Long Range Elk Caliber?

[super186]

So I was looking to buy a new elk gun. I know a 30-06, 7mm, 300 mag will all do the trick in a normal hunting situation. I am looking for a longer range elk rifle. Say 400+ yards that I don't have to hold over huge amounts for bullet drop compensation. If you were me, what caliber of rifle would you be looking at? I am not creating my own loads. Thanks for your opinions.

[carpsniperg2]

Both the 7 and 300 will do you fine. Run a good bullet with a good bc and both will be fine for what you are asking.

[trophyhunt]

I have a browning a bolt .300 win mag with a huskemaw scope, farthest shot is 650 on a bear.  It's been a good marriage.  The best of the west guys like the 7mm ultra mag under their scope and it shoots very well. You dial the yardage and if no wind, just put the crosshairs on the kill spot, they have windage marks if it's windy.  I'd go huskemaw or night force if you have the money.  And I'd go .300 win mag or 7mm ultra mag.

[trophyhunt]

I'll add, with one of the best of the west gun scope set ups, jackmaster and I hit a small car size rock at 1 mile.  Actually it was 1550 yards.

[buglebuster]

.300 WM with 190gr long range accubonds

[kentrek]

If your not making your own loads I wouldn't worry about shooting much past 400 yards

[Hilltop123]

Like already stated, the 7 or 300 will treat you right.

[trophyhunt]

I buy the 190 grn burger from best of the west, the bullet is matched to my gun and scope. It works really well, I only wish they held together better after impact.  But they have not let me down.

[kentrek]

I buy the 190 grn burger from best of the west, the bullet is matched to my gun and scope. It works really well, I only wish they held together better after impact.  But they have not let me down.

Bergers are nice for longrange but check the tip with a needle to make sure the hollow point is actually hollow

[b23]

The 300 Win Mag is a great all around cartridge and you can buy some pretty decent ammo for them.  I've always been a fan of .30 cal stuff and shot a 300 WBY Accumark for years and it never let me down.

If you're wanting a good Elk hammer that will reach out there with factory loaded ammo the 300 Win mag, 300 Wby, 300 Rem Ultra mag will all get the job done for you and not break the bank in the process.

Nothing wrong with the 7's, I just had one built, and they can do a fine job of hammering them too but to get the heavy for caliber bullets you'll likely have to reload.

[wadu1]

Tagging
I'm looking at .338 Lapua  for long range. I hand load so that should not be a problem. 

[Antlershed]

.300 WM with 190gr long range accubonds

This would be good medicine for the ranges being discussed.

I'll add, you don't need to spend the money on NF or Huskemaw to shoot a mile. 

[bobcat]

I would suggest a 300 Weatherby Magnum or a 300 Remington Ultra Mag.

338 Lapua would do really well but you'd want to handload for it.

Nothing wrong with the 7mm Remington Mag or 300 Win Mag either.

[Special T]

If you want off the shelf capability then 300 win mag. If your a hand loader the something in the .338 catagory

[blackveltbowhunter]

If your not making your own loads I wouldn't worry about shooting much past 400 yards

 

I am no shooter. That's my disclaimer. But if I ever got into it serious, I would probably get a reasonable but not crazy gun/scope combo and budget some coin to get reloading equipment and a trigger job. If looking to get into it, my research leads me to believe you would be hard pressed to do better than a 300 win mag.

[Bob33]

Gun, ammunition, optics, shooter. All necessary for long range accuracy. Caliber isn't #1.

[YukonHunter]

Get a R.U.M

[demontang]

I got a 338 win. For this and run a 225grn accubonds. It feels to kick less then the 300 win I had and is more then enough for a elk at 400yrds+

[RightPlace-RightTime]

Fyi everyone
Call or email vortex about military discount.  Active or vet.

[Stein]

.30-378 is what I would probably choose.  Be prepared to write some hefty checks on the rifle, scope, rangefinder, ammo and range time.  338 is the other logical choice.  Since you don't reload, don't be surprised if it costs you $4-5 every time you pull the trigger.

"Longe range" is pretty vague, there is a substantial difference if you want to shoot 500 yards or 1,000 yards.

