Elk Rifle

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
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Two Harbors, Minnesota
My Bro in law and I bought the same rifle; his in 300WSM, and mine is a 30-06. He complained about the recoil, so he had it ported and upgraded the recoil pad. Both turned out to be real shooters with factory ammo. I do think that you will like it.
 
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cking13

Active Member
May 20, 2017
249
175
VA
My Bro in law and I bought the same rifle; his in 300WSM, and mine is a 30-06. He complained about the recoil, so he had it ported and upgraded the recoil pad. Both turned out to be real shooters with factory ammo. I do think that you will like it.
Im hoping so too. I have one in 270 that I love. What ammo are you running for elk out of your tikkas?
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
1,966
1,706
Two Harbors, Minnesota
My BIL used accubonds for elk, but did not shoot anything other than deer with it so far. I use my 338 for bull elk, and the Barnes bullets have planted five of them so far. The Tikka 30-06 is used for pronghorn, whitetail deer, mule deer, and cow elk. I just use Core-lokt (165 gr.)for local deer because I have scads of them after stocking up for the Zombie Acopolypse, but switch to Nosler Partition 180 gr. for mulies and cow elk. They have done the job for one mule deer and two cows so far. I would not hesitate to use that load in 30-06 for bull elk. I would try some different loads and find what shoots the best.
 
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kidoggy

Veteran member
Apr 23, 2016
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idaho
nice gun!

good luck with the ammo . was in cabelas yesterday and there wasn't a box of anything on the shelves.


it is like we are a socialist nation or something.
 
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RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
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Two Harbors, Minnesota
Yup, the larders are almost completely bare unless you need a Nitro Express 600. I can sell some of my 30-06 Core-lokt...only $100 a box. On second thought, make that $200.
 

memtb

Active Member
Congrats! Ya done good ....a good rifle choice, and one of the best factory offered elk cartridges!

Bullets: it’d difficult to beat the Barnes TTSX or LRX provided the range isn’t far enough to drop them below their expansion velocities.....which is a pretty long shot with the 300 WM ! From the muzzle to ranges where the retained velocity is around 1800 fps.....expect great bullet performance! memtb
 
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Timber Stalker

Active Member
May 22, 2020
291
622
I love the 300WM! Recoil on my rifle is not good but I’m not a pussy either. I just put it tight to my shoulder and take it. I can shoot it as good as my 25-06 and I never feel recoil when I’m shooting and an animal. I’m 100% kill with it and have never had to track anything. I’ve used a wide range of bullet and powder combinations from Remington cor-Lokt to handloads. I would hunt with any that I’ve tried, that being said I don’t shoot very far at animals, most all are shot within 100 yards.
 
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Ikeepitcold

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
9,884
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Reno Nv
I have the same rifle. You will like it.
I used Nosler Trophy Grade 180gr and it shot great. I switched to Hornady 180 and it also shot perfectl.
 
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Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,852
3,656
Ohio
I love the 300WM! Recoil on my rifle is not good but I’m not a pussy either. I just put it tight to my shoulder and take it. I can shoot it as good as my 25-06 and I never feel recoil when I’m shooting and an animal. I’m 100% kill with it and have never had to track anything. I’ve used a wide range of bullet and powder combinations from Remington cor-Lokt to handloads. I would hunt with any that I’ve tried, that being said I don’t shoot very far at animals, most all are shot within 100 yards.
This man, ladies and gentlemen, does NOT have a man bun! Hell Yeah brother! :p
 

cking13

Active Member
May 20, 2017
249
175
VA
I picked up a box of federal 180gr trophy copper since that’s what was available and I’m itching to try it out. Has anyone tried these with good results? I plan to keep shots within 500 yards.
 

memtb

Active Member
I picked up a box of federal 180gr trophy copper since that’s what was available and I’m itching to try it out. Has anyone tried these with good results? I plan to keep shots within 500 yards.

I can’t say anything positive or negative......we’ve been stuck on Barnes since the ‘90’s. But, there is some good factory stuff out there.....and the Federal Premium type ammo has always been good.

Are you a hand loader .....if so you have almost infinite options! memtb
 
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cking13

Active Member
May 20, 2017
249
175
VA
I can’t say anything positive or negative......we’ve been stuck on Barnes since the ‘90’s. But, there is some good factory stuff out there.....and the Federal Premium type ammo has always been good.

Are you a hand loader .....if so you have almost infinite options! memtb
Never hand loaded in my life and have never been one to worry much about bullet weight/type either. I’m new to out west and have always hunted east coast whitetails.
 

Timber Stalker

Active Member
May 22, 2020
291
622
Never hand loaded in my life and have never been one to worry much about bullet weight/type either. I’m new to out west and have always hunted east coast whitetails.
I let the rifle tell me what weight to use. You put it in the right spot, the animals die. I’ve killed animals with bullets most people would not consider a good “hunting” bullet. If they group well I use them without hesitation.
 
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JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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Gypsum, Co
There are times that I wonder just how we ever killed anything back in the 60's and 70's before all this premium bullet stuff showed up.

I am a reloader and have found that most of my rifles like Barnes TTSX bullets. They shoot as good as I really want them to and perform as I like. Most of them are sub moa at 200 yards and you can't argue with that.

But if you find a different bullet that performs out of your rifle then use it. It doesn't matter if you reload it or buy it in factory cartridges, if it works it works. Some of the best groups that I had out of my 25-06 were with Hornady 115 grain factory loads, but I came up with better groups with hand loads. My .340 Weatherby loved the factory Weatherby loadings of the 225 grain X bullet so I continued with it when I started loading for it and went with the 225 TTSX.
 
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nv-hunter

Veteran member
Feb 28, 2011
1,566
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Reno
What scope are you going to put on it?

Use a real good ballistic calculator and find your maximum point blank range and you should be able to aim dead center of kill zone out to about 400 yards.
 
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