Best rifle for Elk?

[mburrows]

Most  seem to be on the 300 band wagon. What about the .308? I have the savage.243 and love that rifle. I am thinking about the .308 savage 110.

When the question is "best caliber for elk" and even when short action might be a want, I still can't think of any reason to reccomend a 308 for a grown person

I shoot a heavy barreled 308 because I am the biggest recoil wenis on the planet lol.

[mikefinchmp]

I used that .243 in Montana for antelope at 280 yards dropped him where he stood. Last year shot a 4 point mule at 230 he walked 30 yards tipped over. Gun is lights out. Just thought of upping the caliber for Montana elk someday. I bow hunt elk in Washington. But someday want to hunt elk again with a rifle, just not this state.

I have a compound bow as well- but why would you not hunt elk with a rifle in this state?

[Woodchuck]

I used that .243 in Montana for antelope at 280 yards dropped him where he stood. Last year shot a 4 point mule at 230 he walked 30 yards tipped over. Gun is lights out. Just thought of upping the caliber for Montana elk someday. I bow hunt elk in Washington. But someday want to hunt elk again with a rifle, just not this state.

I have a compound bow as well- but why would you not hunt elk with a rifle in this state?

Less pressure, more favorable seasons. 

[birddogdad]

there really is no "right" answer here. i will say again, over 25 years, 15+ elk with 7+ calibers (yea i am a bit of a nut that way 340wby/7mag/45-70/458/358/270wby to name some) i will hang my hat on my 375h&h M77 safari express with 2 distinct loads. for me, a 300gr long range accubond and a 300 gr DGS h'day brush round, very accurate to 250yds. POI is same for both loads out over 200. site set to accubond load. Braked, composite stock, light enough to shag and recoil that wont jar your brain. no scenario inside of 600yds has ever been in question.

if your looking for "just one", well... if your looking for "another" to add.. well...

[jstone]

Mburrows that makes two of us.

Rifle Washington. I don’t like crowds. Plus I get into elk every day.

[Jonathan_S]

Most  seem to be on the 300 band wagon. What about the .308? I have the savage.243 and love that rifle. I am thinking about the .308 savage 110.

When the question is "best caliber for elk" and even when short action might be a want, I still can't think of any reason to reccomend a 308 for a grown person

I shoot a heavy barreled 308 because I am the biggest recoil wenis on the planet lol.

Well there ya go   

[dvolmer]

300 win mag or 7mm mag.  easy to find bullets, guns, and have the killing power at long distances to nock down big bodied beasts!!  I prefer the 300 win mag myself.  My brother shoots the 7mm mag (Ladies Magnum).  300 short mag is the same as the 300 mag.  Just a difference in shell casing size.  One long and skinny the other short and fatter.  They both shoot the same bullet at roughly the same velocity.

[kball4]

No one said it yet so I'll chime in .338 win mag.

[Stein]

Since you asked, the best rifle for elk hunting is the Remington 700 in 30-06.  There are many others that will work just fine, some even better but they aren't the best.   

Get something with at least the energy of a .308 and a tough, proven elk bullet and you will be fine.  Elk are tough animals, but we have been shooting them for over 100 years with modern cartridges and have it pretty well figured out for the most part.

[WapitiTalk1]

Perhaps a consideration...... If you plan/like to shoot your rifle year around say on a range or some remote area in (insert western state here)... it is very nice, in my humble opinion, to have a caliber that doesn't rattle your teeth loose and bruise your shoulder if you are out just exercising your rifle and fine tuning your Daniel Boone skills (with more than a few measly shots).  Sooooo, my Weatherby Vanguard II .308 fits the bill for that just fine, and, will kill just as effectively as the magnum rounds within a reasonable distance once I'm out hunting.    I should start a .308 Love thread     

[Shoofly09]

I shoot a Weatherby 270 and it has been a great gun over the years.   Kicks a little, and the ammo is freaking expensive.   If I had to go out and buy a new elk rifle, it would be a 300 win mag.    Easier to find ammo.

[wheels]

whatever you are accurate with my everything is 30-06

[mikefinchmp]

This is good.. I was trying to find a used rem 700 in 300 winmag.. which is impossible to find used.. But now I can start with a 308 and with the other recommendations build on the collection of what I have..

[Karl Blanchard]

Imho Remington hasnt made a good 700 in a decade.  Ruger Americans are built with more precision than a 700.  Unless they've stepped it up in the last few years since I gave up on them 

[coachcw]

Cooper