Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting I might need a new gun advise

Have a chance to hunt Colorado with a friends Brother. I don't really have a western elk rifle. I have a Rem 7600 35 Whelen, Winchester 100 308, Rem 740 30-06, CZ 550 mannlicher in 6.5x55. Only other bolt gun is a Rugger 77 in 250 Savage. Oh I forgot about the Marlin 1895 444 Marlin. Give me an excuse to buy a bolt rifle and in what caliber.

Go big or go home. The 338wm was made for elk killing.
I'd look for an older Winchester model 70 with CRF.

How are you with recoil, your shooting distance limitations and how far are you going to hike every day?

Id pick up a tikka ss in 30 06 or not too recoil sensitive a 300 win mag or 300 wsm.

I've killed well over 20 elk with a rebored 760 Remington, rebored to 35 Whelen.
Longest shot around 350ish.
Take the 7600 and go forth & slay elk!

recoil does not bother me at all shooting to 400 yards is going to be required SW Colorado Hiking is going to be required. I was thinking a 338 win mag or 325 WSM Or just a plan jane 7mm rem mag in a lightweight

Just about everything you have will work. I prefer a 300WM, but also have a 308 as my backup. Since my first elk trip in 1996, I haven't taken a shot at elk past 140 yards or so. I like the comfort of knowing I could take a 400 yard shot if that was all I had. My advice is not caliber related; I think way too much time is spent on worrying about caliber. Get a good solid copper (TSX) bullet in whatever caliber suits you and move on. My number one piece of advice for new elk hunters is GET IN SHAPE. The mountains will kick your ass, it hurts less if you're in shape. In terms of a rifle, go for something stainless and under 8 pounds with an optic, sling, and full magazine.

I've had my model 700 .338 win mag since 1978 for the annual Moose and elk hunt it's the only rifle I use for Moose and elk. If I had to buy a new 338 today it would be a Winchester model 70. The 338 will not disappoint.

I'd go with the 35 Whelen. That said a new Sako 85 Carbonlight in 300 win mag would be a delight to carry and should point well. It will shoot great also if you have a good tolerance for recoil as stated. Very few things in my opinion kick like an Uber light 300 win mag. I do not care for recoil much past a 338 win mag in a standard weight sporter. YMMV

It’s hard to recommend something based on so few details, but of your choices I would the 7mm Rem Mag, a good scope and mounts; find which factory loads with a good bullet it likes, and shoot all summer.

Go to as many different gun shops you can and heft different factory rifles fo find something that feels good to you.

That said, assuming your rifles have average accuracy, you already have a couple of “elk rifles.”

the 35 whelen shoots 1 inch the 444 shoots 1.5 at most sometime smaller. Believe it or not the winny 100 308 is 1.5 to 2 that gun likes about anything I don't know why

You can tell my rifle selection is gared to upper midwest whitetail hunting

Well, there you go. You don’t need to buy an elk rifle. Choose the 35 for a primary and the 308 as a back-up.
You do want to have a back-up — stuff happens.

Thirty years ago though I wouldn’t have listened to my own advice. 🙂

This is good advice. Now you did not discuss the scopes you have on each rifle but if you must have a new rifle sell the Rem 740 30-06 and get the Tikka T3x in 30-06 and purchase as good a rifle scope as you can.

Binoculars? They may be as important as the rifle.

^This right there is what I was about to write ^
But if you have an itch for a new elk rifle tikka T3x In 7mag, 300 win mag. ...Or the 338 if you must have thumper
New limb saver, talley or dnz rings. And scope of your choice. I am 2-10 or 3-12 fan .
My main elk gun is tikka 06 with 3.5-10 CDS dial for 168TTSX and I would take any elk at 400.
Only reason I’m suggesting the magnums is you have 308 and 35W and there might be some over lap with an 06.

^^^^^^^^^^

And this is what I was about to write.

