Rifle advice

[cobballer]

If you had to buy one rifle for elk and wild boar hunting, what rifle/caliber would it be? Trying to buy a new rifle that'll be good for both.

 

[1mechanic]

At what range are you comfortable shooting to? And not trying to be an *** but where do you go to hunt wild boats lol?

 

[cobballer]

At what range are you comfortable shooting to? And not trying to be an *** but where do you go to hunt wild boats lol?

I've really only been boar hunting, so most of my shots have been less than 50 yards. I'm set to hunt elk in the fall, so I'm sure that'll be a little longer of a shot.

 

[Slick8]

Something in a 30 cal magnum if elk is the reason for the purchase.

My preference is the 30 Nosler or 300 WM / 300 PRC if you don't hand load. I'm building a 30-28 Nos with a .250 freebore and an 8 twist elk killing machine.

 

[Teekerguy]

get a tikka T3X 7-08 doesn't hurt the wallet to bad and tikkas flat out shoot

 

[1mechanic]

I like Slick8's idea 300 prc.

 

[memtb]

Personally, for hunting…….nothing less than .30 cal.! If I were planning on doing a good deal of elk hunting…..now, I'm look'n at a .338 WM or one of the "hot rod" .338's"!

You can certainly be successful with less cartridge, but why not carry a slightly better insurance policy! JMO.

My wife uses a .338 WM, for all of her hunting…..from deer/antelope up through big game! That said, the .338 WM is a bit handicapped for true long range hunting/shooting ……but, her personal limit of 500 yards is well within the .338 WM's capabilities! memtb

 

[xsn10s]

The biggest cartridge you can shoot well legally. I had a buddy that shot most of his elk with a 308 Win and 165gr Partition. And he was a big guy with a safe full of magnums. 300 yards and less he killed some big elk.

 

[Reelamin]

For what you mentioned and your historical hunting. .308 Win will work perfectly and lots of ammo options available. No brake, shoter barrel, no ego pumping, just straight up simple and deadly. Yes, will work just fine on elk 500yds easily.

 

[KyCarl]

Don'l laugh but I think my 6.5 X 284 would work fine for both.

 

[huntinghuasna]

300 PRC or & 7 PRC...

 

[David_h]

300 PRC or & 7 PRC...

Or both! I'd go for minimum 145gr bullet weight with minimum muzzle velocity of 3000 fps. However, if certain that no long shot will be taken you could go with less velocity (and recoil); such as .308 Winchester.

 

[kgarrett]

Yep, anything from a 270 through a 300 mag. Get the rifle you want more than the cartridge. I understand snap shooting, moving targets, and multiple shots are common with hogs so some might choose a mag fed handy rifle with a 20 or 22 inch barrel. 308 or 30-06 would be a good choice in a lighter, handier rifle like a tikka.

Seems like the consensus is a 30 cal magnum is ideal for elk. I'd agree with that, though I have no first hand experience hunting elk. . The magnums to either side would be a great option too (I.e. 7 mm or 338). A switch barrel in 6.5PRC/300PRC would be my ideal option - One 20", one 24" barrel.

 

[kgarrett]

Ooh, just found this thread! Going down the rabbit hole…

Building a switch barrel rifle, slowly.

I know that the WTO switch lug system has been covered as nauseum here, but I am looking at taking a different approach, and am interested in opinions. So this all started with the idea of having one rifle for many situations. And needing a new lighter weight predator rifle. I’m wanting to get...

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