Its 2023 and you're going on your first elk hunt. What rifle/cartridge do you choose?

[Potashminer]

When I could not get 225, I had a couple boxes of 210 grain Partitions - I do not recall getting an elk with them - but likely never fired one at elk. In my mind, 210, 225 or 250 will not make much difference - if you did not kill with one, not likely to have made the kill with the other - I think - but never tried that. From my Model 70 Winchester, I convinced myself I was getting "best" groups with the 225's - why I went with them. My current loading for that rifle is actually 225 grain Accubond now - no experience, at all, on game, with them - but MUCH better groups at 100 yards, for whatever that is worth.

Is still a couple boxes of 250 grain Partitions on the shelf - for if I feel the need for ultimate "hammer" with that rifle and do not care about ultimate "precision" - is still my notes for what I thought was "best" loading, back in the day, using stuff from back then. That 338 Win Mag not seeing much use since I got a 9.3x62 - I will likely use the Woodleigh 320 grain here, to make a "hammer", if I feel the need for that. But the 9.3x62 with 250 grain Accubond seems okay enough for now. I suspect the old time 286 grain was about correct for that one, but I ran out of those a while ago.

 

[tylerdb]

Pick your poison - 270 win (personal choice out to 400), 7mm rem mag or 7 PRC if you want a do it all rifle for elk/black bear/sheep. If you wanted say an elk only rifle only out to 400 then maybe toss the 300 win mag in there and choose something else for a mountain rifle.