Your 35 Whelen will do the trick. For longer shots (250+) you need a good rangefinder or rangefinding binocs and a thorough knowledge of your bullets' drop curve. My 338 Win Mag and my 30-06 have the same drop curve with 250 and 180 grain Partitions at 2700 MV respecively. With a 100 yard zero, they fall 1 foot at 300, 2 feet at 400 and 4 feet at 500. I use a Leupold duplex reticule, and hold high shoulder at 300, 6 inches over the back at 400, and have not yet taken a 500 yard shot. You can nitpick inches plus or minus, but I dont know anybody that can say he held over 46 inches versus 49 inches. Just sayin. Taking the shot is easy if you make the stalk. Finding the elk is sometimes the whole hunt.

I like the idea of the .35 W.. But if you want a new rifle, my first pick would be a .300mag.. second would be a 7mm RM.. I am a Remington fan, but all of mine are older models I have worked over the Tikka sounds great for a new rifle.. You can talk hold over, turrets, range finders all day, but when the shot comes especially if you are diy it may be late and quick.. You may have to estimate the range yourself. A forgotten art with today's hunters..If it is late and the shot must be made, I want something that shoots as flat as possible.. My .300 WM with 165 gr. handloads shoots flat enough to hold on the top of the back and make a chest hit. If those calibers are not your cup of tea, the check out a .270 or .30/06 bolt rifle.. That .35 would be awesome in a timber area with some open parks, but parks can be difficult to guesstimate the range.. You can measure before time, but when the shot comes you may only have minutes to estimate, get a solid rest , and shoot.. You will want to hit that elk hard enough he won't run 200 yards just at dusk.. When I really hunted elk seriously, many of my shots came as the sun was setting or just after.. That doesn't give one much time to make the shot, get to the animal and get it dress and set for the night.. Something to remember the flatter shooting rifles kill just as well or better at close ranges.. Hagel pointed out you can kill and elk or deer at 100 yards dead with a .45-70, a 270- .300 will do that plus make a long shot easy.. I have tried the .338's.. They hit hard, but to gain over a 7 or .300 you must get a 250 gr. then the traj. becomes a problem again.. I hunt elk every year and have for 50 years.. Cover varies a great deal.. Colo. s elk hunting may all be close shots in timber.. I gave that up years ago.. I am fortunate to live in country that has elk from the prairies to the high mountains.. Best of luck!!

[quote=bsa1917hunter]Go big or go home. The 338wm was made for elk killing.
I'd look for an older Winchester model 70 with CRF.


^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^ Winner, Winner....Chicken Dinner! bsa1917 nailed it in both cartridge and firearm! memtb

338 WM

SLDUCK,

In my post above I suggested selling the Rem 740. I normally would not talk about a man's rifle selections but unless you have the rare exception that rifle is a jamb/failure just waiting to happen on an expensive hunt. I owned a Rem 760 30-06 as my only centerfire rifle for 25 years and really loved that rifle. In a weak moment I sold it cheaply to a friend who had very little money and needed a rifle for his son, which I had kept it.

Your Rem 760, Win 100, the CZ550 and the Ruger 77 are all fine rifles. Now is the time to get rid of that 740 and get a really good bolt action rifle in 30-06. Use the money from the sale to upgrade the new rifle or optics.

By the way I own a 338-06 (that I have killed one elk with) and I have a Win 70 35 whelen and if I was hunting elk again where shots up to 400 yards are available I would be taking my 30-06. If hunting the timber and shots more than 250 to 300 yards are virtually impossible I would take my 338-06 or 35 whelen.

Upgrade that 30-06 and enjoy your elk hunt.

SLD - I don't know this guy personally. We've never met. We've never talked on the phone. I know he HAS a rep fot hunting and ELK hunting. 50 yrs. Experience, okay?
There are those who claim elk experience but are lacking...great on paper tho.



[quote=WyoCoyoteHunter]But if you want a new rifle, my first pick would be a .300mag.. second would be a 7mm RM..

I am a Remington fan, but all of mine are older models I have worked over the Tikka sounds great for a new rifle.. You can talk hold over, turrets, range finders all day,

but when the shot comes especially if you are diy it may be late and quick.. You may have to estimate the range yourself. A forgotten art with today's hunters..If it is late and the shot must be made,

I want something that shoots as flat as possible.. My .300 WM with 165 gr. handloads shoots flat enough to hold on the top of the back and make a chest hit.

