Ideal Elk Rifle

[SJB358]

Alright, it is sorta slow around here. What is your ideal elk rifle? Cartridge, barrel length, barrel, scope, mounts, weight, etc? I know there is alot of variation and it's sorta fun to hear what ideal is for you all. Also, what is your elk load, bullet, powder, velocity, etc.

Also, add in what kinda place you hunt elk too. High in the mountains with a backpack, off horses, day trips out of a truck, long range, etc.

This can be what you have right now or your dream rifle. :twisted:

 

[DrMike]

About any cartridge situated between the .280/.284 and the .375 H&H. For dark timber, a lever gun--my .356 is about ideal in that environment. For mountain meadows, any of a number of bolt guns I carry. Barrel length has to be sufficient to accommodate the cartridge. Weight is a consideration; when walking long distances, lighter is better. I almost have to have a battery of rifles to accommodate the differing environments encountered.

 

[Darkhorse]

My ideal elk rifle is my Browning A bolt II Lefthand Stainless Stalker W/Boss. Learned on a brutal New Mexico trip the need for a rifle that doesn't require pampering (oiling) when I stagger exhausted back to camp. The stainless synthetic solved that problem.
This hunt was a migration hunt in the Chama area in November. The hunt ended up a marathon in deep snow, then mud, a lot of running trying to head off bulls. Finally the last morning I killed a 5X5 with my 7mag., 175 grain Speer bullet, offhand at 281 yards. No choice if I wanted a bull. Broke him down and finished it off with a neck shot.
Learned on the same NM trip that while the 7mm mag. was a capable elk cartridge it could be a little better when the ranges got "out there". So I bought a .300 Win. Mag.
My last load was a healthy dose of IMR 4350 and the 180 gr. Hornady spire point. It shoots this load repeatedly into .5 to .520 at 100 yards and shot a 5X5 through both shoulders, clipped the spine, and into the Colorado dirt from a little over 400 yards.
The BOSS lets me concentrate on the shot and not the recoil.
Leupold Vari XIII 3.5X10X40 in Leupold mounts. I prefer a 40 MM objective as it helps me with my cheek weld.
The synthetic doesn't care at all when rammed into old, dry leather scabbards as the last hunt was horseback, and horseback is my favorite way to hunt the west. But I've done it on my feet also. Next trip I'll need a truck I think.
This rifle was bought and rigged out in '97 and remains in the same condition today. When and if I can go Elk hunting again this is what I'll carry. Too bad the West is so far away and costs so much to go. You guys in the west and the great white north are really fortunate.
BTW the .300 win mag. isn't a slouch on large Whitetails at 400 yds either.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have failed to kill elk with a 7mm Rem Mag, 150 Corelokt.

I have killed elk with a:
1. .30-06 180 gr Fail Safe, Model 70.
2. .300 H&H 180 gr Partition, Model 70
3. .338WM Browning High Power, 210 gr Partition.

My ideal elk rifle is a .340 Weatherby Mark V.

 

[baltz526]

The rifle I carry most often in the last decade. Is a Stainless Weatherby Vanguard with a Carbilite stock. 2.5-10x44 Simmons Aetec, 20" barrel in 300 win mag.

 

[Wis65x55]

What do I consider to be the minimum requirements for an Elk rifle? Before I answer this question, I will answer I believe. However I have not hunted elk yet. In my mind, there are three things that an elk cartridge has to do: Must project adequate bullet velocity downrange to cause adequate bullet expansion. This would be the maximum effective range is the (velocity) is the distance at which velocity has fallen below 2000fps. Maximum effective range (energy) is the distance at which energy fall below 1,500ft.-lbs. Sectional density is the third important criteria In my mind, the minimum sectional density in my mind would be .260.
The other category of elk rifles would be what I call “The fat boys” This would include modern .45-70 Govt. and .450 Marlin.
Keith

 

[IdahoCTD]

