Whats your elk rifle

[Aught6Fan]

I used a 30-30 for most of my hunting career. (60 years)

OH,
Your post about using the .30-30 for timber elk got my gears to turning. I picked up a Savage bolt action .30-30 years ago, not long after parting with my early 70s vintage Win. model 94 (which I'm still kicking myself about). Anyway, I have never really hunted with Savage much, but several years back I got to toying with the idea of putting a peep sight on it and using as a timber gun...after trying unsuccessfully to fine a peep sight the idea faded.

I'd like to hear yours, and others, experiences on using it for elk, and maybe moose or bear sized game?

Thanks.

 

[llewokj]

Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .338 RCM - 225gr Hornady SST Ammo

 

[ThreeTikkas]

Picked up a new Elk whacker last week. Didn't really need it,but the price was right. Now all I need to do is draw a tag. Fingers crossed.

LSS 300 Win Mag. Haven't had her to the range yet. She's getting a little TLC in the form of a bedding job and trigger tweak.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Nice.....and with the right price too

 

[jmg]

I shoot a Ruger M77 in 300WM. Topped with a Leupold VXII 3-9x40 with target turrets dialed in to shoot 180 Accubonds.

 

[llp]

I've killed elk with the following rifles, and probably a few others I don't recall offhand:

270 Win, Win 70 Featherweight, 140 grain TSX and 150 grain Nolser PT
308 Win, Win 70 Featherweight, 150 grain Nosler partition
308 Win, Ruger 77L, 150 grain Nosler Partition
30.06, Win 70 Featherweight, 180 grain Nosler Partition, 168 grain TTSX
30.06, Ruger #1, 180 grain Nosler
30.06 Kimber 84L, 168 grain TTSX
300 Win Mag, Win 70 Supergrade, 180 grain TSX
300 Win Mag, Kimber 8400, 180 grain TSX
300 WSM, Kimber 8400 MT, 180 grain TSX, 150 grain TTSX
375 H+H, Win 70 alaskan, 300 grain TSX

I've killed more elk with the 30.06 than any other caliber, but that is quickly being challenged by the 300 win mag. Currently the Kimber 8400 in 300 win is what i consider my "go to" elk rifle, but still use the Kimber 84L on at least one elk each year. I'm pretty comfortable with any of the 30 cals, but feel the .308 is a bit light when hunting BIG elk. It is fine on cows and spikes. Stay away from the extrmes on both ends, heavy and light, and you will be well served throughout your hunting career. I've killed elk out to 500 yards with one shot from a 30.06 mulitple times, but the 300 Win mag makes range estimation a bit less critical. They aren't anymore dead, however. Unless you have made a particularly poor choice, it isn't the caliber that matters, as bullet placement is king.
llp

 

[Multi-SpeciesHunter]

.300 Winnie Tikka T3 Lite. Synthetic Stock but want to buy a olive green stock from stockystocks, as that would be sick. I topped it off with a 4-16x50mm Vortex Viper. I currently shoot 165gr Hornady Interlocks, but may change up to 200gr.

 

[Old Hunter]

OH,
Your post about using the .30-30 for timber elk got my gears to turning. I picked up a Savage bolt action .30-30 years ago, not long after parting with my early 70s vintage Win. model 94 (which I'm still kicking myself about). Anyway, I have never really hunted with Savage much, but several years back I got to toying with the idea of putting a peep sight on it and using as a timber gun...after trying unsuccessfully to fine a peep sight the idea faded.

I'd like to hear yours, and others, experiences on using it for elk, and maybe moose or bear sized game?

Thanks.

I just noticed this. I can't help you with bear and moose. I'm a mule deer and elk hunter.

All my shots are close with 75 yds being a long shot, but have taken 100yds on occasion. Not that I felt the gun didn't have more range, but more of wanting the challenge of getting close. The 30-30 never let me down. I do restrict myself to double lung shots only. I use the 170gr partition bullet for elk, and the old old cheap core-lokt for deer. My gunsmith friend tells me the core-lokt is fine for elk too, but I feel safer with the partition. All he ever uses is the core-lokt, but hes shooting a .280 too.

So, partition 170gr, get close, good shot placement, and you'll do well.

 

[buckbull]

I mostly use a Tikka T3 hunter in .300wm. I really like the .300wm for elk. Also have used .30-06 and .338wm; both in weatherby vanguard MOA models. All are topped with Leopold vx3 3x9. I choose the tikka more often due to the weight difference.

 

[Lone Ranger]

Winchester Model 70 stainless Featherweight All Terrain 270 shooting 140 grain Nosler Accubonds.

 

[hondo62]

I hunt with a Savage 30-06. I haven't found much you can't do with an 30-06.

 

[crumy]

Thinking about getting a 7 mag to switch things up

 

[COElkFreak]

Ruger MK 77 Mark II...in .338 Win Mag....backed up with a Howa .270....I also like chasing them with my Hoyt as well.

 

[tttoadman]

300 win mag for me. I am setup with barnes 165 and a 4-12. It is the only gun I have ever bought.

If I head into brush I will use my dads old 06 with a little 2-7 scope.

 

[Shooter]

My elk rifle is a Winchester M70 SS featherweight in 338-06.