Its 2023 and you're going on your first elk hunt. What rifle/cartridge do you choose?
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
That pre 64 Alaskan. That’s a winner.
novelty. the prohibited fruit that of you want to try as it was not possible before few years ago ... instead people had no choice using semi auto with short barrel in 300 win mag ... first caliber i bought in canada was a 30-06 ...
- Location
- SE corner Sk
Have a LH 300 win mag carl gustaf, or could go with 160 gr RN bullets in my 6.5 swede.
I own all the typical but big game offerings 30.06, .308, 6.5, 45-70 etc) but I'm looking to purchase something a little more special for this role, something that is more capable at extended ranges. I'm not shy to recoil as my 375HH and 458WinMag have made up for the bulk of my shooting this year.
I was actually eyeing a few on that list (Model 70s) and am seriously considering the new Alaskan.
I was however leaning more towards an "all weather and stainless" configuration for this rifle as I have a safe full of wood stock and blued barrel rifles.
I'll think on it.
Hitting an elk at 50 yards does things to bullets that won’t be a problem at 500. Use a good bullet, and stop worrying about cartridge. This movement towards match type hunting bullets for pie in the sky shot opportunities at 1/2 a kilometre is insanity IMO.
We bought a recreational/farm property back in 2009 - I was delighted to discover shortly thereafter it was in the path of a migration path heavily used by a big herd of elk! I went on my first elk hunt that year with my 308win and 168gr barnes copper bullets, and was thrilled to easily kill my first bull elk. Since then, I've used that that cartridge/bullet combination to take an elk every year at distances ranging from 50 to 350 meters with a 100% success rate. I've practiced alot with the .308, and make sure to hunt within what I feel my limitations are.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I fully agree on that. I've not shot meat critters past 100 yds or so, and mostly inside 80 yds. For pest critters though, one can go nutz with varmint/target bullets to stretch the distances to as far as the shooter dares to try and is good at it.
Looking forward to a hunt report and rifle pics Northernshooter!
235 grain 375 has a reasonably flat trajectory. Though few guides will encourage a sport to take a shot at 400 yards I imagine
Agreed, the trend from spot and stalk to spot and shoot is strange to me. I have only hunted Elk in the foothills and mountains and all shots were under 250 yards. Majority well under, like 20% of that well under
Even if there is no rifle season in the rut planning on 200 yard shots is not unreasonable.
You shot a red deer hind in Quebec? High fence?
235 grain 375 has a reasonably flat trajectory. Though few guides will encourage a sport to take a shot at 400 yards I imagine
Agreed, the trend from spot and stalk to spot and shoot is strange to me. I have only hunted Elk in the foothills and mountains and all shots were under 250 yards. Majority well under, like 20% of that well under
Even if there is no rifle season in the rut planning on 200 yard shots is not unreasonable.
You shot a red deer hind in Quebec? High fence?
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The problem was they were no longer enclosed by said fence, then it becomes part of the job. Couple years back some red deer on a farm in that region tested positive for CWD and it caused quite a cull. Not all govt, either. There was an "if its brown its down" hunting season for the locals where any age/### was fair game, with any weapon, but we collected the heads. All in all I think 6000 whitetail were culled that year... so once red deer are over the wire, they gotta go.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
This is what I've killed 30 Saskatchewan elk with. Cartridge didn't seem to matter much actually. A good quality bullet that expands and digs deep without fragmenting too much is important in my opinion. Nosler Partitions and Accubond, Norma Oryx, Speer Grand Slam, Barnes TTSX, RWS H mantel, etc. If choosing a specific elk cartridge today I'd probably stick with a .35 Whelen / 250 gr. or the very similar 9.3x62 / 285 gr. because after shooting 17 elk with them I have the most experience and full confidence with that style of moderate velocity/ heavy bullet cartridge. There is absolutely no "need" for a competent hunter to shoot an elk at more than 300 yards, despite current fashion and marketing hype.
for what it's worth, this year I'm shooting a Sako M85 Kodiak .375 H&H loaded with moderate handloads, 270 gr. Hornady SPRN at 2400 fps. Expect it will work just as well as the 9.3x62 that my load was designed to emulate.