[Branden]

I have used a 30-378 weatherby for elk for a few years now. It's a hammer on everything I've shot with it. Every shot on elk has been a pass through except one and that was over 1000 yards. The bullet was lodged in the offside hide. First bear I shot with it was straight on at 300 yards. Complete pass through.

The 300 rum and 30-378 are almost identical ballistics wise. I would get either of them in whatever rifle you like best.

[yorketransport]

What about the 338/378 Weatherby? There's some great factory ammo options and it's everything the 338 Lapua or RUM wish they could be and more. The 338 RUM is a good option if you don't need the extra expense of the 338/378.

If I were looking for a gun specifically for mid to long range elk hunting, I'd start at the 338 bore as a minimum.

[BrandonWatts]

What about 28 nosler? Paired with the 195 Berger's at 3050fps I don't know how you could go wrong. This will be my next caliber.

[Branden]

What about the 338/378 Weatherby? There's some great factory ammo options and it's everything the 338 Lapua or RUM wish they could be and more. The 338 RUM is a good option if you don't need the extra expense of the 338/378.

If I were looking for a gun specifically for mid to long range elk hunting, I'd start at the 338 bore as a minimum.

I think that's  a great option also. I just have never used one or know what kind of factory ammo is available so couldn't recommend it.

[dscubame]

.30-378 is what I would probably choose.  Be prepared to write some hefty checks on the rifle, scope, rangefinder, ammo and range time.  338 is the other logical choice.  Since you don't reload, don't be surprised if it costs you $4-5 every time you pull the trigger.

"Longe range" is pretty vague, there is a substantial difference if you want to shoot 500 yards or 1,000 yards.

 

[Zardoz]

Just take all of the guess work out of it and go 50 cal. 

[rbros]

Depending on what your range is going to be will determine the caliber.  1k and under any of the magnum 7's or 300's will do the job with heavy for caliber vlds. Past 1k the 338's and 300gr bullets begin to take over.  There are some new 30 cal bullets coming out that will make the LARGE 30 cals a viable option as well.  Set the gun up for the job and don't skimp.  My LR elk rifle is a 338 lapua imp and has taken critters out to 1882 yds with extreme efficiency.  A 300 Berger at 3150 is a wonderful tool at distance.

[spoonman]

Zero at 200 this is the difference between 300rum and 300 win.

300 rum in 180gr will be 14-16" of drop at 400 yards depending onot ammo. 50" at 600 yards.

300 win mag in 180gr  will be 18-20" of drop at 400 yards. 65" at 600 yards.

So it really depends on how far your actually going to shoot and learning the adjustment of your optics for your bullet path.

[jasnt]

.300 WM with 190gr long range accubonds

This would be good medicine for the ranges being discussed.

I'll add, you don't need to spend the money on NF or Huskemaw to shoot a mile. 

i second that.  I used to pound steel all day with a rem 770 and a center point scope at 400 yards when I first started shooting long range.  Shot a 2" group @ 500 yards with that setup.....once

[Come Get Some]

There  is a great deal on a 30-378 in the classifieds. Great rifle. The RUM has a short barrel life. The 30-378 has almost no recoil. Mine drives nails at 1000+ yds. I shoot a 200 gr accubond. It stays together and does not cause the damage of a Berger. Great buy on a GREAT rifle.

[Bill W]

Here's the most important component of long range shooting.... the person behind the trigger.  It seems a fair number of people want to buy the rifle and not put in the trigger time.

Also, sight your rifle in for 300 yards and you have a fairly long distance for no hold over.  It also makes things easier for 400 and 500 yard precision shots.

The best thing a person can do is take their big game rifle over on a prairie dog hunt and shoot at 350-600 yards.  It will let you know what kind of windage and hold over is required.  Then, when you feel confident you can try prairie dogs at longer distances.

Before the advent of fast twist barrels, range finders, low drag bullets and a lot of the current craze stuff I shot prairie dogs out to 550 yards with a bolt action .223 and the low BC 52 grain Speer HP.  Just takes practice and knowing your firearm.

Now, back to throwing $$$$ at rifles and scopes.

[Taco280AI]

If you ever really do shoot 400 a standard 7mm Rem or 300 Win is plenty with proper loads. No need for ultra mags or 30-378 for that distance.