best long range elk gun

[Greyfox]

My personal choice for elk sized game to 1000 yards. Shoots 215 Berger Hybrids at 2900FPS, sub .5MOA.

 

[John Polk]

sirs, what would you concider the besyt cartrige for long range elk hunting .also descried your choice of rifles and there design action barrel stock and scope.

sirs, what would you concider the besyt cartrige for long range elk hunting .also descried your choice of rifles and there design action barrel stock and scope.

Either A 300 or 340 Weatherby will do the job.

 

[sp6x6]

Been a while since I seen or heard the 358 STA,like how Idaho CTD rolls elk

 

[IdahoCTD]

I haven't used the 358STA in years (early-mid 90's). The first elk I shot, a spike, took 4 shots from a 308 Baer at 100yds. I was shooting 165 Partitions at 3365fps. After that I built the 358STA and shot 4 or 5 elk. I used it to shoot my once in a lifetime ID bull moose as well. Then I built the 375-358STA because there were a lot more available bullets for .375's at the time. Shot 5 or 6 elk with it and built a .416 Rem and shot 4 or 5 with it plus some deer and my ID cow moose. Then I spent 10+ years shooting them with a muzzleloader. Most of the elk I've shot in the last 8-10 years have been with .30's and smaller. I usually shoot 2-3 elk per year, or as many as I can get tags for.

 

[bigngreen]

I've built all over the map from 6mm to 375s and I just really like that middle ground in the 30 cals, the 338's I like a LOT but I'm not totally sold on the practicality and actual performance over a solid 30 ca, for example I will put a 230 Berger against a 300 Berger any day for that end of range function, that 230 is still a beast when the 300 may not open. Lower recoil even braked is just beneficial, lower recoil you can put into a little sweeter packaging and still have it practically drive itself. What I've been the most happy with for pole axing elk is something in the 9-10 lb range shooting a Berger 230 around 3000 fps or a 215 in the 3100 fps range. Either one of those bullets in that speed range puts me in a solid position to 1400 yards with room, my next build will be the 30 Sherman mag (300 PRC improved) and I'm so stoked to get it built, a huge factor for me is accuracy life, I'm over chasing lands or tuning ballistics everytime out because my barrel changed, I want to shoot a lot with stability!!

 

[LongBomber]

If I was building a rifle specifically for long range elk I would likely go 338 allen mag or possibly 33xc. Since this is in the elr subforum I am expecting over 1000yards. The 300's have come a long ways in the last 3-4 years but the fastest 338's still pack more downrange performance.
If your talking a 500-600 yard elk gun I would prob go to something lighter and there are many more good catridges to fill that roll.

 

[Westernhuntr]

Definitely a subjective question..
I've been a fan of running hot rod cartridges but like @bigngreen said above I'm tired of barrel burners that require tweaking my loads constantly
For that reason I went from ultra fast 7mms and 30 Cal's to a 338 NM.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

Without going full custom, I think my Christensen Arms Ridgeline in 300 RUM is the ultimate long range elk rifle for me.

 

[mfk]

I'm going to favor the 338 Edge ! But I have the same set up in a 338 Rum also . Both have been almost identical!! My Elk this past fall ! 1244 yrds 300 gr Berger Elite Hunters at 2884 ft.per.sec. this edge has a 30 " proof barrel ! View attachment 176820

very impressive at that range. great shooting!

 

[montana west]

7mm remington mag & 300 winchester in thick woods 30/06 35whelen

 

[eastbank]

winchester model 70 lefthand in 7mm mag with a 26" barrel and 162 gr bullet at 3000 fps with a 6-18x leupold scope, sighted in for a 200 yrd zero and running clicks to 500 yrds. i would feel good on a 500 yrd shot from a good rest if it came to that, but would prefer a shot under 300 yrds.

 

[montana west]

I agree with the above 300 win as good as it gets and second 7mm Remington magnum.Ipersonally shoot a 35 Brown Whelen.but this thing is pain to reload and no ammo in the store and you cannot shoot 35 whelen in the thing. It is good for me as i am alife long reloader and wildcat specialists. but the two above will do the same and shoot a bit better at long ranges.

 

[FEENIX]

The .300 WM remains my go-to chambering from antelope to elk size game up to 1K yards ("my" self-imposed limitation at the moment). My longest elk harvest to date is 931 yards. As others noted, the OP specified elk as the game to be hunted and this forum defines the range for us ...

My .30 LARA with 215/230 Berger will extend its reach to 1200+ yards but it is currently outside my comfort zone. Regardless if it's one of the .30/.33 cal magnums/ultras and its variants, I would want a bullet designed to effective to expand at POI with 1500 FT-LBS of energy ("my" unwritten rule").

Need to start extending the reach, practice, practice, practice ...

 

[Blackhawk]

I would add that IMHO either the 300 or the 338 Winchester Magnum cartridge using the 200 grain Horandy ELDX (.300 Win Mag) , or the 225 grain Horandy SST (.338 Win Mag) are more than sufficient and capable for use in the harvesting of Elk size animals.
I have used both successfully and have a slight preference for the .300 Win. Mag . using the 200grain ELDX Horandy bullet.
My reasoning is that I can reach out and touch with greater accuracy at longer distances using this round.
I will not go into my specs on jump depth, or powder here as all of this must be worked up during Load Data Development with either cartridge beforehand.
(please note) I am also a big fan of the .338 I just feel that this may be IMHO just too much of a caliber, but then have you ever been charged by an angered Elk ,or Moose up close and personal ?
Just my 2 cents worth!