favorite elk rifle

by bud
(nocal)

IMO the rifle one uses for elk should be the one that puts the bullet in the right place. Elk don't require a cannon. The most important thing about shooting an animal, any animal, is where you put the bullet. The second most important thing is what that bullet does. The bullet needs to stay in the vitals and expend it's energy there, not zip right on through and out the other side. Hydrostatic shock and mechanical shock are important components of modern ammunition dynamics, so you want bullets that expand and expend their energy on the target.
Far better to put a 165 grain 30 caliber in the lungs and heart than to flinch off a bigger caliber, miss the vitals and have the bullet fly on through and leave you with a mortally but not immediately fatally wounded animal. If you can consistently shoot the big magnums and place the bullet accurately, then by all means, do so. If you find that shooting them is uncomfortable and you're not as accurate, then use a rifle that you can shoot accurately. You'll be doing both yourself and the elk a favor.

elk rifles

by Tim
(Colorado)

When I was a wildlife manager in the midwest I worked at and/or supervised a deer check station for about ten years. During that time, I saw thousands of dead deer, bear and other critters. I always enjoyed striking up conversations with the hunters that came in to check their deer; it became an annual event for some folks that I actually got to know quite well over the years.

I always enjoyed talking with hunters about their experience, whether or not I could help them find deer, etc. I also enjoyed talking with them about equipment, especially rifles used to take their game. While talking with all these folks I also paid attention to the carcasses in the back of their trucks. What I saw made an impression upon me as to the power of centerfire rifle cartridges and bullets.

Good bullet placement (not at the computer, but observed on the animal)resulted in quick, clean kills. Poor placement resulted in the opposite, often with long tracking jobs. It was amazing to me how many of these folks either never mentioned the poor shot or actually thought they had made a good shot on the animal. Many of these were a good 8 - 10" or more behind the front shoulder, which is pretty much borderline on a white-tailed deer. Behind the front shoulder doesn't mean ANYWHERE behind the front shoulder; it means tucked up right against the front shoulder, in my mind 1 - 3" behind.

I was also amazed at the number of people who shoot very large cartridges at deer. The gaping exit holes on the animals were evidence to me that we need not be shooting what we think we need to be shooting. I am all for 'using enough gun'; the question is "what IS enough gun?". As a biologist, I am certain that if a bullet gets into the chest cavity and destroys both lungs, the animal will die...quickly. It cannot be otherwise. An animal CAN survive, at least for a while, with one lung. But put both out of commission and you have a dead animal on your hands, regardless of jacketing, bullet weight, velocity, foot pounds of energy, and all the other stuff we spend far too much time thinking about.

What does this have to do with elk? I have seen the same types of exit wounds in elk camps; gaping holes from 250 grain .338 bullets, 175 grain 7mm bullets, etc.; bullets ruining the hams and/or backstraps of these magnificent animals. I have no problem with whatever people shoot; I think it was Jack O'Connor who said that 'I draw the line only when they expect me to take them seriously'. Power does not compensate for poor shooting skills.

Use whatever you can shoot accurately (but really do some soul searching regarding your personal shooting skill level; nobody else needs to know!). After two shoulder surgeries, I have given up on my .300 magnum. I just cannot take the chance of the recoil pushing anchors into my bone and splitting it. I just flinch too bad because of this fear. But the deer and elk I have killed with a .308 and .270 have died just as quickly, and placing the bullet "behind the front shoulder" is a whole lot easier! Good hunting and good luck!!

Absolute Best All-Around Rifle

by Rob
(Idaho)

The best all-around hunting rifle is the .325 super short mag.

In 300yds. the drop is only 8" with a 200 gr. bullet and the velocity is 2600-2800 ft. per sec.

The Bull Elk I shot with it dropped with one shot and both whitetail bucks did the same.

Elk Rifle

by V
(Helena)

The best one is the one that you are the best shot with in a descent caliber capable of downing an elk even when you still miss your 10 ring by 4 or 5 inches or hit a shoulder bone

Best elk rifle?

by A gunbuilder 110
(MT)

The best rifle is the one that you feel comfortable shooting! And yes I know there are people that are going to say but caliber!! I once saw a friend grab the wrong gun in the heat of the moment and kill a Bull moose with a 223 , moose never took a step. Another guy shot at the nicest buck I ever saw with a 30-06 and the buck ran off missing an ear! 223 enough 30-06 not enough? Probably no to both but if you find a gun you feel comfortable shooting I for one do not want to stand in front of you!
Ok back to caliber... I have never been a big magnum person but I settled on the closest specs I could find to a magnum which for me was a bolt action 35 Whelen. It has served me well for 14 years now. I reload up for Elk and down for deer and it has been along time since I needed a backup shot. And no I'm not the best shot in the world I just shoot the gun as often as I can to keep it in line!
I shot an elk that doubled up and came to a screeching halt and one that piled up into a tree. Also I have shot deer at different distances and haven't had what some call Blow Out! Entrance hole and exit are usually close to same size!
So for me I’m sticking with the 35 Whelen !
Good luck and safe hunting to you all !

