This post gives me hope, lol.
Best Caliber Rifle Elk
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If you are looking at a factory rifle then I would go with 300 Win Mag and then (can't believe I'm saying this) 300PRC.
If buying custom and hand loading then the sky is the limit. My choices wouldn't change but you can have the 300 Win Mag throated properly to shoot heavier bullets and you could also add the 30 Nosler to the mix and do the same with it.
If buying custom and hand loading then the sky is the limit. My choices wouldn't change but you can have the 300 Win Mag throated properly to shoot heavier bullets and you could also add the 30 Nosler to the mix and do the same with it.
Overwhelmed with the breadth and depth of the responses yet? LOL. Note: I did not read all 14 pages.
Reasonable cartridges for elk IMHO start at 7 Rem Mag. I'm assuming that you're not reloading so I'll dispose of the list of great chamberings that demand it.
A bigger concern may be finding ammunition for your choice in an acceptable load. 300 Win Mag will prevail there. 300 WSM and 7 Rem Mag should be considered if you opt out of the 300 Win Mag.
I suspect that you've been advised to consider all manner of obsolete favorites and wildcats. I also suspect that at least one person has referred to the mountain of elk their grandpa killed with a particular cartridge(s). And I suspect some have steered you to new and very desirable cartridges that you will not find ammo for aside from gunbroker's $120/box offerings
Season is around the corner. The best advice I can give is focus on what's available that won't leave you disappointed. That would be a 300 Win Mag if I had to make this decision.
Best wishes for your hunt. Post some pics.
E
Reasonable cartridges for elk IMHO start at 7 Rem Mag. I'm assuming that you're not reloading so I'll dispose of the list of great chamberings that demand it.
A bigger concern may be finding ammunition for your choice in an acceptable load. 300 Win Mag will prevail there. 300 WSM and 7 Rem Mag should be considered if you opt out of the 300 Win Mag.
I suspect that you've been advised to consider all manner of obsolete favorites and wildcats. I also suspect that at least one person has referred to the mountain of elk their grandpa killed with a particular cartridge(s). And I suspect some have steered you to new and very desirable cartridges that you will not find ammo for aside from gunbroker's $120/box offerings
Season is around the corner. The best advice I can give is focus on what's available that won't leave you disappointed. That would be a 300 Win Mag if I had to make this decision.
Best wishes for your hunt. Post some pics.
E
AndrewP
Member
I run a 30-06, but could argue 300 win mag might be best. Tons of capable rounds available these days though.
Calvin45
Well-Known Member
Neither is a wrong choice. I like my .300 win mag but bought it simply because I already had a .270 and don't like redundancy. The .300 win mag seemed like the next actually notable step up for horsepower. Looked long and hard at 7mm rem mag and .30-06 but, while they're both a step up from a .270, i didn't feel it was enough of a step to warrant another rifle just for so little a difference in real world killing power. Had i started with a .30-06 and not a .270 i probably wouldn't own a .30 cal Magnum haha.
The way I've compared the .30-06 and .300 Winnie in the pAst is that one is like fries and one is like fries with gravy. I love fries, fries are delicious, there is nothing wrong with them just the way they are, I would never turn up my nose or walk away from a plate of fries…I do like gravy though, so if it's an option ima go ahead and take it!
I honestly didn't read all the replies so sorry if some of this was already said…
I know this might not be a popular opinion but there are a lot of people taking elk with 6.5. It's all about a quality bullet and proper shot placement. Personally I'd prefer "more power". Again plenty of elk have been taken with 30.06 and is a very popular do it all gun that can take down most anything in North American. But if your looking to ensure you have what it's gonna take to anchor a bull at distance I'd opt for the 300 win mag, shooting 180-200 gr ammo. Regardless which you go with, pick a quality hunting bullet and make a good shoot, any of the rounds you mentioned will do it. All personal preference.
Good luck
I know this might not be a popular opinion but there are a lot of people taking elk with 6.5. It's all about a quality bullet and proper shot placement. Personally I'd prefer "more power". Again plenty of elk have been taken with 30.06 and is a very popular do it all gun that can take down most anything in North American. But if your looking to ensure you have what it's gonna take to anchor a bull at distance I'd opt for the 300 win mag, shooting 180-200 gr ammo. Regardless which you go with, pick a quality hunting bullet and make a good shoot, any of the rounds you mentioned will do it. All personal preference.
Good luck
KYHILLJACK
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2013
- Messages
- 107
Model 70 7 mag
Federal 160 gr Nosler partition or Accubond.
Zero at 225 yds.
Nuff said.
Federal 160 gr Nosler partition or Accubond.
Zero at 225 yds.
Nuff said.
sourdough44
Well-Known Member
I top out with the 300WSM, works just fine. I may drop down to my 284 Winchester next time. I'm a stickler for shot placement while using a good bullet.
I was kind of in the same boat (I also wanted a new gun) and I went 300 Win Mag. I shoot custom loads but in a pinch you can find factory ammo for it just about anywhere. Mine is a little under 9lbs and with the brake it's very easy on the recoil for a magnum.
On a side note, I would recommend something that is stainless or cerekoted(?). The weather in elk country is not always friendly on a blued rifle. That was one of the ways I justified to myself that I needed a new gun though!
On a side note, I would recommend something that is stainless or cerekoted(?). The weather in elk country is not always friendly on a blued rifle. That was one of the ways I justified to myself that I needed a new gun though!
Frank in the Laurels
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,754
..you'd be hard pressed to beat a ho-hum, plain Jane boring .338 win mag !! Just about perfect...
When my daughter was old enough to ethically hunt animals instead of paper.. We debated on what caliber to get for her as she would be hunting pronghorn, deer, elk and oryx. We settled on the 7mm-08. It has been a wonderful caliber with not much recoil and good energy. We have shot pronghorn and at least 3 elk. No oryx she used my 30/06 before we purchased a 300WM as she got older. We settled on partitions and accubonds in 140 gr. and they have never let us down.
shoulder fired howitzer no thank you ill pass
Calvin45
Well-Known Member
No disrespect intended at all but have you ever fired one? Yeah it's not something you go plinking with but if you can shoot a .300 win mag well, a .338, while noticeably different, shouldn't at all be outside your capability. Just my humble opinion, take it for whatever you think it's worth.
