What would you buy?

[49994]

I have saved $1500 and am looking at buying a new rifle/scope for hunting elk for the first time. I am interested in what smarter people then myself would purchase in this price range for a first time elk hunter. I currently shoot a 25-06 for deer and this is the only rifle I own. I am interested in hearing your brand and caliber. Thanks for your time.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

Oh dear/deer or should I say oh elk? Get ready for 50 different ideas being pitched.

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I have saved $1500 and am looking at buying a new rifle/scope for hunting elk for the first time. I am interested in what smarter people then myself would purchase in this price range for a first time elk hunter. I currently shoot a 25-06 for deer and this is the only rifle I own. I am interested in hearing your brand and caliber. Thanks for your time.

Maybe explain in more detail what you’re looking for in a rifle for elk instead of having us guess what your requirements are. Overall weight, recoil concerns, factory VS handloads (how much are you willing to pay for a box of ammo), scope magnification, reticle/ turret, etc

 

[Captain Ahab]

Don’t be afraid to use your 25-06 if you don’t want the excuse to get another gun.

 

[measure-it]

Howa 1500 in 300 Win Mag using Rem Core-Lokt 180 grain, mounted with a Leo 3-9x40-50 with GOOD mounts and a neoprene sling.

 

[49994]

I have never shot anything larger then a 30-06...would prefer limited recoil for an increase in accuracy, factory loads. I currently have a bushnell 3-9x40 on my 25-06 that I bought while in college. I know my core lokt 120 grain ballistics and hold over and pull trigger. I currently won't shoot over 350yds as I don't feel confident enough in my skills. Working on it, so hopefully some day I will. So this is my limited rifle hunting experience.
Captain the wife already knows about the slush fund of scheel's gift cards to be used on a new rifle. I was able to buy $200 worth of cards from someone once for $180;:;rofl

 

[Retired Educator]

There are a bunch of calibers that fit into the "elk" cartridge game. You cannot go wrong in the 300 mag bunch. I shoot a .270 but have to admit that if I were strictly hunting elk I would have a bigger gun. Advantages to 300 Win Mag is that just about every place that sells ammo will carry that caliber and a pretty good selection of bullet weights available. Recoil can be managed somewhat by bullet weight. A 150 grain bullet will have less recoil than 180, 200, etc. All are heavy enough to kill an elk.

 

[Kurtr]

300 prc

 

[Feildhunter701]

30.06

 

[db-2]

Whatever you feel good about as long as it is in 30 caliber and at least 150 grain if not larger.
Was told that as a kid and found it to be true.
For me my 300 Weatherby with 180 grain bullet. However my favorite is my 264 but too much speed, tends to blow up (depends on the bullet) when it hits the bone and not penetrate and not a 30 caliber.
In the right spot on the elk and close enough I am sure my 25-20 model 92 will do the job as it did for Jordan on his five point whitetail.
Hell there are guys out there with their 223 AR and 40 round clips at 700 yards will get the job done.

Side note:
In the late 1950 at the age of 11 or so I was with my dad when he paid $75 for a Parker grade 3 dh at an auction. Remember the day well, it was sunny, remember the place and bring the shotgun home.

So last week, 60 some years later I am at a gun show and as I was looking down the table I seen that shotgun about 15 feet away and I knew right away that was the same gun. As I pick it up due to a small crack I knew for sure. He said make an offer and I knew they were not cheap but had no ideal. He said a couple of table over there is one just like it. Went and looked and price was $4250.
No way can I afford $4000 for a gun, probably never put a shell in it and then which kid of five gets it. But somehow, no way, no matter what, could I not get that shotgun back in the family and leave it in the hands of a stranger. Some how, some way.
Engraving the wives name on it sounds easy enough to work. yes/no?

