Wolf Killer,

I hope don’t mind but I am going to use your two rifles (25-06 & .375 RUM) as examples because they are perfect choices for my question.

Rifle #1 is 25-06 and the load is a 115 Berger HPBT VLD at 3100 fps. (My load of choice)

Rifle #2 is .375 Remington Ultra Magnum and the load is a 260 gr Accubond at 3100 fps.

Both shoot very well and can consistently put 5 shots into less than 1” at 100yds.

Both have identical scopes and are set up the way each of you wants. In my case that would be with a custom Drop Compensating Turret.

Now let us pretend we won a trophy bull elk hunt and only have those two choices for the rifle we would use on the hunt. We will be hunting large bulls with the possibility of a 400” a reality.

Conditions are typical of real trophy elk hunts and the shot opportunities can come both close and far.

The hunt will be on public ground in a limited draw unit so we will have to contend with other hunters.

In my case there will also be the additional cost of a camera man and I will be expected to be able to either put the bull on his nose or have him travel a very short distance after the shot. If I wound him or require a barrage of shots to finish him it will be viewed by thousands of people and could have very real impact negative on our TV show.

Under the above conditions I would absolutely choose Rifle #1 in 25-06.

In my opinion it is with out doubt the better elk rifle due to the fact it allows me much more real world precision than Rifle #2. I would give up the very small advantage in Power Rifle #2 offers for the great advantage in real world precision Rifle #1 offers.

Could I take a bull at 400 yds with Rifle #2? Almost assuredly, but I would need more time and a better rest than the same shot with Rifle #1.

Would I have that time and rest available? Maybe and maybe not so I would not chance it.

What about you guys??