Searching for "The" elk rifle.... opinions...?

[Coyote Hunter]

Skilled hunters don't need to shoot at 600 yards plus. They go hunting not target shooting on big game animals.

NO hunter “needs” to take a shot at 600 yards.  Or 500, 400, 300, 200 or even 100.

On the other hand, it is NOT always possible to get closer, either, regardless of a hunter’s skill level.  Sometimes you take the shot that is available or you go home empty handed.

[Swampman]

Pity the poor bow "hunter".  He can't blaze away at 600 yards.  He must hunt.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Bows, the indians threw them away when they got rifles....

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Plus I really don't think sitting in a tree with camo and scent blocker clothing, and doe pee all round sounds much like hunting to me...

[cwlongshot]

Plus I really don't think sitting in a tree with camo and scent blocker clothing, and doe pee all round sounds much like hunting to me...

You just need to try it in a better spot!!!    I shot my first deer AND first buck with stick and string!!!

CW

[tdn]

man... I am away from my computer for a few days for the holidays and this thread takes off like wildfire!  

Thanks for all the good insight and opinions.
I truly enjoy shooting all the rifles I am privileged to own, and don't enjoy getting beat up too much while doing it.
I see the virtue in some of the larger cartridges (338WM etc.) but not sure if I am up for putting up with the recoil.

I have someone coming to take a look at my 7mm RM tomorrow, so that might free up some $$. In considering all the options, and the desire to try something new in cartridge and pet project, I think I am going to go with the Rem700 in 300WSM.  I also was able to find one brand new for $500 (including a box of ammo).  When I get the whole project done and get it "mountain-ized" I'll try and post a pic on here for ya'll.  

And if I don't like it, or if it just don't work out - I am sure I can recoup the $$$ here in Denver. There seems to be a lot a folks who "need" fancy magnums for elk out here. Even falling in love with the 300WSM, I know my .308s will still see action stalking elk.
Made me think of this story though:

This last season, as we were standing over my downed bull (only ran 75 yrds) a hunting buddy who just arrived in camp that morning asked me what I was shooting with.  I replied "308 Win,"  to which he snickered and called it a "girl's gun". To which I replied with a look down at 700+ pounds of hide and antler and said "tell that to him..."  

Thanks again, but feel free to continue the elk rifle banter...

[Sweetwater]

Great response!! Like, he's goin' in the freezer, ain't he?!!  Good show! The 300WSM sounds like a good way to go for you. Will want pics!
Again, that is a great looking piece of wood! Mine is a piece of Cherry, from Herter's back in the early '60's. Not sure if a Fajen or a Bishop. Dad was using both at the time, but mostly Bishop. It came out blonde with the French Red finish on it. Dad recently refinished it with something else and it has a bit of a very light brown hue to it, though still very light, like an ash blonde on a size 5 in a bikini!!

I once saw a 20" Mannlicher in 358Norma Mag. I didn't get to shoot it but it sure looked like it meant business. Always have loved the 35's, but I think my 35Whelen will be the end of the line for me.

Yeah, CW, we agree again - a lot of hunters today shoot lighter recoiling rifles better, myself included. It all comes down to practice, which some of us don't do enough of anymore, and the heavier the recoil, the less we are to practice with it, though there are options like light loaded target rounds for practice and heavy rounds for hunting. And there are a myriad of others reasons that come into play; time, cost, etc. My 35Whelen has a 22" barrel and probably will chop it at 19", or maybe 18" like my 8x57. Short barrels just are handy in the woods and in and out of the truck and working on the bench.

Jack and Elmer had quite a thing going; fast and light vs slow and heavy. One of the few things they agreed on in public was that a certain percentage of shooters handled the ligher recoil of the 270Win with more precision (making better kills) than the bigger kickers, all of which are not magnums, owing it to the practice they were willing to give the rifle and being unwilling to learn to control/handle the heavier recoil. 

