need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

[thatguy]

as posted in the title, i need a new rifle for elk. im pretty much dead set on .300 win mag. all i need from you fine gentlemen is a reason why i should pick one rifle over the others.

details;
expected shots out past 300M.
must be bolt action.
obviously reliability is a must.
no heavy barrel, not expecting it to be a world class shooter, so a sporter barrel or magnum contour barrel is fine.
price: under 1100.

GO!

 

[kraigWY]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Elk are normaly found in rough country, I'm old and I'm a wimp in my old age.

I want light.

My go-to elk rifle is a New FN Model 70 Featherweight, 270 Win.

It works fine if you can shoot.

JMHO

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

yeah, the wifes dad invited me on an elk hunt next year out in colorado. and last time i checked its pretty rough country out there, and id need a rifle that will be all but unnoticed while carrying it.

 

[Gilly]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Remington has a couple new models of their 700 action that would work well and available in many calibers including 300 win mag. Look on their website remington.com and look at centerfire 700 models then go to either the buckmasters edition at just over 7.5 lbs or the Alaskan Ti at 6.25 lbs for the 300 WM version stianless fluted and a synthetic stock which are good for rough hunting in Colorado mountains. Those are a couple options from a good company and the 700 is a good action. The new externally adjustable Xmark pro trigger is very nice as well.

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

oh, i know how nice the rem 700 is. i thankfully own one in .223. love it, wont get rid of it. but i also want a different rifle for this caliber. im thinking weatherby or winchester. but im still not decided. maybe other people will chime in with something i havent thought of.

 

[Fortis]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Have you looked at the Tikka T3 series. Very nice rifles for the money. Do a google search on them. Lots of info to be had.

 

[Gilly]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Just from my experience with a weatherby rifle I owned in 270 WBY mag the accuracy is not there in my opinion. This was the lower end vanguard model, the new sub MOA editon or the Mark IV edition may be different. For the cost though I traded to a remington 700 from a lower end weatherby for about the same what I paid for the weatherby and got more accuracy and a cheaper round to shoot. Just my 2 cents hope it helps.

 

[PeteCamp]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Weatherby magnum? Have you priced ammo for it lately? It will cost more than the hunt to just sight the silly thing in! Well, maybe not, but close.

I would start with cartridge choice then go from there to select a rifle rather than the other way around. Having said that, I'm not fond of new Winchesters - IMHO.

 

[VarmitSpecial]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

I have a Kimber Montana in 300 WM that is the lightest configuration I have ever had, I paid $900 for mine brand new but I dont know what the going rate is for them now.

 

[Armed Ferret]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: thatguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">expected shots out past 300M.
must be bolt action.
obviously reliability is a must.
no heavy barrel, not expecting it to be a world class shooter, so a sporter barrel or magnum contour barrel is fine.
price: under 1100.

GO!</div></div>

1. Kimber Montana (affectionately referred to as the "montucky" by many here.

2. Rem 700 SPS Stainless

 

[B.Bates]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

kimber montana 300win mag or 300wsm

 

[Vette447]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

My favorite Elk (and Mule Deer) gun is a Weatherby MkV Accumark in 300 WBY mag. I love the 300 WBY mag and have used it for years. The Accumark is a wonderful rifle but not super lightweight. I have used it for Elk in CO and WY, Mule Deer in CO and SW TX as well as multiple plains game species in Africa with excellent results. It is still easy to carry but heavier than say a Kimber Montana. For a more economical option, you may want to look at a Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA or the Kimber Montana in 300 WM is a good choice as mentioned above. FWIW

 

[ORD]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Armed Ferret</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1. Kimber Montana (affectionately referred to as the "montucky" by many here.

2. Rem 700 SPS Stainless </div></div>


Big +1. It would be tough to find a better suited elk rifle in terms of features, light mountain rifle weight, and accuracy potential than the Kimber 8400 Montana in 300WM. They are truly exceptional rifles.

If you are looking to go much cheaper, but still have an excellent rifle, the SPS Stainless isn't a bad choice. It is a little heavier than the Kimber, the stock isn't as nice, it is not as good a barrel, but it is also several hundred cheaper than the Kimber.

 

[SuperSeal110]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shootone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">kimber montana 300win mag or 300wsm </div></div>

ditto

 

[cavscout1983]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

have you thought about a Savage 110 with a 300WM light contour barrel that you can spin off and use another caliber on it offseason? versatility aint always a bad thing.

 

[shadow2]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

An FN PBR in 300wsm.

 

[Mech45]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

I'll give another vote for a Kimber Montana. When I went elk hunting I had a Weatherby 30-378 and a Kimber in 300wsm. After the first day of lugging that Weatherby around it stayed in the cabin and I took the Kimber. Both are excellent rifles the Kimber at 6lbs, without a scope is a lot easier for me to haul around.

Chris

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

wow, lots of great advice. im looking at all the rifles mentioned and liking just about all of them, and i already know that i love remingtons, but i would like a little variety in my cabinet. seeing how i just started collecting 2 years ago.

 

[Mag 300]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

I have bowhunted " traditional" for a few years at 10,000 feet and the key is how are you planning on getting around .
I have two suggestions .
1. there re people who use either a horse or a 4 wheeler " man those piss people off" that will use optics and glass for an Elk . in this case really makes no difference you could go with a 14 lb 338 lapua in that your not carrying it all day.
if you hunt like I do with a bow get the lightest rifle possible , titanium would be a plus. I have weighed every item to save weight and when your at 10,ooo going to climb another 1,000 over a ridge there is a lot of work ahead.
one day we left camp at 2 in the afternoon and got back at 10:30 shooting time ended at 8:30 took another 2 hours to get back.

best is start running and loosing any additional weight you can Yes You and the gear your taking .
You will be glad you did

it will be the best hunt you have ever had . on the average I lost approx 5 to 10 pounds in a week while eating everything in site

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

ive got no problem with the weight and carrying stuff, im 5'8''@160LBS. i am in the army and my unit pt's us 5 days a week. so walking with weight is nothing new to me. but i hadnt thought about me carrying gear, ive only ever deer hunted on farm property no more than half a mile from the truck. so thats another consideration i have to think about. thanks for the advice.

