Annual elk rifle thread

[Dougfirtree]

No elk tag for me this year, but my son had one. He carried the ever-illustrious Thompson Center Venture Compact, in .308 win. 130 ttsx's.

 

[BackofBeyond]

It’s currently in several pieces.

We’re patient.

 

[mtmuley]

Yessir, but we like pretty pictures...

Mine isn't pretty. Pretty good at killing elk though. mtmuley

 

[BackofBeyond]

Mine isn't pretty. Pretty good at killing elk though. mtmuley

Gonna be pretty with the new stick…

 

[mtmuley]

Gonna be pretty with the new stick…

It's a function first rig. But yeah, I think it will shoot. Hopefully like it always has. mtmuley

 

[HandgunHunter]

My elk rifle was a 6.5” 629 S&W. Magnaported, hogue big butt grips, trijicon SRO. 240 Sierra at 1350 fps.

 

[HandgunHunter]

My wife’s elk rifle was a 6.5-284 custom Remington xp100….

127 Lrx at 2975 fps.

 

[hotsoup]

Since 1996 I've used a standard wood/blue ruger mk2 in 30-06. Factory 180gr Winchester fail safes, then switched to 180gr partitions. I've taken several bulls over the years but prefer cows as I'm just a meat hunter. Heading to New Mexico in a couple weeks for a late season cow hunt. I have taken 3 elk with a ruger hawkeye in 308win and 2 with a model 70 win in 300wsm and 1 with a model 70 super grade chambered in 270win.

 

[Redside]

I put together my first semi custom rifle this past winter/spring. 7SAUM on a Tikka action, 20" Carbon 6 barrel, Thunderbeast Ultra 7 and a SWFA 3-15. I used 155gr Hammers. No elk for it this year unfortunately.

 

[JLS]

brockel special, updated with new bedding and makeup. 300 winny shooting a 166 Hammer Hunter.

 

[p_ham]

Taking my sweetheart out this Saturday for 2 weeks to hopefully get a cow elk.
275gr Shock Hammer @ 2280fps.

 

[JT88]

Taking my sweetheart out this Saturday for 2 weeks to hopefully get a cow elk.
275gr Shock Hammer @ 2280fps.View attachment 252682View attachment 252683

#makelevergunsgreatagain

 

[EKYHunter]

Taking my sweetheart out this Saturday for 2 weeks to hopefully get a cow elk.
275gr Shock Hammer @ 2280fps.View attachment 252682View attachment 252683

One of my favorites in this thread. Good luck with that sweet rifle.

 

[ploxwithblox]

Being that seasons are winding down I figured I start a thread asking about everyone’s elk rifle as I enjoy reading what everyone is using and why they chose it. So what was your elk rifle this year and why did you chose that particular rifle and cartridge and what bullet are you using? How many elk have you shot with that combo? Mine was a 6.5 prc shooting 140 grain Berger vlds but it changes year to year for me

Proof Research Elevation FDE in .300 win mag, Nightforce nx8 2.5-20 for the optic. 200 grain Hornady Eldx hand load. First year with it, dropped a bull and my wife used it to take her first mule deer buck. The brake I have on it makes it a real dandy shooter but I'm hoping to afford a can in the next year or two.

 

[samuel_284Win]

Howa 1500 in 300 Win Mag and using 180 grain Federal solid copper

 

[ploxwithblox]

Taking my sweetheart out this Saturday for 2 weeks to hopefully get a cow elk.
275gr Shock Hammer @ 2280fps.View attachment 252682View attachment 252683

Incredible gun! Good luck!

 

[ploxwithblox]

I put together my first semi custom rifle this past winter/spring. 7SAUM on a Tikka action, 20" Carbon 6 barrel, Thunderbeast Ultra 7 and a SWFA 3-15. I used 155gr Hammers. No elk for it this year unfortunately.
View attachment 252675

How do you like the Thunderbeast? I've been eyeballing that for my .300. Beautiful gun, BTW.

 

[MT Bound]

I'm one of the guys hanging onto his Winchester 30-06, had it for 20 yrs now, was going to upgrade but it flat out shoots well and I'm comfortable with it. Shooting Winchester 180 grain Ballistic Silvertips.

The wife as a fairly new hunter shoots a HOWA 25-06 and she's shot 3 elk & a handful of deer & an antelope with it, all stone dead on the spot or within 40 yards, that gun flat out kills animals with its speed.

 

[Jbotto]

This year for my first elk season, a late cow tag, I’m bringing along my Stevens (Savage) 200, .30-06. I’m shooting 150gr eTip handloads. Monkeyed around with this bullet lots and still haven’t found a load this gun truly likes. 1.5” groups is about as tight as it goes. Maybe someday I’ll buy something nice.

 

[Redside]

How do you like the Thunderbeast? I've been eyeballing that for my .300. Beautiful gun, BTW.

It's great! Its my only suppressor not sure I'd ever go back to hunting without one. So nice to not have ringing ears after a shot at an animal and forgetting to put in hearing protection.

Its accurate and I take it on an off every time I pull it in and out of the case and it keeps the same point of impact. It was quite a bit different from the initial load development and sight-in with just the break. But once sighted in it hasn't changed.