Help chosing an Elk Cartridge.

300 ultra with a 230gr Berger , shot a muley buck at 1043 yards this yr and dumped several bulls at about the 900 yard mark , awesome rifle made by Craig's Custom Rifles, defiance action brunx barrell with a T-2 muzzle brake sitting on a McMillan stock accompanied with a night force scope, has the recoil of a 22-250. My wife took a nice 6×6 bul
 
Interesting you should mention the 308 win. A friend just texted me today that the guy he was helping got a nice 6 x 6 elk using a 308 yesterday. 150 nosler ballistic tip @ 2900 fps. Double lung shot @ 400 yds. White mountains Az.
 
John Spadaro said:
Based on the responses I don't see any love for the 270WSM. I thought it would be have some additional energy with recoil less than the 30-06.

A custom gunsmith told me that the 270WSM is no longer in favor and recommend the 6.5PRC instead. He said that the WSM cartridges sometimes have problems feeding. I not sure why the PRC would feed any better since it also has a fat case.
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The PRC is just the latest flavor and there has to be a need or justification for "new and improved" or people won't buy in, it's just easier to badmouth what currently exists. The WSM case has very similar dimensions to the PRC case. A little bit longer (2.030" verses 2.100"), slightly fatter (0.532" verses 0.550"), and more shoulder angle (30 degrees verses 35 degrees). There's no way the PRC is going to feed any better with such a small difference. I've had a stagger feed 7mm Sherman Short - that's a blown out case and improved 40 degree shoulder - feed just fine in a rifle I used to own. If anything was gonna have trouble feeding, that SS would be a prime candidate based off that reasoning.
 
John Spadaro said:
I am looking to build a lightweight rifle for mountain hunting. Primary game will be Elk with a maximum range of 400 yards. I also plan to use the gun at the range and would like to keep the recoil low.

A short action cartridge would be nice but am willing to compromise on this. I don't currently reload but am willing to spend the time to learn. The option for factory ammo is desired.

I have been considering these cartridges, 308, 270WSM, 7mm-08, 6.5PRC for short actions. 30-06, 270, 280AI if I go with long action.

If I do reloading I would like to use a cartridge and bullet weight combination that allows for reduced recoil loads. I would plan to use the lighter loads for practicing at the range.
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30-06
Huge 30 Cal bullets selection including light fmj for Target practice, cheap brass, universal ammo available, it's crazy popular in Europe

Deadly terminal ballistics , good for a wide wide range of animals
 
AZShooter said:
Interesting you should mention the 308 win. A friend just texted me today that the guy he was helping got a nice 6 x 6 elk using a 308 yesterday. 150 nosler ballistic tip @ 2900 fps. Double lung shot @ 400 yds. White mountains Az.
Click to expand...
Here's what a .308 Win pushing a 215 Hybrid would do at 2,600+ MV... It's still holding it's own. :cool:

You get around 2,550-2,650 with a 24"-26" barrel.

308 Win 215 Hybrid.png
 
+1 for the .338 RCM being exactly what you are looking for! Mines a SS Ruger Hawkeye with a "22 inch barrel. It's light 7-8 lbs. It recoils like a .308, and it is a nice gun at the bench. You could easily hunt past 400 yards with it. It holds a tick more powder than a .338-06 in a short action. Not to mention the Hornady .225 SST's are amazing! I bought 300 rounds for mine!
 
I would not practice for a long range hunt with anything other than the load I am planning on hunting with. If you can't handle the recoil during practice then install a muzzle break. Don't use a different round with a different poi.
 
WildRose said:
You have this backwards.
Click to expand...

A Bartlien 24" featherweight barrel is as low as 2lbs. The 24" Proof Carbon Sendero is 3 lbs. but if you compare the Proof to a Steel Sendero it is about half the weight.

The difference in weight between a Fierce with a Carbon barrel vs Steel is insignificant.
 
CJS-6.5 said:
I mean for final practice with the hunting rifle. Nothing wrong with polishing the fundamentals with some cheap .223.
Click to expand...


I already have the .223 for practice. I suspect that some combination of lighter bullet and reduced powder charge will produce a trajectory similar to the full power hunting round.
 
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