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   Sweetwater, You are so very right about learning to handle recoil...I like my magnum rifles, but shooting them accurately takes both time and money..Some one once said if you cant shoot them from a bench and sight in, then you are better off with a less powerful rifle...I know many guys who have bought these rifles thinking that is all they need...Just the other day a kid I had in school showed up at the range with a .300 Ultra Mag...He has about as much ability to shoot that rifle as my golden retriever...He would be better off with a .300 savage, or 308, because he has no skills as a shooter..His performance atthe range quickly showed us that...Even some of the country one hunts, limits the ranges at which you will get a shot..I have never hunted your country, but having traveled though there, One would have to search for a spot to do any long shooting...Here it is everywhere from p.dogs, coyotes, antelope, deer, right up though elk...As I have said before, we now have lots of elk in country that used to only hold deer, antelope, and coyotes...Elk are big animals and far easier to hit at 400 yards than a coyote...I feel a well hit elk is no more difficult to kill than a mule deer. If that bullet and a good bullet is put in the right place..They seem to show less reaction.

[Graybeard]

We can argue the need (desire really) to shoot at long range all we want but it doesn't change the fact that each year many thousands of folks take elk, mule deer, and pronghorn quite successfully with bows and with handguns often with iron sighted revolvers.

Yeah some of it is different seasons with bows with less competition but that's not the case for handgunners. The facts are some folks are hunters and willing to go for the hunt and come home with an unused tag from time to time while others would rather bang away at unrealistic ranges and so what if they miss or wound a few. Yes sometimes on some animals you might not get closer but that's why it's called HUNTING not target shooting. Some folks go hunting and some folks go target shooting on live animals. Some actually see a difference and some don't.

[Coyote Hunter]

Pity the poor bow "hunter".  He can't blaze away at 600 yards.  He must hunt.

And bow hunters often go home empty handed.

Several of my friends are avid bow hunters and go after both elk and deer.  While they have all had success with both, they have had many more failures.

Frankly, I'd rather take a 600-yard shot at an unalarmed deer or elk than a yard running shot at any range.  I've taken enough shots at running coyotes to know my chances of a good clean kill shot are MUCH higher - and I've hit running coyotes past 300 yards.

[Harry Snippe]

The point was buying better quaility scope . So many hunters I see have a scope costing very little on an quaility rifle .
I used to buy the best rifle for the money I could afford , then the scope was usually an after thought with the piggy bank then empty .
You might change that 3x9 for one with a bit more power . That does not  say shoot an animal at a great distance , rather see better at a given distance .
I put the price spent on a new rifle into a new scope for the 300 WM.Just having a sharper clearer picture image was really not known with the 300 hundred dollar scope .It was more going with a good TV then stepping up to HD.
On the subject of those long distance shots seen in Wild TV . You see them taking those 5 to 9 hundred yard shots . Well with training and the right equipment they show it can be done . So if then too that super tuned 7MM Remington Mag and burger bullet will make the kill , I ask myself then ,do I really need all of that gun if My shots would be less than half that distance ?
I think that two to three hundred feet per second out of that 300 WM might give me an edge . Well that might be so, but watching the 7MM rem making those real long killing shots --- Well then I am for sure not undergunned with the 3006 with shots under three . We are just brain washed in thinking we need that 300 or 338 Mag to make a good quick kill.
Then so many made a good fast kill on Moose and the like, in the first half of this century with a 300 Savage . So the guys with the 308W which has a bit more power than the Savage would too surely be not be undergunned on Elk. We have better ammo too then they had and like them we just need to place that shot were it needs to be.

[Coyote Hunter]

We can argue the need (desire really) to shoot at long range all we want but it doesn't change the fact that each year many thousands of folks take elk, mule deer, and pronghorn quite successfully with bows and with handguns often with iron sighted revolvers.

Yeah some of it is different seasons with bows with less competition but that's not the case for handgunners. The facts are some folks are hunters and willing to go for the hunt and come home with an unused tag from time to time while others would rather bang away at unrealistic ranges and so what if they miss or wound a few. Yes sometimes on some animals you might not get closer but that's why it's called HUNTING not target shooting. Some folks go hunting and some folks go target shooting on live animals. Some actually see a difference and some don't.

