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

I'll be carrying a Verney-Carron Impact Plus takedown bolt action rifle in 9.3x62. Leupold 3-9x50 scope, handloads with 286gr. Lapua Mega bullets @2350 fps.

nice mauser!!

Tiika t3x 7mm 08 with a load of 47.5 grains of big game, cci mag primer, and 140 accubond. Backup is a 30.06 rem 700 sucks with a50.5 grains of imr 4064, cci reg primer, and 168 ttsx. 3x9 40 lupy scopes

30.06 Rem pump with 165 Grain Interbonds.

Still don't know. Here ore the options I am thinking about:

Ruger Hawkeye .280 Rem, 140g bullet, TTSX or North Fork SS/HP prototype
Ruger MKII .300WM, 175g LRX or 180g North Fork SS
Ruger MKII .338WM, 225g AccuBond

If I was going on an elk hunt this year, which, by the way, I am not. I would bring these two rifles.

My open country rifle would have to be a Model 70 270 WSM 140 gr. Hornady Interlock. Topped with a Nikon Monarch UCC with a Harris Bi-pod.
For the heavy timber, I would have a Marlin lever action 450 with 400 gr. Barne's solid copper bullet or a 350 gr. A-Frame bullet.

Here is a photo of my 450



https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...82105ca44e63cde56efb79aa&oe=5C232BF1

Rem M700 - 300 Win Mag - VX3i 4.5-14x40 - 180gr Accubond

Blaser R8 in 300 Weatherby with 180 TTSX's loaded at max book. Scope is a VX-6 2-12 with illuminated reticle.

Browning A-bolt 300wm. Leupold VX-III 3.5x10 200gr partitions, always works.

CoyoteHunter: I have Hunted in Montana every year since 1969 (first as a non-resident then 21 years ago I became a resident!) and every year I have purposely taken note of the what the "skookum" (NW Indian word for smart/knowledgeable/successful) Elk Hunters carried into the field for Rifle calibers.
I am convinced that the various 300 Magnums (300 Win Mag., 300 Weatherby, 300 WSM, 300 RUM, 300 H&H Mag!) have the edge among the "skookum" Elksters hereabouts.
That Ruger 77 in 300 Winchester Magnum would leave nothing to be desired in my neck'o the woods for "Elkin"!
Good luck this season.
By the way since this thread started I have since begun debating about my initially declared use of my old trusty Remington 700 Classic in 7m/m Remington Magnum with Leupold 3.5x10 variable scope and handloaded 160 grain Nosler Partitions to a relatively new to me Tikka T-3 in caliber 338 Federal with Zeiss Diavari 3x9 variable and Federal factory ammo (185 grain Triple Shock projectiles).
One of the reasons I am considering this second Rifle of mine is because I have a hug dog hair forest in mind that I will be at on the morning of the first "tracking snow" as I have learned that a number of Elk "hide there" - the snow will hopefully allow me to close in on them - the 338 should do well in that type environment.
And another reason is I bought this Rifle to Hunt spring Black Bear with and thick country Elk and I have as yet to harvest anything with that Rifle.
Again good luck to you.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I always take my Marlin 336 with iron sights in .35 Remington with 200 gr Core Lokt. Oh yeah, I take my .30-06 for backup.

I'm not shooting over200 yds.

LAW Professional .280AI with Zeiss HD5 3-15x42, shooting Hornady 162gr ELD-x and a Kimber MT 8400 .30-06 with Leica ERi 2.5-10x42 shooting Nosler 165gr Accubonds. Can't wait...

T/C Venture 300 win mag with hand loaded 180 gr Accubonds 6.5-20 Leupold LR scope and Leupold 1000 yard range finder for open country and Browning BLR 358 Win with hand loaded 200 gr Hornady spire points for wooded hunts.

DropShot: You have THE caliber!
Some may "question" the Leupold 6.5x20 variable power scope for "Elk'in" but I have personally killt a 6x6 Bull Elk with a Rifle (Remington 700 Sendero in 270 Win.) that was equipped with a 6.5x20 variable power Leupold scope.
I was on an intense public land (open country) Mule Deer Hunt when I came across said 6x6 Bull Elk.
I carefully placed the 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet into the heart/lung juncture and that Bull died quickly with just that one shot.
My old friend and workmate Russ Stahlman (original owner of Stahlmans Gunshop [Fall City Firearms] Fall City, Washington) had a Moose Hunting Rifle in caliber 338 Winchester magnum that was equipped with a Leupold 6.5x20 variable scope.
He Hunted Moose in Alberta, Canada in terrain that seemed to always only offer "long shots".
He switched to this Rifle/scope combination and did well with it for several years before his passing.
Good luck this season.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Due to some physical problems I can no longer hunt elk, etc. But if I could I would take my old tried and true Remington 725 in .280 Remington with 3x9 Nikon Monarch 'scope, using 160 grains Nosler Partition bullets.

Good luck to all who hit the elk country this Fall.

L.W.

Two weeks!!! Woohoo!

Decided to take my 1895 Win. .35 WCF along! It’s a proven elkslayer. Will still pack along that Husqvarna shown above, but the 95 will probably be the main go to rifle. Got a good load worked up that should be dandy on a cow! And it sports a Lyman #21 peep and I can see it real well with these tired eyes.

Good luck to all!!!

VarmintGuy -

One more trip to the range (hopefully) before elk season, but based on last Sunday I'm pretty sure the .300WM will be my primary.

Kaywoodie: I was Hunting Elk up on the Idaho/Montana border west of my home here in SW Montana about 4 or 5 years ago when along comes a four door truck full of Elk Hunters from Washington state (taxington!). I was back at the VarmintMobile having lunch and they pulled in and started up the normal Elk Hunter banter.
It turns out they were members of a "Hunters Society" thats members Hunt Big Game with 100 year old+ lever action Rifles!
I asked to see their Rifles and they were most proud to show me their firearms - I recall specifically that one of the Rifles they showed me was an 1895 Winchester in caliber 30/06!
Another was a Winchester Model 1886 - IIRC the caliber was 45/70.
Anyway I wished them luck and I wish you luck this season.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Leanwolf: That 280 Remington Model 725 Remington would indeed be one of the classiest and rarest Rifles in the woods should you be able to get back out in the woods in the future (and I hope you do!).
Enjoy your rare and cool Rifle.
I do know how wonderfully those 160 grain Nosler Partitions perform on Elk and Black bear!
That bullet deserves consideration by all who Hunt with 280 Remingtons, 280 Ackley Improved Remingtons as well as the various 7m/m Magnums!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy