Gun For Elk

[TrevorHartland]

Hey guys got a draw! New to hunting though... anybody got an opinion of what caliber for a bull Roosevelt? I was thinking maybe a 280. Not sure though thanks!

[Bugle M In]

I have used a .270 for years....and I works.
I have however gone up to a 300 win mag, as I think I is the better caliber for this size game.
What really matters is how you shoot with a larger caliber....some guys can't handle the kick as much, ad in the end shoot
poorly with a higher caliber rifle....they would have been belter off with a .270-.280 etc.

So, take from that what you will.
I did find on longer shots that the 270 did not go thru and thru...making blood trails almost non-existent.
Thus the reason for the 300 win mag.....often thru and thru....more blood on ground.
Good luck with the Rosies!

[monasheemountainman]

You got a Rosie draw your first time?! Go f$&@ yourself! Haha just kidding congrats.

[Brew]

Congrats on the draw. You would be well served with a 280 and any calibre bigger than it. Just use a premium bullet. Find something you shoot well and practice. Rosie's are tough but any well placed shot will take em down. Good luck on your hunt

[moosinaround]

hey, talk to Todbartell on this site. He has a beauty Model 70 RH chambered in 280 rem. Perfect everything gun for BC. It is a mint new in box rifle. Give him a shout. He also has other options for you through Nechako Outdoors. 100% good dude to deal with. Moosin

[gwes2003]

280 rem is a great cartridge, but factory ammo is limited in selection. I shoot a 280 Remington 700 LESS and love it. I would look into other cartridges like the 30-06 and 308 if this is your first rifle as there is a way bigger availability of ammo.

[Bugle M In]

280 rem is a great cartridge, but factory ammo is limited in selection. I shoot a 280 Remington 700 LESS and love it. I would look into other cartridges like the 30-06 and 308 if this is your first rifle as there is a way bigger availability of ammo.

also a reason why I don't own a .280....
especially if you forget it at home, and the little local store only carries the regular caliber stuff.
(no...I have never forgot my ammo....bugle and reeds however:razz:)

[325]

I would look at a 30-06 or 308. Very versatile.

[Weatherby Fan]

280 or 30-06 would be perfect for your Elk hunt, years back I used a 30-06 for my Rosie draw, one 165gr Nosler Partition to the chest and the bull was napping in the dirt !

[scottwh]

280 rem is a great choice! I just might happen to have a spare 280 mountain rifle kicking around......... :)

[ramcam]

In my honest opinion the 280 is a great caliber for medium sized game, put a self admitted new to hunting guy behind the trigger and add the pressure of shooting an elk for
the first time it could not end well. I know I will hear some flack on my comment but a light gun in the hands of an experienced hunter/ shooter is a lot different than a newbie.
I have seen my share of guys literally lose their composure when you put an animal in front of them, that being said a lot of great advise comes off of this site and you will be able to filter through the opinions
and come up with what will work for you. My two cents only and good luck and enjoy your time in the bush.

[todbartell]

I've been in on about two dozen elk kills, the majority big bodied mature bulls. They've been killed by anything from 243 up to 338, the majority with a 30 cal (308 up to 300 Mag) - use a quality bullet and almost anything will perform well. I like the 338 myself

[TrevorHartland]

Just might be interested in this rifle! What's the price? Also how do you find finding ammo for this gun.

[srupp]

Hmm I had always been advised..read elk can be hard to put down.and that IF you had a .338 with premium bullets..it would not make up for a complete shitty shot..however it would give you access to more opportunities on less than perfect shots.
A.270 with 150 GR you would have to not take shots in certain situations...

With this PREMIUM leh tag..take what WILL work under most every opportunity...there may not be many. .or another tag in the future.
The elk I have harvested...reported instantly..every time..winchester .338..magnum..Nosler partition..Barnes tsx..even Hornady.

I agree with Todbartell.
Srupp

[HappyJack]

I prefer the 338 win mag. Elk are tough and your best to break a shoulder when you knock them down. I find that preferable to follow them for miles through the bush.

[BgBlkDg]

I also much prefer the .338WM and have loaded for, shot and packed such rifles for 49+ years with total satisfaction.

[Takla]

I prefer the 338 win mag. Elk are tough and your best to break a shoulder when you knock them down. I find that preferable to follow them for miles through the bush.

i like the 338 M as well,but since i dont own one what ive had success with on elk are my 300 weatherby mag/375HH shot placement as always is important tho
The tracking for miles comment hurts as one 6x6 i hit square in the center of his neck at 10 yrds did just that

takla

[Ltbullken]

30-06 will suit all your hunting needs in BC if you want one gun. I'd look at a 280AI as well. With a 160 gr premium, it will hit hard and it should be very shootable.