There is a very big difference between a well-prepared hunter taking a 600 yard shot and an ill- or unprepared hunter taking the same shot.  You will not find any examples of where I have recommended or even justified the latter.

That said, there are many bow and handgun hunters who feel the same kind of pressure to take shots that are beyond their capabilities, and there are a lot of wounded animals as a result.  My elk hunting buddy arrowed two deer in Michigan a few years back and didn’t recover either one.  And that was shooting from a stand at just a few yards, well within his normal practice range.

Put me down as one of those that don’t have a problem with 600-yard shots by a well-prepared hunter and DO consider it hunting depending on the circumstances. For example, there are times when I’ve worked much harder for a 600 yard opportunity than opportunities at much closer ranges – including some at spitting distance.

I’ve seen enough hunters sighting in their rifles at the range to know that acceptable accuracy at 100 yards is a real challenge for some.  There are others who make my shooting skills look pretty poor, even though my favorite targets are clay pigeons on the 400-yard berm and kill-zone-sized steel at 500 and 600 yards.  

There is no specific range at which it ceases to be “hunting” and starts to be “target shooting”.  That is more a matter of the hunter’s mind set and level of preparedness and the circumstances of a specific opportunity.  I’ve seen “hunters” shooting into herds at 50 yards and walking away when nothing dropped immediately.  Disgusting.  Give me a well prepared hunter, good conditions and an unalarmed animal at 600 yards any day.
 

[Harry Snippe]

To add to the last post . A rifle and scope is properly fitted to you comes first . Then practice , practise, practice, starting at the shortest distances and conditions you might incounter form too all postions . Then lenghen the ranges .Working up from a small calipier to the one needed for the hunt .


A new or bigger gun is the last on the list of increasing your chance's. It will not get the animal over a greater distance . Practice does.

[mcwoodduck]

We can argue the need (desire really) to shoot at long range all we want but it doesn't change the fact that each year many thousands of folks take elk, mule deer, and pronghorn quite successfully with bows and with handguns often with iron sighted revolvers.

Yeah some of it is different seasons with bows with less competition but that's not the case for handgunners. The facts are some folks are hunters and willing to go for the hunt and come home with an unused tag from time to time while others would rather bang away at unrealistic ranges and so what if they miss or wound a few. Yes sometimes on some animals you might not get closer but that's why it's called HUNTING not target shooting. Some folks go hunting and some folks go target shooting on live animals. Some actually see a difference and some don't.

I agree that many even most elk are shot under 100 yards.
But if I have just spent a few thousand dollars on the hunt, license, fuel, and all the other stuff that goes with getting ready for and going on an elk hunt I want to make sure that if the only oppertunity to take an elk is at 600 yards I have a better chance of hitting and putting the elk down.  The cost and ability to draw tags, not to mention the limited vacation time I am bale to spend on hunting will have me picking a rifle that will work up close and not have the projectile fail as well a having the projectile expand at an extended range I feel comfortable shooting.

[Coyote Hunter]

Harry -

Although I agree with most of your post, I have to point out that even with Hornady LeverEvolution ammo, I'll not be taking shots with my .30-30 that would be easy with my .300 WM - or my .30-06's or .308 Win, for that matter.

Practice, yes.  Having the right equipment is a must, too.  For a 600 yard shot the rifle and load must be more accurate and have higher velocity and energy than if shots are limited to 100-200 yards. 

[Coyote Hunter]

mwoodduck –

My thoughts exactly.  Even as a Colorado resident, I spend a fair amount on the hunt each fall.  A couple years back the fuel costs were well over $500, another year a breakdown in Laramie, Wyoming, cost me over $1,500 – and that was after I’d already spent $800 in truck repairs before leaving home.  Then there are food costs, truck and trailer insurance, licenses, etc., etc.  I can only sympathize with the non-residents who spend much more and don’t get to hunt every year.

