Best gun for hunting elk

[royinidaho]

Starr,

From the sounds of your neighborhood, Id suggest a rifle that is light, say somewhere around 9 or 9 and a half pounds.

I've been "sucked in" by those back pasture elk. They've been in my back yard for the past two years and I still don't have one. Its only about & 1/2 square miles back there and upwards of 100 elk.

Between dumb neighbors, stupid cowmen (not all just these guys) and getting a tag for the area its been zip, zilth, zero for me.

Thus the 9 lb or so rifle. May as well enjoy the walk. Having said that, I'd figure if you're starting out with a new rifle for the purpose, I'd go with the 270 or 280. Use 140 gr Hornady SPBT iif the 270 likes them.. Go with a bit heavier bullet in the 280, I'd still stick with the Hornady bullet if the rifle likes them. Note I'm talking like you will sooner or later get pulled into the reloading thing also. Till then factory loads are a better deal for either of those rifles than something larger.

I use the 270 and have no qualms with elk sized animals though I do carry a 338 Win when all I'm hunting is elk.

The 280 may be a bit better choice but I doubt the elk will notice.

I have a Win Mod 70 Featherweight that is around 7 lbs but thumps a bit when loaded up decent.

Join the club and get some shootin' in, itll be a hoot.

But geez don't trust those elk. They are good at hiding.

[Hi Ball]

I will also blow the Horn against the 30-30 and even the likes of the .270 Winchester, unless your using a 150 or better yet the 160 grain premium bullet by Nosler, TBBC, Swift A Frame etc.

Most women today with a little practice can handle the .308 using a 165 grain premium bullet to hunt elk with and be success if given the shot on game. However, the PAST RECOIL PAD placed over their shoulders to lesson the recoil of the rifle by some 50% will greatly add to reduce unwanted recoil...... True FACT.

Elk are not whitetail deer in the woods! They are 3 to 4 times as big and can take a lot more lead thrown into their bodies. Their will to sustain life is very strong. I also like the 7mm mag for such game, as it's 160 and 175 grain bullet have a very high Sectional Density numbers, which means that bullet will penetrate extremely deep into the animals vital tissue and organs.

Now this PAST RECOIL PAD will turn a 300 Win mag caliber into feeling like your shooting a .270 Winchester.......Perhaps hard to believe but my wife and daughter can tell you the true facts, as they have both done so at the range. It's the best $40 dollars you could possibly spend on taming recoil of a rifle.

However, now that we have the calibers, lets talk about the actual rifle you might want to hunt the high country with OK. Hunting elk up high is hard work and tuff going for us "Flatlanders" no doubt about it whatsoever. I would suggest to you a light weight rifle, like Winchesters feather weight in the 30-06, .308 or their sporter model in the 7mm magnum.

It is best to try them ALL (Savage, Browning, Winchester etc) at gunstores etc and get the feel of the one you like shouldering. Also remember that this rifle will weight another pound or more, after you put the bases, rings and scope on top the barrel. Good Luck and don't forget that "RECOIL PAD"

[Evan03]

i shot a bull with my 270win pushn 150gr partitions. the rifle worked and will work again but i wouldnt take the rifle on elk only hunt again. i feel its alittle light and i can get better faster kills with my 300win.

at the time i took the bull i had one rifle and it was the 270. if i still only had it then it would work just as well as anything.

if on deer/elk hunt ill be packking a 277 caliber. i havent been real into elk hunting the last few years but normaly deer overlaps into elk season and i almost always have a tag



i guess what im saying is id sujest nothing smaller than 277 calls theyl work but something with alittle more punch would be better.

Evan

[Hi Ball]

Evan-03.........I hunt elk primarily with one of 3 rifles in the .338 mag catagory. I have found the .338 caliber to have more authority in downing big game animals the size of an elk. Those .338 model 70 Winchester are solid 400 yard elk guns for the high country out west.

The 225 grain premium bullet I use will penetrate the vitals from almost any angle a hunter might have in a shooting situation. It does more terminal damage on the inside as well as I have noticed over the past years using the .338 magnum caliber.

There is also more physical evidence of the elk being hit buy those .338 caliber 225 grain bullets verses a .270, 280 or 30 caliber bullet, even out of a 300 Win mag. It simply smacks em a lot harder, like the "Hammer Of Thor"