Lanse couche couche

I am looking to buy a centerfire rifle that needs to be very versatile. Over the years it would be used for coyote, eastern whiteail deer, and eastern black bear. I like the idea of a Ruger #1 25-06. HOWEVER, I may have an opportunity to do some Elk hunting in Colorado. What do you veteran Elk hunters think about it? Would the 25-06 be too light. I used to think so,but then again, i have recently seen hunting shows where they are shooting Elk with muzze loaders.

stubblejumper

I killed my first elk with a 257wby so the .257" bullets will kill elk.However you must pick your shots much more carefully than with the larger calibers.My own preference for hunting elk is at least a .284" bullet.

Wolf killer

The 25-06 is a great deer/antelope/varmit rifle. If you are set on buying the 25-06? Buy it you will love it. If you do buy the 25-06? Buying a second rifle for elk hunting. My elk rifle recomendation list starts out at 30-06 & goes up in size. I personally use a 300-win mag for elk hunting.
My #1 elk rifle pick would be a 300-win mag.
My #1 deer rifle pick is a tiebetween the 25-05 & 270-winchester.

AK Jeff

When I was just a young buck I watched my father kill anice bull elk with one well placed round from a 25-06. That said I wouldn't really recommend it for elk, unless you are very proficient with it. Elk are incredibly tough (much more so than even moose) and can take a lot of lead to put down. I'd say that a .270 Win. or WSM would fit the bill much better for both your eastern hunting and your elk excursion. If you plan on hunting elk more often I'd say bump up the caliber. .300 Win Mag is great elk medicine, but isn't terrible overkill for smaller big game.

AK Jeff

Lanse couche couche

What is the weight and kick like with a 300Mag? The biggest guns I have ever handled and fired were the M-14 and M-1 Garand.

AK Jeff

It depends entirely on what brand and stock configuration you plan to go with. Wood is generally heavier and therefore reduces felt recoil more. I currently shoot a stainless/synthetic [fairly light] Ruger M77 MkII in .300 WM and I love putting rounds through it. A great feature of any .308 caliber rifle is the huge variety of bullets available. I can load 110 grain Hornady V-max for predators, or top of with 220 grain Nosler Partitions for interior grizzly bears. There's an absolute myriad of bullet choices in between those as well. .257 and .277 are much more limited in the variety of bullets available. The last elk I shot with a rifle took three rounds from a .270 Win without going down. My partner handed me his .300 Win Mag (my magazine was empty) and one round from it put the bull down hard. I haven't taken the .270 hunting since. That and I live in Alaska now and I'm slightly further down the food chain motivated me to stick to my .300.

AK Jeff

BareBack Jack

Lanse,
I'm a very big fan of the 25-06 been using one for years,you have to very picky with it when it comes to elk.It will work and work well with good bullet placement.I gave one to my nephew 2 years ago(Ruger #1) along with 3 boxes of handloaded 115 barnes-x bullets with the advice,use only for elk.He shot a cow this year at 235 something yards,one shot through the lungs.But on the other hand I lost a bull a few years back,my fault.Picked a bad shot and took it(Don't need anymore Manboy aruments here).So it's a crap shoot on a all around varmit,deer,antelope,elk,bear,moose gun.If I had to pick just one I would take a 30-06 it works all the way around from 55 gr-to-220 RN.
But why have just one,buy the 25-06 enjoy the piss out of it and if and when the time comes buy another rifle.

Now Jeff no offense here but one quote you are a .270 fan and 'It should fit the bill" then your a 300 winne fan come on stick with oneflavor of Ice cream here.
Just kidden around.
Any thing from 280 rem to 458 win mag will work,just find one that fits.I use alot of uper end 300,338 and .35 cal magnums for most of my elk hunting.But I have alot of others in between for gophers to Elephant.
BBJ

PaRu

Kicks like a mule but only when you are target practicing i never know the shot when i shoot at a elk or deer, i use a 300 win mag and it does great.

AK Jeff

Guess I'm notJack O'Connor. The .270 is a great round, I just haven't had any use for it since I left the Big Sky State. If I was going back to MT to hunt antelope or whitetails it'd be great medicine. Then again if I was going back to MT foreither of thoseI'd probably use my bow.

AK Jeff

txhunter58

Is it possible to humanely kill an elk with a 25-06. Sure.

Would I take a 25-06 on an elk hunt, no.

I own a 25-06, and you should too, but get an elk gun if you decide to go elk hunting.

Just my opinion.