While I’ve never taken big game at ranges over 350 yards, I have turned down many opportunities at greater ranges.  These days I am well-prepared to reach out to 500 yards with my .30-06’s and 600 yards with my 7mm RM and .300 WM.  Part of that preparation is a lot of time spent at the range with my hunting loads, part of it is the hunting loads themselves, which use premium bullets (primarily North Fork and TTSX) that perform well at all ranges from the muzzle to as far out as I’ll take a shot.

If I were to define a “hunter”, part of that definition would include something about being well-prepared to take long shots if necessary but working hard to get closer when possible.

[Harry Snippe]

mwoodduck –

My thoughts exactly.  Even as a Colorado resident, I spend a fair amount on the hunt each fall.  A couple years back the fuel costs were well over$500, another year a breakdown in Laramie, Wyoming, cost me over $1,500 – and that was after I’d already spent $800 in truck repairs before leaving home.  Then there are food costs, truck and trailer insurance, licenses, etc., etc.  I can only sympathize with the non-residents who spend much more and don’t get to hunt every year.

While I’ve never taken big game at ranges over 350 yards, I have turned down many opportunities at greater ranges.  These days I am well-prepared to reach out to 500 yards with my .30-06’s and 600 yards with my 7mm RM and .300 WM.  Part of that preparation is a lot of time spent at the range with my hunting loads, part of it is the hunting loads themselves, which use premium bullets (primarily North Fork and TTSX) that perform well at all ranges from the muzzle to as far out as I’ll take a shot.

If I were to define a “hunter”, part of that definition would include something about being well-prepared to take long shots if necessary but working hard to get closer when possible.

Could not have said it better . Enjoy the hunt
Happy

[mcwoodduck]

 
Good way to put what I ment by only shot.

[Brithunter]

Hmmm food for thought  thank you. Although my chances of hunting Elk are slim to none for now but it's something I really want to do. I was even making plans and enquiries to do so and that's the reason I actually got my 30-06  after enquiring with a few guiding services it seems none were very familar with the European 8mm Mauser loads and asked what other choices I had. None knew what a 9.3x57mm was like and they suggested using a .270 Winchester even seeming to prefer it over .308  . So I looked a round and picked up the 30-06 as they know that one 

Then things changed and finances went to pot so that was it. It will several years before I can consider an Elk hunt  oh but I can still dream though 

[mauser98us]

I took my 9.3 X57 elk hunting this year. Was really excited to use that potato launcher,but alas the elk did not co-operate.

[burntmuch]

Ive been following this thread with great interest. Im hopefully gonna be doing a do it your self elk hunt in Colorado this year. Still debateing bow or gun. Ive done 3 in the past 2 bow & 1 gun. The 2 years I bowhunted I had real nice bulls at 100 yards or so . Couldnt get closer Just didnt happen. But man that was awesome. The year I gun hunted. The only bull I seen was my brother in laws. He shot it with a 30-06 he borrowed from me. That was pretty awesome too. If I do bow. Im gonna practice out to 60 yards or so. Would only shoot at an elk out to 40 yards though. My elk rifle would be my rem 700 7 mag. Thats what I own. I would practice out to 200 yards at least once a week for 3 or 4 mths. It would be tuff for me to find some where to shoot farther than that. But to be honest. If I had an elk out past that Id take a poke at it. I know that sounds bad. but by time I get to that spot. Ive spent lots of time & lots & lots of money. Not sure what point Im making here. For a Michigan hunter whos used to shooting animals at 20 yards from a treestand or 75 to 100 yards with a gun. Its a tuff call. Ive also thought about carrying my little model 7 7mm-08. Which would be nice to carry out there. Id limit my shots to under 250 yards or so with that. Sorry for rambling. I just talked to my brother about the possible hunt this evening , so these ideas are kinda bouncing around in my head. Thanks for the great reading.  Jay    

