Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Bevy of good elk rifles

Drew a cow/calf tag for area 98 in Wyoming but I have a problem, too many good elk rifles. I am leaning toward using my 03A3 custom Springfield 30-06 pushing 180 gr. patitions at 2750 fps. This rifle has taken many elk already, fits me perfectly. As a second/backup rifle my first impulse is to take my 35 Whelen pushing a 250 gr. Hornady Spire point to 2450 fps (19 inch barrel). Both rifles are topped with 4 power Leupolds. The next rifle is a 7MM RM model 700 topped with a Bushnell 3200 Elite 3x9 complete with a bipod pushing 160 gr. Accubonds or Partitions (have both loaded) for the extra long shots. Then there is the 308, one of 2 270's or one of 2 other 30-06's to cover backup rifle position. The country hunted can be wide open or timber and my choice of an elk would be a yearling cow. Anyone see a downside to the 30-06/35 Whelen pair?

Nope
My typical shot is in the 300 yard catagory so I go with 300 Win Mag and 7MM STW. A Whelen and a few others are also in the herd.

I vote for the classic 03A3 in the 06 with the partitions. Classic rig that needs to be hunted!!

Take the old girl out and have some newbies ask "What kind of rifle is that mister?"

Just grin and give them a history lesson

The old Springfield is the rifle I started with in Wyoming. When I only had one big game rifle this was it. When I moved to Texas so I could make a living is when my rifle collection expanded and I started fooling with minutia. Back then it was a sensible battery, a 223, a 22 rimfire, a 12 gauge shotgun and the Springfield.

Too many good elk rifles is one reason I sold my two .308 Win rifles and bought an AR-15 with a couple uppers.

Still have my Roberts, .280 Rem, 7mmRM, three .30-06s, .300WM and .338 WM. Plus the levers in .30-30, .375 Win, .44 Mag and .45-70.

The .44 Mag isn't much of an "elk gun" but it has seen a lot of field time trying its best. Biggest bull I ever drew down on was given walking papers because my buddy had one down already and I figured we had enough problems. 100 yards, easy shot, and the .44 is still an elk virgin as a result.

The 06 has always been one of my favorite calibers to hunt Elk, and most people can really shoot them well. Don't ever feel under gunned with your 03A3 combo. The 06 and 35 whelen will not tear up as much meat either. Of course I am a vanilla kind of guy. Daryl.

how soon does your season open up? you may have time to buy a new rifle in a new caliber, work up some loads and get it sighted in!



Poole

Come to think of it I also have a new to me Springfield in 280 improved that I could do some work on, Hmmmm.

Had a similar problem. Drew a NM archery tag, problem solved. Good luck with whatever you carry durning your hunt.

Just my $0.02 cents worth?

I'd be pulling the bi-pod off the 7MM-RM and fill your cow-tag with it.

I have nothing against an -06 or 35, but would go with the flattest shooter that can pack enough punch.

7MM-RM is near the top of my short list.

I'd take the Whelan for sure.

After that it'd be what fit me the best. Sounds like that's the '06.

My elk rifles:

7mm-08
30-06
.325 WSM
300 WM
7 WSM
.338 WM
.358 Win



D'oh!

My elk rifles are 338 win mag and 9.3x62....

You sir... have an embarrassment of riches in your gun safe! That adage that "a 30/06 is never a bad choice" applies here.

Take the Colonel. I've made some of my longest shots on elk with the Whelen, not that that should be a reason.

I like the 7MM RM but feel it is a bit more specialized and set mine up for long shots. Considering I won't shoot at anything over 400 yards away it's edge on the 30-06 isn't much and the 35 Whelen is a better timber round than either the 30-06 or the 7MM RM.

Nothing wrong with a 30-06 with a good 180gr bullet.

My elk rifles are 300WM with 180gr AB's / 338-06AI with 225gr AB's or TTSX's and 270WSM with 140gr AB's have worked for me. For years I was a 1-rifle guy till the rifle bug bit, and I was strictly 300WM.

Today I bought a Mauser action to be built into a 338-06.

I'd use the 338 WM but take your 358 Win as a backup.

I wouldn't put so much thought into shooting a calf. Anything you have is more than enough.