long range elk gun in 7 mag

[rryun]

Im new to long range hunting and plan on going elk hunting and cant deside on a 24 inch barrel or 26 inch. Maybe fluted? a slightly heavier barrel? carbon or stainless? Love my savages but bolt lift almost touches scope and they are a touch heavier. Remington, Savage, Ruger,Winchester, a custom under or around a grand? Where do i begin to look or look at for such a gun and then next would be a scope to match its long range capabilities, Leopold? NightForce? US Optics? Nikon?

 

[durak]

I'd try this in a 300 RUM:
Centerfire Rifle - Model 700 SPS Long Range - Remington Centerfire Rifles

or this in 338 RUM:
Centerfire Rifle - Model 700 XCR II - Remington Centerfire Rifles

Either of these firearms would be a great start for a long range hunter, 7 mag would also be a great choice....

 

[sp6x6]

I see this is first post. You mention long range, which varies for everyone.Try a search funtion at this site and long range elk. You will see a trend that most serious long time , elk hunting at distance is done with larger caliber as it has much better retained energy at the greater ranges. Such as 800 +.Use the ballistic calculator here and check loads that are of interest. I hung up my 7mmRM 20 + yrs ago in favor of a 340 WM, which is a good long range outfit

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

The 7mm remington is not a good choice for a long range elk rifle. It will work if you wait for the right shot and put the bullet exactly where you want it. With a high shoulder shot it works fine along with most any other centerfire cartridge and proper bullets. A 338 caliber is a much better long range elk rifle for most hunting situations with far less wounding loss.

 

[D.ID]

Anything CAN work. The big 338's DO work and work well for long range elk power. Boom, Thwack, Crash.......... As it should be.

 

[bigngreen]

Im new to long range hunting and plan on going elk hunting and cant deside on a 24 inch barrel or 26 inch. Maybe fluted? a slightly heavier barrel? carbon or stainless? Love my savages but bolt lift almost touches scope and they are a touch heavier. Remington, Savage, Ruger,Winchester, a custom under or around a grand? Where do i begin to look or look at for such a gun and then next would be a scope to match its long range capabilities, Leopold? NightForce? US Optics? Nikon?

to

Welcome to LRH, you'll get a lot of great advice but you will also find out nothing get the panties bunched up like talking about killing and elk long range so hang in there! A lot will hinge on just how far your thinking your wanting to shoot, many just want to extend the range of current equipment to maximize their ability to be able to take an animal while others are seeking and gearing up for that long shot.

 

[elkaholic]

Welcome to the site! The first thing you need to define is "what is long range"? This will determine what the minimun cartridge is. If you are like most of us, long range will probably become "longer range" very soon so I would go larger than the 7 mm if I were you. There are a lot of good guys on this forum with a lot of experience, so take the time to read up on this issue and don't be afraid to ask questions. Yes, you will get different opinions, but I think you will be able to look at the consensus and make an intellegent decision. Savage makes some very good over the counter rifles for long range hunting if you are trying to start out on a budget. I would look at the Sightron SIII scopes as well as the Vortex PST's. The Zeiss Conquest is also a good choice. If you don't mind a little extra length and weight, the 26" barrel will add about 80' +- to your MV. Realistically, this only adds approx. 20-25 yards to your maximun range. Good luck........Rich