Which rifle for a sheep/elk hunt ?

gorky

gorky

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If work does not stop me, I hope to do a sheep hunt this fall. I will likely have a general (bull) elk tag for the same zone. I am debating my gun choice. I have a pair of Ruger Scout rifles (18.5" barrel, stainless, 308), one topped with a NF 2.5-10x24 and my wife's topped with a NF 3.5-15x50. I also have my go-to bigger animals rifle - Sako 75 stainless 300WM topped with a NF 5.5-22x50. Longer, heavier, harder hitting.

Both guns will be going with me but as a general rule, I will only be carrying one when going out for the day. Is the extra carrying weight of the Sako worth the additional range, magnification, and knockdown power of the 300 ? Right now I am heavily leaning towards the 308 with the 2.5-10x24 and feel very capable with the gun inside 600yds. God knows I would not be wanting to take a 600 yarder on an elk but I feel I can shoot the gun accurately at that range.

I had toyed with the idea of buying a 300 Finnlight and topping it with another 3.5-15x50 (maybe even another 2.5-10) but I am not sure if it is worth it....

So what are the thoughts of those more experienced than I ?
 
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I have a .308 that I have used on elk, it does the job. I've never gone on a sheep hunt but I think I would go with the .300wm. Truthfully it's a better choice for elk also.
 
locke it said:
I have a .308 that I have used on elk, it does the job. I've never gone on a sheep hunt but I think I would go with the .300wm. Truthfully it's a better choice for elk also.
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Oh, no dispute, the 300WM is a much better calibre for elk. My concern is the weight and overall size of the Sako compared to the Ruger Scout.
 
locke it said:
Not to be a dink but man up and pack the better tool. Those scouts couldn't even be that light, are they?
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Yep, they really are quite the little rifle. I used one for most of deer season last year (used the sako the year before) and was quite impressed with it. I stripped for the rear sight and scout rail, added the Nightforce, and was quite happy. Recoil is next to nothing (great recoil pad) and the 10rd mag capacity was nice to have (just in case).

I will weigh them out tomorrow but I am guessing the Sako gives up three or four pounds on the Ruger and in a game where guys are trying to shed ounces, the extra pounds might really start to hurt
 
go do some scouting, see what sort of shots might present themselves. i doubt there is any need for long range shooting.
 
gorky said:
Oh, no dispute, the 300WM is a much better calibre for elk. My concern is the weight and overall size of the Sako compared to the Ruger Scout.
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.308 and .300wm are the same calibre and if you can't take an elk or sheep with a .308, then I doubt a .300wm will be of much help. Go lighter any where you can! my $.02
 
In all honesty, if you put your bullet where you should the elk won't know the difference.
Take the one you shoot best.
A .308 with a good 180 grain bullet is plenty for elk. There is no "real" advantage to the .300 until you're out past 500 yards anyway.

Good luck on your hunt!
 
if it's sheep you're after, take the bigger brute- there's a lot of cross valley shots involved and you'll want the longer legs- esp if you're not on horseback- and figure out if you can get to where he dropped BEFORE you take the shot- i've been around a while, and while i used to be on horseback, with the308/180 in the scabbard, the really long shots i liked the 338/250 or 275
 
In the windswept peaks and valleys of the mountain sheep's domain you need the fastest, flattest shooting, best wind bucking cartridge you can get your hands on. The 300 WM is perfect, the 308 with an 18" barrel is NOT. Absolutely no question about it.
Advice from an addicted sheep hunter with over 30 hunts worth of experience.
If you're backpacking do what ever you can to lighten up the 300 or buy a lighter one as weight is critical, but never give up reach and wind resistance for weight.

Douglas
 
c-fbmi said:
In the windswept peaks and valleys of the mountain sheep's domain you need the fastest, flattest shooting, best wind bucking cartridge you can get your hands on. The 300 WM is perfect, the 308 with an 18" barrel is NOT. Absolutely no question about it.
Advice from an addicted sheep hunter with over 30 hunts worth of experience.
If you're backpacking do what ever you can to lighten up the 300 or buy a lighter one as weight is critical, but never give up reach and wind resistance for weight.

Douglas
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according to you the 338would be MORE perfect
 
t-star said:
according to you the 338would be MORE perfect
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Where did this come from, the OP asked advice between a 308 and 300 WM.

Since when can a 338 WM drive an equal BC bullet at the same speeds as a 300 WM?

And a 50s better yet but who's going to pack it into sheep country, let's stick to the OPs question which is where my original post was aimed.
 
c-fbmi said:
Where did this come from, the OP asked advice between a 308 and 300 WM.

Since when can a 338 WM drive an equal BC bullet at the same speeds as a 300 WM?

And a 50s better yet but who's going to pack it into sheep country, let's stick to the OPs question which is where my original post was aimed.
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i was being facetious- good god, man LIGHTEN UP
you can't be MORE perfect
 
A sheep hunter will take the lightest, handiest rifle has has available. A sheep shooter will take a heavy, flat-shooting, hard-hitting magnum that can reach across canyons.

The .308 is plenty of gun for sheep, and it does fine on elk, too. Load that .308 with a heavy, high-BC bullet if you're concerned, and you'll do okay on long shots, too.
 
you're forgetting that the 308 is limited by the length of it's magazine to 180 grains or less- in order to sit those 190s and up, you have to sit the tail end IN the powder, making a compressed powder column- you have no such problems with the 300
 
t-star said:
you're forgetting that the 308 is limited by the length of it's magazine to 180 grains or less- in order to sit those 190s and up, you have to sit the tail end IN the powder, making a compressed powder column- you have no such problems with the 300
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That totally depends on the specific magazine and rifle. I'm not familiar with mag constraints in the Ruger Scout.
 
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