Best rifle for Elk?

[mikefinchmp]

So we moved from Texas where we have deer, bobcats and hogs.. But up here you have Elk, Moose, Bear and animals that are larger and have thicker skin- I had a 243 but want something that is a big stronger but still light wait that I can hike miles with- What do you recommend?

[Jolten]

.308/30-06/300wm are good choices. The 6.5 creedmore seems to be gathering a following here as well.

[Jonathan_S]

Bears aren't any more immune to bullets than whitetail, they just don't bleed on the ground much.  Elk can soak up rounds and everybody has heard a story of bulletproof elk but a quality bullet through the ribcage kills. 

Anything in the -06 family e.g. .25-06, .270, .30-06 are good starters. 

300 WSM is a an excellent round for factory ammo shooters and handloaders too if you're set on sticking with a short action.

[huntnphool]

 A lot of the big manufacturers produce lighter weight rifles these days, Kimber Mountain Acent https://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/rifle-family?layer&corporate_rifle_family=202

Remington 700 Mountain Rifle
https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700/model-700-mountain-ss

Winchester M70 Featherweight
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-70/model-70-Current-Products/model-70-featherweight.html

Savage 11 Lightweight Hunter
https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/centerfire/hunter-series/11-lightweight-hunter

Then you can get into the smaller companies like Christensen Arms Summit TI
https://christensenarms.com/summit-ti/

 Good luck.

[birddogdad]

i love my 375 H&H.

[Karl Blanchard]

Light rifles have more recoil. Dont over think it.  We aren't trying to take down a t-rex.  If I had to buy a do all factory rifle to shoot factory ammo right this second I'd be grabbing a Tikka in 300wsm.  Theres literally nothing in north America that you couldn't kill and it wont beat you to death.

[WSU]

I have a rem 700 in 300 win mag. Had been a great rifle. It shoots great and has killed elk, deer, and bear.

[Mudman]

300wsm.

[shmacker]

Why the 300 win mag over the 300 WSM?

[trophyhunt]

gonna see lots of opinions here, .300 win mag.

[Dhoey07]

I've killed everything with a .300 win mag and my dad has killed everything with a 7mm mag.  My buddy has killed everything with a .308. 

[Antlershed]

Another vote for the .300wsm. If I was to buy another factory rifle right now it would either be a Tikka or an Xbolt.

[Crunchy]

Rem 700 in 7mm mag or the 300wm

[acrocker]

7mm Rem Mag has always worked  for me, but the new Nosler 28 has some interesting ballistic performance, as well....

This is kind of like opening a can of religious or political thoughts - people are very invested in and protective of their choices of caliber. Hold on to your seats for this one...

[bobcat]

If you truly want a lightweight rifle, I'd suggest a 270 Winchester. Any cartridge bigger than that will have too much recoil. The 270 may be on the light side for elk, but if you use the right bullets it'll do just fine. Now if you're talking just an average weight rifle, like around 7 1/2 pounds, I'd say the 30/06 or either of the 300 Winchester Magnums would be hard to beat.