, long ago, the HH has been around for ever, and it works. 180 or 200 gr, sight in for 300 yards, and that gives you a back line hold at 400. I used to do the same for my old man when he was still alive and he would end up with an elk now and then.