Elk Rifle Conundrum

[Wind in His Hair]

I’m planning to go on a backcountry elk hunt this year where I need to be ready for a 600 yard shot.

Here is what I currently have:

20 inch 270
22 inch 300 win
24 inch 7mm-08

I’ve run the numbers on all of these with loads I have on JBM ballistics and a 200 grain accubond out of my 300 win would be just under 1800 ft lbs and 1983 fps @ 600 yards, which is acceptable, but the short barrel without a suppressor will be a fire breathing dragon, and the rifle is heavy at almost 10 pounds all up.

My thought right now is I need to get a 6-7# 24 inch 7mm rem or 26 inch 280 AI and roll with 160 gr Accubonds

Should I just go with what I have, or get another rifle? Thanks for any advice

 

[nastynate]

I think you need one of these:

NIB, 308 Taurus Expedition, threaded, for sale

New in Box, 308 Taurus Expedition bolt action rifle, threaded. $650 shipped to your FFL. It’s a feature rich rifle, read about it here: https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/taurus-expedition-rifle-full-review/494356 It’s brand new but I’ll post a pic later anyways.

www.hunttalk.com

 

[INMT]

 

[mtmuley]

Get a RUM. mtmuley

 

[Dave N]

Maybe be ready to get closer!

 

[MtsPSU]

I’m planning to go on a backcountry elk hunt this year where I need to be ready for a 600 yard shot.

Here is what I currently have:

20 inch 270
22 inch 300 win
24 inch 7mm-08

I’ve run the numbers on all of these with loads I have on JBM ballistics and a 200 grain accubond out of my 300 win would be just under 1800 ft lbs and 1983 fps @ 600 yards, which is acceptable, but the short barrel without a suppressor will be a fire breathing dragon, and the rifle is heavy at almost 10 pounds all up.

My thought right now is I need to get a 6-7# 24 inch 7mm rem or 26 inch 280 AI and roll with 160 gr Accubonds

Should I just go with what I have, or get another rifle? Thanks for any advice

I prefer my fire breathing dragon .300 win mag but my barrel is a 24” and I hand load 180 grain bullets which has proven to be great medicine for elk. If having a shorter barrel still bothers you have a new and longer barrel spun on your current rig. If you need a reason to justify a new rifle then now is the time.

Good luck!

Mark

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Why do you say you need to be ready for a 600 yard shot? Did an outfitter/guide tell you that?

 

[Wind in His Hair]

have a new and longer barrel spun on your current rig.

that’s actually a great idea but I run a suppressor on it, so like the short barrel Main issue with it for this hunt is it’s 10#. I had decided awhile ago its future use would be for bear and moose which are generally shorter range situations

 

[WapitiBob]

All of them will work just fine at 600.

 

[brymoore]

I shot my elk at 129 yards this year.

The one before that was 85 yards.

344 yards the year before that.

75 yards following year.

Do I need to upgrade my rifle to a 26” barrel?

 

[Hammsolo]

New Seekins PH3 in 7 prc with the short barrel.

 

[Wind in His Hair]

New Seekins PH3 in 7 prc with the short barrel.

I like the looks of those Seekins PH3s. I have lots of brass, RL19, dies for 7 mag so would stick with that

 

[ismith]

I’m planning to go on a backcountry elk hunt this year where I need to be ready for a 600 yard shot.

Here is what I currently have:

20 inch 270
22 inch 300 win
24 inch 7mm-08

I’ve run the numbers on all of these with loads I have on JBM ballistics and a 200 grain accubond out of my 300 win would be just under 1800 ft lbs and 1983 fps @ 600 yards, which is acceptable, but the short barrel without a suppressor will be a fire breathing dragon, and the rifle is heavy at almost 10 pounds all up.

My thought right now is I need to get a 6-7# 24 inch 7mm rem or 26 inch 280 AI and roll with 160 gr Accubonds

Should I just go with what I have, or get another rifle? Thanks for any advice

Yes

 

[Alpine01]

I’m planning to go on a backcountry elk hunt this year where I need to be ready for a 600 yard shot.

Here is what I currently have:

20 inch 270
22 inch 300 win
24 inch 7mm-08

I’ve run the numbers on all of these with loads I have on JBM ballistics and a 200 grain accubond out of my 300 win would be just under 1800 ft lbs and 1983 fps @ 600 yards, which is acceptable, but the short barrel without a suppressor will be a fire breathing dragon, and the rifle is heavy at almost 10 pounds all up.

My thought right now is I need to get a 6-7# 24 inch 7mm rem or 26 inch 280 AI and roll with 160 gr Accubonds

Should I just go with what I have, or get another rifle? Thanks for any advice

I think you need to work on your stalking skills so you can cut that down to a sub-300 yd shot.

 

[Southern Elk]

Why would you need to shoot 600 yards? I’ve killed all my elk at less than 200 yards. I get closer if I need to.

 

[Bambistew]

Get a 300 and call it good. Not sure why people over think this stuff. Turrets suppressors, long range gack. It's not hard and doubt you'll be shooting 600 yards and hit anything if you're asking such elementary questions.

Good luck!

 

[DEZURTRAT]

Nothing wrong with another rifle.

 

[peterk1234]

Everybody shoots at 600 yards. Ya, I'm definitely getting too close to my quarry. Next season I'm gonna walk it back to make it more challenging.

 

[Bullshot]

You don’t have to be prepared to shoot any further than you want to. 600 is a long way. I’d never shoot at an animal that far. Cut it in half, which should be easy enough, and kill it cleanly and confidently with any of your existing rifles, assuming you zeroed it for 150-175 or so and you have practiced to 300 to know your drop.

 

[MTLabrador]

Get a .308 and a fixed 6x. Problem solved.