Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting The elk killing rifle

Some guys dont get that chidt. My boss wont hunt here. He much prefers montana. Hes killed a truck load of bulls. Uses one rifle. Doesnt really enjoy handloading for that 1 rifle. Doesnt shoot nearly as much as i do. To me, having just 1 rifle would be absolutely boring, as ive shot elk with ruger m77 mkII's, cz550, Winchester model 70's, sporterized m1917's and a myriad of cartridges. Those being 30-06, 300wsm, 338wm, 9.3x62mm. They all work, just got to put that bullet in the right place. However, i think my favorite is always going to be the daddy of the 7mm rem mag, the 338wm. Lets face it, thats why they made the 338.

B, theres nothing wrong with that. Ive killed elk with rhe 30-06 and 200gr partition. That combo in the elk woods is absolutely devastating.

Ive seen a lot of guys with 1 gun that cant shoot for chidt too. The majority of them in fact.

Yeah, MIght is about right. I know quite a few people that hunt with one rifle, a couple are good hunters and can shoot, the others miss quite often, a couple don't even shoot their gun before the season cause it was sighted in last year when they put it away (I don't get it), and the only way they get a deer is if the deer has a heart attack when they shoot or they run into the bullet on purpose and commit suicide.
BBbbbaaaahahahahahahaha

My latest “elk killin” rifle has killed nothing so far, at least while I’ve had it, which hasn’t been very long.

It’s an FN 338-06 that really likes the 210 gr NPT over Varget pushing 2,800 fps. Haven’t clocked it yet, just a book estimate. Sub inch. Don’t think it would bounce off an elk. Hits hard without dislodging one’s dental work. Easy packing, easy shooting rifle. Also likes 200’s over H-380. Need to try the 210’s with that one.

DF

A local acqu aintance has been killing elk for over 40 years with a Remington 722 in .300 Savage he bought while in high school, as I recall using 180-grain Corelokt factory ammo. Obviously he is not a "long-range" hunter, but he has never had any trouble.

My thought as well. Of the guys I know who own one rifle, I can’t think of one that actually shoots much. Doesn’t mean they don’t get their deer or elk every year, but none of them do I consider to be marksmen.

Even if the one-rifle man can shoot well, being beware is often justified, because he can bore the hell out of you talking about it's perfection.

So true. Every one rifle man is totally enamored with his one rifle.

Not sure about my shooting, but the rest of this does sound like me.😀

I know a few guys like that. One uses BLR/308, another a Mod 700 BDL .270, another the same rifle but in 25-06. I grew up poor, got frustrated with "make do" from 11 to 16 until I bought my own "deer gun", a Mod 94 Classic carbine. I didn't use another until I got out of the Army. Being now newly married to the Love of my Life and the next year a father of twin girls...I was only "not quite so poor". So, I began using, trying out, then selling or trading to obtain another ( never accumulated). I also learned a lot by working up loads for friend's rifles. I didn't really "keep" more than a couple rifles until I moved to Utah. By 1993, I was a 280AI and a 338WM fan. Then...I tried to settle on one rifle for everything....too late, I was "ruint", had to find a way to keep 4-5, from varmints to Buffalo, ha. Now, as I am slowing down, 3-4 keep me busy at the range and/or hunting. I like to take a spare rifle on any long or booked hunt away from home area, so any rifle I have beyond the .223 ( I mean you HAVE to have a varmint/predator rifle!, right?) has to at least be "elk capable" ( I justify it this way :)) . Life is short...way too short to use just ONE rifle!

It's a tempting thought, but I sure do like all those other rifles!

Guy

Yeah, these conversations are circular. However, I don't think there are many good shooters that haven't poured thousands of rounds through his .22 rimfire.
If he is competent with the rimfire nearly any big game round will be perfect...within reason

My first actually made for me like I wanted it is a Springfield A3. Barrel turned down pretty sleek, plain grain Maple stock, blind magazine, flat bottom forend and a straight comb. Took six years to get it and I filled the inbetween time with a Remington 700 BDL in 270. Both rifles killed elk but I liked the 30-06 a bit better using 180 gr. Speer Hotcors no less. Was hunting for meat and made every effort not to hit shoulders or straps. Then I fell into the abyss and started trying out everything under the sun.

A good friend in MT has been hunting with the same rifle since about 1950. It is a Rem 721 in 270 Win. He has killed more elk and deer than anyone that I know. It is a rare year that he does not kill both elk and deer. back in the day the deer would have been multi each year because of extra tags.

Always the same bullet, a 150 hornady with a load of 4931 I believe. If it works don't change it.

I keep telling you that you are really going to like that rifle/cartridge, the 210 NP will certainly work on elk. It also does quite a job on deer too.

Seafire and Gunner500 recommend H-380 for that round. It and Varget seem to work really well.

160 TTSX over Varget is very accurate, running at 3K fps.

DF

I prefer Varget in mine due to temp sensitivity, but Reloder 15 is good also.

I have also used a bunch of H4895. Not the fastest, but really accurate and a pleasure to get trigger time with the rifle.

Have tried bullets from 160-275gr and always seem to gravitate back to the 200/210gr weight.

My 338-06 didn't group as well with RL-15, although I did try several combos with it.

I'd read that 200-210 gr. bullets were probably ideal for that round. They do seem to preform well.

The 160 TTSX at 3K is interesting and about as accurate as any I've tried. It should whack'em pretty good.

DF

It works great!