If those calibers are not your cup of tea, the check out a .270 or .30/06 bolt rifle.. That .35 would be awesome in a timber area with some open parks, but parks can be difficult to guesstimate the range.. You can measure before time, but when the shot comes you may only have minutes to estimate, get a solid rest , and shoot..


You will want to hit that elk hard enough he won't run 200 yards just at dusk.. When I really hunted elk seriously, many of my shots came as the sun was setting or just after.. That doesn't give one much time to make the shot, get to the animal and get it dress and set for the night..

Something to remember the flatter shooting rifles kill just as well or better at close ranges.. Hagel pointed out you can kill and elk or deer at 100 yards dead with a .45-70, a 270- .300 will do that plus make a long shot easy..

I have tried the .338's.. They hit hard, but to gain over a 7 or .300 you must get a 250 gr. then the traj. becomes a problem again.. I hunt elk every year and have for 50 years.. Cover varies a great deal.. Colo. s elk hunting may all be close shots in timber.. I gave that up years ago.. I am fortunate to live in country that has elk from the prairies to the high mountains.. Best of luck!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

That is as "they say" in the news or wx, 'breaking it down' for you.

Good Advice.


Jerry

Yes, there are those types of elk hunters you mention. Being from Iowa I didn’t get into elk until my thirties and then went about every third year or so until just recently.

So I’ve gone on maybe 25-28 hunts and have taken about thirteen, most all bulls, and a cow. This included in three states multiple times. While I’m no expert, I have some experience.

I’ve hunted with the 284 Win, 7mm RM, 30/06, 300 WM, 300 Wby, the 338, the 340 Wby, and the 45 Colt. I spent a lot of times working through these cartridges and ended up taking the majority of my bulls with the 340. I’ve seen an almost equal number taken by other hunters and buddies, and other guns.

So I know something of what an elk takes, an especially a bit about the magnums as I spent more time with them. It’s one reason I don’t recommend a 338 to a new elk hunter not knowing a lot about him — the 300’s (all), the 338, 340 are for serious shooters who are committed to learn them; even that doesn’t guarantee they will shoot them well. They can be very unpleasant and a disappointment.

My last bull was taken with the 284 Win because it’s proven to me I could kill the appropriate opportunity to 400 yards.

Cant sell the 740. It was my dad's. He hunted northern minn with it

I understand that, good for you for keeping it. My brother has my fathers Rem 742 30-06 that he keeps for the same reason.

Man, you are sitting on a pile of workable elk rifles. Maybe spend money on a better scope if needed, or good binoculars. Or ammo, and trips to the range. Or whatever items you need to get into the best shape of your adult life. Any of your rifles will do, if you will. Spend the money making sure you will. Just my opinion, you can and should spend your money as you see fit.

^^^This^^^

And if your gonna go with a 7 Rem Mag, use a 150 or 160 gr Nosler Partition. Thank me later. 🤠

Well of course I did. I've hunted elk for many years and that is my number 1 pick. Second choice is a 30-06 that shoots 200gr Nosler partitions well...I could have said any of his rifles will work, but I didn't think that was what the OP was wanting to hear. Who knows, maybe he was going to show his wife this thread and say see dear, these guys think I need a new rifle.....

Hey, its nice to get a new rifle. I can't go a month without having to buy a new rifle, so I know what that is all about!!!!

Again, this is my pick:

What's a thread and suggestion without a few pics?

Make sure that it shoots good and is dialed in and there's no excuses when you miss.....

I see so many guys bragging about how good their rifles shoot and its way off 6 inches to the left or right and it's only a 3 shot group. You want to hit near and far, make sure it shoots good and is dialed in... Nuff said...

.35 Whelen with a 225 gr TBBC or Partition.

You don’t need a magnum to kill elk, you just need one bullet placed properly. Less recoil helps with that.

If you want something different than what you have I’d get a lightweight stainless/synthetic 270 of some sort. It will be far more preferable to carry on a mountain than a typical magnum and will kill elk just as dead... and maybe “deader” since it will be more fun to shoot.

Good Lord....

I've never killed an elk with over 55 grains or so powder per shot or a bullet over .284"....

