Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Which Rifle to Take?

Going on a 1x1 ranch hunt in Montana and will be setting out each day on foot from the bunkhouse with a daypack. I will be carrying spotter, tripod, water, down jacket, snacks, etc., but it's not like we will be carrying camp in our packs.

Trying to decide which rifle to take:

.300 Win Mag - Weighs 9#, 46" total length, have killed game animals out to 347 yards with it in the past.

7mm Rem Mag with Suppressor - Weights 11#, 53" total length, have not taken any game animals, but recently dialed in and was consistently making hits at 530 yds.

I really want to take the 7mm, but am wondering if I will feel like a jackass carrying it around....I don't see us having to negotiate deadfall or anything like that, but I have never been there before either so I could be wrong. I have the Stone Glacier quick release sling that makes it pretty easy to carry, and to get in shape have been doing the Mtn Tough 30-30 program, and training with 40-50# in my bag, even though they have horses and UTVs to come pick up an elk if we get one. Hope I don't sound like a douche, just trying to be transparent and get some good advice.

Thanks in advance for any feedback

I would NOT haul a can up and down the mtns

Why not just take either without the can and a pair if foam earplugs...

I'd go with the 300 mag.

i'd take the lighter, 300 win mag. and i wouldn't haul the spotting scope. with decent binos you can identify a great bull elk from a good bull elk. hope you get a great bull.

Not knowing your physical fitness or even knowing your physical fitness.....go with the .300 WM. Elevation, and terrain can play hell with a hunters best laid plans! memtb

2 pound difference is HUGE for a rifle, especially if hiking in mountains.

The guide should have a spotting scope.


P

Take the Savage 99.

I’d go lighter rig.

Lighter is better. No way I’d take a12 pound rifle. And I’d drop the spotting scope and use binocs. Also agree on dropping the can. Use ear plugs.

I have both a .300WM and 7mm RM and both are about equally effective on elk. I've been taking elk with my 7mm RM since the early '80's, the .300WM since around 2004.

The difference depends more on the specific loads than the diameter. That said, there is no way I'm going to carry an 11 pound rifle on an elk hunt.

If this is a private land ranch hunt, I suspect there won't be a whole lot of really rough areas to be hiking around in, which would make the heavier rifle doable. Doubly so if for whatever reason it is the one that you really want to take. I'd strap it to your pack and forget about the Stone Glacier sling. Normally I'd never advocate leaving a spotter behind but your guide will most likely have one, so there's no need for two. You may want to ask first but I'll bet that'll be the case.

Honestly for what this is sounding like, you'll be just fine carrying your rifle, binos, lunch and water. Maybe rain gear and your down jacket too, but you'll never be in a position where you'll need to carry a lot of other stuff.

I do gotta laugh. Folks need to see the rifle\scope combo folks really use, instead of reading about it..

Thanks for the replies and confirming my suspicions. I will take the 300.

I am excited to take my spotter as I bought one of those phone adapters from tines up, and am looking forward to getting some good pictures with the combo.

Pic of 300. Scope is a 2-12x50

I've got both a 7 mag and a .300. I used to think you needed rifles like these for elk. However, since I've been on here I am learning and if I ever have the opportunity to go after elk I'm probably going to take my old Model 70 .270 with some Nosler 150 Grain Partitions. That rifles light and easy to carry. I probably won't take a shot over 350 yards and never over 500.

270 has killed a pile of elk, as have arrows. There are Grizzlies on this ranch. I went on a hunt up in the Northwest Territories of Canada a couple of years ago. I had never seen a grizz before in person....we had a couple of encounters, one of which was while I had a backpack full of meat and was about 80 yards upwind of a grizz standing on her hind legs deciding what her next move was going to be. Let me tell you, there was not a single moment during that trip where I felt I had too much gun. Ymmv

NFW I’d carry a 11 or 12 lb rifle on an “ on foot” hunt. YMMVh

Your guide should have a griz safety plan. If not, I’d go elsewhere.

Have fun. Don't worry about the rifle. Either will be fine.

Lol!