New rifle...theoretical elk hunt

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mlp021

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Hey all,
I am wanting to purchase a new rifle for no other reason that I want one.

I currently have a
Tikka T3x 22-250 (1-8")...great rifle for range work, yotes, Texas whitetail, and Pronghorn
Tikka T3x 6.5 Creed...great rifle for all the above and throw in mule deer and hogs
CZ 22lr
CZ 17HMR

Wanting something bigger than the Creed...for a theoretical elk hunt. I "know" the Creed would carry me well, with keeping shots to a reasonable range.

Can pick up a Tikka in 270wsm or 7mm mag for a decent price (I'm a lefty, so factor that in). What advantages would either of this cartridges offer me over the Creed for elk at 350 yards max....or for that matter, a 7mm-08? Also, what would be the potential for recoil increase be..all things being equal (i.e., same manners stock, factory barrel, Leupold VX5 scope, talley rings, Pachmayer pad, etc.).

If the Creed would carry me well for a theoretical elk hunt...any other smaller calibers to add to the collection...6mm Creed, 243, etc.?
 
With 6.5 Creedmoor you've already got mid-range cartridges covered pretty well. If you're wanting something to actually do more than it's capable of, you'll want to step up a bit. I'd say the 7mm Rem Mag, or possibly .300 Winchester Mag. You certainly don't NEED something that powerful but I'd say er towards more to prevent overlap with what you already have.
 
I really like the 7 Mag. In fact, I just got a Browning X-Bolt a few months ago. Haven’t shot it yet, but they’re reputed as having excellent accuracy

The 7 should kill any elk at any reasonable range without beating you to death. And they’re common enough that there is a wide variety of ammo
 
troy fairweather said:
I would get a 7rm lots of lefty guns out there. Whats your price range.
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Cost of rifle would be somewhere at/around $700 if it needs a new stock (plastic stock would turn into manners). If it already has a carbon fiber stock...somewhere around $1,200.

But, I'm a lefty...so it could complicate things.
 
The 6.5 does everything the 270, does as a hunting cartridge and both have more than enough to take elk out to 400ish yards. People have done it much farther. The 270 shoots the same bullet weights about 200 fps faster at the muzzle. But in the same bullet weight the 6.5's penetrate deeper on game at impact and are more aerodynamic. By the time you get to 300 yards the 6.5 CM has almost caught up to the 270 in speed. The 270 will shoot a little flatter but there isn't enough difference to matter at 300 yards. The 6.5 will drift less in the wind and bullet drop is easily compensated for with modern optics.

The magnums don't start to show any advantage over standard cartridges until you start shooting at 500-600 yards. At 300-400 they don't kill anything any deader than any of the 6.5's non magnum 7mm's, 270 or 30-06.

I've owned many different 300 and 7mm magnums over the years. Used a 30-06 for most of my hunting and even experimented with 338-06 and 35 Whelen a bit. I've had 45-70's and 44 magnums but have sold all of them but a couple of 30-06 rifles with too much history to let go. Today I figure I can do anything I need to do with a 223 and a 308. The 7-08 is a ballistic twin to 308 so if someone prefers 7mm that is an option too. I'm playing around with the 6.5 CM and am beginning to think it is does everything 308 or 7-08 does and does it all better. Not by much, but it is better. But I'm not not selling the 308's just yet.
 
^^ jmr, if I'm hearing you correctly, I would not really gain anything by getting a bigger cartridge over the Creedmoor...maybe a 308/30-06? If that's the case, I'll save my cash and invest in better binoculars.
 
id go Montana x3 extreme they can be had for under 1200 id get 280ai or 7rm.or the browning hells canyon series of rifles maybe the ruger hawkeye ftw hunter there under a 1000 id get ether 300wm or 35 ruger
 
An animal can only take so much killing. The things a bigger cartridge will buy you is more range, and bigger exit wound and thus blood trail. The blood trail aspect is probably not very important in the terrain where elk are found.

A 7mm-08, 280 rem, or 7mm mag, 308, or 30-06 would be good ones to get into the 160+ grain bullets. I would get a 30-06 and handload a 180 gr fusion bullet but I guess I’m not fashionable.
 
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mlp021 said:
Can pick up a Tikka in 270wsm or 7mm mag for a decent price (I'm a lefty, so factor that in). What advantages would either of this cartridges offer me over the Creed for elk at 350 yards max....or for that matter, a 7mm-08? Also, what would be the potential for recoil increase be..all things being equal (i.e., same manners stock, factory barrel, Leupold VX5 scope, talley rings, Pachmayer pad, etc.).
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In my experience, the most used elk calibers are 7mm Remington Magnum, .30-06 and .300 Winchester Magnum.
 
Vern Humphrey said:
In my experience, the most used elk calibers are 7mm Remington Magnum, .30-06 and .300 Winchester Magnum.
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I'd guess that .30-06, .270 Win and 7mm RM are the three I see the most with lots of .308s and .300 WMs sprinkled in.

As for the OP, I'm guessing you reload, but one thing to keep in mind of you don't is that the magnum calibers generally come with a decent price bump over standard calibers for factory ammunition.

If "theoretical elk rifle" = probably going to be used on deer or at the range 99% of the time with a possiblity of elk, perhaps, maybe, some day, I don't think I'd be looking at heavy magnums.