It simply isn't needed. Elk have giant lungs and a heart. Perforate them and the elk dies.

Don't make it harder than it is.....

How would you know how a bigger gun works.. Hit in the vitals, the elk will die.. How soon is the question.. More destruction faster death..

lots of caliber thoughts here. all of them will work given a good bullet + proper placement.

if you are going to buy a new rifle cause you can afford it and want to..... I'd highly recommend a rifle with a naked weight under 6#.

Kimber Montana
Savage LWH
Tikka Superlight

are all good considerations meeting those specs.

I hunt with a blued/wood Savage LWH in .308, Talley rings, Redfield Revolution 4x12-40, using 165gr Nosler AB's and can recommend that specific combo. Worked on a 5x6 in 2016 at 19 yards and a ~300# black bear in 2019 at 220 yards. Both lungshot, and died within 50 yards of contact. I like that setup so much I bought a duplicate of it in stainless for my sons birthday.

My rifle weighs right at 7# fully loaded with scope + sling and are exceedingly pleasant to carry all day for 5 straight days. I cant say that for my "normal" rifles.

another convenience of "regular" calibers is magazine capacity. My Savage will hold 4 rounds of 308 in the magazine. Most magnums top out at 3 rounds, and some, just two. =/ I'm happy to not have needed that 2nd+ round yet on an elk hunt, but that magazine seems like a great place to have them!

have a great trip, and the best advice I've read above is that "get in shape" recommendation, especially in SW Co. Some units (and some areas in those units) are far steeper than others.

all great cartridges mentioned but if you wanted a new bigger bolt rifle 7mm Rem.Mag. it is a great choice,get a good scope & mounts put a bi-pod on the rifle and learn how to use it,shoot 140 gr. bullet,you will do just fine. 30-06 is also a good choice.good luck,Pete53

I'm not an elk hunter. But back when I was a kid, the idea was to have an all around rifle that would cover all of North America. Just in case. And I was under the impression that anywhere you'd find elk you'd also find grizzlies. The thought was to carry a rifle that would take care of large bears. So for my first centerfire rifle I bought a Remington 700 BDL 30-06, which is often thought of as the minimum for big bears, and probably still a good choice for elk.

Now it appears that the big bears are not supposed to be south of Wyoming. The parameters now have a different outlook for the southern half of Colorado and New Mexico, so I might be inclined to choose a lighter weight rifle in the slightly flatter shooting and lower recoiling 270 for carrying in rugged country. But I don't think the Big 7 is a terrible choice if you don't mind the extra barrel length and weight, and enjoy the feeling that your shooting a more powerful rifle when you touch it off.

Elk rifle/cartridge threads are always a hoot.

You know it’s serious when the target pics start showing up.

Word.

I have my coffee. I have my entertainment for the morning.

I now have happy ending. I LOVE happy ending.

yep i got my dad`s Rem.740/280 too ,he also hunted Northern Minnesota " Togo " ,the rifle is gun vault retired.

Brother in law bought a Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06 a few years ago, loads Partitions for it, forget what weight, 165s or 180s. Bedded in a McMillan, Leupold VX-2 2-7 or 3-9 I forget which, It is his do all rifle. Elk, deer, antelope, coyote. One rifle, one load. So boring...

bsa1917hunter, I ran your post past my wife, and she agreed with your choice.....hence the “attaboy”! She recognizes a good elk rifle/cartridge! memtb

Yeah, you could get by with something you already have.

If buying new, don’t see much reason to go above a 300WSM or 300 Win Mag. Of course, personal preference is a biggie.

I've used everything from the 7-08 to the 338 Win Mag... I've never seen a difference how "fast" they die. In fact the quickest elk I've had die was with the 7-08 - an old 8.5 yo bull that gave up the ghost almost on his feet.

Most guys that push magnums have limited experience with lighter cartridges. Their biases/assumptions led them to magnums, and they plant their flag there...

Well Brad, my wife has been killing elk since 1974. And has used....243’s, 264 WM’s, 270 Win’s and the .338 WM. She is quite competent with her .338 WM, and has no desire to use a lesser cartridge for elk, moose, bear, etc! So, she has experience ....and much prefers the “magnum”! memtb

So the elk didn't die with her 270?