Out to 4-500yds its hard to beat a .416 Rem in shear knock them to the ground power. A .375 Imp or 375RUM adds about 200yds to that and are extremely hard on elk as well. For longer ranges it's hard to beat the bigger .338's like the Edge and 338 Lapua Imp's for the high BC bullets. I've shot elk with 6.5-300wm, 7STW, 30-338wm, 300wm, 30-8mm, 308 Baer, 338 Baer, 358STA, 375-358STA, 416 Rem., and 15 or so with muzzle loaders. All have done the job but the big calibers just flatten them with authority at the closer ranges.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I would take my Win mod 70 in .338WM shooting 210 Partitions. I would have a Leupold VX-III 3.5-10. As far as hunting, it would not matter as long as I was able to take off some time from work and hunt hard for elk. It is a dream of mine to go west and elk hunt. My late father-in-law always wanted to go so my back up rifle would be his 7mm Rem Mag or 30-06.

p.s. If anyone is ever looking for someone to join them on a trip, please let me know.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I've been preparing for elk hunting for quite some time now...planning it since I was about 16 years old (I'm 41 now, lol)...it has been a dream of mine for a looong time.

The rifle I will use is my 30-06, most likely loaded with 180 grain Accubonds or Partitions...topped with a Zeiss HD5 scope...may not be "ideal", but it is what I have.

My trip is getting close to actually happening...and I'm looking forward to it

 

[Oldtrader3]

Good luck on your trip. I personally would (and have) use Partitions just to assure the deep penetration. Either bullet will kill elk.

 

[Idahotrophyhunter]

Ruger 77 hawkeye, 375 ruger, 3-9x40 burris ffii, 260 nosler AccuBond at 2800 FPS

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm.... I'd have to say my ideal elk rifle would be the same as my ideal everything else rifle.

My much loved, lightweight, tack driving Nosler 48 in .300WSM topped with what ever scope du jour I've got on it....currently a Zeiss Conquest but a Leupold 6x42 would be more than fine too.

 

[Elkman]

My longest elk kill has been at 540 yards (so far), my closest inside of 20. A long range flat shooting caliber, with a very stout bullet ( Nosler PT), up front is a must. My worn out, well hunted, push feed model 70, in 300 WM, has met my needs now for 43 years. In 1970 it cost the princely sum of $150.
It's been blued twice, on it's third stock ( Brown), Basix trigger and a new Zeiss, conquest, 4.5 X 14 X 44. This rifle will keep them under .250 at a 100 yards, and maintain that, out past 500.
Last fall while shooting an elk in a howling NW, wind on a bare hillside, 2000 feet above the road, it had the same result on a elk, as did the fellow with a . 338 WM only feet away from me. The 300 WM, one of the best all around elk cartridges out there.

 

[JD338]

My ideal elk rifle is my 700 LSS in 338 RUM topped off with a VX-6 3-18x44mm. My load is a 250 gr PT at 3024 fps.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

My ideal elk rifle is my 700 LSS in 338 RUM topped off with a VX-6 3-18x44mm. My load is a 250 gr PT at 3024 fps.

JD338

I would say your 338 and the 340 WBY would be really the top of the heap for elk..

 

[truck driver]

This is my dream rifle when finished, A rebarrel job to 35Whelen.

 

[OU812]

I really have no idea what my ideal elk rifle would be since every time I kill an elk I sell the rifle and buy a new rifle to use next go round.

 

[DrMike]

I really have no idea what my ideal elk rifle would be since every time I kill an elk I sell the rifle and buy a new rifle to use next go round.

Very good, Bill. :grin:

 

[OU812]

I really have no idea what my ideal elk rifle would be since every time I kill an elk I sell the rifle and buy a new rifle to use next go round.

Very good, Bill. :grin:

Mike maybe years down the road I'll keep an elk rifle long enough to consider it my ideal elk rifle and I can repost. :mrgreen: At the current time I'm thinking my 340 wby Alaskan. Do wish it were a little lighter though.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Never been elk hunting, but I'm sure my '06 loaded with 180gr Speer Deep Curls would do the trick. Gun is a Rem 700 classic, Talley one piece mounts, and Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14.