Quote:
ORIGINAL: Elkshane
...I am almost 70 years of age and looking to acquire a new rifle/scope setup for hunting in the U.S. West and perhaps Western Canada. Most of my hunting will be out of lodges with a guide.
...My primary hunting target would be Elk with perhaps some mule deer and/or caribou. Based on my previous hunting experience I would say there was a 75% chance my shot distance would be 150 yards or less and 25% chance it would be 250 yards or less....
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For this setup, I'd suggest a cartridge in the .270,7mm-08, 7x57,or .280 range.You'd take out a goodly portion of the muzzle jump you mentioned with the .300 WSM, but still have plenty of killing power, as well as a a flat shooter to well past 250 yards.
Quote:
ORIGINAL: Elkshane
...So now I am looking for a new outfit. I am kind of down to two options.
A: One would be a nice bolt action in Winchester 308 with a 22-24 inch barrel. A couple local dealers have suggested the new Winchester, or a Weatherby SUB-MOA, a Remington 700, and Browning X-Bolt. .
B. Benelli R1 in 300 WSM with about the same scope selections as in A aboveor perhaps a Schmidt-Bender Zenith 1.5-6. The dealer suggested the 300 WSM caliber has he felt the semi-auto action plus the Comfort Tech stock/pad would really reduce the recoil and he knows I have more than 100 rounds of 300 WSM premium ammo and some brass for reloading.
ELKSHANE
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As for the rifle, I'd suggest a lightweight, fast-handling setup. You want a rifle that's not a chore to drag through tangles of alders, and something that slides easily into a saddle scabbard. You're right about going with a 24" barrel or less, & doing so won't hurt the performance if you're not looking at a magnum cartridge.
Perhaps something along the lines of this:
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_mountain_LSS.asp
Quote:
ORIGINAL: Elkshane
...Scope would be a Burris Signature Select 1.5-6 or a Leupold 2.5-8 in B&C, or a Zeiss Conquest 3-9 with the Rapid Z reticle
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I think you're right-on with the scope sizes & quality. Great hunts should have great glass, & you've mentioned some wonderful scopes. I'd suggest that you take your gun to the scope store, & see how the glass looks when you hold it up to your rifle. You don't want a huge scope on a short, slender rifle, as it won't handle well, nor will it be be easy to tote around. 7x or 8x on the top end will still allow you to shoot as far as the cartridges above will go.
FWIW, I went elk hunting in Western Canada with a guide/outfitter, and I took a 24" rifle with a 3-9 Conquest on it. After dragging my tired [rear quarters] through the scrub for what seemed like an eternity, I took a nice 6x5 bull elk.
Then last winter, I found a slim little Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 7x57, and I jumped on it. I've got it topped with a 2-7 x 35 scope, & it feels much easier to tote around. It's a real sweetheart to shoot, and it drops 173 grain softpoints right on top of one another.
Given that I shot my bull at about 65 yards, and that we had 4 other bulls called-in closer, I think the 7x57 willhave plenty of killing ability and range. I went from a rifle that was almost 9 lbs., and had a 24" barrel, to one that's barely over 8 lbs., and has a 22" barrel. The smaller setup feels much more manageable to me. As an aside, I'm all of 39 years old, and I'm already looking for ways to lighten the load!
By the way, you can probably sell your .300 WSM brass quite easily on this forum, or others.
Good Luck!
FC
Elk/Deer/Caribou Rifle for Senior Citizen?