Yes, several died! In fact with the proper conditions, a .22 rim fire can very effectively kill an elk....but, that doesn’t make it a “proper” choice! Overall, she’s merely had much better and faster results with the .338 WM. We’re all entitled to our opinions, often formed by years of experiences....both good and bad! Obviously, most any cartridge can kill an elk.....with proper placement of the projectile. Some hunters can effectively use a magnum cartridge....and some cannot. To each his or her own.....only the shooter/hunter can make the determination what is best for them! memtb

You said the 30/06 was your Dad's rifle. No brainer to me------take it----Your Dad will be there too.

I understand the "need" for a new rifle however the 6.5x55 has been killing large animals for what 127 years? Light handy and the definition of hunting rifle. How well do you shoot it?

Dang, a lot of you trying to talk the op into using what he already has. Shame on you guys...

A lot of this is retread, but I realize that there is another generation of hunters here and/or guys that are new to the ‘Fire.

I remember Bob Milek writing in maybe the ‘80’s about the 338 Mag for elk; Ross Seyfried extolling the virtues of the 340 for big, big game, in maybe ‘90 or ‘91, and Craig Boddington, also, writing about the 340 and the particularly the 8mm RM for elk.

And then their was Bob Hagel writing about using the 378 Wby for a Shiras moose in Idaho or Wy. Not to mention Elmer Kieth — didn't he mention that the 270 would make a good “varmint rifle” or something similar?

This was back during the time of magazines some of which tilted toward hunting while others tilted toward rifles and cartridges that loony guys like me got their information from. Not living in elk country and with little or no experience, gun writers were the source of information. They were hugely influential in driving the market though I don’t ever remember John Barseness, here, advising big cartridges for elk.

So, it isn’t just clinical question of what’s right for elk. There are hunters for which the rifle and cartridge are no different than a pliers — a tool — and who don’t know and don’t care much about the details. And then there are loony’s who drool over every new cartridge, and back then, magnum cartridges especially, and like to shoot them.

So in short, I ended up hunting about twenty years with a 340 and taking about 9 or ten bulls with it. First, because I thought it or something like it was almost necessary; secondly, because I thoroughly enjoyed it and the rifle it was in, though realizing after awhile, it wasn’t needed especially after bullets took a huge leap ahead in quality and integrity.

My last bull was taken handily in ‘18 with a 284 Win with the TTSX 140-gr bullet. There are now a slew of cartridges from 6.5 to 375 with a good bullet that can readily be used for elk without apology and there are no doubt hundreds of opinions as to which is best. Possibly, within reason, there are more right answers than wrong ones. There are too many variables to be dogmatic about it.

The one thing I am cautious about is recommending a big magnum to a new elk hunter, not because it might not be a great elk cartridge but because the big cartridges take more work to do well with than the smaller cartridges. Just a simple fact.

Apparently, I have too much time on my hands. 🙂. And this is probably not worth much more than what you paid for it. 🤔

Just letting g u guys know I am not new to high power. Shoot all my guns equal. Shoot them all often. Recoil not a problem. I dont see much difference with another 10 ft lbs of recoil with s 338. I have a 1917 sporter in 30 06. Maybe i will just rebore to 358 norma and push the envelope

Or maybe 340 weatherby

Indeed, but this thread is about reccomending a rifle to a guy none of us know.

Given that the man’s current arsenal is heavier blued/wood rifles, it seems like folly to reccomend a magnum in another heavy platform. Hence my reccomendation of a lightish stainless/plastic rifle. It’s a rifle he can use here in the Rockies or home in MN. If there’s more of a “Classic Western Cartridge” than the 270, I don’t know what it is.

Course, I’d be curious about his binoculars... those are a hell of a lot more important than the rifle he’s carrying.

Yeah, the two “B’s” — boots and binoculars.