Something like a .30-06 would put you into the next bullet weight class without beating you up too much at the range. 7mm RM is very similar to the '06 recoil wise and could be another option, but I'm not sure what benefit something like a .300 WM would give you over those two inside of your stated 350yd range.

I've used 6.5 Creedmoor and .270 Win on a few cows, and with good bullets (Accubonds) performance was very good.

This year my two main rifles for elk, muleys and antelope are a Kimber Montana in 6.5 and an X-Bolt in .30-06. I'm comfortable using either one on elk in most of the areas I hunt, but I'm leaning towards the '06 for really thick areas in the hopes that slightly bigger holes might translate to slightly bigger blood trails should tracking be necessary. I don't expect any difference to be substantial.

If I was you, I'd probably look at getting something on the larger side of the standard cartridge scale like a .30-06 or .280/.280 AI. You'll have a new rifle to play with that won't beat you up too much, and you'll also have a backup for deer or elk hunting. Personally, I always take a spare rifle when I drive up to my hunting areas, if I fall, or bang the scope too hard, or run into any other situation that makes me doubt my rifle, I'll swap when I get back to the truck and keep at it.
 
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I’d go with the 7mm Rem Mag for what you’re asking to do.

Pluses: It’s popular enough to come in almost any rifle configuration out there, It won’t beat you to death with overly harsh recoil, there is plenty of ammo and reloading components available on any dealers shelf, with the right bullet it has enough horsepower for anything in NA you’ll want to hunt at any reasonable range and has withstood the test of time after the short belted, fat no belt, short fat no belt, 6.5mm cartridge....and whatever other hot rifle craze comes next.

Minuses: Not too sexy anymore because of its age (hmmm, few of us are :eek:). That’s about all I can think of... it’s a dang good round.

Good luck with your search!
 
someguy2800 said:
An animal can only take so much killing. The things a bigger cartridge will buy you is more range, and bigger exit wound and thus blood trail. The blood trail aspect is probably not very important in the terrain where elk are found.

A 7mm-08, 280 rem, or 7mm mag, 308, or 30-06 would be good ones to get into the 160+ grain bullets. I would get a 30-06 and handload a 180 gr fusion bullet but I guess I’m not fashionable.
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Unfortunately elk hunting on public land isn’t what it appears on TV. I mostly find elk in very thick country where a quick kill and a good blood trail is important.

Sometimes “the black brush of death” makes you wish you were pushing through oak brush.
 
Gtscotty said:
As for the OP, I'm guessing you reload, but one thing to keep in mind of you don't is that the magnum calibers generally come with a decent price bump over standard calibers for factory ammunition
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there are lots of nice factory loading for the 7rm for under $25 a box it is the most popular magnum in the world to.
 
If you can use it well, and use premium hunting loads your 6.5creedmoor will fit the bill for elk. I personally like a 650 grain projectile for elk at about 300 fps (bow and arrow) but shots are short in the thick coastal rainforest i tend to hunt. If you need an excuse for a new rifle look at anything that you can shoot well that throws a 160-200 grn premium bullet and won't wear you out to carry all day. I personally wouldn't worry so much about which caliber you have as long as you shoot it well, and are in good enough shape to climb the terrain that elk like to live in. I usually use a 30-06 when rifle hunting though, but the bow has been more successful here in western Washington for me.
 
Owning what you own, and putting elk into play, without a care in the world for 1) money spent and 2) having a rifle which collects a lot of dust - I personally would add a 7 Rem mag to my safe.

The 6.5 creed will do the job you’re asking, but it’ll be very easy for you to find yourself in a position where you want longer range, OR need a faster anchor, OR both - which is where the 7 RM will shine. Elk hunting my home state is kind of a joke, so it’s really an out-of-state only option. If I’m crossing state lines and spending extra money for non-resident points, tags, licenses, fuel, extra time off and travel for scouting, with a shorter window to close the deal, then I prefer to take as much insurance with me as I can.
 
I've hunted Elk in Montana and although I never scored I'll tell you about my first hunt. There was a big seven pointer between me and other hunters in Harrison Basin on the outskirts of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and therefore neither of us got a shot at him. I was hunting with a 30-06 and when I saw that brute I said to myself "I don't have enough gun". They are huge and magnificent animals and if I was going to hunt them again I'd take a .338 Win Mag. Just my choice to know that I could put it down!
 
Nature Boy said:
What about the .280?
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A .280 AI would make a great all around deer/elk choice.

Varminterror said:
If I’m crossing state lines and spending extra money for non-resident points, tags, licenses, fuel, extra time off and travel for scouting, with a shorter window to close the deal, then I prefer to take as much insurance with me as I can.
Click to expand...

This is exactly why I hunt deer and elk up here with a .375 H&H shooting 250gr TTSX or 270gr LRX solid copper projectiles. I would happily use any number of other cartridges but until I run into problems I think I'll stick with what I have, know and like.
 
It doesn't seem that you have fired heavier rounds, so if I were you, I'd err on the lighter side: .270, .280, 30-06. If you master one of those, and can shoot a box of ammo from them at the range, without flinching, then, and only then, go for the 7mm Magnum if you feel the need. The old '06 has killed about all forms of North American game for over a hundred years!!! Like a famous old gunner once said, "There's nothing you can't fix with $600 dollars and a 30-06." I'm saying, "A well-placed '06 is a heck of a lot more effective than a poorly-placed magnum every time."
 
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