[bigswede]

tdn,
The 300 wsm will be a great choice for an elk rifle.  It is my wifes preferred caliber for "Wapiti Wacking", she got her first, a big cow, in the 08' season.  She shot it at about 50 yards or less.  These days here in north Idaho, I prefer something a little bigger.  Yes I like the medium bore magnums.  Let me explain.  First is downrange energy. When I killed my first elk about 18 years ago it was shot at 90 yards, since that fateful day in October, things have changed in my neck of the woods.  The elk country I hunt is logging country,  in the ole days the timber was selectively harvested.  Whereas today the norm is clearcuts, some up to 200 or 300 acres at a time.  After a few years of browse and small trees elk like this habitat.  So, in areas I hunt year after year, the average shot has gone from about 75yds to more like 200.  Keep in mind this is average, there are exceptions on both ends of the spectrum.  So when I shoot an animal out at 200 or 300 yards I like my bullet to have enough energy left to knock a 500lb animal off its feet, or at least deliver enough energy to gurantee a 1 shot kill.  The second reason I like 33,35, and 375 calibers is minimal damage to the meat.  Small fast moving bullets do way more damage to the eatin parts of an elk or deer than do big slow moving projectiles.  I like to be able to eat right to the hole.

[Sweetwater]

Hmmm food for thought  thank you. Although my chances of hunting Elk are slim to none for now but it's something I really want to do. I was even making plans and enquiries to do so and that's the reason I actually got my 30-06  after enquiring with a few guiding services it seems none were very familar with the European 8mm Mauser loads and asked what other choices I had. None knew what a 9.3x57mm was like and they suggested using a .270 Winchester even seeming to prefer it over .308  . So I looked a round and picked up the 30-06 as they know that one 

Then things changed and finances went to pot so that was it. It will several years before I can consider an Elk hunt  oh but I can still dream though 

BH- really hope that dream comes true for you. Any of the above calibers will work fine on elk. All of Dad's elk dropped to his 30-06 and 180gr Sierras at 2450fps - ranges from 65 yards to 275 yards in open sage brush. He could have taken shots at half a mile, but chose to low crawl through the sage (at 73 years old) for that 65 yard shot. Nice easy accurate load in his 20" Interarms Mark X. Most of mine have fallen to my Persian Carbine 18" 8x57mm and 200gr Nolser Partitions at 2400fps. One of mine took a 175gr Sierra at 2700fps from the 8x57, and my last one took a cast bullet from my 32Winchester Special. These elk didn't know they weren't taken with a 3000fps+ whatever. Know your rifle - take your shot.

WCH- IMHO Wyoming has the best elk hunting. The reason I state that is it took my 3 years to locate and harvest my first elk. After that, I could almost predict where I would find them and guided my Dad on several one to three day hunts with 100% success.

Since moving to North Idaho in 2004, I really haven't had/taken the time I need to truly discover "where they go". I've seen many, but never in a shootable area during an open season. So far, only my camera has scored a hit!! LOL I know several guys at my church tag elk every season, as well as several members of their family, so I know the elk are here, just haven't come my way, yet. I truly miss Wyoming.

Shots taken are choices. We "choose" to take or not take any given target presented. My wife has witnessed me pass on totally shootable elk, as far as distance was concerned. Why? One in particular, a nice bull at an easy 200 yards, was about an hour before dark over on Dempsey Ridge, Kind of West of Kemmerer, Wy, and I figured it would be after dark by the time I could have climbed across the drainage that seperated us and then the recovery would have been a total nightmare, at least for me. Even a nice bull is not worth the chance of personal injury that would have been quite likely during the recovery process through that boulder strewn drainage. I have packed out several elk, and "choose" where that happens. Life is choices, and hunting is all about choices. How much does your hunt cost? Factor in potential lost wages incurred from a simple slip and fall, and the actual hunt costs pale by comparison. One of my friends had a wreck with his horse and busted a kidney. His choice of horse purchased, choice of usage before the hunt, choice of "warmup" on that frosty morning led up to the wreck... He now has a "mountain-proven" hunting horse and has learned a lot about using his horse in season and out of season, as well as proper warmup procedures for cold weather.

