Advice on 1000 yard elk hunting rig?

[WildRose]

Before this year, I thought long range hunting was 500 yards for elk and deer using numerous .264 caliber guns.
I then went to Colorado and shot my buddy's long range custom 300 WM and took a nice six point bull at 902 yards. Watching that vapor trail and then the shock wave through the elk was incredible. Now I need my own true long range elk gun.
His gun is a modified 7mm Ruger M77 with a 30" bull Douglas barrel shooting 210 Nosl LRAB at 2887fps. This gun weighs in at 15#. This combo was devastating and dropped the bull on the spot.
I have quite a few potential 30 cal "donor" guns to customize but I thought I'd pick people's minds as to their input.
I'm in fairly good shape and condition and don't mind packing a 15# gun a few miles and I'm waffling between sticking with a heavier 30 cal bullet or asking a gunsmith to put me together a good 28 nosler throated for heavier bullets (195 Berger?).
Any thoughts or input would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Either will do the job but for Elk you'd be hard pressed to beat the 300 Rum.

I have three each 7mm STW's, 300wm's and .300Rum's. If I had to pick just one of them as a "go to Elk Rifle" it would probably be my Model 70 .300 Rum but fortunately I'll never have to pick just one.

I think the best advice would be pick a 7mm or .30 cal you have absolutely confidence in your ability to shoot accurately every time and go with that.

 

[WildRose]

I can post 100 to 1000 yard groups all day but it really doesn't change the fact that by design belted magnums are inherently less accurate. Having said that I still own them. I don't ever remember seeing anyone win any kind of benchrest match with a 7 rm, probably bc it's not a good choice to start with

There is no truth in this whatsoever. In rifles of equal quality the belted magnums can complete with anything and have done so quite successfully for more than fifty years.

 

[cjuve]

A 300 pushing the 230's around 3000 fps would hard to beat on a mag bolt face, you could also build it in a light enough rifle that would still be pleasant to shoot with a good brake. I can tell you that the 230's traveling at 3100 fps are an absolute hammer under 1000 yds. I see no need to go as heavy as a 15 lb rifle, most of my hunting rifles come in sub 10.5 lbs and are still very easy shoot at long range. I prefer a good balanced rifle rather than one with sheer mass.

 

[WildRose]

I respect your opinion. I've heard good things about your work. if there was any advantage to a belt someone would be using it. There are a lot of different things that come into play with modern benchrest cartridges as you know. The short fat cases in and around 6mm are definitely efficient and with efficiently you burn less powder marking for better barrel harmonics and less heat.
A belted case isn't as consistent in expansion when fired and is harder to resize around the belt area consistently. When a belted case wins a modern benchrest or even f class type shoot I'd be happy to eat my words.

 

[WildRose]

Alex,

Couple of questions. Want range would you limit the 7mm for elk? Also what do you base your decision of speed or energy or just experience? I see some have just experienced quicker kills with the 30 cals and higher. I'm picked up a 300 win and started load work with the 215 Berger.

Tons of them are and have been killed with the 7RM and larger capacity 7's since it was first introduced in the 850-1000yard range, some a might further.

The higher BC's of the .30's of course helps but are not necessary for clean, effective kills.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

There is no truth in this whatsoever. In rifles of equal quality the belted magnums can complete with anything and have done so quite successfully for more than fifty years.

Anything of similar case size and design. Belted mags have not been competitive in long range competition for years. The case capacity is a little much for the raw accuracy needed to win.

 

[Mach 1]

I had a Remington 5r in 300wm with a nxs 32 I shot to 1400 yards a couple times. No doubt it will go that far and accurately but if ur trying to say that the factory 300wm in this video will shoot in a national level benchrest competition competitively, that is just laughable.

 

[Mach 1]

There is no truth in this whatsoever. In rifles of equal quality the belted magnums can complete with anything and have done so quite successfully for more than fifty years.

Maybe shooting steel but I doubt your very competitive at 1000 yards on paper. Shooting an moa is nice at 1000 but shooting less than 1/2 moa is another ball park.

 

[jpope02]

A 26 nosler traveling @ 3500 fps with a 143 Hdy eldx will have 1486 foot pounds of energy @1K. More than enough to take an elk, but making the shot after hiking at Altitude 5 miles with a 40# pack and a 15# gun may make it interesting....to make a consistent kill. But as they say "Lucky better than Good"

 

[jpope02]

I would think the MAIN reason belted magnums don't shoot in the BR competitions is recoil, plain and simple. You don't see any non-belted magnums in BR either. .308, 6BR, 6 PPC, 6 Dasher, 6x47L, 6.5x47L, 6BRAW, etc.

I do see 180gr 284 Winchesters and 6xc's. Shooting big belted or any large non-belted calibers can and do produce many accurate loads But the beating they give the shooter nearly always takes its toll in matches. It does take 1500 # of energy to kill a piece of paper.

 

[Mach 1]

I do see 180gr 284 Winchesters and 6xc's. Shooting big belted or any large non-belted calibers can and do produce many accurate loads But the beating they give the shooter nearly always takes its toll in matches. It does take 1500 # of energy to kill a piece of paper.

The 6xc is usually shooting around a 115 gr bullet with a fast twist barrel. Tubbs 115 dtac and Berger's are pretty common with his round.

 

[Dry Heat?]

My M48 Liberty in 30 Nosler gets 2947 FPS from its 26" PacNor Barrel with 210 gr Nosler LR Accubonds according to my chrono. The Brass are pricey but it's a rather efficient cartridge design. To me, the 300 RUM and 30-378 Wby pass the point of deminishing returns.

 

[BLC3128]

Food for thought. I have a 300 Weatherby, Mark V Terramark, with a 26" barrel. I shoot Berger 215gr. Hybrids @ 2965FPS. This load is surprisingly easy on brass for me. If I do my part, this load shoots 1/2 MOA out to 800 yards. I haven't tested it further yet. Within the ranges I shot all I can say is this load is an absolute hammer. With the addition of an Accubrake the recoil is no more than a .308.

Now to respond to the post with a little more weight... I write this with tears, because of a new job I could not partake in "The Annual Elk Hunt" this year.

On Saturday, a friend of mine harvested a big 5x6 at 750 yards with a 300 Weatherby shooting a 210 Accubond LR. One shot DRT.

Sunday morning another friend of mine harvested a nice 6x6 @ 650 yards with a custom Hart barreled/ short throated 300 WBY shooting a 180gr Nosler Accubond @ 3230 FPS. One shot and the bull took a snow nap DRT.

Monday evening my friend's father harvested a 5x5 yesterday at 480 yards with a 1980's Mark V in 300 weatherby shooting box Nosler Custom 200gr partition @ ~2850FPS 1 Shot DRT.

I am impressed with all of the builds /chambering from various member within this forum. As far a myself and my hunting buddies, we are partial to Weatherby. In my experiences hunting and shooting from 50 to 1,300 yards I have not found a reason to seek another cartridge.

Long live the belted magnum. And yes, you can bet your paycheck that this is the last hunting trip I miss!

 

[joes264]

http://www.benchrest.com/showthread.php?95849-Why-I-Shoot-the-30-30-in-Benchrest

I wonder if this guy got dared to shoot a belted magnum if he could win a championship in benchrest with one?

If I recall correctly the 264 Win Mag won 1000 yd competition 2 years in a row late 58-62 abouts.