Danner and zeiss on the b and b. Kenetrek to

Zeiss conquest 10x. Elk hunters and grouse models on dannerd plus 12 inch kenetrek pacs

Ain’t been a bad choice in the bunch. I’m with George, Brad, BSA and the like. Every suggestion has been good. I’ve hunted a pretty fair amount with a 338 Win and 7 mag, either a Mashburn or Rem Mag. My opinion is pick out a rifle you really like from 7-08 on up, get it shooting to your satisfaction with a really great bullet and forget about the rest.

Good luck and agreed, Boots’s, bins and rangefinder are key pieces of my gear.

Everything you have will work fine. If 400 yards is a true possibility, I would choose the 6.5x55. WIth 140 PT or AB, you would have no problem. A good pair of binoculars would be of more use than another gun.

Great post buddy. Id also add gaiters to that list. I use kenetrek and they sure are nice.

YES! Good point. I use OR's myself, but definitely a great pair of gaiters is not optional for me.

To each their own....If there's not at least 6" or so of snow on the ground, gaiters are a no go for me. They're too hot, and I honestly have not seen much need for them without snow. Wet bushes just cause water to run down the inside of them....they can help some with spines and thorns, but that's about it and to me at least, that benefit is not worth how hot they make my legs. OP, do you know what season you'll be doing this hunt (if you go)? 4th season very possibly could have snow.

To answer your original question, I'd either take your 6.5x55, or look into a bolt rifle with a standard chambering: .270 Win, .30-06, .308 Win: whatever trips your trigger. Being a first timer, I doubt you'll be doing anything technical, long range, etc. You'll be fine with about any factory rifle capable of a 300 yard shot. If you don't mind the magnums, by all means---have at them.

I wear Kenetrek gaiters unless it is really warm. Keeps twigs, briars, bugs and such our of the boots. Don’t usually have to worry about it being too warm. Happy Trails

Gaiters are so over blown it’s laughable. And to think they make a top recommendation on a thread that is about a new rifle. Reread what T Inman said.

I wouldn’t be super happy about your current rifle choices. Of course they could work, but other stuff works gooder. Buy a decent bolt action that you like and could use at home that you can shoot. Recoil is over blown too. I think most hunters just aren’t that good of shots and they don’t know their rifle. For me warning signs of a crappy game shot are; bragging about group size, long range rigs, new rigs, fumbling while loading/unloading.

Buy something from 270-7-30s load it with a solid bullet, put a known scope of reasonable power and size and shoot the crap out of it not from a treestand or bench. Preferably on critters that are moving around.

Then worry about the important stuff like being in shape and your boots.

Yeah, when i hunt its always cold and wet. Some of these guys might hunt in t shirts and shorts and shoot at elk in farmers fields, but where i hunt, you got to go in after them to be successful. Success is not great either, 4% most years according to the synopsis. Ill shoot 1 ever other year, but you have to be prepared to get the job done.

Your 35 Whelen, 30-06 and 308 will all do just fine.
Of course, a first time elk hunt is all the excuse any man needs to purchase a new firearm...and you did ask for an excuse to do just that. Good luck and have fun.

Out of 25 or so elk, I've never shot one on private...let alone a farmer's field. That's not to say I wouldn't, if given the opportunity.

People have individual comforts, discomforts and phenology. Some people sweat more, all else being equal. Some people get cold easier than others. I've shot elk in T shirt weather and I've shot them at 20 below. Maybe my body type v.s. others has something to do with some gear not working for me, when it does for others...

I can see why you've got the reputation that you do around here....

As others have said the vital area of an elk is quite large. An elk will do a long dead run invariably down hill or into some nasty bush. This is why I prefer the 338 win mag for the shoulder shot so it stays where it's been shot. I use to shoot all big game in the vitals but after dead runs and nasty recoveries I quit. If the animal is 100 yards or less and I am able to get in a steady field position I shoot for the neck or spine other than that it's the shoulder. A hunting companion drilled a Moose in the heart with a 30-06 it ran through the bush with no chance of a follow up shot for about 200 yards where it expired in a swamp. Fun times getting it out of there.

You’re an idiot.

You have elk rifles up the kazoo. What you mean is that you WANT a new elk rifle, you don't NEED one.

Just up here farming in my tank top and short pants.

Yes....

It's really really easy to separate those who get out a lot and those who don't....

