Need New Elk Rifle

[HounDawger]

I'am new to this hole computor thing. My daughter showed how to find you=all. After reading your posts you guys are a wealth of wisdom. so I have a question. I broke my neck 3 yrs ago & I can't shot my old 30-06 iny more. I need to stand down to something smaller. BUT still be albe to Elk hunt.
Please Advise. Rusty

[usmc89]

is it the weight or recoil that your worried about? if it is recoil maybe you should look for a muzzle break to put on it. not a huge fan because of the noise but it would be cheaper than a new rifle and keep you with the one your familiar with.

[DblLung]

Wow thats a tough one. 30-06 would be close to my minimum. You will get a lot of 270 win votes. But I think the 270 has a sharper recoil. Just feels like the force impulse is shorter. That could be the fit of the rifle though. You have a slew of 6.5mm (.260 cal) 260 rem 6.5x55 sweede, 264 mag. then the 7mm's: 7mm-08 , 280 and 284. All of these with the heaviest bullet they can launch at a reasonable speed > 2500fps and dont hit the shoulder none of these have what it takes for those tough bones.(maybe the 280 could) You could also install a brake. A good brake can reduce recoil almost by half. The take away if noise. You MUST use hearing protection. It also kicks up a lot of dust when shooting prone. This is what I would do. Keep the gun you know and love just modify it to fit the needs you now have. Have a good gun smith add this they have "do it yourself " kits disaster in the making.

[DblLung]

darn it you beat me USMC. you werent there when I started. so much for originality.

[pappabear]

Also, you put a good Limbsaver recoil pad on it. That will cost $35.00 and should do the trick. Yep, other than that, 270 win or 270wsm. I'd try the muzzle and a new recoil pad first.

Good luck fella.

[Dead_Beat]

i would look at the 308 or the 7-08 put a brake on it and will kick like a 223 my 300 ultra mag has a brake and it had kick about like my 308 win. in a light stock as far as the brake kicking up dust mine does its a radial design they now make a baffle style that has the ports only on the side and top they wont kick up any dust i wish i would got one from the git go

JIM

[turner1978]

I would get your self a 270 win and shoot federals 130 gr TSX's throughe it. Put a muzzle break on it and you will have a very mild recoil rifle that is capable od hunting deer, elk, or black bear. Beware thoughe that the muzzle break will make the gun EXTREMELY LOUD! Wear hearing protection at all times including when you shoot at game because it will hurt your ears big time when you pull the trigger.

[Dead_Beat]

for the brake i use hearing enhancers that shut of with the report of the rifle it takes a bit to get use to them i have to wear ear plugs at work so it wasnt to bad for me . my son has a 270 with a brake it kicks like 243 with a light load

DB

[Curlewdogbanger]

308 is a good one

[timba]

There is an old guy I work with and he uses a 270 for moose for all his years of hunting,personally I think a 243 would do the job as long as you hit a vital organ.He told me about a old indain that used to use a .22 for moose,he would shoot them behind the ear and give them some time and they would be dead within a couple hours.

timba

[usmc89]

There is an old guy I work with and he uses a 270 for moose for all his years of hunting,personally I think a 243 would do the job as long as you hit a vital organ.He told me about a old indain that used to use a .22 for moose,he would shoot them behind the ear and give them some time and they would be dead within a couple hours.

timba

are you kidding me because your killing me.

[HounDawger]

are you kidding me because your killing me.

Well I never thought of that. Guess it wood be less recoil on my neck. Only one problem its Illeagel in Ariz. I do want to thank all of you guys for the input. you give me some good Ideas.
I think I will go check out a 7mm - 08 . My middle daughter has been after me for that 30-06 for some time. she lives in Alaska. so I think I will just give it to her . happy Trails Rusty

[Dead_Beat]

a brake is illegal in AZ. ??

[HounDawger]

a brake is illegal in AZ. ??

Thanks I did'nt know that. If you don't mind is that where you are from.

[Dead_Beat]

i think i read your post wrong i thought you were saying brakes are illegal in AZ . sorry about that
im from arnold land i mean CA.


JIM

[.358 MAN]

You can try a muzzle brake on the 06. Or goto the great .270 WIN. with a muzzle brake. Good luck.

[.358 MAN]

There is an old guy I work with and he uses a 270 for moose for all his years of hunting,personally I think a 243 would do the job as long as you hit a vital organ.He told me about a old indain that used to use a .22 for moose,he would shoot them behind the ear and give them some time and they would be dead within a couple hours.

timba
I would never think of using a .243 on moose or elk. The animals we hunt deserve a fast humane kill. A .243 is not even close to ideal on various situations.

[Thumper]

Hey dawger I say you stick to runnin hounds the heck with them elk. lol!Let me chase those monsters.But if you did decide I've killed many elk with a .270.Your brother in Christ.

[buckgitter]

I have a 300 wsm Browning with a Boss and a LimbSaver recoil pad and it has no recoil. I am talking about like a 243 recoil. I wouldn't believe it until I shot the gun. Amazing what a brake and pad will do. Good luck

[Miraclefly]

are you kidding me because your killing me.