.308 Win Savage 110 180 CIL KKSP RN 1
.308 Win Rem 700 BDL 180 Nos PTN 1
.35 Whelen Rem 700 Classic 250 Speer GS, 250 Horn RN, 250 Horn SP, 225 Barnes X 4,2,1,1
.356 Win Win 94 Big Bore AE 250 Win FP 1
7x64 Brno 21H 162 RWS TUG 1
7x57 Brno 22F 175 Norma RN 1
.270 win Sauer 200 140 TBBC 1
.35 Whelen Sako AV Classic 250 Speer GS, 250 Speer SP, 250 Horn RN, 225 TBBC 3,1,2,1
.35 Whelen Ruger 1S 225 Nos BT 1
.375 H&H Ruger 77 RSM 260 Nos PTN 2
8x57 JS Brno 21H 200 RWS T Mantel 1
30-06 Sako L579 Fullstock Carbine 180 Norma Oryx 1
.308 Win Sauer 202 Fullstock Carbine 180 Nos PTN 1
9.3x62 Verney-Carron Impact Plus Takedown 286 Lapua Mega 1
.450-400 3” Nitro Express Merkel 140 AE Double 400 Horn DGX 1
7x64 Sako 85 Bavarian 174 RWS H Mantel, 160 Bitterroot bonded 1,1
30-06 Brno ZKK 600 Griesbach 180 Norma Oryx 1
I think a good rifle chambered for .338 Winchester Magnum would be a fine choice if you can handle the recoil. Top it with a high quality scope with good low light capability and a simple reticle, such as duplex or #4, perhaps illuminated centre, load some decent 200-225 gr. bullets, and you'll be all set.
for what it's worth, this year I'm shooting a Sako M85 Kodiak .375 H&H loaded with moderate handloads, 270 gr. Hornady SPRN at 2400 fps. Expect it will work just as well as the 9.3x62 that my load was designed to emulate.
.308 Win Savage 110 180 CIL KKSP RN 1
.308 Win Rem 700 BDL 180 Nos PTN 1
.35 Whelen Rem 700 Classic 250 Speer GS, 250 Horn RN, 250 Horn SP, 225 Barnes X 4,2,1,1
.356 Win Win 94 Big Bore AE 250 Win FP 1
7x64 Brno 21H 162 RWS TUG 1
7x57 Brno 22F 175 Norma RN 1
.270 win Sauer 200 140 TBBC 1
.35 Whelen Sako AV Classic 250 Speer GS, 250 Speer SP, 250 Horn RN, 225 TBBC 3,1,2,1
.35 Whelen Ruger 1S 225 Nos BT 1
.375 H&H Ruger 77 RSM 260 Nos PTN 2
8x57 JS Brno 21H 200 RWS T Mantel 1
30-06 Sako L579 Fullstock Carbine 180 Norma Oryx 1
.308 Win Sauer 202 Fullstock Carbine 180 Nos PTN 1
9.3x62 Verney-Carron Impact Plus Takedown 286 Lapua Mega 1
.450-400 3” Nitro Express Merkel 140 AE Double 400 Horn DGX 1
7x64 Sako 85 Bavarian 174 RWS H Mantel, 160 Bitterroot bonded 1,1
30-06 Brno ZKK 600 Griesbach 180 Norma Oryx 1
I think a good rifle chambered for .338 Winchester Magnum would be a fine choice if you can handle the recoil. Top it with a high quality scope with good low light capability and a simple reticle, such as duplex or #4, perhaps illuminated centre, load some decent 200-225 gr. bullets, and you'll be all set.
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375H&H, 9.3x74R, 7PRC, depending on your interests. 338WM is the North American version of the 375H&H, but it can be a handful. I like electronic ears and a would use a brake from Insite arms. If your budget allows, go with an MDT HNT26 chassis and a carbon barrel.
im disapointed none in 9,3x74r ...
more seriously your last paragraph sump up the need for most of our hunts here ...
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Medvedqc, my 9.3x74R Beretta O/U double rifle is off at a gunsmith having the triggers tuned up, or it would have been the chosen one this year!
I don't quite have the experience Longwalker does, I think I've only shot 21 or 23? elk in SK but I agree with him that a good bullet is probably one of the most important things. My favorite elk rifle and the one I've shot the most with is my Kimber Montana in .338 Federal shooting 210gr TSX. Kind of goes along with the medium velocity/heavy bullet combo he likes as well and I've had excellent results with it.
ooh, ok, I get that, I've got the Hawkeye hunter fever also, well rather a stainless crf with all the right features and accuracy reputation, love how they look, walnut, red recoil pad, fun waffling over which cartridge will get the nod, it'll be for more than an elk hunt but who needs excuses other than 'I want something new' lol...carry on, scratch that itch, for me its the rifle I want, for you it sounds more like the cartridge you're after
It's both. I want that all weather package that is suited for a pack in multi-day hunt in rough environments, comfortable enough to carry in challenging terrain but also in a cartridge capable of reaching out and getting the job done above and beyond what .308/30.06 can do.
I've never hunted mountainous terrain previously so having the option with a cartridge to "stretch it's legs" would be a added bonus. This will likely end up being an elk, sheep, goat....bear(?) rifle.
