Elk Hunting

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Gents, I have never been large game hunting, the most I have is coyote and rabit and pheasant hunting back home in TX. I was recently invited to go ellk hunting up here in WA and now have to buy a hunting rifle I was thinking about about getting a 7mm as i have had one before, but I was going to get you guys opinions first, If yall dont mind. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[mete]

Where in WA - in thick woods it's hard to beat a 45-70. Open country - 7mag, 30-06,300 win, 338win

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

I believe it will be in Western WA somewhere probably in brush the individual that invited me uses a 30-30, but I just wanted to make sure I had enough rifle to get the job done on an elk, and then maybe I could use it to hunt other game as well such as deer etc...

 

[Kingcreek]

ask your buddy about what to expect. I wouldn't want to show up with a long action boltgun and a 3-10x scope and find out that every other rifle in camp is an open-sight levergun for 30 yard shots.
Still lots of good used rifles out there from back in the old days when they came with rifle sights AND a scope mount.
I picked up a nice early Ruger m77 in .270 just for that reason (and the for the bargain price- $400 with Leupold glass, sling, case, and a couple boxes of shells!)

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Well I know he uses a 30-30 with a scope he said average is between 1 and 200 yards for shots.

 

[Steve H]

The 7 mag is one of many good choices for elk. In heavy thick timber you might want an open sight gun but I'd bet more elk are taken with scoped rifles than open sights. Also the 7 can be "down loaded" for smaller game such as deer.

 

[Kingcreek]

In that case a 7mm mag would be fine if the scope is lower power.
You could do a lot worse than a good old 30-06 with a quality 2-7x scope (and maybe with those iron sights too- just in case?)

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

dumb question here, but how would i find iron sights for a bolt action 7mm on lets say a Rem. 700

 

[bigcim]

I have a 7mm rem mag in a sako 75 stainless synthetic and love it

 

[Kingcreek]

[dumb question here, but how would i find iron sights for a bolt action 7mm on lets say a Rem. 700/QUOTE]
I would look for one that came with 'em right there on top from the manufacturer. Used to be quite common. I can't see paying a smith to mount irons after the purchase.
If I had only glass optics and nothing else, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. But I also wouldn't settle for less than very good quality mounts and scope.

 

[Bwana John]

I shot my cow elk this year @ 175 yds with a 7mm X 57mm Mauser, 173 gr bullet, Rem 700 Mnt rifle, and Luepold 4 X scope.

 

[carnaby]

I shot my deer this year in the neck at 30 yards with a .300 Win Mag. Just get a limbsaver to go with it and you'll have no problems. 7mm is nice too! Heck, any .270 or .30 cal rifle with a decent scope or irons will work.

A lever gun for this part of the state with irons is a nice choice too, just make sure it packs a whallop. I've heard many of the opinion that .30-30 is a little underpowered for elk, but then others say its fine if you've got the shot placement and good bullets.

Hey, look at this! A marlin lever gun in .308 "express". Supposedly had ballistics similar to .308 win.

Now that would do it

 

[Woodsmoke]

Thompson Encore

When I have the money..... I will buy a Thompson Encore in .338 Win Mag for Elk hunting.

Funny thing. I seem to remember asking someone about elk hunting in WA. I wonder who that could have been... hmmm... whoever he was he must not be important, otherwise I would remember him.

Anyway, just remember those big boys up there are not the little whitetail we have down here. Use enough gun.

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/encoreCenterfire.php

 

[K.L.O.sako]

you didn't mention if this is bear country or not, but if the chance is there I'd opt for a lever action in 45-70, or 444 marlin both are known to be elk and bear thumpers. 350 rem mag is nice too, but there getting hard to find nowadays

 

[H&Hhunter]

My advice is get a decent .30-06 with a low power variable scope on it. Shoot decent 180 gr bullets and be done with it.

Forget about the 7MM. It ain't nothing more than a necked down belted .30-06 from a performance stand point.


I'd look real serious at the new Ruger Hawkeye rifles. They are a good value and they are stainless and they have the new adjustable trigger. They are a CRF action with a striker block safety. The safety feature alone makes the difference to me between it and a Remington.

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Woodsmoke

I called to tell you but, getting you to answere a phone is like pulling teeth it almost takes an act of god, and when you finally did answere, I forgot. sorry would you like to come too?

P.S. thanks for the link

 

[waffentomas]

A lot of thick nasty rain forest here in western Washington, though there is open area as well.

I hunt elk with a .308 and a 2.5x10 scope that rarely leaves the 2.5 magnification setting. I've even hunted them with my M1A, iron sights.

Tom

 

[skidooman]

im with H&Hhunter, 30.06 i myself have a .270, but my dad has a ruger m77 30.06 and loves it. its an awesome gun and an awesome round.

 

[tsanford405]

I am currently setting up my first elk hunt for this October in Idaho. I was planning on bringing my M77 7mm with leupold 3-9x glass. Should I also consider bringing an open sighted rifle? I have access to a 45/70, a 30/40 krag, and a 30-06 all with open sights. I will be in the northern panhandle of Idaho, and from what it looks like on a topo map, pretty densly populated with trees. I didn't really think about that aspect. I would like to know if I should just bring a couple... guess you can never have too many guns!

Is this the excuse I was looking for to get a .500 S&W and glass it?!?!?!?!

 

[Steve H]

I am currently setting up my first elk hunt for this October in Idaho. I was planning on bringing my M77 7mm with leupold 3-9x glass. Should I also consider bringing an open sighted rifle?

If you are not hunting close to home take a spare rifle with you. You would feel pretty bad if you set the whole trip up and have something go wrong and no back-up back at camp.