He is not kidding - You will find a lot of 22's in the back woods of Canada. - You will also find people using them who can stalk to within about 30 ys of an animal and who can cut a match stem in half from that distance.

In 1963 a (thought to be) world record grizzly was killed by an 80+ year old indian woman with a 22.

Personally I think an 06 or a 308 would be a minimum for elk. And, using a 130 gr bullet on an animal that can weigh in at 700-900 lbs is totally unethical and rediculous. (Unless you posess the skills mentioned above) As far as bears go, give me a 375.

When were muzzel brakes declared illegal anywhere?

[EcoRover]

Rusty, consider a 257 Roberts. If you handload and can shoot accurately, it's a fine elk rifle.

I killed the first few elk with it when I just happened to stumble on elk while mule deer hunting. Wow. Killed 'em as dead as any 300/747 Superwanger. Helps that it's a tack driver, and I can shoot 50 or 60 rounds at a time for practice.

My "Little Brother" has used it for elk and again, did just fine. One at close to 200 yards.

The Barnes solid Cu bullet is real good medicine.

My regular elk rifle is a 308 Win, though I used a 25-06 for a few years while the old 308 was ailing. Both are great elk rifles. I've lost one wounded elk out of 20-some. And that was one bad piece of shooting that no 300/747 Superwanger would have made up for (I'm still embarassed about it). But it ain't the rifle that kills elk--it's the hunter.

[HounDawger]

You guys will never belive what I found . I have a buddy come up from Tucson elk hunting . So I went with him to help him. (( corse did 'nt take much to get me to go to the woods )) He had a 300 mag .
with the biggest scope I ever saw. now I have a range on my outfitt that alot of pepole use I don't shoot much inymore cause I can 't take the recoil on my neck. He talked me into shoot 'in that cannon
eyes close'ed teeth gritted I pulled the trigger. It did 'nt even kick. really , Its got one of those muzzle brake 's . I can honestly tell you = all . I have never seen one of those before.
Thats the handyest thing. So now I no what you where tell 'in me. Well I 'am still going to give my Daughter the 30-06 it was my dads so she should have her Grandas gun inyway .
you can bet the next Rifle I buy I 'am going to get me one of those put on it .
keep it safe

[HounDawger]

Hey dawger I say you stick to runnin hounds the heck with them elk. lol!Let me chase those monsters.But if you did decide I've killed many elk with a .270.Your brother in Christ.



hey glad to see you on here, I did help ken put 290 lbs in the locker this week end. & I 'll tell you that was one of the best storms I ever got a chance to be out in. That rim was a mess lots of trees blew over
blocking the road. kept all the flatlanders out thou, So subject change now its Lion season. I ain't been spending 80 bucks a week on dog food for nothing. lets go. three of those new pup's are already sold got five left. pass the word. Be Blessed Bro

[HounDawger]

Rusty, consider a 257 Roberts. If you handload and can shoot accurately, it's a fine elk rifle.

I killed the first few elk with it when I just happened to stumble on elk while mule deer hunting. Wow. Killed 'em as dead as any 300/747 Superwanger. Helps that it's a tack driver, and I can shoot 50 or 60 rounds at a time for practice.

My "Little Brother" has used it for elk and again, did just fine. One at close to 200 yards.

The Barnes solid Cu bullet is real good medicine.

My regular elk rifle is a 308 Win, though I used a 25-06 for a few years while the old 308 was ailing. Both are great elk rifles. I've lost one wounded elk out of 20-some. And that was one bad piece of shooting that no 300/747 Superwanger would have made up for (I'm still embarassed about it). But it ain't the rifle that kills elk--it's the hunter.

Thanks I have had two pepole tell me about 257 I think I will find some one that has one & go shoot it take care

[ACenturian]

I would say that for Elk a .30/06 would be about the minimum caliber. As stated above a muzzle break would help, however, they make your gun VERY loud.
Attached is a web site I found that makes a recoil reducing stock (see video) I have NO experience with the stock so I have no idea if it really works but if they make it for your current gun that might be the way to go.

http://www.knoxx.com/products/RifleCompStock.php

[HounDawger]

I would say that for Elk a .30/06 would be about the minimum caliber. As stated above a muzzle break would help, however, they make your gun VERY loud.
Attached is a web site I found that makes a recoil reducing stock (see video) I have NO experience with the stock so I have no idea if it really works but if they make it for your current gun that might be the way to go.

http://www.knoxx.com/products/RifleCompStock.php

Thanks i will check that out

[beretzs]

I would look for either a Browning with the BOSS, or buy a rifle and have the muzzle brake put on it. I can't see a 30/06 being a minimum for elk. I haven't shot twenty of them, but I have shot enough at varying ranges to know a 30/06 is excellent medicine. With a good 180, 190, or 200 grain bullet the elk will die fast with a good shot, all the way up to 400 yards. Plus a brake on a 30/06 will make it recoil about like a 243 or less. Stick with what you know. Good luck and let us know how you did. Scotty