Best rifle for Elk?

[Jimmy33]

270 in tikka t3


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[JWEBB]

Always had luck with my 300 win mag. My dad is the most successful hunter I know personally and he shoots a 300 H&H

[jdb]

Jm stamped .444 marlin

[JimmyHoffa]

muzzleloading rifle?
Do you want to hunt rocky mtn spikes on the eastside or bulls on the westside?  Some of the shots on the westside are pretty close and in low light conditions.  Leverguns aren't rare, not popular either.  I usually see .270, .30-30, .30-06, .300, 7mm Rem Mag, .338s, even .257 Wby, .375 hh, .45-70 out in the woods.  So, no real magic gun.

[Samloffler]

A 308 will kill anything in this state just fine and be cheap and easy to shoot in the off season. Any of the other stuff listed will work fine too. If recoil is a problem on a light gun, put a brake on it.

[NW SURVEYOR]

In order of preference....
Based n what's in MY safe.

33 Nosler with 265 grain
338 Win Mag with 225 grain
7mm Rem Meg with 165 grain
7mm Mauser with 165 grain
308 with 180 grain.

Leave the 243 at home for elk hunting.

[derricklovatt]

300 win mag.  Its true that any caliber will kill but an elk can run a long way in those final seconds.  I'd rather have it drop dead then run down into some god forsaken pit. 

[Magnum_Willys]

300 win mag works, 338 win mag works even better.  In heavy timber/jackfir would prefer the 338.  Open Country 300wsm is a nice carry.  My 338 kicks same or less than my 300. 

[Taco280AI]

The best rifle?

Tikka makes a good, accurate rifle. I like Browning as well. 700s are a great choice if you plan on upgrading parts down the road. Weatherby Vanguards are a good choice too.

[meathunter 4x4]

Weatherby 7mm08 awesome rifle. My favorite for everything

[Jimmybelltown]

7mm Remington mag works just fine.
300 win mag is devastating.
Ammo readily available for both.

[Bob33]

The best caliber for elk is likely the largest one you can shoot without flinching. An elk shot in the paunch with a 338 will suffer longer and die slower than one shot through the lungs with a 243.

If you're not sure, try to borrow a larger caliber rifle and go to the range with a friend who can do a "ball and dummy" exercise with you.
 

[bigdub257]

300 Weatherby.  180 grain Accubond.

[HoofsandWings]

As I said before, the best is the one you can shoot straight and hit the target.
If you have qualms, go to the range and practice, practice, practice.
You can down an elk if you shoot him between the eyes with just about any caliber.
But if you cant shoot straight, that is another story.
Make sure you can shoot off hand. That is standing up without a rest.
Go to the range and practice standing up and hitting the target at 200 yards or 100 yards at a minimum.
People at the range will instruct you how to breathe, prior to the shot.
No one can help you if you have elk fever and are real jittery. In that case, I suggest you have Mount Rainier as a back stop.

[Eric M]

As I said before, the best is the one you can shoot straight and hit the target.
If you have qualms, go to the range and practice, practice, practice.
You can down an elk if you shoot him between the eyes with just about any caliber.
But if you cant shoot straight, that is another story.
Make sure you can shoot off hand. That is standing up without a rest.
Go to the range and practice standing up and hitting the target at 200 yards or 100 yards at a minimum.
People at the range will instruct you how to breathe, prior to the shot.
No one can help you if you have elk fever and are real jittery. In that case, I suggest you have Mount Rainier as a back stop.

This might've just been instructional, but if u do shoot an elk between the eyes, they dont bleed and it can be quite a mess during the quartering and the meat will hold a lot of blood. Make sure u hang it overnight if u take that shot.