My Favorite Elk Rifles

by Larry
(Wa. State)

Well my favorite big game rifle is my old Pre-64 Model 70 in .300 H&H. However for obvious reasons there are places and weather I don't wish to subject this wonderful old girl too. Soo generally when I am in the hills after Mr. Wapiti I am carrying my Remington Model 700,8mm Rem. Mag. in an H.S. Precision Syn. Stock with a Leupold 3.5X10 scope. She is accurate,hits hard near or far and I don't have to worry about her no matter what mother nature throws at us. Most importantly though it's a rifle I am intimately comfortable and familiar with.

LJB

Elk Rifles

by Mike
(Somewhere in rural Michigan)

This has probably been stated as long as there was such a thing as hunting, but shot placement still rules the day. I would not feel handicapped one bit with a .270 Winchester as long as I used properly constructed bullets and was able to place the shot correctly.

Although I have no problem with the big magnums, I think far too many people miss or wound with them because they are afraid to shoot them or are unfamiliar with them.

I would much rather see someone hunt with a .270 they shot well than a .338 mag that scares the hell out of them.

When we lose an animal I think we all lean toward blaming the gear. But I also think that if we are honest with ourselves we know better.

Mike

elk rifle

by Matt B
(steamboat springs.CO)

I am a Colorado elk hunter and i have to say give the short magnums a try I have a browning x bolt stainless stalker. Armortough stock, 22 inch barrel, rotary detachable box magazine,325 wsm short mag, 200 grain accubond ct bullets and well balanced. Basically the 325 is an 8mm dia bullet ballistics are very close to the 338 win mag and the 325 actually shoots flatter the foot pounds are around 3200-3450 depending on bullets.

300 wsm
270 wsm
325 wsm

from owning all kinds of rifles the Winchester short mags are a great choice for the elk hunter who wants a great easy to carry in rough terrain all day and still wants a powerhouse with great ballistics in a short, balanced,great penetration and a short action rifle the Winchester short mags are a choice worth making.

happy hunting and good luck
M B

elk hunting rifle

by Lane Black
(Thornton, Colorado)

I prefer my 300 win mag but we have 3 270's that have brought down as many elk. It's not so much the caliber as where you hit.

We use 165 grain slug in the 300 and 130 grain in the 270. Both have done the job out to 426 yards. We average over 250 to 350 yard shots each year. We have had shots as close as 40 yards but not very often. Regardless what you use just practice that is what makes the difference.

Rifle

by Richard
(Spokane Wa. USA)

I certainly agree that the 30-06 is the most popular rifle. I have used it for the past 10 yrs. Used a 308 before that sad to say it got stolen out of my truck, way back when. Any way I have killed elk the last 6 years believe me I feel like the luckiest person on earth accomplishing it. Scouting played a large roll in it. Longest shot I have taken is approximately 200 yard at a 5x4 I hit him on the joint of his front shoulder and the bullet went through his lungs killing him instantly never moved. The other five fell no more that 20 yards away I use nozler partition 180gr. and will never change, great gun and bullet combination. On the other side of the story the work starts. I highly recommend a good back frame don't go cheap, stay in good shape or the prescription drug company will own you for awhile. I'm done now, I just live for hunting and fishing

Richard Brown

Best Elk Rifle

by Mark
(B.C. Canada)

I used a 30-06 for many years and killed plenty of elk. It had only one weakness, range. The 30-06 is a great 200 yard elk rifle when using 180 grain bullet. I have since switched to a 7mm mag. 150 grain bullet. It will do at 300 yards what a 30-06 will do at 200 yards. I like both calibers for hunting elk but my favorite is the 7 mm mag.

More important than chosen caliber is shot placement, take out the lungs and wheels (shoulder)in one shot, I have never had to track an elk since i was taught this placement, and meat loss is minimal. They simply just fall down.

elk rifle

I killed my first elk with a .270. All that is needed is a well placed shot.

Tony on elk rifle

by Tony oliveira
(Mesa, Arizona )

30-06 with 180 grain bullet is just perfect. Compared to any other caliber the velocity is pretty much the same, give or take 200 fps.

I use the 30-06 but with a 24 or 26 inch barrel. I would most likely have less faith if the barrel was 20 inches.