So whatever you get, trust it, love it, keep it, respect it, cherries the memories. They will be many. It is just like the wife one gets. Life time, so all you can do is make it right the first time and not leave it in the hands of a stranger one day. db

 

[Wildyote]

300 win begara sub moa b14=$700
Leupold vx3 4.5-14=$550
Talley Rings=$60
Lightweight rig that shoots good and dependable

 

[BrokenBackJack]

300 Winchester magnum. You can use it for all big game in North America.
Gun and scope to what you prefer. Ammo to use is what the gun prefers!
My Winchester loves 150 grain, my son's Ruger loves 180 grain. Our other 300's use mostly 150 grain.
Just practice, practice, and practice some more.
You want something that the recoil doesn't bother you. Recoil never bothered me and i bought my first 300 mag (Chester) on my 16th birthday. Old Chester has shot alot of game. Deer, elk, moose, fox, coyotes, and even prairie dogs.
Heck it even shot one of my cows. Darn thing was a fence jumper and one day i had enough and the hired man was there and said you aren't going to shoot that cow and i said watch me. Needless to say he went and got the loader tractor and we butchered that afternoon. She never jumped another fence!!! ;:;rofl
Good luck and have fun picking out your new rifle!

 

[AR-15]

Ruger Hawkeye M77, 7MM Remington Magnum

 

[tikkalover]

2 - 25 year old hookers, and a 30 of blue num nums.................sorry, I just had to be that guy. 270 wsm or 300 wsm in a Tikka of course. :;:smokin

 

[Tikka280ai]

Tikka t3x lite or superlite in a 7mm rem mag or 300 wsm then spend the remainder on a decent Leupold scope

 

[SDMF]

I really don't know what I'd choose if I were flying blind. I shoot a 270Win because dad shot one. I could shoot the .270 for free, if I chose something else, I'd have to buy my own components. Even by Jr High I realized that more shooting for less $$ was a wise move. I have since deviated from dad's old standby of Win 760 powder and a 130gn Sierra Game King boat-tail to using Ramshot Hunter and a 140gn TSX.

The next logical step for me was 300Win Mag because again, dad had one, as did a good share of the others that I hunt with. I worked up my own loads, but, even that was mostly plagiarized from friends.

I've killed 2 elk w/my 270Win. 1 w/140TSX, 1 with 150gn ABLR. 1 W/257Wby/100TSX, 10 with 300Win Mag and 200 Partition (x2) or 200TSX (x8). Sat right next to my cousin when he killed an elk w/my 270Win/140TSX combo and right next to a friend when he used the same 140Gn TSX load through his own 270Win.

The 300Win hits a LOT harder than the 270Win. The reaction to being hit with the 300 is significantly greater than what the 270Win delivers. That said, I've never had a rodeo with an elk shot with a 270Win and I've created 2 of them myself when shooting the 300Win with poorly placed 1st shots. Cousin and buddy both killed their elk with little fanfare as well. Punch the lungs, watch them stand and leak out. All that said, I still reach for the 300Win 1st when it's time to hunt elk.

 

[KDM]

300 win mag took down both my bulls without any problems. Punched through shoulders both times. Elk country is ALSO bear country and the power of a 300 was somewhat comforting in that scenario. Good Luck!!

 

[Kickemup]

Get what ever caliber you want but get a light gun. Carrying 11lb gun or over gets old climbing up and down the mountain.

 

[LBrandt]

I have a Rem. 300 win mag in stainless with factory muzzle break. Kicks like a 243. Loves Federal 150 grain bullets. Hates every thing else that I have tried. Down side with the muzzle break you HAVE TO WEAR EAR PROTECTION. 4 elk and a dozen or so deer never made it more than a few yards.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

For myself if i want another gun I would go 300 or a 338 of some sort, but then again it would be an excuse for another gun. My 2 main WT guns are 7mm rem mag and 6.5-284 Norma.
7mm-08 with a decent Vortex could really be a nice multi use setup for you to compliment you 25-06 in my opinion, heck I want a 7mm-08 still. If buying ammo and not reloading look into pre loaded Barnes TTSX in around 150gr, or Rem Core Lok, Nosler Partition, etc. I'm a ruger fan but Begara has my attention

 

[2400]

I have a couple of big calibers 300 H&H, 375 H&H but my go to elk gun is my featherweight Model 70 Winchester in 270 Win with a Leupold lightweight VX-II 2-7 power scope. I've killed over 50 elk with it, I started with 130 gr Rem bronze point or 130 gr Win silver tip but use 130 gr Barnes now.