Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Long range elk rig

If you guy were going to set up a long range rig with the focus on elk that would also take the occasional mulie and speedgoat at say ranges from 400 - 600 yds. but you may stretch it out to 700 yds + on the rare occasions, what caliber (not cartridge) would you be looking at? With a huge consideration on bullet availability and integrity to dispatch an elk at those longer ranges?

338

.264, .277, .284, .308. Whatcha got?
Respectfully, If you don't have a pretty good idea what cartridge it takes, it's pretty unlikely you would have the skills to kill reliably at the ranges listed. Caliber choice is the smallest part of that equation.
For any but an expert 400 yards is a looooong way away.

Easy a 7mm.

I have had first time "long range" shooters hit a 10" gong every time at 500 yards. These are guys that shoot maybe once, twice a year, other than hunting. It's not that complicated with the right gear, and some knowledge.

R.

.338 Lapua

.416 Barrett with a BORS system. Shoot 'em at 1,500 yards, eat right up to the bullet hole.

300 win mag

30-378 Wby-what the hell.

First choice would be a FN PBR 300 WSM like this.

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF048&gid=FNG021&mid=FNM0133

I would then swap the stock into a Manners MCS-T stock.

For the scope, a Leupold new VX3 6.5x20x40 LR with an M1 dial.

Kinda of a hybrid long range hunting rifle, heavier, but not to heavy.

I would prefer a Rock 1/8 twist in 7wsm and shoot Berger 168's and 180's.

The very same one I've been using for a bit over a couple of decades now.

It's ready for it's 9th barrel as I believe in being fairly intimate with your rig...grin

M700/7 Mashburn Super (or any other of a number of big 7's)
4.5 weight Schneider cut to 25"
Brown glass stock (could go with others as long as they're sub 28 oz's)
Talley's
Uncle Mikes Mtn sling
4-14 Leo with Premier dotz to 700
150 NBT (this is what I mainly use but have used many others)

From my past experiences with the big 30's and the big 33's I have come to be very comfy with the big 7's. I feel they're a bit more user friendly and yet incredibly capable on big critters at long range.

4 me, this rig is perfect for exactly what you're talking about and have proven it many times at long range over the past 20 plus years.

Good luck in your decision

Dober

Side note, if I just wanted to do it the easy way I'd do a Big Sky in 7 WSM and shoot the beans out of it.

Dober

SU: That's an interesting rifle. What is a Manners Stock,and is there a problem with the factory FN stock?

Bob,

Here is their site,
http://www.mannersstocks.com/

They are just as good as any Mcmillan in every way with half or less the lead time.

The FN stock is a Houge while not a bad stock not anything like a Manners or Mcmillan

I should just say,

Action, FN SPR OR PBR.

Barrel, Rock 5R SS 1/8 twist 26" in 7 WSM. Same taper and flutes as the PBR rifle.

Scope Leupold 6.5x20x40 LR with M1 dial.

Stock, Manners


I now own a FN SPR rifle in 300 WSM with a Mcmillan A4 stock M40 taper which is heavy. It's not a carry rifle.

SU: Interesting...thanks for the information on this.

Bob also check out Wildcat composite in Edmonton.

My favorite long range rig is my 257 STW with 100 gr Barnes Triple Shocks

Mike: Got it;thanks.

Gee, Mark, I had a guy on another forum explain quite forcefully that dots (or any reticle) aren't any good much past 500 yards, that you gotta be runnin' turrets at 600-700....

CC Roy,

My .338 is my most reliable "hitter" out to 650 yards. That's as far as the reticle gets me.

I have to think it'd do OK on an elk out that far, but I have not shot one at that distance. I run the 225 Accubond.

By the way, an accurate rifle that you shoot a LOT and shoot well, is really the key here...