Preferred elk platform

[Glockisgood17]

Many years out west between Colorado and Wyoming for the beast. First I had a Remington 700 in 7mm magnum. It worked great! Always used Nosler bullets, never had a failure of those bullets.

Switched to a Remington in 300 mag, ouch that hurt! But I have shoulder issues, both have been replaced over the years. Settled on a Browning BAR lightweight stalker in 300 WSM! and that is the one I’ve used for the last 15 years going out west. Great caliber, when loaded correctly it runs fine and is softer shooting imho. I still have that rifle should I draw a tag here. The Bar in that configuration shoots very soft, more of a push then punishing for sure.

The wife found me a BrowNing x-bolt medallion is 30/06. Very nice rifle, the most accurate of these 4. It’s sub 1/2” at 100. The BAR is sub moa, the Remingtons were both 1” at 100. Settle on a load for whatever you decide. If it was me it would be something in 30 caliber. Get a good scope, probably cost close to what the rifle does.

I liked Nikons a lot, no longer made. You can still find some here and there in the 4-5 hundy range. Or Leupold also. Pick out what works best for you. Shoot it, a lot. Off hand, shooting sticks, bipod if you have one but practice. Knows the dope for your load. Tape it to your stock. Practice some more getting into field positions and a quick shot.

Congratulations! Get yourself in good shape and let us know how you do. Mountains can be tough on you!

 

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Many years out west between Colorado and Wyoming for the beast. First I had a Remington 700 in 7mm magnum. It worked great! Always used Nosler bullets, never had a failu of those bullets.

Switched to a Remington in 300 mag, ouch that hurt! But I have shoulder issues, both have been replaced over the years. Settled on a Browning BAR lightweight stalker and that is the one I’ve used for the last 15 years going out west. I still have that rifle should I draw a tag here. The Bar in that configuration shoots very soft, more of a push then punishing for sure.

The wife found me a BrowNing x-bolt medallion is 30/06. Very nice rifle, the most accurate of these 4. It’s sub 1/2” at 100. The BAR is sub moa, the Remingtons were both 1” at 100. Settle on a load for whatever you decide. If it was me it would be something in 30 caliber. Get a good scope, probably cost close to what the rifle does.

I liked Nikons a lot, no longer made. You can still find some here and there in the 4-5 hundy range. Or Leupold also. Pick out what works best for you. Shoot it, a lot. Off hand, shooting sticks, bipod if you have one but practice. Knows the dope for your load. Tape it to your stock. Practice some more getting into field positions and a quick shot.

Congratulations! Get yourself in good shape and let us know how you do. Mountains can be tough on you!

I really like the idea of a 300 x bolt hells canyon speed. I’ve shot them before with the break and they aren’t bad at all for recoil. New gun, new scope, and go for it. It would be my “do all” gun for hunting. Probably overkill for Oklahoma whitetail but oh well. I plan to elk hunt every few years going forward so I need something super dependable that I’m comfortable with.

 

[CorpsVet]

I've taken 1 Elk, my only rifle at that time (late 90's) was a WWII British Enfield .303.

 

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I bought a Bergara b14 hmr 6.5 CM last year as a deer rifle and it’s just too heavy for my liking so I’ll probably sell it. Super accurate tho

 

[TedKennedy]

I've taken 1 Elk, my only rifle at that time (late 90's) was a WWII British Enfield .303.

I killed my first elk with a .303 Enfield, second with a 7x57. I know a guy that killed one quite effectively with a 30-30, but that seems a little underpowered. He was only about 40 yards away.

 

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I killed my first elk with a .303 Enfield, second with a 7x57. I know a guy that killed one quite effectively with a 30-30, but that seems a little underpowered. He was only about 40 yards away.

It’s all about shot placement for sure. I shot a small doe with the 7 mag once back in the guts and she still ran 150 or so yards.

 

[Kev1Doggy]

Something to consider is whether you are hunting on horseback or out of 4x4. If you are doing a real pack in camp you should use a scope that goes in a scabbard easily. Personally I have a Sako Fiberclass in 300wm with a VX3 2.5x8 on it I bought in the 80s that is a great Elk rifle or a Sako in 338wm with a Zeiss Conquest 3x9, they all go in and out of a scabbard with no problem.

 

[Jcann]

I’ve shot 7 mag and now 7wsm for 44 years and it’s never let me down on any hunt including elk. As far as Berger bullets, I shoot those exclusively (180gr VLD). Never had one fail me yet, but it’s like all bullets, placement is key.

 

[OKRuss]

I really like the idea of a 300 x bolt hells canyon speed. I’ve shot them before with the break and they aren’t bad at all for recoil. New gun, new scope, and go for it. It would be my “do all” gun for hunting. Probably overkill for Oklahoma whitetail but oh well. I plan to elk hunt every few years going forward so I need something super dependable that I’m comfortable with.

7mm magnum is my "do all" gun for rifle hunting. Federal Premium 150gr boat tail soft point used for many, many elk in CO. No 500 yd shots so unsure how the bullet would perform but 200-300 yds very effective when put in the 10 ring!

 

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Something to consider is whether you are hunting on horseback or out of 4x4. If you are doing a real pack in camp you should use a scope that goes in a scabbard easily. Personally I have a Sako Fiberclass in 300wm with a VX3 2.5x8 on it I bought in the 80s that is a great Elk rifle or a Sako in 338wm with a Zeiss Conquest 3x9, they all go in and out of a scabbard with no problem.

That is a great consideration too. I am going with my dad and we are not doing a horseback. Should be a pretty accommodating hunt for him.