[BgBlkDg]

Yup, but, the current Nosler .280AI ammo with my preferred 160NP is slow and groups poorly in my KMA, while my handloads with RE-26 run 3000 fps-mv and are more accurate.

Sooooo, to me, a .280AI is really a handloaders cartridge and with that my new "favourite" all-around BC choice. I really love this round and the KMA and now seldom carry any of my other bolt rifles.

.30-06, blah, boring and give me a .270Win., .280Rem. or my AI anytime.

[Bugle M In]

yes...a 338 is a great elk gun....for some, but for others not so much.
a 270, 280 are a great all around gun if you just want or can only own 1 gun.
30-06 is boring, but still proven to be very effective.
Truth is, I have seen some "big guys" with 300 win mags become a little scared with the recoil or have 1 bad
experience with recoil, and then they become "lousy shots".
A lighter gun can help an average shooter "learn to become a great shooter".
I also do agree, a lighter gun is not always the best for game like elk, especially in a novice's hand.
Said a millions times on these forum....shot placement is everything, and a bullet that does it's job is also key.
I only take the 300 win mag because many of the elk I have taken have been at 320 -340 yards
(across the river, and they all seem to come out the same trail.....my lil honey hole you could say)
Anyways, at that range, my husky 270 with 150gr just doesn't go thru and thru.
The elk, except for 1, all died out in the open.
But the one that didn't, I never found.
Because it wasn't a thru and thru shot, there was virtually zero blood trails ever.(even in the open, never found blood)
At that range, the 300 win mag does seem to still rip right thru, and blood is much easier to find.
But, it is also very possible to take elk inside 50 yards and no more than out to 150 yards, so any caliber if it is the right
bullet will pass thru in my experiences.
270, 280, 30-06 7mm, 300 mag 338......all good elk killers.
just make sure the rifle likes spitting out the ammo consistently, and that the bullet is the right construction for these
heavier boned, thicker skinned creatures.
Just remember, the 1st shot is always the one that counts the most, so take your time, and make it a good one.

[DeerSeer]

Unless you live near a big box outdoors store that carries the ammo or know a buddy that handloads I'd stay away from the 280 even though it's a super cartridge. 30-06, 300winmag, 308win in that order

[VFX_man]

Hey guys got a draw! New to hunting though... anybody got an opinion of what caliber for a bull Roosevelt? I was thinking maybe a 280. Not sure though thanks!

LOL, open the flood gates . . .

After much research I got a .30-06 a few years back. Felt it gave me what I needed and kept my arm attached to my shoulder. Lots of ammo available - pretty much wherever you are.

I was not paying attention a couple of years ago and grabbed a couple of boxes of ammo as I headed out the door -- Realized in the wilds that I grabbed the .30-30 ammo I used the year before -- luckily another member of our party had a .30-60

If I was to get another calibre -- .300 win mag would be my next, but it might knock me on my arse.

[DeerSeer]

300winmag is not that big of a kicker. Just avoid lightweight rifles. Make sure the rifle fits well and if you can, try out some buddies guns first.

[New Bow Hunter]

I just ordered Tikka T3 Lite With peep sights in 30-06 for Elk.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I just ordered Tikka T3 Lite With peep sights in 30-06 for Elk.

Peep Sights :confused: Enlighten me - us please - :wink: RJ

[Bugle M In]

I just ordered Tikka T3 Lite With peep sights in 30-06 for Elk.

nothing wrong with that pick, you will be happy......but...you are getting a scope....right?
I have peeps on my husky, but only for a backup if the scope has issues etc.
(I had a scope fog up during a week long back country elk hunt, so I had to remove scope and go with the peeps:roll:)
30-06 is probably the best all around rifle to have for all the game in bc, with plenty of ammo.

[bloody bellies]

I have a 7mm mag, I find this to be a good all around gun, I shoot 160 grain, could go to 175 grain if need be, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a moose or elk within 300yards with it, ive seen this gun smoke a big cinnamon from 320yrds and lifted it right off the ground, knocked it right on its ass, if I was to buy another gun, it would be a .338, just my 2 cents

[New Bow Hunter]

Peep Sights :confused: Enlighten me - us please - :wink: RJ

I hunted several years with my dad's 303 that had peep sights. Last year I decided to take the plunge and put a Leupold scope on my Remington 30-06 pump. I didn't like it, so I decided to trade it for the Tikka T3 Lite with peep sights.
I had the choice of Williams or Skinner. I chose the Williams with the micro adjustment.
Where I hunt shots are not over 100 yards, so I chose peep sights.

[srupp]

Hmm I have used a .270 ever since reading Jack o, conner"..but felt it was lacking for g bear elk moose..so got a.338..always though 7mm remington mag was good all round BC caliber but think the. 338 is equally capable
Sr