All the same, the perfect elk rifle is in the mind of the elk hunter, and not necessarily the weapon "chosen" on any given day. I've noticed from the various posts, a good number of us have a variety of very capable elk rifles. Why do we have so much redundancy? Choices, wants, desires, and we still live in a time where, at least for a while longer, we can exercise our wants and desires.

In reality, from my perspective, the perfect elk rifle varies with the individual and the circumstance, and very likely, doesn't exist! Happy New Year!

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Brithunter]

Thank you for that encouragment  My first choice has to be to get fitter. An Elk hunt would probably kill me right now. Hills I am NOT used to anymore as it's very flat here and low. I believe our house is actually about 2 feet below sea level  . However I cannot even think realistically about hunting Elk whilst Dad is ill like he is. It would not fair leaving Mother to cope with Dad so it will be some years hopefully  before I can really consider the hunt.

[dukkillr]

Thank you for that encouragment  My first choice has to be to get fitter. An Elk hunt would probably kill me right now. Hills I am NOT used to anymore as it's very flat here and low. I believe our house is actually about 2 feet below sea level  . However I cannot even think realistically about hunting Elk whilst Dad is ill like he is. It would not fair leaving Mother to cope with Dad so it will be some years hopefully  before I can really consider the hunt.

You don't happen to also be The Suburban Bushwhacker do you?

If not, check here:
http://suburbanbushwacker.blogspot.com/

[Zachary]

To the OP, I just wanted to jump in and let you know that I have a Kimber Montana (Stainless) in .300WSM, and given that this is a potent cartridge, and that this gun is pretty light, it is a real kicker!  That said, I get about 1" groups with Federal Premium 180 Nosler Partitions, and about 1 1/4" with 180 Barnes X (or is it Barnes TSX, I don't specifically recall.)  Attached is a pic with the Noslers. I mounted a fairly light(er) Leupold VX-III 3.5x-10x-40mm.  I bought this gun and scope specifically for elk hunting because it is lightweight and won't draw me down after a lot of walking in the high altitudes.  That said, I still haven't gone elk hunting yet, but I can tell you that the Kimber Montana is a fine, high quality rifle.

That said, every time that I hear "Elk Rifle" I think .338 Win Mag.  It is more powerful (kicks more) than a .300 Win Mag/WSM, but it does have a wider diameter and heavier bullet.  180s are fairly standard heavy bullets for most .300 rounds (yes, they go up to 220grains, but most premium/heavy duty construction bullets are 180 grains), while in the .338 it is .250.  I have a Winchester M70 Classic Stainless in .338 Win Mag.  This is a fairly standard weight rifle, and I have a very heavy Burris scope on it (I think 4x-16x-50mm with 30mm tube).  I have used PMC 225 X Bullets in this rig to shoot big hogs and it works like a dream.  I wouldn't really want to carry such a heavy gun/scope elk hunting, but there is no question that, all else being equal, the .338 Win Mag is more powerful than the .300 Win Mag.  I can't imagine shooting a .338 in such a light gun like a Kimber.

Zachary

[mauser98us]

Hmmm food for thought   thank you. Although my chances of hunting Elk are slim to none for now but it's something I really want to do. I was even making plans and enquiries to do so and that's the reason I actually got my 30-06   after enquiring with a few guiding services it seems none were very familar with the European 8mm Mauser loads and asked what other choices I had. None knew what a 9.3x57mm was like and they suggested using a .270 Winchester even seeming to prefer it over .308  . So I looked a round and picked up the 30-06 as they know that one  

Then things changed and finances went to pot so that was it. It will several years before I can consider an Elk hunt   oh but I can still dream though  

BH- really hope that dream comes true for you. Any of the above calibers will work fine on elk. All of Dad's elk dropped to his 30-06 and 180gr Sierras at 2450fps - ranges from 65 yards to 275 yards in open sage brush. He could have taken shots at half a mile, but chose to low crawl through the sage (at 73 years old) for that 65 yard shot. Nice easy accurate load in his 20" Interarms Mark X. Most of mine have fallen to my Persian Carbine 18" 8x57mm and 200gr Nolser Partitions at 2400fps. One of mine took a 175gr Sierra at 2700fps from the 8x57, and my last one took a cast bullet from my 32Winchester Special. These elk didn't know they weren't taken with a 3000fps+ whatever. Know your rifle - take your shot.

WCH- IMHO Wyoming has the best elk hunting. The reason I state that is it took my 3 years to locate and harvest my first elk. After that, I could almost predict where I would find them and guided my Dad on several one to three day hunts with 100% success.

Since moving to North Idaho in 2004, I really haven't had/taken the time I need to truly discover "where they go". I've seen many, but never in a shootable area during an open season. So far, only my camera has scored a hit!! LOL I know several guys at my church tag elk every season, as well as several members of their family, so I know the elk are here, just haven't come my way, yet. I truly miss Wyoming.

Shots taken are choices. We "choose" to take or not take any given target presented. My wife has witnessed me pass on totally shootable elk, as far as distance was concerned. Why? One in particular, a nice bull at an easy 200 yards, was about an hour before dark over on Dempsey Ridge, Kind of West of Kemmerer, Wy, and I figured it would be after dark by the time I could have climbed across the drainage that seperated us and then the recovery would have been a total nightmare, at least for me. Even a nice bull is not worth the chance of personal injury that would have been quite likely during the recovery process through that boulder strewn drainage. I have packed out several elk, and "choose" where that happens. Life is choices, and hunting is all about choices. How much does your hunt cost? Factor in potential lost wages incurred from a simple slip and fall, and the actual hunt costs pale by comparison. One of my friends had a wreck with his horse and busted a kidney. His choice of horse purchased, choice of usage before the hunt, choice of "warmup" on that frosty morning led up to the wreck... He now has a "mountain-proven" hunting horse and has learned a lot about using his horse in season and out of season, as well as proper warmup procedures for cold weather.

All the same, the perfect elk rifle is in the mind of the elk hunter, and not necessarily the weapon "chosen" on any given day. I've noticed from the various posts, a good number of us have a variety of very capable elk rifles. Why do we have so much redundancy? Choices, wants, desires, and we still live in a time where, at least for a while longer, we can exercise our wants and desires.

In reality, from my perspective, the perfect elk rifle varies with the individual and the circumstance, and very likely, doesn't exist! Happy New Year!

Regards,
Sweetwater

Sweetwater 8MM Mauser and 32 special. I love you bro!

[Brithunter]

Hmmm I have never heard of:-

Suburban Bushwhacker

and we have always lived at least on the edge of town. Only my apartment did not have green open fields or common behind it but in less the 500 yards you on open fields with a steam and deer living just across the stream even though it was within 30 minutes walk of Gatwick Airports South Terminal  :-


Roe Doe


Roe Does, Mother & Daughter

You would be amazed at the amount of people that walked their dogs here and never noticed the deer just the other side of the stream  . Oh the fence is a sheep fence as they graze sheep in the streamside meadow certain times of the year.

[dukkillr]

Nice pitures.  I was amazed at the number of deer I saw as I traveled through europe, but it seems like I never found anyone who hunted. 

[tdn]

*Decision Update*
I was just about to write and mail the check for the 300 wsm when I decided to take another 24 hours to think about it and talk with my dad (a very accomplished rifleman and hunter), before going ahead with it.

After thinking it over more, I am most likely going to buy a Kimber 84M Montana .308, and commit to becoming one h*ll of a shot with that cartridge out to 3-350 yrds. I enjoy reloading for the .308 a lot and the 5 lb. rifle matches my "mountaineering" approach to elk/muley hunting. Been handling one for months at a local shop and love it fit and feel.

I really appreciate all the insights from ya'll - but it looks like I was close to my answer right from the beginning.
Besides, I had a nice lightweight VXII 2-7x33 that needed a good home...Kimber preferred. \
Thanks again-
tdn.