 

[30cal user]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

needs to push a 180 gr bullet at least 3000 fps.

 

[MtGoat]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: thatguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ive got no problem with the weight and carrying stuff, im 5'8''@160LBS. i am in the army and my unit pt's us 5 days a week. so walking with weight is nothing new to me. but i hadnt thought about me carrying gear, ive only ever deer hunted on farm property no more than half a mile from the truck. so thats another consideration i have to think about. thanks for the advice. </div></div>

I have heard that one before. It was not long there after the guy was blowing danishes all over the side of the hill. Doing 1500' elevation gains in the dark to be on the ridgeline at first light with no trail just dead reconing is tough....uses a different part of the brain it seems. I would imagine Colorado is tougher yet as we start at 7000' in Colorado you start at 9000' and climb....a whole lot less air at that elevation. Being in good physical shape is only the start. When you are making your third trip up to pack meat off the hill just takes determination.

Pat

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

very true. but ive got a year to get ready, and a little extra pt here and there never hurt anyone. ill look at it as a chalenge.

 

[chrisj]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

How about a 300 SAUM. You can even pick up a new model 7 on www.gunbroker.com for under $500. A 7mm SAUM will easily do the job too.

 

[billyburl2]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

While I don't hunt at the elevations possible in colorado, I do hunt elk in some rough country in az. Any rifle .270 and over is more than enough as long as you are proficient. My suggestions are a rifle that fits your body, lots of practice with that rifle, and a decent set of bino's. JMHO.

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

well, as far as binos go, i was looking for something along the lines of a portable spotting scope. something with a ranging reticle or a mildot reticle so i can range my shots instead of using kentucky windage. and on the subject of caliber, i just want .300 WM. no real reason other than i just want it chambered in that caliber. i also plan on using either a man pack or a newer style ACU large ruck. i already have the ACU from when i went over seas and all i need is the frame. dumbass unit never issued it with the ruck. so i can easily pack anything i need into that, including the sleeping bag system i never gave back.

 

[DoubleBarrel]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 30caluser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">needs to push a 180 gr bullet at least 3000 fps. </div></div>

don't listen to this type of advice, those figures eliminate everything up to and including the .300 wm. and it will do fine you don't need the latest howitzer ultra-mag. i have always heard it recommended to have around 1500-2000 ft.lbs. many hunt with a .270. just my 2cents

 

[chrisj]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

There were a few guys on 24hourcampfire (If I remember correctly) that used 338 Federal/ 180 on Elk and they hammered them.

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

oh, and another thing i should mention is i do not handload. simply too lazy and too many other things going on that i dont have enough time to get it all set up and working, let alone be left alone for a few hours to actually load them up.

 

[19818119]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

I'll throw in a Steyr Prohunter as an option to consider, whatever caliber you want.

 

[scottishtornado]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Try the tikka t-3 lite in 30-06. Light to pack around and mines shoots 1/2moa with handloads.
Just a thought.

Mac

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

heres another question. what kind of accuracy are you guys getting out of .300 win mag? 1moa? 1/2moa? just throw some numbers at me and what kind of rifles. thanks again all.

 

[30cal user]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DoubleBarrel</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 30caluser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">needs to push a 180 gr bullet at least 3000 fps. </div></div>

don't listen to this type of advice, those figures eliminate everything up to and including the .300 wm. and it will do fine you don't need the latest howitzer ultra-mag. i have always heard it recommended to have around 1500-2000 ft.lbs. many hunt with a .270. just my 2cents</div></div>

in hunting, you always want the biggest, baddest rifle YOU can handle, im a bigger dude and in somewhat shape so i hunt with Ultra Mags, b/c i dont want to ever lose an animal or have to have a perfect shot to knock it down, my texas heart shot will do a lot more damage than yours with a 270, but if you are a smaller person then stick with the smaller rifle combo. this theory does not exist for bench/prone shooting, just hunting where the animals are around 1000 lbs. IMHO....

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

i know for a fact that i want my rifle in .300 WM. like i said before, no real reason. but its good enough for me. and id honestly rather have a perfect shot than tear up more meat with a huge UBER magnum. and from what i gather the .300 WM is a happy medium between the -06 and the RUM. perfect to me.

 

[Chssain]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

get a tikka t3, for the price, the light wieght, and the accuracy u cant beat it!! And if you get it and for some reason it doesnt shoot worth a crap you can send it back, because they gauranty 1 inch at 100. Maybe even throw a good break on it too since its so light, it will kick more. Dont want to develop a flinch! Just shoot it a lot and practice with muffs, then when the hunt comes u will be comfortable with shooting it knowing its not going kick like a mule. and it wont break your back carrying it up a mountain!!

 

[oldreliable45120]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

Lets not forget the famous 30-06. I've been using one for almost my entire life hunting. I still carry my old Smith-Carona 03-A3. I also carry my old 45-120 Sharps too,but thats a different story. The 06 will do anything you ask it to.

 

[saleen63]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

remington sps in 300WM or like oldreliable 45120 said " The 06 will do anything you ask it to."

 

[thatguy]

Re: need new rifle for upcoming elk hunt!!!

i really appreciate your love for the .30-06, i had one, had to get rid of it(hate myself for that). but im getting it in .300WM. no two ways about it.