What would you do?

[memtb]

OK, this should give you an idea of felt recoil. My hunting rifle develops 59+ ft/lbs. I ain't a tough guy, and no longer enjoy more than 20 sitting at the bench…..but, it's doable. Practical field positions should be a bit more tolerable! memtb

 

[FireFlyFishing]

Probably too much gun for me. Thanks for the input though.

 

[zerosprk]

A 7mmRM and a 300WM have been killing elk for decades. Handloading for both are easy-peasy and factory ammo is available just about everywhere. After that, I'd work on my agility to get closer than 1000yds before taking a shot. However, if a 1000yd shot is a realistic possibility, and in Oklahoma it might be, I'd be looking for a caliber that started with at least a 3 and a second number that wasn't a 0. After that, practice, practice, practice. If you can't hit a paper plate 9 out of 10 times, you aren't done yet...IMHO.

 

[JiggyIi]

338-378 or 378 Weatherby ️️

 

[waveslayer]

I'd get a Lazzeroni Warbird. If you're going to handload. Plus no one shoots it these days so plenty of ammo available from John (Lazzeroni). It will smoke anything at 1K

 

[manitou]

To find a new, or new to you, rifle.
Get dies and other assorted tooling to reload the cartridge you end up with.
Work up a load for it.
Then put in the practice, while taking the time to reload for it time and again.
Your going to be hard pressed to have it up and running by the time season rolls around.
Been there, done that!!

Personally, i'd go with 7mm Rem Mag.
Not finicky to load for.
Almost every rifle manufacturer makes a rifle chambered in it.
And the biggie!! Brass is easy to find!

And factory ammo for the non-reloader.

 

[TC338]

I completely understand the difficulty of taking shots at 1000. I will be practicing a ton with my other rifles. My main concern of this thread is rifle chamberings that are capable of making those shots. I will definitely do my part to prepare, well before ever taking a shot at an animal.

 

[Mark37082]

As you can see there many different opinions. If you have a heavy 6.5, why not get something that will be easier to carry and still be capable for long range? If availability of factory ammo is important, get a 7RM with an 8 twist. It also is a very versatile chambering that can shoot heavies or light pills.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I was in basically the same position and mentally masturbated and researched for months and kept coming back to 7PRC and have two of them now. One by default/accident because I got impatient waiting for a Seekins to come in stock and bought a Bergara that's a *** and is back with them because it shoots 3-4MOA. It will be my backup rifle if they get it shooting well.

You really couldn't go wrong with any 7mm or .30 cal magnum though.

 

[std7mag]

As you can see there many different opinions. If you have a heavy 6.5, why not get something that will be easier to carry and still be capable for long range? If availability of factory ammo is important, get a 7RM with an 8 twist. It also is a very versatile chambering that can shoot heavies or light pills.

Why 1:8 twist?
Typical 1:9 will shoot everything but the 197gr MatchKing or the really long mono bullets.

 

[MagnumManiac]

There are numerous calibers and cartridges that will fill that bill -
7Rmag
7PRC
280 or AI
7WSM
7RUM
28 Nosler
284 Win
30-06 or AI
300WinMag
300SAUM
300PRC
300WSM
300RUM
338's
etc, etc, etc

For elk size at 1,000 and plus, I typically use the 300RUM's and 338's, but at shorter ranges, I have hunted with 25-06's, 260AI's (not legal for you), 270Win, 30-06, etc, etc and even handguns.

I've never been a fan of bureaucratic and arbitrary caliber size for hunting anything, as there are many "calibers/cartridges" that would be legal that are far less viable than many that are smaller caliber but in better cartridges and bullets. I.e. a 30-30 or 303 Savage would be legal, but the 25-06, 260, 260AI, 6.5PRC, etc would not.

You forgot the 7STW, ample ooomph to get to 1000 with a 8" or faster twist running the 195g Berger.

To the OP.
The easiest choice is the 300WM, there is so much factory ammo or reloading data to cover just about every situation.
The next step, is the 300RUM or 28 Nosler.
I see nothing great about a 7PRC pushing 175's about 2800fps…

Cheers.

 

[manitou]

You forgot the 7STW, ample ooomph to get to 1000 with a 8" or faster twist running the 195g Berger.

To the OP.
The easiest choice is the 300WM, there is so much factory ammo or reloading data to cover just about every situation.
The next step, is the 300RUM or 28 Nosler.
I see nothing great about a 7PRC pushing 175's about 2800fps…

Cheers.

Especially when my 280ai's will push them faster!

 

[Mark37082]

Why 1:8 twist?
Typical 1:9 will shoot everything but the 197gr MatchKing or the really long mono bullets.

I like options to shoot some boutique monos. Slower twist barrels really limit your options on those long pills and faster twist only hamper you when shooting cup and core that are light and really fast. I've never had a problem with 140+ grain C&C coming apart.

 

[del2les]

You forgot the 7STW, ample ooomph to get to 1000 with a 8" or faster twist running the 195g Berger.

To the OP.
The easiest choice is the 300WM, there is so much factory ammo or reloading data to cover just about every situation.
The next step, is the 300RUM or 28 Nosler.
I see nothing great about a 7PRC pushing 175's about 2800fps…

Cheers.

The list was never meant to be all inclusive, hence the "etc, etc, etc"