If I were to look into a new elk rifle I would go with a 6.5-300 Weatherby in a Weatherby Accumark. That would take care of $2800 then top it off with a Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44 scope with Leupold mounts and rings.
If you are a non -resident,want to be, elk hunter.....spend about $1500.00 on the rifle/scope combo, and use the balance to help finance your hunt! memtb
I would buy a browning x-bolt hells-canyon speed in 300WSM with a XV 3i 4-15X50 CDS (Talley rings to match of course)
In total you are looking at about $1600 total for this setup.
My friend has one. With factory ammo he hit a pie plate at 500 yards every shot.
1600$ to me seems like a lot for a rifle. Hard to believe how much some people wrap up in guns.
Take the leftover money and put it towards your elk hunt.
I considered selling my 300 WSM browning A-bolt and picking up a setup like this but I just cant get rid of it. It has been too good to me over the years. No sense in dumping one good gun for another to save 5 ounces...
If we are California dreaming I would probably go with one of those fancy Christensen arm rifles in some very powerful caliber with a swarovski scope of some sort. lol
Sad to say that could arguably be no mans land. As someone mentioned you can do quite well for 1600-2000 bucks. Then I?m not sure you gain much until you hit 5000-7500. Even then you may only gain 1/2 moa.
I?m i the save you money for the hunt camp. I?ve never had the need for an expensive rifle. I can pie plate 500 yards with my $400 M70. It doesn?t take much to get a rifle to shoot 3/4 groups. HAND LOADS and a little trial and error. Sub MOA is plenty good enough for a hunting rifle.
Caliber choice.... 7mm with 160's or 175's at 3,000 -3,100 fps or .308 dia with 180's or 200's in the 2,900-3,100 fps range
The customs would be either Jarrett or NULA $3500- $7000
The factory would be Remington, synthetic stock and a 24" bbl with a Timney triger and pillar bedding $2000
If you go smaller dia, would the 6.5's hold up to elk bones ? Also if you drive them above 3,300 fps will they hold up at 25 yards if that is your opportunity ?
For the 6.5-300 Weatherby shooting a handloaded Barnes 127gr LRX BT at 3400fps would have no problem with a elk/moose even shooting through their heavy bones. Likewise I am sure that it would hold up at 25 yards
I would purchase a Remington 700 long range in 300 rum. Then I would get the action trued the barrel replaced with a Brux or Bartlein barrel with a brake. I would also replace the trigger with a trigger tech diamond and bed the action. I'd top the rifle with a mark5 or a sig tango 6.
Getting a Weatherby big game .300 wby mag with a timney trigger and cerakoted. Going to pair it with a Leu vx-6hd 2-12x44. Should be about $3300 before tax, shipping, FFL etc. for both.