New rifle question

[scjeeptx]

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?)

I'm not picky. I prefer synthetic/stainless combos for the utility and weight factor.

[Buckwheat]

Changed hunting goals have me looking for a better(for lack of a better term) "do-it-all" rifle. I recently found out I will have my first opportunity at rifle elk next year.

Rifle would be used for elk and below, and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking more than a 3-400 yd shot with my eyes these days, even with quality glass.

I think I'll have a $1500ish all-in budget for gun and glass, and I'm not scared of Ruger Americans even! I have one in 308 and shot a .75 in group this weekend with crap HSM ammo. Great guns "for the money."

I do not reload, and would prefer a factory rifle that shoots factory ammo vs a custom wildcat.

My initial research has me interested in the 280 Rem, 257 Wby, and may be even the ole 25-06. Am I too light in ther .25-26 range for elk? Heck, would the Ruger American 308 I already have suffice??

All input is appreciated, just please don't say 6.5 Creedmore is the answer.

Im a fan of the good ole 30-06. Reliable caliber and you can get a variety of different bullet weights for the different game you want.

This all day long.

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[BigJimmyRustler]

I'm not picky. I prefer synthetic/stainless combos for the utility and weight factor.

If it were my money?
1. Tikka T3x Superlite (synthetic/stainless)
2. Zeiss Terra 4-12x42 (RZ8 reticle)
3. Talley 1pc Rings (matte Silver)

Go hunt. You're still well under the $1500 dollar mark with that so theres room for better glass if wanted but it's probably not required for a 3-4 hundred yard shot. You could even go lower than the Zeiss but if you're buying a new setup and spending $1500 and you're like me you'll want something nicer.

Caliber wise since you don't reload I'd get a .270/30-06/7MM Mag just based upon ballistic your needs combined with readily available factory loads.

[Fmjag64]

308 or 300 Win Mag.

[kmon]

Your 308 will work no doubt and so will many others. Do the bigger magnums offer any advantage, sure they do in trajectory and wind drift but only if you can shoot them well.
What ever you take practice with it a lot.

With today's bullet selection many cartridges will work and work well. If you want to go 25 caliber I would go with the 257WBY that little extra does not hurt IMO and it would be loaded with Barnes, partitions or accubond bullets which ever it liked the best. The smaller tha caliber and the faster the bullet is going the more tough construction you need to punch through heavy bone if say that point of shoulder shot is all you have offered. Same bullets would be my pick if using the 308 or what ever.

I have killed a few elk and watched others shot and none were any deader with the magnums than they would have been with the same bullet placement from a 308 or similar cartridge. Bottom line with elk they are big tough critters but put a bullet through the heart or both lungs and they die pretty quick. Also do not admire the shot, if it is still up and or running off put another bullet or two in it. Sometimes you never know and you cannot eat what your cannot find. I would rather lose a little more meat from another shot than loose the whole dang elk.

In the 308 I would use a 165gr partition or accubond both will expand and penetrate. those are my choice though foe about everything else. For the Faster magnums the barnes also works well.

[SabreKiller]

7mag is a great choice.

^^^^This!

[HankePanky]

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.

Your 308 is fine for an elk, with proper shot placement, but 400 yards may be pushing it. The 257 Wby Mag is a GREAT round, but be prepared to pay a premium for any ammo with Weatherby in the name, and to not be able to find ammo for it as readily as your 308.

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?)

If you're going to do be packing your rifle and become open to other calibers, .300 WSM is no slouch. You can get it in short action guns that typically weigh less and you can achieve similar ballistics to a .300 Win Mag out of a barrel that is a couple inches shorter, also decreasing weight. In fact I read an article recently, that said the .300 WSM is so efficient that a gentleman was getting better speed out of a .300 WSM, with a 16.5" barrel (Ruger Frontier), than his .308, with a 22" barrel and the same grain projectile. So, a 20" .300 WSM, with a mountain barrel and composite stock, wouldn't be a bad choice on a hunt requiring lots of hiking and would have some good knock-down power.

Not to mention that many gun-makers are still chambering it (so you don't have to buy a custom) and ammo's fairly readily available, off the shelf.

If you still like the idea of a smaller caliber projectile, the .270 WSM has many of the same pros, but availability of chamberings and ammo is another story.

Good luck and let us know what you get and don't forget to post some pictures of it!

[Balcones_Walker]

6.5 creedmoor is the answer.... or 308 or whatever you feel like lugging around the mountains. .308 will do the job for sure.

+1

[db@100]

I use a Rem 280 for my elk hunting and will use it again in November.

[jstanton]

x 3

X4

My favorite caliber! Great ballistic coefficient bellets available and wide selection of premium factory ammo.

I have harvested several elk with it including the 6x6 in my avatar!

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[kmon]

Know where a good shooting Tikka 270 WSM hunter wood stocked rifle is at a good price. Low round count as well

[Maxlab]

Know where a good shooting Tikka 270 WSM hunter wood stocked rifle is at a good price. Low round count as well

Eurooptics has it for $568.00 Tikka T3 270 wsm wood stock.