Elk Rifle

[Flipper Dude]

Matthews Z-7. Not the fastest, but smooth and quiet. Hunt ‘em close where you can smell ‘em.

 

[DLSJR]

Over the years, I’ve shot elk with a .264, .270, 7MM mag, 30-06, .300 Winchester and they all killed elk just fine. However, I settled on my elk rifle back in 1985, when I had a .338 Winchester built for me around a model 70 action. Once I started hunting with a .338 I never looked back.

Here’s my elk rifle:
Model 70 action, 24” Lilja stainless barrel, Timney trigger set to 2 3/4 lbs.
Brown Precision fiberglass stock with Pachmayr Decellerator pad
Leupold VX5HD with CDS & Firedot reticle in 2-10x, set in Talley mounts
I mostly shoot 225 Barnes TTSX or Federal Trophy Bonded Bearclaws
8.25 lbs. 3/4” groups with both loads.

It’s a fantastic elk rifle and pretty much everything else rifle. Easy to carry, milder felt recoil than you’d expect, hits hard. I think .338 Winchester may be the single best elk cartridge of all.

 

[BourbonTrail]

My go to is a 300 Weatherby in a Mark V. It hits like a hammer and has the same velocity at 300 yards that a 30-06 does at the muzzle. 340 Weatherby would be my runner up.

 

[Andrew62]

My choice is not a sexy choice, but it gets the job done, Kimber Mountain Ascent in moss green, .308 caliber with a Leupold VX6 2x12 scope.

 

[3chunter]

My first elk hunt will be 2027 but have a Christensen ridgeline 300 with vortex lht razor scope. It is light. Almost too light as I want a little heavier. So. I will be buying a seekings PH 3 soon with swaro z5i plus scope.
So I will have two bonafide elk guns.

 

[skydiver386]

CZ550 Safari magnum in .375 H&H with Barnes 270grain X.

If it's good enough for Eland, it's good enough for Elk.

 

[YancyW]

I have a ton of options, but if I wasn't hunting off horseback, in which case I likely wouldn't go, I would grab my Cooper M92 in 280ai. Leica 2-10 on it, the all in weight is probably 7.5lbs. Grab an 8lbs jug of H4831, couple hundred Berger 168 LVDs and get after it.

 

[uplander01]

Buy a Benelli Lupo in 300 WM, scope it with a Leupold 2-12 and enjoy a low purchase price, light weight, better accuracy than $5000 rifles, and go kill an elk

 

[revturbo9967]

Killed a small 5X6 this year with a 28 nosler. I was prepared for a 500 yard shot, but we called this one to about 98 yards.

Cant go wrong with a 300 win mag

 

[JimP]

I started hunting elk with a old 30-06, moved on to a 7mm Rem mag, and now use a 340 Weatherby.

In my opinion the. 338's of the firearm world are the best elk caliber out there. The mags shoot quite flat and are accurate for the longer cross canyon shots that you encounter when hunting elk. That along with they pack a punch at those longer ranges.

My 340 packs a Leopold VX3 3.5-10x40

 

[TnKen]

I use a standard 7mm rem mag. The biggest issue, as in most hunting, is bullet selection. I used the 160 Hornady ELDX and penetration was lacking. The eldx was blowing up when encountering shoulder bones. I switched to the Barnes 150 tssx and have had no more issues.

 

[meigsbucks]

I’ve only taken five elk. They’ve ranged from 20 to 250 yds. I used a .30;06 on one, a .338 Win mag on three and a .375 H&H on one.
I have a number of elk capable rifles, but if I was going on an elk hunt today, I’d grab either my .300 Wby, .338 Win mag or .338 RUM.

 

[CoElkHunter]

CZ550 Safari magnum in .375 H&H with Barnes 270grain X.

If it's good enough for Eland, it's good enough for Elk.

I have a CZ550 .375. It stays home when I’m hunting here in the mountains. WAY too heavy. You’ll only hunt in the mountains ONCE carrying a heavy rifle when wearing a backpack.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Buy a Browning X Bolt in .300WM at 6.8lbs. Add a scope and you’re at 8.5lbs. I bought one a few months ago as they no longer make it in .338WM. However, I’ve taken all my elk since about ‘95 with my blued/walnut Browning A Bolt .338WM. 8.5lbs scoped. I’ll still be looking for good used .338WM X Bolt, preferably blued/walnut. Or maybe a .375 X Bolt for non DG. I prefer the X Bolt magazine over the A Bolt design. On a side note, I’ve had NO problems with rust on my walnut stocked blued A Bolt hunting many times in nasty weather here. My buddy has used my A Bolt twice now in Newfoundland and no rust. I just taped (or condom) the barrel and wiped it off after each days use. Many good suggestions here. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Shooter375]

28 Nosler or 7 PRC

 

[Inline6]

7PRC is my round of choice (have a R8 chambered in it). Seekins is making some nice rifles at a great price. Food for thought.

 

[Lee M]

Does anyone know what is causing these emojis to come up on a lot of my posts?

I’m having the same issue.

 

[JimP]

I’m having the same issue.

Are you using the African Hunting app?

 

[Lee M]

Are you using the African Hunting app?

Yes

 

[Stormy Kromer]

An important question is. What bullet are you using?

Heavy for caliber is my choice. Quality only of course.

Conditions matter too. I've hunted elk in the timber at close range. A .35 Whelen with a heavy, quality bullet would be best choice I'd go back with. When I go to the high plains on the Wyoming - Montana border every year I use my outfitters Gunwerks 7mm LRM and reach out to far distances. No one rifle can be the perfect all around elk rifle. I can think of several for different conditions, one can't do them all perfectly, but many, many can do it very well. I own a .300 Win Mag and shoot 200 grain Swift A-Frames. A good compromise out to 350 yards.