Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Honest elk rifle opinion.

I have been looking and lusting over new rifles and new cartridges. Every time I look at ballistics and manageable distances (400 yds which is what I would limit myself to.) the common calibers seem to be just as effective. The question I pose is should I stick with a tried and true classic 30/06, 270, 7mm mag? Or a new chambering in one of the high B.C. Offerings?

Do you reload or shoot factory fodder?

You named pretty three iconic chamberings that have gotten it done with aplomb for decades.

But if it’s permission you seek to buy a new rifle, you’ve come to right place. 😊

Are you looking to purchase a factory rifle or have a custom built?

Do you handload?

When I've acquired an elk rifle, as long as it was in an appropriate chambering for elk I wasn't too concerned - it was mostly about the rifle. I've hunted elk with a 270, 30-06, 300wsm, 300wm, 338wm, 338RUM, and most consistently with best elk round made - the 7STW.

I reload, own more then one 30/06 but am always chasing the next best thing. I am just trying to justify the high bc cartridges being sold as the next best hunting rig?

all three that you mention will work great on elk, i personally use a MK V ultralite in 300 Weatherby and barnes tsx. Bullet design and shot placement is key though for pretty much any big game critter

It sounds more like you are trying to find a persuasive argument for someone else as to why you need a new rifle. If you have a couple reliable, accurate 30-06s that are already killing elk, how are the new cartridges going to kill the elk any deader with the same shot placement? slm9s lists several that kill elk just fine, to which I would add 7mm Mag as also very effective (and good bc).

But as others are already asking, do you reload, etc.. Unfortunately these days you can buy a rifle, but will you be able to get the ammo, dies, or components to be able to USE it? If you just want a new rifle, then you already know the answer.

I have killed bulls with the 338-06 (210 Gr Partition and 185 gr TSX), 35 Whelen (225 gr TSX), 375 H&H (260 gr Partition) and 270 Win (140 gr TSX) and all worked about the same.

If the .30-06 is not your daisy, perhaps the .35 Whelen is? I skipped over the ‘06 from a .308 as I didn’t think there was a quantum leap in performance and I hunted where there were lots of big bears. After many successful hunts with the Whelen, I switched to my .300 Weatherby Mark V. Loaded with 168 gr TTSX, it kills like a lightning bolt.

About as well said as it gets.

Not sure what you mean by "new chambering in one of the high BC offerings?" If you load high BC bullets in the 7 mag, they'll have the same high BC in any other 7 mm cartridge you want to load for, and enough velocity for anything you want to do.

You have 2 30-06's. Realistically you are not going to find much better than that. Work on developing a sledge hammer accurate load for your 30-06 rifles you have. 200gr partition comes to mind. Other than that, you are just wanting something different and trying to justify the reasons. You are only going to be shooting to 400 yards. The 30-06 can easily handle that requirement. No problem whatsoever. How many elk have you killed and with what cartridges? Also, as far as high bc is concerned, you don't need a really high bc pill to kill an elk at the range limit you have imposed on yourself. If you are just looking to buy a new rifle, that is fair enough. We all like new rifles, but most of us here don't need a reason or excuse to buy one..

My 7mm Rem Mag has put 25 elk on the game pole. My late father, late grandfather and my brother all used, or in the case of my brother still use, the 7mm Rem Mag. Between the family I've seen over 100 elk fall to the 7mm Rem Mag. So that gets my vote but feel free to use whatever you want.

That would tend to make a believer.

Excellent.

Guy

There is no such thing as a "high BC cartridge". There are high BC bullets which generally work better in a faster twist barrel because the bullets are longer. Go buy some one 190 Nosler Accubonds or some 175 LRXs load them in your 1:10 30-06 modern bolt rifle to 270 pressures and be done with it.

You need to buy one of those new fangled 6.8 Western setups.

You owe it to yourself.

Any of those will work just fine. I have taken several bulls with a 30-06 with no issues. Just shoot the behind the shoulder with a decent bullet. If I ever draw another tag I'll most likely use my 6.5 CM with 140gr bullets.

30.06 out of calibers you listed. All mentioned will kill elk. Personally I like a 308 win or 7mm-08.

I have all three listed, for me it would come down to the rifle I like most, shoot best, etc. For me, that's my 7mm RM, a Win 70 CRF in a Brown Precision stock with what I believe is a #2 contour Shilen barrel. The 56mm Zeiss Divari on top may be a bit much but I don't mind the extra weight.

Anything less than a .340 Weatherby simply will not work😊…..unless of course it’s a .270, .30-06, .308, various 7mm, etc!

You have what you need - as the others have indicated get the right bullet and your set!

PennDog