1st elk hunt need rifle advice

[FIGJAM]

IMO nothing mentioned above with the possible exception of the 300WM, is a 1000 yds elk gun. 500, maybe 600, but the speed has come down too much to make the bullets work right past that. If you want a dedicated 1000 yd elk cartridge go with the 340 Wby. with the 225 TTSX or 250gr bullets. Sorry, but the 6.5s are not legitimate Elk rounds. The 270 with 160s or such, that will hold their speed, about minimum for Elk and an 06 better. And if going for long range, want the Barnes TTSX bullets as they long for weight, so fly better, and open up and penetrate. But nothing really going to "open up" out past 600 yds, very well. The 06 with a 180gr TTSX or similar will be the better round than the 270. Even Jack O'Connor used it on Elk.

Oh hell, here we go...

 

[Texanjohn]

At 160 PDs soaking wet I NEED A MUZZLE BRAKE ON A 300 Win mag! And why not? You can enjoy shooting it more and that usually results in a better shooter, just my 2 Cts

Who needs a muzzle break on a 300WM hunting rifle?

 

[FIGJAM]

What he said, elk are big critters and often takes a lot to put them down - 7mm minimum and 30 caliber better, 338 best. I've tracked them 5 miles before from a good shooter and good hunter, just off the mark star

Is the additional .007 in diameter the 7mm has over the .277 really material when we are talking minimums?

 

[trebark]

None of the above. For elk I would stick with .30 calibers. The 300 WM fits the bill but ammo is expensive. I own one and love it but ammo is so dang expensive. I want to shoot it a lot and cant. I have been doing a ton a research and think the 30-06 would be a good do all cartridge. Cheaper ammo, still a .30, and can shoot 180's. Win win situation to me.

+1
300WM
or
30-06

 

[FlyGuy11]

Last Elk I shot in 2017 was 500 lbs at 422 yards with a 280 Ackley Improved. She never took another step. None in 2018 I wasn't drawn In the original post on rifle scope combo, I have read correct information on buy the best optics you can afford. I am personally buying a Night Force SHV 4X14 50mm to lighten things up compared to my US Optics Scope.

 

[BigGrizz]

I am not talking about a creedmoor, I am talking about a caliber of bullet - Load them up in a 260, 264wm, 26 Nosler or whatever you want and they kill game. To compare a 6.5 for elk to a 223 on deer is a complete joke.

It absolutely is not a joke to make that relative comparison. You just don't like that the comparison can be drawn to marginalize a marginal cartridge. You're a 6.5 fan. That's ok. You carry water for it on this forum on a regular basis. I don't think that's a bad thing. It's quite positive in fact. I also know you're not talking about a CM.

I believe my point still stands. If the 6.5 was all that great it would've stuck, and I'm glad you mentioned it first- The 264 Win Mag. If the 6.5 was the be-all end-all that so many wish and want it to be, then the 264 Win Mag would have not faded into obscurity. I'm not saying it's a bad cartridge either, nor am I saying that about the others. What I am saying is that the standards have been the standards for some time for good reason.

 

[FIGJAM]

It absolutely is not a joke to make that relative comparison. You just don't like that the comparison can be drawn to marginalize a marginal cartridge. You're a 6.5 fan. That's ok. You carry water for it on this forum on a regular basis. I don't think that's a bad thing. It's quite positive in fact. I also know you're not talking about a CM.

I believe my point still stands. If the 6.5 was all that great it would've stuck, and I'm glad you mentioned it first- The 264 Win Mag. If the 6.5 was the be-all end-all that so many wish and want it to be, then the 264 Win Mag would have not faded into obscurity. I'm not saying it's a bad cartridge either, nor am I saying that about the others. What I am saying is that the standards have been the standards for some time for good reason.

You are ignoring the advancements made in bullet technology and fast twist barrels that shoot the heavy for caliber bullets - that is where US companies have failed the 6.5 market up until recently. Remington offers the 264wm in their Sendero SFII model, but it doesn't have a 1:8 twist - why? They are idiots as are most of the US gun manufacturers who have dabbled in 6.5 territory until recently.

Remington finally made a decent 260 rem with an 8 twist barrel in their 5R Gen 2, and then they discontinued it for the stupid creedmoor. They can't even get behind their own creation now that the market is ripe for the taking.

 

[Gary Hammond]

Hello all! I'm new to the forum but have been lurking for awhile.

This coming hunting season I have my first (hopefully not last) back packing elk hunt. I currently have a .270 but would like to set up a new light weight rifle for longer range shooting, backpacking, and elk hunting.

I don't have much long range shooting experience, I usually do stand hunting within 300 yards for whitetail in Georgia.

I have considered:
Weatherby mark V
Bergara premier
Christensen arms ridgeline
CA Mesa (would put the additional funds to better optics)

I want to keep the rifle under $2000. I still haven't figured out my optics as of yet but it would be around the same $2000

As for a caliber I'm considering:
6.5 creedmor
6.5 prc
28 nosler
7mm
300 win

I wanted a "do all" caliber that would work for elk but would also potentially work for deer. I've never hand loaded nor do I plan on going down the rabbit hole anytime soon so I would be using over the counter ammunition for the time being.

Any helpful advice would be appreciated

Thanks
Dan

 

[Texanjohn]

It absolutely is not a joke to make that relative comparison. You just don't like that the comparison can be drawn to marginalize a marginal cartridge. You're a 6.5 fan. That's ok. You carry water for it on this forum on a regular basis. I don't think that's a bad thing. It's quite positive in fact. I also know you're not talking about a CM.

