Lever Action for Elk Hunting

[Bigshooter]

There are places in Western Washington where 50 yards is a long shot, and other places where shots of 500 yards or more are possible. The lever gun works great in the first case; bolt actions work in both.

What a lousy excuse not to buy a gun.  You're banned.

[Bullkllr]

I love hunting with my 94s and 99s in general. I would use them more for elk if I knew for sure I'd only be hunting timber. But it seems like I always end up doing some timber hunting as well as glassing and sitting on cuts. Most of the time I'd rather not need 2 rifles. The perfect woods gun is probably not the perfect clearcut gun.  I feel OK with my Mod99 in 308 for either, but just barely.

[bobcat]

I really like a lever action in the timber, especially without a scope, because they're so easy to carry. My problem now is with my age, my eyes don't work that great anymore for open sights. So because of that I prefer to have a scope, and to me it kind of ruins the balance of a lever action rifle, so I'd still just use my bolt action with the scope. But if you're good with open sights I think a lever action rifle is a great choice.

[JimmyHoffa]

There are places in Western Washington where 50 yards is a long shot, and other places where shots of 500 yards or more are possible. The lever gun works great in the first case; bolt actions work in both.

Could get an win 1895 in .30-06 and be there with the bolt guns.  I'm working on a build now for a 71 in .348 Ackley Improved, just a tad below a 35 Whelen in a lever.

[LandofRath]

The new Henrys can be used with iron sights or scopes.. I was tempted to get one in 308

I really like a lever action in the timber, especially without a scope, because they're so easy to carry. My problem now is with my age, my eyes don't work that great anymore for open sights. So because of that I prefer to have a scope, and to me it kind of ruins the balance of a lever action rifle, so I'd still just use my bolt action with the scope. But if you're good with open sights I think a lever action rifle is a great choice.

[kselkhunter]

My western elk woods lever gun if I'm going into really thick areas.  356 Winchester w/Burris FastFire III. 


My family grew up hunting western OR with 30-30s for elk.  Regularly harvested elk with 170gr bullets.   All those shots were within 100 yards....long shots didn't exist where we hunted.   I rebored my 30-30 to 356W for some extra thump. 


45-70 is more than enough thump for an elk.  I'd also look at the a 444 Marlin; I like those.  Or you could always go BLR and have plenty of cartridge options in that platform, as it's not a tubular magazine. 


If I am going somewhere with a chance of a little longer shot then I take the bolt action 35 Whelen with scope for elk west side.   If it's going to be really wet west side or if longer shots on an east side hunt, I take the X-Bolt Long Range stainless 7mmRM for elk.

[BigGoonTuna]

I had a .300 savage model 99 that was plenty accurate enough, but the bore was pitted and would give me some crazy poi changes if I cleaned it. Sent it off to JES a few weeks ago and it came home as a .358 Winchester. Hope I can go try it out this weekend.

[bobcat]

I had a .300 savage model 99 that was plenty accurate enough, but the bore was pitted and would give me some crazy poi changes if I cleaned it. Sent it off to JES a few weeks ago and it came home as a .358 Winchester. Hope I can go try it out this weekend.

Sweet!

[brew]

I've got a BLR 358 and love it.  Shot my buck last year with factory Hornady 200 gr interlocks open sights at 98 yards.  Your gonna pay up front for the gun if you can find one (Carpsniper2) found one for me after a couple months and had it shipped out from North Carolina.  Beautiful gun and it shoots like a dream.  35 cal bullet puts em down

[Tim in Wa.]

If it must be a lever get real elk/bear performance.   Threaded for brake.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/lever-action-x-model-45-70/

This would be a great setup!

[rtspring]

.32 winchester!  I have killed two elk with mine.  Dead!!  Shot placement

[KFhunter]

.45lc seems a little light. My choice would be a 45-70, but if you wanted less recoil, a 30-30 with Hornady Leverevolution ammo would do the trick.

I like that leverevolution 30-30, about all I run in them.

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[magnanimous_j]

.45lc seems a little light. My choice would be a 45-70, but if you wanted less recoil, a 30-30 with Hornady Leverevolution ammo would do the trick.

I like that leverevolution 30-30, about all I run in them.

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A lot better performance and not significantly more expensive than anything else.

[10thmountainarcher]

.45lc seems a little light. My choice would be a 45-70, but if you wanted less recoil, a 30-30 with Hornady Leverevolution ammo would do the trick.

I like that leverevolution 30-30, about all I run in them.

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  Super impressed with these rounds.

[LabMan]

The Win 1895 is a good choice. I routinely hunt with mine in 405 Win or 35 Whelen.  The 30-06 is a happy medium, you can load it with heavy bullets or light depending on what you are hunting.  They are heavier than a Marlin, I hear Marlin has the 444 back in the catalog.When needing more thump I pick up the Marlin  450 AK with 420 gr pills,