Elk Rifle

by RL
(Bozeman, MT, USA)

I grew up hunting in Montana, and have taken about 25 elk in 35 years of hunting. Lots of mule deer and antelope too, with a couple whitetails thrown in. So my experiences are not as varied as some but I've done a lot of hunting and reading over the years and have developed some opinions on rifles.

On cartridge selection, I killed my first 11 elk with a .270, and none of these animals ran more than few tens of yards and several dropped in their tracks. So I don't really buy the notion that a .270 is too small for elk, as some would have you believe. The 150g bullet traveling at 3000+ fps packs a hell of a lot of energy. I now hunt primarily with a 30-06 using 180g bullets, or with a .300 Ultra Mag with 200g bullets. Why? Well,I guess I like the extra little margin of performance. Kind of like a V8 in the truck versus a straight 6, one is adequate but the other leaves little question that you've got the necessary horsepower in a pinch.

I also don't buy the notion that bolt action is the only sensible action as some would have you believe. The aforementioned .270 is a Remington Model 760 pump, arguably the fastest cycling non-automatic rifle around. In those cases where a quick follow-on shot is needed or desired, there's nothing like it. My latest rifle is a Browning BLR lever action 30-06, purchased largely because once the lead is flying I want to put a lot of it in the air until the animal drops. Either gun puts three holes in about a 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards, so accuracy is just fine for an animal the size of elk at any reasonable = under 300 yard range. (Shots longer than that shouldn't be taken in my opinion, unless the game is wounded and escaping. I'm not much for the 'long range shooting' guys, I have more respect for the animal than that.)

Bolt actions are common and cheap but they're not the only suitable action for big game, and have the disadvantage of relatively slower follow-on shots. When a wounded animal is fleeing thru the black timber, the fast cycling gun could be key to finishing the job. I'll also mention that I do also own a single shot Thompson Center but I leave it in the gun safe for elk hunting, where multiple shots are the rule not the exception. No sense in giving up the advantage of the follow-on shot if you don't have to.


Optics are also key, and I differ from some in my opinion that most high-magnification scopes are overkill: 4X or 6x fixed is just fine, and my favorite is presently a 2.5X8 variable Zeiss. I would choose something like a 2X7 variable Leupold over higher mag scopes any day, because it is light, well-designed product with great low-light capability. The 50 mm objective seems like an expensive waste of money to me, unless you're poking prairie dogs at long distances at dusk.

So take it or leave it, but I'd say a pump or lever action .30 caliber rifle throwing 180 grains of premium lead, with a 2X7 or 2.5X8 scope is about perfect for elk.

Elk Rifle

I use a 7mm rem mag. So far it has put elk down with one shot.

325 wsm is my choice

by matt b
(steamboat springs.CO)

One heart/lung shot from a 325 wsm 200 grain accubond is a perfect elk stopper and then some,8mm magnum short action easy to carry power house that packs 3300 foot pounds at 100 yds and still has 1500 ft pounds at 500 yds it doesn`t get any better for the perfect elk rifle

It's not the caliber, it's the bullet

by Pat Cassidy
(Pilot Rock, Oregon)

Regardless of caliber (7mm and up) used for elk, always choose a bullet that will not mushroom too much and will penetrate well.
As stated, elk are made of large bones, heavy muscle mass and a large will to live. The bullet must completely penetrate the body from any practical angle to ensure a clean kill.
A fun test of elk-effective bullets is as follows: take two 5 gallon plastic buckets full of water and place them end-to-end with some wood behind them at 100 yard range. Shoot your favorite elk bullet into them. If the bullet does not penetrate both buckets and go into the wood, use them on squirrels!
I have tested many so-called "elk bullets" and had them fail this simple test. The poor ones are usually in pieces in the second bucket. The good ones retain over 80% of their original weight. Use them!
I have only recovered two bullets from elk that passed this test and both hit multiple bones.
To back up my advise, I have killed many elk and seen many killed. I keep autopsy records of bullet performance and have reached these conclusions. Use of a tough, slow expanding bullet has always resulted in quicker kills and less meat damage.
I am not going to name brands or types as that would deprive you of the fun of doing more shooting!
Have a good time out there.

7 MM Magnum

by Jim Walters
(Fromberg Montana)

I have used a Winchester 70 bolt action 7mm Magnum for over 30 years , Killed many Elk in that time. This was my choice of Caliber for many years , they do kick hard , but I have never had to go looking for any Elk I ever hit with it . Just about everyone I can remember did get a second round for sure , If it is still movin I am still shooten ... Had few that required a third round, they will always head down to some hidy hole and that is no fun to retrieve them from, This my reason for stopping him as quick and sure as possible.

Getting older now, my back hurts, my neck hurts and I have gone to a Tek 3 bolt action 300 WSM . This caliber does a good job, I believe it has just as much punch as my 7mm Mag and it is much easier on the shoulder.

