The perfect Elk Rifle?

[azchopshopcop]

I was looking at buyin a new Elk Rifle. I have heard alot about Remington's 300 Ultra Mag as being the new "weapon of choice" for big game. I was thinking about purchasing this with a muzzle break and installing a Burris 8x32 scope. Now, I am throwing this to the experts.....yeah or neah?

[6233108]

I'd personally go with the 7mm Rem. magnum. Better all around gun.

[sert115]

I'd personally go with the 7mm Rem. magnum. Better all around gun.

I'll second the vote for the 7 mag, it's flatter shooting than the 300, and with bullets such as the 175 gr speer grand-slam it makes a dandy elk rifle...you might want to rethink the muzzle brake, I never had a problem with a conventional rifle in 7mm mag.

[Eddie C.]

338 Lapua?

Have you considered 338 Lapua, I have shot one before and let me tell you "Damm" whatever gets hit stays hit and their Mamma will feel it too!

[TheQueen]

Ruger M77 .308 took mine down last year no problem! Almost took me down too, but it is a pretty big gun for someone my size. You however would have no problem!

[Runnin' 87]

I personally don't see enough difference in the 30-06 class of rifles and the 7mm mag to justify the magnum. I know the magnim is more gun on paper, but not enough to make difference in the field.

Now. If you are hunting difficult terrain, you might consider one of the new short magnums. I like smaller lighter rifles anyways.

If you want a full sized magnum rifle, I would go with the ultra mags. They justify to me as magnums.

[sert115]

I agree to an extent, my grandfather, who hunted Montana, every year till alziemers took over, used a Savage Model 99, in 300 savage. He limited his shots to less than 300 yards, and knew his rifle (bought it in 1920's) it's shot placement. This being said I still like the 7mm Mag. the .06 is a good round, BUT it won't ever outshoot a 7mm Mag.

[badger]

Don't worry about your caliber choice. Pick something with enough power that you can shoot well and not develop a flinch with. Some people's envelope of pain tolerance is a 30-06. I know others that can shoot .416 Rems all day, and those that don't like anything more than a .243. Whatever you pick make sure you can shoot it well. If you want a MB, go with a Browning A-Bolt with the BOSS, you can also get it in Conventional Recoil (no ports). 7 Rem Mag is a good choice and a lot of 7mm bullets have better BC than .30 cal bullets. You could also try one of WSSM chamberings .270 or above. Happy Shopping!

[Chuck59]

Well, I've had good luck with my old Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. In my area, most shots are within 150 yards and if I do my part, it's a good round, and easier on the shoulder than the magnums.

[DETSGT]

The perfect Elk rifle is the one with enough sectional density and foot pounds of kinetic energy that you can shoot with confidence and with acuracy and the proper ammount of veloicty to make a clean kill. Elk have been cleanly harvested with small calibers such as the .243 and large calibers such as a .444 or .50 cal. It all depends on shot placement and your ammount of practice to be confident with the weapon.

[TradArcher]

IMO, a .270 at minimum. A magnum is not necessary unless thats what you want. I went with a .30-06 rem 700 bdl with a bushnell elite 3200 scope 2x-7x and burris dual dovetail scope mounts. I like the setup.

[Quopper]

IMO, a .270 at minimum. A magnum is not necessary unless thats what you want. I went with a .30-06 rem 700 bdl with a bushnell elite 3200 scope 2x-7x and burris dual dovetail scope mounts. I like the setup.

I use my .270 for Antelope, because it is dialed in for 300+ yds, and where I live the elk are no more than 10yds! LOL! Easy hunting in these mountains, but the Wyoming plains make it difficult to get the Antelope. Have to belly crawl, and PRAY!

When I did hunt in AZ, the elk were typically at 50-100yds depending on how much scent killer you used and simply how good of luck you had.

I am still a firm believer that you could take one down with a .22 long rifle if you were a good enough head shot and close enough!

[Chuck59]

"I am still a firm believer that you could take one down with a .22 long rifle if you were a good enough head shot and close enough!"

A lot of locals up here in Northern New Mexico use the old tried and true Win 94 .30-30 and do just fine. As was said, hit anything in the right place and it's going down. I don't think I'd be far wrong to say that the two most popular rounds in this area are the .30-30 and .30-06. One retailer says he sells a lot of .303 too, and one guy I know carries a .30-40 Krag for deer, elk, and bear, and swears by it.

[WHC166]

I wouldn't hunt "Elks", only because they sometimes donate stuff for the various programs we put on.....

[Chuck59]

I wouldn't hunt "Elks", only because they sometimes donate stuff for the various programs we put on.....

Guess that rules out moose hunting then, too.