Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Hunting
Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Help Deciding on "Budget" Rifle & Scope for Once in a lifetime Elk tag (narrowed down list)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Whaler63" data-source="post: 2177246" data-attributes="member: 109887"><p>Hey ND243, </p><p></p><p>Congrats on the "Once in a lifetime tag"</p><p>In reading your post, there is a lot to unpack here.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Once in a lifetime opportunity</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Willing to fold over a Wyo deer tag to make this hunt</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do not see taking shots on Elk beyond 400 yards, may want to shoot gongs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Scopes - high magnification/big tube/50mm+ objective lense</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rifles - 6.5 PRC Tikka's and Christensen Mesa's</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Want to keep the gun light for all day carry</li> </ul><p>My first concern is the 6.5 PRC. While there are many on this board that may have used a 6.5 bore gun to drop Elk, I do not get the sense that you have spent much time with the cartridge. Being that this is a OLT hunt for Elk, many of us would recommend that you get better insurance with a more traditional cartridge, typically found with the 7mm and 300 magnums. The 6.5's are great a alternative for recoil sensitivity or for those with limited capabilities with properly "doping" scopes.</p><p></p><p>I also think that there are more decisions that need to be made:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> A light carry rig vs longer range (heavier) rig <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Longer Range - Christiansen Mesa - (Scopes listed seem appropriate, although over kill IMHO)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tikka's---IMHO, these are light rifles, the scopes listed seem better suited for heavier long range guns. FWIW - I had 2* Tikka's and sent them back as they did not live up to the 3 shot MOA guarantee at 100 yards..I was not going to risk a hunt with them</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Budget vs Once in a lifetime tag <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Will you only be hunting Elk this time or do you plan to hunt Elk or larger game in the future?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Why is budget prefaced/emphasized on a OTL hunt that you would leave your Wyo deer hunt for?</li> </ul></li> </ul><p>Worthy of consideration:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Scope:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Leupold - VX5-HD 5-15x44mm, CDS, ZL, 30mm Tube, WindPlex Reticle</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mount - Leupold 20 MOA Picatinny</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rings - Leupold 30MM Aluminum QR Rings</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rifle:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Browning X-bolt (Any of the 7mm or 30 cal Magnums)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hells Canyon (Speed or Long Range)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Max Long Range (heavy but super accurate)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Medallion, Stalker and Hunter versions are fine too..</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I have also heard good things about the CR - Mesa</li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ammo:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I think you'll find the 6.5 stuff to be scarce these days, along with everything else. But the 6.5 craze and more women entering the sport has made a noticeable impact on 6.5 related ammo, guns and components.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">High BC bullets for the 7's and Big 30's are well into the .630+ for G1, keep in mind these are big heavy bullets 175 and 180 grains for the 7mm, and 190 and 210 for the 300's. That said their long range performance is superb! And will be further enhanced with Leupold's CDS (Custom Dial System).</li> </ul></li> </ul><p>To wrap up this "Epistle" I have not recommended anything that I have not bought and used myself. I think I covered the good and touched upon the not so good. Frankly Browning and Leupold are my "Go-To's" as they are US based and have excellent infrastructure to handle warranty issues should they arise. BUSA does not have US based warranty repairs and it gets tricky as they are an "importer".. More importantly, Browning and Leupold make fine products and are fairly priced. They are not over priced and they are not Budget priced. </p><p></p><p>Again, congrats and best of success on your hunt. Please let us know what you decide on your artillery and please post pics of your hunt.</p><p></p><p>Cheers,</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Whaler63, post: 2177246, member: 109887"] Hey ND243, Congrats on the "Once in a lifetime tag" In reading your post, there is a lot to unpack here. [LIST] [*]Once in a lifetime opportunity [*]Willing to fold over a Wyo deer tag to make this hunt [*]Do not see taking shots on Elk beyond 400 yards, may want to shoot gongs [*]Scopes - high magnification/big tube/50mm+ objective lense [*]Rifles - 6.5 PRC Tikka's and Christensen Mesa's [*]Want to keep the gun light for all day carry [/LIST] My first concern is the 6.5 PRC. While there are many on this board that may have used a 6.5 bore gun to drop Elk, I do not get the sense that you have spent much time with the cartridge. Being that this is a OLT hunt for Elk, many of us would recommend that you get better insurance with a more traditional cartridge, typically found with the 7mm and 300 magnums. The 6.5's are great a alternative for recoil sensitivity or for those with limited capabilities with properly "doping" scopes. I also think that there are more decisions that need to be made: [LIST] [*] A light carry rig vs longer range (heavier) rig [LIST] [*]Longer Range - Christiansen Mesa - (Scopes listed seem appropriate, although over kill IMHO) [*]Tikka's---IMHO, these are light rifles, the scopes listed seem better suited for heavier long range guns. FWIW - I had 2* Tikka's and sent them back as they did not live up to the 3 shot MOA guarantee at 100 yards..I was not going to risk a hunt with them [/LIST] [*]Budget vs Once in a lifetime tag [LIST] [*]Will you only be hunting Elk this time or do you plan to hunt Elk or larger game in the future? [*]Why is budget prefaced/emphasized on a OTL hunt that you would leave your Wyo deer hunt for? [/LIST] [/LIST] Worthy of consideration: [LIST] [*]Scope: [LIST] [*]Leupold - VX5-HD 5-15x44mm, CDS, ZL, 30mm Tube, WindPlex Reticle [*]Mount - Leupold 20 MOA Picatinny [*]Rings - Leupold 30MM Aluminum QR Rings [/LIST] [*]Rifle: [LIST] [*]Browning X-bolt (Any of the 7mm or 30 cal Magnums) [LIST] [*]Hells Canyon (Speed or Long Range) [*]Max Long Range (heavy but super accurate) [*]Medallion, Stalker and Hunter versions are fine too.. [*]I have also heard good things about the CR - Mesa [/LIST] [/LIST] [*]Ammo: [LIST] [*]I think you'll find the 6.5 stuff to be scarce these days, along with everything else. But the 6.5 craze and more women entering the sport has made a noticeable impact on 6.5 related ammo, guns and components. [*]High BC bullets for the 7's and Big 30's are well into the .630+ for G1, keep in mind these are big heavy bullets 175 and 180 grains for the 7mm, and 190 and 210 for the 300's. That said their long range performance is superb! And will be further enhanced with Leupold's CDS (Custom Dial System). [/LIST] [/LIST] To wrap up this "Epistle" I have not recommended anything that I have not bought and used myself. I think I covered the good and touched upon the not so good. Frankly Browning and Leupold are my "Go-To's" as they are US based and have excellent infrastructure to handle warranty issues should they arise. BUSA does not have US based warranty repairs and it gets tricky as they are an "importer".. More importantly, Browning and Leupold make fine products and are fairly priced. They are not over priced and they are not Budget priced. Again, congrats and best of success on your hunt. Please let us know what you decide on your artillery and please post pics of your hunt. Cheers, [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Hunting
Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Help Deciding on "Budget" Rifle & Scope for Once in a lifetime Elk tag (narrowed down list)
Top