Another who gets out a lot....

My wife slays the piss out of elk with a 7-08, a freaking pink camo stock, and a 140 Etip at 2700 muzzle velocity...

She's laughing at a lot of you and shaking her head.....

Try some Barnes 180 TTSX factory loads in that 35 Whelen. If it shoots a consistent 2"@100, zero it where you want and check the drops out to 500. There are trigger kits/replacements for the 7600, and the 180 shoots flat, hits hard. I love the Medium Calibers and there is nothing wrong with getting a "Out West' rifle. A 35 Whelen with a 180-200 TTSX runs "along with" 300s/338s, etc. Out to 350 or so for sure. Leave that 1917 for the deer stand, ha, too heavy.

Look at the Tikka TX3 Super Lite ( or Tikka T3X Lite, whatever its called ) and if it fits you, pick a 7mm Mag and have a ball! It will work for the "beanfield shots" back home, a fine coyote rifle, and for your elk. OR, get a .270 (or similar) and do the same thing. But use good bullets....try to outfit yourself, from clothes to equipment as "light as possible". Do alot of cardio, up high and working hard, your Ol Ticker will be thumping! But have a ball!

I hear you!

Nothing at all wrong with a 35 Whelen for elk out to 400 yards with practice. My dedicated Elk Rifle is a 300 Weatherby with a Zeiss 3-15 Z800 reticle that is very accurate to 600 yards but that is with long range practice 800+ yards.

Future son-in law is getting one for his birthday Friday & will put a Leupold VX6 3-18 on it.

My suggestion for elk hunting typically is a Tikka 300 WSM to keep the short action & lightweight are more pleasant to haul up hills with a scope you like. My eyes are older & appreciate a big objective & extra power but not needed for younger better eyes, our shots average around 300 yards in the sage & oak brush. The last guy who bought the Tikka & Zeiss 3-9x40 and has killed several elk & deer with it.

I like having the extra thump of the 300 with 180 grain Barnes vs a 7 Mag with 150’s that I started with. My son-in-law switched from 7 to 300 Wby & Zeiss v4 last season and was impressed with the effect it had on a big cow just under 200 yards.

So if you need an excuse for a new rifle elk hunting is an excellent one. Comfortable light warm boots are #1 on my elk list, good glass is 2 and accurate powerful rifle is 3. If you are hauling them out on your back like we do a good pack is high priority too.

Tikka doesn't make a short action.

I’ve only shot two elk. One with a 7 mag 160 NP. One with a 338 and 250NP. One bull and one cow. The 338 knocked the cow down so fast I thought I’d missed. I’ve shot quite a few elk size animals in Africa with a real odd ball cartridge.... an 8 mm rem mag using 200tsx at about 3000fps.... it kills stuff dead right now. I doubt you’ll have much luck finding one but there are always cheap used 325wsm on the internet.... I’d get one of those. They are peas in a pod with the mighty 8 mag. If you’re not a reloader get whatever between 7/08-338 that tickles your fancy.

Exactly right. Tikka makes an outstanding rifle for the money. Guaranteed 3 shot MOA, lightweight, stainless, etc. When I spoken with Sako at SHOT show, they say it's the same barrel as a Sako, which has a 5- shot MOA guarantee. The only reason is the 5 shot guarantee isn't offered in the Tikka is so people want to pay more for the Sako. Sako mastered manufacturing economies with the Tikka. It's same action for every gun (long), even the mag's are the same, they just add a spacer for the short action rounds. If you go the Tikka route, stick with a long action cartridge and get the most from the rifle.

And then there are some that shoot them with 243w and the like. There's nothing wrong with that either, as long as you can put the animal down humanely with one shot... I use a 338wm because I know I can put them down with one shot, at any angle and damn near any distance... I also trust a good 30-06 with 200gr partitions. That combo is damn hard to beat... I'm not going to "laugh" at anyone here because of the cartridge they choose, but if it ends up a goat fu ck rodeo because you have to take multiple shots on an elk, then I get a little pizzed. You owe it to the animal you are hunting to put them to sleep fast...

I'll pass along that great info to my wife...

