Backup rifle for elk

[Greg Nolan]

Well I got the good news in a voice mail from Fish and Game draws last Friday. A month after the draws on cow elk out of 10 tags they actually got to me as 4th alternate. The question is what do I take for a backup for a thick timber hunt. The .375 RUM is primary artillary with .260 gr. A/B's at 3100fps. But I've been there fishing along the Klamath river and some of the Laurel thickets actually require a flashlight to go thrue on a sunny day. What would you guys suggest for a backup/ heavy cover gun. I'm told by F&G that even the cow elk can push 1000 lbs. and are routinely shot at well under 100 yds. Of course some of the timber cuts require 300+ yards, hence the .375. What would you take for the thick stuff parts of the hunt?? :?

 

[JD338]

Greg,

338 RUM with 225 gr PT's. :wink:

Regards,

JD338

 

[Anonymous]

I always thought a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 would be a good brush gun on big game. I took my Marlin Century Limited III for a bear back up rifle in Alaska. They are pretty handy little rifles that pack alot of punch.

 

[JD338]

Nosler2,

I have been giving serious consideration to a Marlin 1895 or guide gun in 45-70.
If I do get one, I'll have to load up with the Nosler PT's. :wink:

Regards,

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

Now I'm in a quandry J.D. I have that .338RUM loaded with225gr. np's but it isnt light being a sendero.I've also bought a Win. 94 Timber in 450 Marlin which is. Murphys law is going to work in either case. The .450 is good to maybe 200 yds then the energy is way down and the .338 isn't any quicker than the .375. I was leaning towards the .450 anyway. would you go with it or would you just take the .338 as a general purpose backup to the .375 and not worry about quick and just concentrate on utility at any range? :?
Thanks Again
Greg

 

[JD338]

Greg,
Decissions, decissions........I guess it would depend on the terrain you will be hunting.

If you are driving, why not take all three. In the unlikely event something happens to you 375 RUM, you have the 338 RUM for long range and the 450 Marlin for black timber.

If you can only take two rifles and weight is an issue, take the 450 Marlin and get you shot under 200 yds.

To answer your question on what I would do. I would take my 338 RUM and my M700 Classic in 35 Whelen with 250 gr PT's for backup or heavy black timber. Then again I might go get a Marlin 1895 in 45/70.

Decissions, decissions........

Best Regards,

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

JD338 I don't know what I'd do without your decisive inspiration but you're right I can and should take all three. I'd love to try out the .338 and the .450 so either will be fun and I'll have time to do it all. Now all I have to worry about are the little things like actually finding an elk to shoot something at.
Thanks for the help
Greg

 

[JD338]

Greg,

I hope one day we can share a campfire. Hunt several western states and bring along a few of the toys that are in the toybox (gun safe).
I still need to get some elk pics to you.

Regards,

JD338

 

[fredj338]

If you just want to take a back up rifle, any that you mentioned are fine. I would hunt thick stuff w/ the .375. If you are worried about your 260grNAB, switch to a Partition & not worry much about it. The problem w/ hunting w/ only a brush gun like the Marlin, is you're bound to come across a clear cut w/ an elk standing 300yds across, I'ld rather have the .375.
BTW, 1000# cow elk, maybe but I doubt it very much. :roll:

 

[Thebear_78]

You need to get you one of these. Its good out to 200 yards and with 405gr bullets @ 1950fps plenty of power for whatever you might find in north america.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Thanks for the posts. I'll take a .338 Win. as backup based on your 300yd. Murphy's Law shot. Cause you can just bet that'll be what happens. I think the .375 With 260 A/B's will do it all pretty well but I'v been known to be less than gracefull at times and dinged a scope enough for me to loose confidence till I can check the sighting. That marlin in the last post looks like a potent weapon. Is it a 45-70 or a .450 Marlin and what load are you shooting with that ? I'd really like to try the .450 on elk so I'll take it too and keep it as a truck/travel gun for those unexpected encounters and carry one of the others when I range out on foot. I'm a little skepticle about those 1000 pound cow elk too but I'll see the biologist I talked to up there and see if he has pictures of the elkzilla cows. :wink:

 

[Eagleye]

We have some very large cow elk in our country as well, and the largest I have ever shot dressed at 410 lbs. That is near 800 on the hoof. She was one huge cow elk, let me tell you. I've shot smaller 5 point bulls. Eagleye.

 

[HunterJim]

My recommendation for a back-up is a .30-'06: it is the ultimate back-up for any hunt because you are sure to find ammo locally if all your stuff gets lost.

It will also kill anything you can hunt in North America without drama.

jim

 

[Redneck Ron]

I prefer to use my deer rifle .308 loaded 180 pt.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I finished up the California cow elk hunt and was succesfull. I didn't need to go to the backup. But now the Colorado Bull elk hunt is 3 weeks out. This will be my first guided elk hunt and it wil be a horse, pack in, hunt so my choice of guns has me laying awake at night tring to decide between 3 guns as primary and backup. The .375RUM is kind of long and pretty. If a horse falls on it or drops it I'll be very dissapointed. The .338 Win. A light, short Savage that I can replace and a Win. Mod. 70 in 300 WBY. that I can replace. Now what?

 

[Redneck Ron]

Which one do you shoot the best with? Primary
Which one do like shooting 2nd best with? Back up

 

[Richracer1]

Here's my situation, going to Idaho for elk & mulies. I have a 270WSM getting ready to be sighted in with my 160PT and a 338WM with 225AB. I have mucho confidence in the 270WSM as that has been my main tool for CA deer and hogs. I haven't shot my 338WM much except for load developement at the range and one trip out for a hog. I am taking both rifles, among a few other firearms, with me. So here I sit, pack the 270WSM out at hope I get enough time to make the critical shot placement needed with this smaller cal. or pack the heavier 338WM out where shot placement isn't that critical? Oh, by the way, I'll be hunting alone. Yeah, I know, not the best situation, but being gone for 16years, I don't know anyone there other than my Mother. What do you all think? Sorry about invading your thread.

 

[JD338]

richracer1,

Under the conditions you have mentioned, I would use the 338 Win Mag and hammer the bull where he stands with a shoulder shot. The lighter cals can also do the job but since you have a 338, hit 'em hard and heavy.
Remember, there is no replacement for displacement.

Regards,

JD338

 

[Richracer1]

richracer1,

Under the conditions you have mentioned, I would use the 338 Win Mag and hammer the bull where he stands with a shoulder shot. The lighter cals can also do the job but since you have a 338, hit 'em hard and heavy.
Remember, there is no replacement for displacement.

Regards,

JD338

This was my initial plan. If the 338 craps out, time to bring out Mr. Reliable 270WSM.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Richracer1
We have similiar backgrounds in our hunting and I've been hunting Idaho also for many years and believe me a 250 lb. mule deer will take a lot of shock and a good hit with my .270 Win. with 130 gr. N/Ps and act like you missed it. I use my .338 Win. and .300 Wby for deer now and a .375 RUM for elk because of some of the wild chases a long tracking jobs I've had. Of course a heart shot is a heart shot but a big mulie or elk doesn't even show signs of being hit sometimes when it's a fatal shot. Go with the .338 and be confident. I just got a .338 RUM that I'm looking forward to using but I have no report yet. JD338 has had experience with his.
Good Luck and take pictures!
Elkhunt :wink: