Obv, you need a 6.5 Creedmoor. Just kidding. Never hunted CO, but public land is increasingly pressured in Montana, and I think most Western states post Covid. You may not get the ideal shot you want. I would stick with the 300 RUM. Lots of guys here are using Hammer bullets and swear by them. Partitions killed a few elk, though.
Help me choose a elk rifle!
- Thread starter JASON50CAL
- Start date
I'm not criticizing but I am seeking enlightenment. At my age I've had built and shot a few magnums.
For those recommending magnums what in your opinion makes them superior?
For those recommending magnums what in your opinion makes them superior?
I would love to use one of my Creedmoor’s. I’m very familiar with its trajectory. I have 4 of them and shoot it more than any other caliber. Lol
For elk I like magnum 30’s, although I have shot 3 bulls with 30-06 and ‘gasp’ 180gr ballistic tips, one with a 7 WSM and 140 AB (deer load but did the trick) and 2 with the 300 WSM and 168 TTSX. The 300 ultra and 200 AB’s was awesome on 2 bulls but is a heavier rifle.
As to why shoot a magnum, as an out of stater with limited time, I want to take advantage of ANY reasonable opportunity, and a 300 mag offers just that. From 50 to 500+, even 600 they offer greater impact, penetration, and visible killing power.
I built my ‘ideal’ carry rifle several years ago with a 26” #4 Brux straight fluted, TI action, ADL bottom and a classic McMillan sporter stock (with a 1” Decelerator). With scope it’s just a hair over 7lbs and handles perfectly with the 2.5-10x50 Leica ER scope with a simple ballistic reticle. Just me and my idea of a hunting rifle. It’s a bit much in the prone position or range sessions but in the field does everything I want.
As to why shoot a magnum, as an out of stater with limited time, I want to take advantage of ANY reasonable opportunity, and a 300 mag offers just that. From 50 to 500+, even 600 they offer greater impact, penetration, and visible killing power.
I built my ‘ideal’ carry rifle several years ago with a 26” #4 Brux straight fluted, TI action, ADL bottom and a classic McMillan sporter stock (with a 1” Decelerator). With scope it’s just a hair over 7lbs and handles perfectly with the 2.5-10x50 Leica ER scope with a simple ballistic reticle. Just me and my idea of a hunting rifle. It’s a bit much in the prone position or range sessions but in the field does everything I want.
Great book if you have the time to read it! Really opened my eyes to practical/ethical shooting distances, how bullets actually perform in hunting situations at different velocities.
I was in the same predicament last year. Ended up bringing a heavy 300wm and a light 270. I was going to let the first day of hunting (hiking) tell me if I should pack the lighter rifle. Ended up taking a bull at 41 yards with the 300wm opening morning. He walked 10 feet and dropped (215 Berger Hybrid moving at 2929). If I had to do it again, I would have taken the lighter 270 and spent my time practicing only on that, I think I was shooting 150 SSTs. Where I was hunting (NW Colorado) was pretty rough country with plenty of cover. The extra range of the 300wm wouldn’t really have been an option in most situations. One quick note, I had never shot off of a tripod before going out there. My guide (great guy, couldn’t have asked for better) told me that most shots in the brush are taken off one of those. I expected to be shooting off a bipod, but it was quickly evident that wouldn’t be possible and a tripod was the way to do it. Really wished I would have picked one of those up 6 months earlier and been practicing with it. Ended up being a non-issue, but it would have helped my piece of mind some.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
Both the wife and I have killed a few dozen Elk with our 270's and 130 Nosler Partition. 270 gets the nod again this year.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Dropping elk clean, no running blood trails, require shoulder shots. If you shoot broadside "heart shots", it will be flip of the coin wether the elk moves off or not. Biggest runner I have had went about 40 yards, 1 shot standing, 1 shot running, 338wm 200 gr accubonds. One of the 2 zipped off the top of the heart, the other entrance was about 1" from the first. Neither bullet exited. About 125 and 140 yard shots. All my other elk(smaller rifles) never took a step, but I shot them through both shoulders.
A good choice, my State has a 27 caliber minimum or I'd go for my 6.5 x 55 with around a140.
Makes sense if you're spending out of State money to extend the possibilities they don't give refunds for not filling your tag.
I built a 358 Norma Magnum years ago and I found it to be too much cartridge. I had 2 clean kills with it, 1 at 400 and 1 at 600 and shot through the animals. The 400 yard shot would have been OK with my 30 06, the 600 a no shot situation.
You mean the 30-06 is probably the best one rifle/caliber hunting combo in existence. A 30-06 is a real step up in terminal performance on large game over the .270. I say that being a fan of both cartridges. Even Jack O' Conner ranked the 30-06 over the .270 as an all-around cartridge.
People think Jack O' Conner liked the .270 Win above all else. That wasn't true. The .270 was his favorite sheep cartridge and sheep was his favorite game. He certainly defended the .270 as elk capable with proper bullets, but when asked how he would rank a list of cartridges that included the .270, 30-06, and 375 H&H, he put the 30-06 above the .270. Someone with more time than they should have may be able to find that interview someplace on the Internet.
The 30-06 will shoot at 168 TTSX at 2900-3000 fps, depending on barrel length, and that handles most NA game very well. It will shoot 180 grain bullets at 2800ish, which also handle most NA game well.
And for that high in demand but extremely short in supply grizzly bear encounter, I'd much rather have a 30-06/180 than a .270 with any bullet.
The most interesting thing is as metallurgy, powders and bullets advance so do the usefulness of old cartridges.
With modern techniques the old girl is game for most anything. I'd prefer some heavy hitting 45 for a guide gun but that's about it.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
Zactly
Well, my wife finally gave me the go ahead to go out west to hunt. Even knowing theres a 50/50 chance i may not come back east. 
Of course this is after i sold my Forbes 24B in 280 Rem last summer, that i bought specifically for going out west to hunt.
Now my options are,
1) take the 7mm Rem Mag with my remaining 280 Rem for backup.
2) get another 280 Rem, or 7mm Rem Mag.
3) get 7mm-08 and use 280 or Rem Mag as backup.
Of course this is after i sold my Forbes 24B in 280 Rem last summer, that i bought specifically for going out west to hunt.
Now my options are,
1) take the 7mm Rem Mag with my remaining 280 Rem for backup.
2) get another 280 Rem, or 7mm Rem Mag.
3) get 7mm-08 and use 280 or Rem Mag as backup.
The answer is simple - use the one that points best and that you shoot best. Any of the calibers you mention will take an elk with no problem if you make a decent shot - hence my recommendation.
When I say - "you shoot best" I am not speaking of groups from a bench but am referring to the one that points where you look and you shoot the best under field conditions.
drover
When I say - "you shoot best" I am not speaking of groups from a bench but am referring to the one that points where you look and you shoot the best under field conditions.
drover
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