The photo above is a Bull taken in the Big Hole , Wise River Montana , just a bit over 750 pounds. One in the Lungs at 200 yards and another in the Neck at 100 yards.Short shot's for Montana but he was runnin out full.

getting ready

Taking a win 308, I have heard too many different opinions. I decided on the 308 it is a nice shooting rifle and I'm confident it will get the job done, if the opportunity presents itself. 180 federal premium nosler

M-14 Rifle .308

by D. Bishop
(San Diego California)

I like hunting with an M14 battle rifle for several reasons. I hunt in Wyoming on the eastern side of Yellowstone park and also around Teton National park where there are many grizzly bears. I hunt alone and have to pack out the elk in numerous trips. My formula for a charging bear is semi-auto ability and large magazine capacity. It is also great for follow up shots on elk. Two possible objections are light caliber (.308) and a bolt action's rep for greater reliability. As to reliability, the M14 is a battle rifle, tested in battle, is one rugged and utterly dependable weapon. It fires reliably in 20 below zero or 110 degrees, and never malfunctions. As to caliber, I reload using BarnesX bullets, 165 grain, loaded to close to 2800 fps, exact same ballistics as a 30-06 which has taken every big game in North America. Shoots a 1 MOA group, a little heavy at 9 lbs, but recoil is negligible. It has a bedded natural striped birch stock with a tung oil finish. Heck, half the fun for me is hiking around in the most beautiful wilderness anywhere with a fine rifleman's rife, the elk is a bonus.

Opinions about .303

by Tim
(Mississippi)

I have read some of the comments below on this topic and am really just starting to look at and get familiar with different types of guns. I did some deer hunting as a kid in Michigan. I am in the military and haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of hunting the last few years, but I am getting ready to move to Montana and can't wait to learn all about and try my hand at some elk hunting. I have an old .303 British rifle and would love to hear some of the opinions of others with a little more gun experience than myself. I know that most .303 bullets come in 150 or 180 grains and that it drops off some outside of 250-300 yards. Any thoughts?

270 Elk Rifle

by John Moody
(Foley, MO)

I have found the 270 is a good choice when using Berger or other high-end bullets. Of course shot placement is a key to success. If you don't have a clear shot then you have no shot, IMHO.

Drew a tag for Colorado Cow elk. Wish me luck.

john

The Ultimate Big Game Rifle

I would have to say the Winchester Model 70 30.06
180 grain magnum load.
One well placed shot does the trick each and every year.

7mm

Kills them dead

45.70 Elk Down !

by Rick Felty
(Washington state)

I choose to hunt with a .45.70, it is a good overall brush gun where most elk are found, and has enough impact to put an elk down if the shot is placed well. A head shot does it if you don't want a Trophy mount.

Best North American BIG Game rifle.

by Robert Bardwell
(San Diego, Ca)

I like BIG GAME and that is not found in the mid west. Sometimes it is the other things in the woods that place you in a lower point on the food chain than when you were sitting in your truck. It is not that you need anything hotter than a 270 to kill your intended species but, when bears are around I carry a .340 Weatherby. It is a dead right now rifle that I want fully loaded when dressing a moose in bear country.

Marlin 1895: A Can of Worms

by Lance
(Utah)

My FAVORITE elk rifle is my Marlin 1895 chambered for the venerable 45-70 Gov't cartridge. I reload my own, so I am able to get a 300 grain Nosler Partition flying at about 2,300 fps. It makes for some serious punch on the receiving end. Shot clean through a 16" quakie once....last seen heading toward the Oklahoma panhandle. Shooting it is not any different than a mid-12-gauge load. The recoil pad makes it much more delightful than my 300 Weatherby.

That said, I know my shots have to be inside 250 yards. That distance will keep me within a 6 inch circle, when zeroed at 200 yards. The drop after 250 is a bugger.

Norma

by Gregor
(NWT, Canada)

OK I am not an Elk hunter but I am a Moose hunter. The 358 Norma with 250 Noslers is pretty sweet. Mine is in a 7 pound Ruger with a 2.5X Leupold and I am pretty happy with it. Penetration and wound channels are outstanding and recoil is not too bad. 225 Accubonds are good too.

Knock'em down

by Bob
(Colorado)

I prefer my 45-120 Remington rolling block. 535 grain bullet has plenty of stopping power, and yes, I hunt my black powder loaded rifle with the modern boys and do just fine.

Elk Rifle J .C. Higgins model 50 in .30-06

by Paul
(MT)

An old J.C. Higgins model 50 in .30-06 comes to mind. Built on a butter-smooth FN action with a well-worn walnut stock. The "poor man's model 70", as it were, just has elk rifle written all over it!