I believe my point still stands. If the 6.5 was all that great it would've stuck, and I'm glad you mentioned it first- The 264 Win Mag. If the 6.5 was the be-all end-all that so many wish and want it to be, then the 264 Win Mag would have not faded into obscurity. I'm not saying it's a bad cartridge either, nor am I saying that about the others. What I am saying is that the standards have been the standards for some time for good reason.

I have a 264 win mag, shoots great, but the weight of the bullets available don't scream Elk to me, I want to see my animal drop when I shoot it, where I shoot it. I think all of our game animals deserve that quick dispatch, so I always go heavy on bullets and energy. Just my 2 cts

 

[BigGrizz]

You are ignoring the advancements made in bullet technology and fast twist barrels that shoot the heavy for caliber bullets - that is where US companies have failed the 6.5 market up until recently. Remington offers the 264wm in their Sendero SFII model, but it doesn't have a 1:8 twist - why? They are idiots as are most of the US gun manufacturers who have dabbled in 6.5 territory until recently.

Remington finally made a decent 260 rem with an 8 twist barrel in their 5R Gen 2, and then they discontinued it for the stupid creedmoor. They can't even get behind their own creation now that the market is ripe for the taking.

I'm not ignoring advancements. Those same advancements are being applied to the aged standard cartridges. So if it tech is making the 6.5 better, then the same is true for the standard elk cartridges- of which the 6.5 has never been.

And perhaps there are executives and managers that are idiots that will be late to the game. And perhaps they realize the 6.5 is a PRS and Hornady driven fad.

 

[FIGJAM]

We are all a product of our environment - I grew up with all of my family killing elk every year with a 243 or a 270. Never had a problem putting them in the freezer. So, if a 130-150 gr bullet out of a 270 will kill elk, it makes sense to me that a 130-150gr bullet out of a 6.5 will also kill them.

I went the big magnum route, and I can honestly say my 300 rum doesnt kill them any better than my 270wsm. DRT is more a product of bullet selection and shot placement. The animal that ran the furthest on me was a little mule deer buck hit through both lungs at 200 with my 300 rum and 215gr bergers - stupid thing ran 250 yards...i thought I missed him. The elk in my avatar was killed last fall at 430 with my 270wsm shooting little 145gr bullets. Dumped him on his ***....

 

[BigGrizz]

We are all a product of our environment - I grew up with all of my family killing elk every year with a 243 or a 270. Never had a problem putting them in the freezer. So, if a 130-150 gr bullet out of a 270 will kill elk, it makes sense to me that a 130-150gr bullet out of a 6.5 will also kill them.

I went the big magnum route, and I can honestly say my 300 rum doesnt kill them any better than my 270wsm. DRT is more a product of bullet selection and shot placement. The animal that ran the furthest on me was a little mule deer buck hit through both lungs at 200 with my 300 rum and 215gr bergers - stupid thing ran 250 yards...i thought I missed him. The elk in my avatar was killed last fall at 430 with my 270wsm shooting little 145gr bullets. Dumped him on his ---....

I don't disagree with the first part, and I don't think I want to try and refute the second part. With that being said, does that mean shooting distance should be limited now? Because technology applied to standard elk cartridges really enables them to outclass the new shiny things at distance. And this isn't a skill question. This is a simple,"What's this bullet and cartridge really gonna do?" That is part of why the standards have become the standards and why I stated the 6.5 as marginal for elk.

I'm not saying a guy can't use a 6.5 to kill elk and other big critters. What I am saying is I sure as heck wouldn't do it, and I have quite a few elk seasons under my belt as well.

 

[FIGJAM]

I don't disagree with the first part, and I don't think I want to try and refute the second part. With that being said, does that mean shooting distance should be limited now? Because technology applied to standard elk cartridges really enables them to outclass the new shiny things at distance. And this isn't a skill question. This is a simple,"What's this bullet and cartridge really gonna do?" That is part of why the standards have become the standards and why I stated the 6.5 as marginal for elk.

I'm not saying a guy can't use a 6.5 to kill elk and other big critters. What I am saying is I sure as heck wouldn't do it, and I have quite a few elk seasons under my belt as well.

Are you judging the effectiveness of a long range cartridge by the diameter and weight of the bullet, or the energy retained downrange? When you run the numbers with the 6.5 147gr eldm, they retain a lot of velocity and energy downrange - its scary, especially when you run it at elevations where the elk hang out. The little 6.5 PRC has 1365ft lbs of energy and is still traveling at 2044 FPS at 1000 yards using factory hornady ammo.

 

[Barrelnut]

Shot this seasons elk at 517 yards with a 210 VLD from a 300 RUM. Elk went maybe 5 yards. Have shot them with the 7 Mag also. Seen a few runners shot with a 30-06, but that was mainly due to shot placement. So I'm a believer that bigger is better.

But I wouldn't hesitate to take a 600 yard shot on one with a 6.5 PRC or 6.5-284. Once you get beyond the MPBR of the rifle shot placement is very important. A gut shot elk at 600 yards is going to be no worse with a 6.5 than a 30 cal. The main thing is an accurate rifle that the shooter can shoot accurately. I personally don't even like the idea of factory ammo past 300 yards, but that is probably just me being annal.

But for you guys saying that the 6.5 is not enough but the 270 is, should really rethink that. The faster 6.5s will beat the 270 at distance and do it in a short action.

Here are some numbers for the Hornady factory stuff.

6.5 PRC 140 ELD-X
100 yards - Vel = 2808 Eng = 2503
500 yards - Vel = 2248 Eng = 1604 drop = 36.2

270 Win 145 ELD-X
100 yards - Vel = 2796 Eng = 2516
500 yards - Vel = 2157 Eng = 1497 drop = 37.6

270 Win 150 Gr. Interlock
100 yards - Vel = 2642 Eng = 2324
500 yards - Vel = 1929 Eng = 1239 drop = 44.1