Elk/Mountain Rifle on a Budget?

[PeterCartwright]

O.K.  So while I'm day-dreaming this morning, it dawns on me, wouldn't a Handi in, say, .30-06 (or something similar) make a nearly ideal elk/mountain rifle for anyone on a budget (or anyone, period, for that matter)?  Think about it:  It's relatively light.  Put a nice, used Leupold M8 4X on it and you'd be good to go.  The rifle would have plenty of reach for sane elk applications-and plenty of oomph as well.  It's "handy" over all length would be delightful in the dark timber.  Load up with Nosler 180gr. Partitions or Barnes 165 gr. TSXs and you'd have all the penetration needs anyone could want.  It's hard for me to imagine that any slight time differences in follow-up shots would make a difference in most settings.

Let's see, if a guy already had a frame, we'd be talking, what, <$300 max investment?...Kinda makes me wonder why I'm hanging on to that nice Pre-Mark II 77 that I hardly ever use.

[burntmuch]

Thats my plan . Next year My brothers & I are gonna try & do a do it yourself elk hunt in colorado. I need to decide between 45-70 or 36-06 both handi's .

[PartsMan]

Sure the 06 is plenty for Elk but is it really enough for a one shot kill on a mountain.
No really, they don't call them handis for nothing.
The perfect carrying rifle.
I can't wait to take my 7mm-08 synthetic deer hunting.

[eskimo36]

Peter,
I like good logical thinking like that.....


burntmuch,
Take both....no need to decide...alternate days

[CDA]

I had the same thought. I had planned on buying a SS .30-06 for weather resistance, but just found a blue one local (ejector - which is what I wanted) at a good price. Now, I plan on adding a camo lamo stock set and maybe a .45/70 barrel.

[PeterCartwright]

Yeah, you're right, PartsMan.  Mountains take more .

[PeterCartwright]

There you go, burntmuch, screwing up my "bargain" thinking.  Now I'm imagining that a guy could take TWO Handi barrels...one in a "general purpose" cartridge (like .30-06) and a .45-70 barrel for the times a guy needed to dig 'em out of the dark and ugly.

[burntmuch]

Thats the problem with these handis. Theres always one more you could use!

[handirifle]

Sure the 06 is plenty for Elk but is it really enough for a one shot kill on a mountain.
No really, they don't call them handis for nothing.
The perfect carrying rifle.
I can't wait to take my 7mm-08 synthetic deer hunting.

Well the '06 might not be enough for a mountain, but I bet it will kill one of them "synthetic deer" you were talking about.

[PartsMan]

Well the '06 might not be enough for a mountain, but I bet it will kill one of them "synthetic deer" you were talking about.

Yeah, around here you can go to jail for shooting a "synthetic deer".

[burntmuch]

Yeah the 45-70 may just end up in the backpack.  I have yet to kill any thing with it but man its fun to shoot.

[Dusty Wheeler]

Lipsey's still has five .35 Whelen Handi's...  Good compromise between the '06 and .45-70 especially for elk!  If you are paying to get to elk country it might be nice to be sure you could take some of the longer shots (but you may be better at holdover with a .45-70 than I am).  On the other hand, I live in Idaho and can easily spend a weekend within 50 miles of home.  I tend to lean toward a .308 with 180's.  I like the accuracy and low recoil and pass on longish shots.  I just have more confidence...  Something for everyone!!  I sure like Handi's!!