I witnessed such a GF rodeo about 10 years ago. Two yahoos chasing an elk across a hillside and shot the poor bull about 5-6 times before the poor critter finally expired, probably from anxiety. When they walked down the hillside to the county road my friend and I were parked on talking before witnessing the debacle, one of the lads quipped, “I guess I need a bigger gun” rather sheepishly. My buddy asked what he was shooting and he replied “.243”. My buddy replied , “maybe so”. Whether it was the caliber, poor shooting, poor choice of bullet, or all of the above, I don’t know. I didn’t question the lads or tell them what I was thinking since I learned a long time ago not to confront 2 armed men while being unarmed myself. YMMV.

Shooting a cow out of your outfitters pasture, while laying the rifle over your truck mounted window rest isn't hunting...….but you hero's keep flapping your gums! You're great entertainment!

Just make sure you wear a Dairy Queen hat while doing it so you can be like your pipsqueak 24hr resident elk hero.

Laughing at you......

That's it. You know my wife well but she prefers the Burger King crown FYI...

Greg, he kills the schittttt outa those paper targets. Animals........not so much. Be sure to tell her that too, especially the 338WM kills 'em dead with one shot from any angle and "damn near any distance". That's a pearl right there.

Good gosh......the level of dumbassery around here is growing at a much faster rate than the COVID19 every thought of growing.

LOL, have it your way.

Should have posted some target pics to bolster your claims.

Those are all fine choices. So is a properly loaded .270 Win, .280 Rem, .280AI, .30-06 or .300 WM. The ones you suggest as well as these are all capable well beyond 600 yards when properly loaded.

I load 150g Nosler ABLR 20 2910fps for Daughter #1's .270 Win. At 7000 feet altitude and 700 yards it delivers 2100fps and 1500fpe with a gentle 18ft-lbs recoil. My .280 Rem with a Nosler 150g ABLR is good to 650 yards. A .30-06 loaded with a 168g ABLR delivers 2000fps/1500fpe past 700 yards at 7000 feet altitude.

The launch platform is less important the projectile, but I'm a big fan of Ruger M77/MKII/Hawkeye rifles. You can pick up a Ruger Hawkeye .30-06 at cdnnsports.com for $499. Or a .280 Rem for $469. I have one of the Hawkeye .280 Rem rifles and love it. Bought one of the CDNN Ruger .30-06 rifles of a SIL, wish I had one myself.

Most bullets will work most of the time but a wounded elk can go further and faster than you can. For that reason I prefer bullets that will penetrate to the vitals from any angle. The bullets I trust most to do that are Barnes TTSX and LRX, North Fork SS, Nosler Partition and AccuBond, Swift A-Frame and Scirocco II. Have not personally used the Federal Trophy Bonded Tip, Edge TLR or Terminal Ascent but would do so with complete confidence. These bullets combine the best characteristics of my preferred bullets – a bonded lead core up front with a solid rear rear.

Indeed... but you expected different?

If the OP really wants a new rifle, based on what he has then I would recommend a magnum of some flavor. Keep it under 8 pounds scoped and shoot it. 7 mag and 300 mag both have inexpensive factory ammo if you don’t reload. Use a tough bullet for hunting and you’ll be good if a shot opportunity comes.

As for the dumbass comments toward creekworrior I believe he is fed up with folks who are fortunate enough to hunt large ranches presenting themselves as know it alls. I don’t know how anyone hunts here and could care less as long as this sport continues. We are on the same team and all have similar views on the big things. Hunting pressured elk is very different from hunting elk on private. They both have there challenges, I’ve done both, but public land elk are much tougher to get close too. Creekworrior taught me to hunt and fed me and my sister and my mom with elk meat growing up. When he was harvesting elk every year with a rifle he switched to a compound bow. When that became “easy” he switched to a recurve and made his own arrows. I wish I knew half he does about elk hunting. He bugles big bulls into spitting distance to this day. Hunting hard and getting close to the elk are the experiences that made me love hunting and have a major respect for elk.

Pretty bold of you and your dad to assume people on this thread are killing their elk on large ranches.

I never said that did I? But there’s a difference in hunting style. One requires a lot more skill and work.