Elk rifle choice - with a twist


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KW
December 26, 2004, 02:19 AM
Merry Christmas all!

While I was over at my parents house for Christmas my uncle gave me a Bushnell Legend 2-7x32 scope (not even my christmas present from him - he just didn't use it so he gave it to me - what a guy!). Chatting with him, one thing lead to another and it looks like I am going to try and go Elk hunting with him this coming year.

The only problem is I don't have an Elk rifle. So being a glass-half-full type this is looking like a great oppurtunity to pick up another rifle. :)

My current meager rifle collection is an AR15 and a Savage 340 in 30-30. The Savage has a worn ejector that I never bothered to fix, and only ejects the spent cartridge about 50% of the time. The hunt will take place in Eastern Oregon and given the possbility of longer shots I just don't think the 30-30 would be a good choice for Elk.

From reading through the archives I see that most people are recommending .308 or .30-06 for an Elk rifle. Here comes the difficult part. I really don't want your basic remington or savage hunting rifle. I just don't find them particularly interesting, and probably wouldn't shoot them outside of this hunting trip. I'd much rather get something that I liked and would use on a regular basis, rather then a nice hunting rifle that spent it's entire life sitting in a safe. Which has me thinking that some sort of military pattern rifle would be a better choice for me.

So what would you pick? Ideally it should be a military pattern weapon. I'm not terribly picky as far as semi vs. bolt action. Cheap surplus ammo would be a big plus, as I would shoot it a lot more. I want to mount the scope on it, so that is also a factor.

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dakotasin
December 26, 2004, 02:44 AM
so, basically you are wanting a mil-surp to use for elk? pretty tough order, but i guess the 8mm mauser might work out ok.

guess i'd get a czech mauser, re-barrel to 338 win mag, bend the bolt handle, drill some holes, and go hunting... 'course, it would be far less expensive, and classy imo, to get ahold of a rem 700 in 338 win mag or rum, or cheaper yet, a rem 700 adl in 300 win mag...

esldude
December 26, 2004, 04:28 AM
Okay, maybe an '03 Springfield in 30-06. Or an M1 Garand in 30-06. Or maybe an Ishipore Enfield in .308.

Uther
December 26, 2004, 05:58 AM
Merry Christmas

A military rifle with enough punch for elk at range and surplus ammo, that’s fun to shoot?

How about a M2? .50 BMG is good elk meds;)

If you don’t want to go that big any of the military bolts in 308, 30-06, 8mm, 7.62x54 or an m1 grand, m1a would do in a semi.

Dionysusigma
December 26, 2004, 06:50 AM
What about a Browning BAR?

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/images/031001m.jpg
(I"m not talking about this one ;) )






Nope. Use this one...

http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/slr/slr.jpg
Ohio Ordnance Works 1918A3 BAR (http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/slr.htm)

I'm sure it could take down an elk or four. :evil:

Silent-Snail
December 26, 2004, 08:20 AM
Why do you people keep taunting me with pics of the for all intents and purposes imposable BAR and STG-44. Please stop you're killing me.

one-shot-one
December 26, 2004, 08:56 AM
FN FAL
.308
relace dustcover w/scope mount cover and it is easily changed back for looks.

ID_shooting
December 26, 2004, 08:58 AM
KW,

Most any mil-surp will work with the correct bullet choice. You should get somthing that allready has a scope or one that you don't mind altering to fit a scope. Here in SW Idaho, esentially the same as E Oregon, people use MN's, Mausers, and even '03s. There will be many more bullet choices for any of the rifles chambered on '06 but a few shops still carry hunting ammo for 7.62x54r and 8mm Mauser so the choice is yours. Were it me, I would use a dedicated hunting rifle; but, in your shoes, I would probably go with a nice Yugo Mauser and have it drilled/tapped. Inexpesive yet solid design.

Sleeping Dog
December 26, 2004, 09:05 AM
No need to drill/tap a military rifle. Lots of gun shows have them already sporterized, drilled, tapped, bolt handle replaced or reshaped, new safety, better trigger, and they end up cheaper than a "stock" military version of Mauser 98 or Springfield 03.

Regards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/justabozo/sports/shooting/Sporter_03/1bd82570.jpg

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