What are rifle (s) are you taking to elk hunt this year?

[Olaf]

We look for seclusion and stay high. Years back we worked the Kooskia for a week and the country was Incredible!
Why 300 grain are you reducing wind drift considerably?

We are working Unit 21 this year.

 

[SansSouci]

Last year I killed a huge bull with my Sako AV 7MM Rem Mag. Truth be told, I could have killed that elk with a .30-30 Win. But the 7MM Rem Mag was designed from the ground up to be an elk cartridge. The reality is nothing else needed inventing after the US Army came out with the '06. Put a bullet through an elk's heart & he ain't long for this world.

This year I'm taking a Sako AV .270 Win. Sometimes I take a back-up. I've hunted many years in the Rockies with only a Model 700 in .270 Win. Most of the time I take only one rifle.

I can't think of any reasonable big game cartridge that won't kill an elk provided that right bullet is used and it destroys parts that are important for sending oxygenated blood topside.

One thing I do know is that I do not like carrying heavy rifles up & down the Rockies. While I think that a 22" barreled .280 Rem will work on everything in North America, a lightweight .308 Win carbine might just tip a compromise scale. There is exhaustion and then there is the extreme version of exhaustion which comes about while chasing bugling bulls up and down ridges for hours on end. It will make you regret every KrispyKreme you've ever eaten. I was so tired that Sominex woulda awakened me.

 

[SansSouci]

delete

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

Well, my brother and I finally drew for Bulls here in southeast Idaho and so for our trip, we are going to be taking my old faithful Tikka Tactical 308 using 168 Berger VLDs and tomorrow I finally have the Ruger Precision Rifle in 308 being shipped to my FFL (been trying to get my hands on one since they were release in late July), so we'll be taking it also, shooting 215 Berger VLD Hybrids (if I can work up a good load between the time it gets here early next week, and October 14th, when we leave for our hunt).

I originally thought I'd try the 215's out of my Tikka Tactical, because the 168s are crazy accurate out of it, however, after a trip to the range, I realized that the Tactical has a 1in11 twist and it just doesn't want to stabilize the big 215s. The groups were so horrid out to 200 yards I actually thought I had shot out my barrel, but then I grabbed (3) 168s... sent them downrange, and they fell into .74" group so I decided to verify my twist on the tactical and discovered that it was indeed 1in11. Kind of crazy because I have owned a T3 lite in 308 as well and always thought it had a 1in10... Just plain wrong!​

So.... we hope we'll be using the T3 tactical with 168s out to 550-600 and the 215s out to 800 if I can keep the velocity of the 215s in the zone... and find an accurate node. The 1in10 of the RPR should stabilize the heavies just fine.

 

[backyardsniper]

Not getting to elk hunt this year but going again on the group hunt next year

TRG 42 338 lapua running 300gr Nosler custom comp for main rifle, I used the 285 AMAX last year and it hammered but I changed rifles and this one just shoots these bullets exceptionally well. Topped with NXS 5.5-22x56

Rem 700 Police 300WM with 230 berger OTM and a Nightforce F1 3.5-15 for secondary rifle

 

[ssssnake529]

Desert Tech SRS Covert with 26 inch 300 Win Mag Conversion, Nightforce NXS Scope, and Barrett BORS

 

[lancetkenyon]

My 13 year old daughter drew her second year in a row bull elk tag here in AZ. She also drew a Kaibab mule deer tag. I got skunked again.

She will be shooting my 6.5 SLR pushing 140 Berger HVLDs @ 2915 fps as her primary this year for deer, and a backup for elk.

For elk, she will be using my .300RUM pushing the 215 Hybrids at 3100 fps. She shot her bull last year with this gun.

Backup for deer will be my .25-06 AI pushing the 115 Berger HVLD @ 3440 fps. My last 2 bucks went a total of 10' when shot with that rifle.

 

[fmajor]

Alright - since the last tally on 31Aug2015 there have been many new contributions to our little and very informal poll.

So, thus far the latest results for what rifle/chambering are you taking to hunt elk this year are:

1st Choice chamberings

35 Whelen AI -x1
338/300 WSM -x1
340 Weatherby – x1
338 Edge +P – x1
338 Edge (normal) – x2
338 Lapua -x1
338 RUM - x2
300 RUM – x3
300 Win Mag – x6
300 WSM – x2
30-06 – x2
308 Win -x2
300 Savage – x1
7mm Rem Mag – x2
280 AI – x3
6.5mm/300 Win Mag – x1
270 Win – x2

2nd Choice chamberings
338 Lapua – x1
300 RUM – x1
300 Jazz - x1
30-338 Norma – x1
300 Win Mag -x1
300 WSM – x1
30-06 – x2
308 Win -x1
300 Savage - x1
7mm STW – x1
280 Rem -x1
6.5 SAUM – x1

There have a couple new additions, but we're seeing increases, mainly, to already listed chamberings. Very interesting.

I should have titled the thread "What chambering/cartridge will you be taking on your elk hunt this year" as that is what I was hoping to learn (not that the rifles are not important......).

Thanks so much for taking time to post in this thread!

Please continue to add your information if you have not already done so.

 

[Dosh]

As I have the last 12 years my 30/378 Wby with the .270 Wby as backup. AZ Unit 10.

 

[jotrot]

7mm rem. mag set up for hunting timber with 160's accubond reasonably light, 2nd is 7rem mag set up for long shots and shoots 168's berger its a chunky rifle but not bad.
wish everybody a great hunting season. thin out the wolves when your out there.

joel

 

[Kevin87]

Tikka T3 in 7mm Rem mag, Vortex PST 4-16-50 scope, shooting 168 Berger CH hybrids .060 off the lands at 2950 fps with H1000. Can't wait for Elk season!

 

[fmajor]

Wooy Woot!!!

7mm Rem Mags are making a comeback! However, the venerable, potent 300 Win Mag is still in 1st place.

 

[25 Otter]

Didn't draw this year,but it would be the same as before. T3 7 Remmy Mag stoked with 160gr A-Bonds over a healthy charge of 7828.

 

[JRY46]

We are leaving on the 7th for New Mexico and my 300 WSM with 168 Barnes TTSX will be my main rifle. I am also taking my 7LRM with 168 Berger classic hunters with us as a spare......................JR