caliber and rifle for elk backup, practice and targets

[bigngreen]

I'm curious to know what length barrel you achieved 2850fps with using the 165gr Matrix bullets?

The 26in barrels will run in this range, 24's a little slower in the 2800 range and the 28's nearing the 2900 range. The 165 Matrix has excellent ballistics and it opens well in the core of an elk, I've hunted with the 06 and 180'd for elk and I'd build the 270 EVERY time!!

 

[Dosh]

Can't go wrong with a 30-06 as the backup. I don't own one so I backup my 30/378 with 270 Weatherby for elk.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I still stick by my original suggestion of the .280 Ackley Improved being a great backup.

 

[MontanaMarine]

I don't think you can go wrong with either a 308 or a 30-06.

Check out this new 30-06 from Remington, it has a 26" Varmint bbl, and B&C stock .

Remington 700 Long Range 4+1 30-06SPRG 26" $643.00 SHIPS FREE

 

[ToKeepAndBear]

I would like to find a rifle that would be a good backup for my 300 win mag for elk as well as using it for practice and target shooting at 300 and 600 yards. It would need to be inherently accurate and have a long barrel life, say 3000 to 4000 rounds.

How about a 308? Your requirements match the caliber perfectly. Who cares if it has more wind drift than some of the other calibers mentioned? The more wind drift, the better you get at reading the wind. It will make your 300 seem easy. It has tremendous barrel life and ammo (both hunting and target) is abundant. It is plenty for elk out to 600 yards. My 308 hunting load is the 200 Sierra Gameking at 2571fps out of a 20 inch barrel. With a DA of 9000 feet (my DA from first season CO this year), at 650 yards it has 24 inches wind drift with 10mph wind and 1514 ft/lbs energy.

TKAB