New rifle question

[merlin]

My 300 weatherby mag/vanguard with leupold scope is a shooter. That's what I would take

[droptine8850]

270 wsm with 140 gr Nosler Accubonds or 140 gr Trophy bonded tips.

[slomo]

I wouldn't take a .308 especially at 400 yards.. at a closer distance yes it will work "if you do your part" but Imo why take a chance? I would get a 7mm mag or 300WM and leave a little room for error..

Doesn't it fall under if you do your part no matter what round your shooting short of a 50bmg? IMO it's more about being comfortable and confident, knowing you can make that shot. Practice at the distances you think you will shoot and get familiar with your set up. You will know what to do when the moment comes.

[WItoTX]

270, 7 Mag, 30-06, 308, 300 Mag. Any will work, and are tried and true. Ammo available EVERYWHERE. The other calibers you mention, are much more difficult to find in general.

[rosco11]

I'd say 270 but that is very biased. No one has mentioned the 7mm-08 and it might fit the bill perfectly for what you're describing, you could pick any rifle you like from the Rem 700, Savage and Ruger that you like and falls in your budget plus optic, I pick Leupold, but I know lots of people like the vortex.. tons of options and brands.. fyi there are some good deals on closeout Leupold vx6 out there right now because its being replaced by the vx6 hd and vx5 hd

[1shot]

270, 7 Mag, 30-06, 308, 300 Mag. Any will work, and are tried and true. Ammo available EVERYWHERE. The other calibers you mention, are much more difficult to find in general.

This

[ColinR]

Well I'm partial to the ol 270 win. But in reality what ever YOU can shoot most accurately. And yes your 308 will do fine and it sounds like its a great shooter. Unless you just want another rifle I'd just use that. If you decide to get another rifle I would get something the is a little flatter shooting such as a 7 mag, 270 win, or 257 wby.

[6.5 shooter]

Get a savage 300 win mag with accu trigger and stock. Install a Nikon buckmaster scope on it and you're good to go.

[Outbreaker]

I love .30 cal. I have the .308, .30-06 and the .300 RUM.

At any range over 200 if I want to make sure it dies I take the .300 RUM. Will the others do the job, yes. Which has the most room for error on longer ranges.....the RUM followed by the .30-06 followed by the .308.

[txlongshot]

My vote is for the 6.5x284

[adam_p]

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/700525773

Lots of room for good glass within your budget.

[scjeeptx]

Probably confused myself, and maybe trying to solve a non existent problem.

Looks like the 308 will suffice for the elk situation, and I've decided against the 280 only because I already have two 308s. That leaves me at my other selection, the 257 Wby Mag. Pretty impressive ballistics and capability, and I think it would fill a void in my quarter bore heart!

Thoughts vs a 25-06 are appreciated. That would be the only other caliber I would consider for my needs.

[BigJimmyRustler]

You prefer wood stocks or composite? Stainless or blued? Flashy or subdued taste in firearms?
What type of elk hunting are you gonna do (aka LOTS of lugging around a rifle and pack?)

[Bowyer]

Probably confused myself, and maybe trying to solve a non existent problem.

Looks like the 308 will suffice for the elk situation, and I've decided against the 280 only because I already have two 308s. That leaves me at my other selection, the 257 Wby Mag. Pretty impressive ballistics and capability, and I think it would fill a void in my quarter bore heart!

Thoughts vs a 25-06 are appreciated. That would be the only other caliber I would consider for my needs.

I like the 25-06 and the 308. Have seen both take elk size animals.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[DuramaxDude]

Personally I would be more than comfortable taking a shot at and elk within 400 yards with a 308, 6.5 creedmoor, 7 mm mag, 300 WM or any other caliber that has been mentioned. They all have sufficient energy and have been successful in taking elk over the years. The 308 you have will work just fine I would get a heavier grained bullet 180 or above and practice with it and makes sure I was at 1 MOA or less out to 400 yards but that's just my pickiness. I like to keep everything at .5 moa or better myself. In my mind with factory ammo I would really consider the more popular calibers like 308, 300 Win Mag, 7mm mag, and 30.06. For the sake of recoil and shot placement I would consider a muzzle brake or a rifle with a little extra weight unless you will be spot and stalk on foot the whole time. I have all these calibers and I would have to say the less punishing with the most energy would probably be the 7mm mag. As far as what make and model rifle man there are lots of good quality rifles out now days. I am really liking savage I own 2 both are 1 MOA out of the box or less. With a easy DIY bedding job 1 so far is .5 MOA out to 500 yds the other is SUB MOA out to 1200yds with multiple 1 mile hits as well. I also have a cheapo Remington 783 that I glass bedded and is SUB MOA out to 500 yrds and more that 1000 yd capable. Another Remington 700 Long Range model is a 1 MOA out to 500 yrds so far out of the box. I avoid the Remingtons due to all their quality control issues lately. I have a Tikka and a Howa that are sub moa rifles as well. Bergara, savage, Tikka, Weatherby Vangaurd, Howa they all make good accurate rifles that are in a price range that would leave you around $700 give or take to put into a scope rings and bases.

Factory ammo selection I stay with hornady and federal its accurate, affordable, and its consistent. They have both impressed me a lot through chronographs. That said my 7mm mag does the best with 150 grain ammo which at the moment is the Remington accutip 150 gr.