Favorite Rifle/Caliber For Elk
 

I live in an outdoorsmans paradise here in WY. I'm an avid bowhunter, and that's easily my preferred method to take elk (which I was blessed with almost three weeks ago). But I have also hunted elk with my rifle when bow season comes up zero. The rifle of choice has been my Tikka T3 Hunter in .300WSM. But.....it has always kicked like an angry mule, and after coming from the range with a sore shoulder (again) it's now on the sale block. I plan to replace it with something a little less likely to jar my fillings loose, but still big enough to confidently take a bull. I would love input/suggestions on what you all have or use and why.
Time to go grab another ice pack.......

Maybe this will help;

http://elkhunter2.tripod.com/


However, there are many ways to "manage" recoil....................

If you want lighter and elk capable you're probably talking .308 or .30-06 (or 7mm Rem mag, or whatever caliber people will be annoyed I didn't mention). Perhaps the two most standard rounds in North America. If you're really recoil adverse you might make .270 and a few others work, but it's not ideal.

There are ways to minimize the sore shoulder. Shooting more, hooking up with someone who reloads for reduced recoil rounds (perhaps cheaper than factory ammo), recoil pads, etc. Really look at the possibility of a recoil pad before the expense of switching rifles.

I'd say don't dump the rifle unless you get a good deal for it that works for you. Switching stocks or adding more weight to the rifle may help. I've seen situations where a .308 with a straight stock hurt more than a heavier .300 WM with a different stock.

Two suggestions: #1: get a .30-06 #2: shoot the .300 WSM less frequently. It only takes one shot to down an elk. One shot, when your shoulder is padded by a shirt and a parka over the shirt, isn't going to make your shoulder sore. If you are wanting to get the .300 WSM zeroed in on a target, buy a recoil pad that you can strap on your shoulder -- that is going to be a lot cheaper than selling the .300 WSM and buying a new rifle.

By the way, while the .30-06 will shoot with less recoil . . . it still has a recoil. I shot my Remington model 700 ADL .30-06 at the range a week ago. 15 shots. My shoulder was sore for a couple of days -- low grade level of pain, but it was noticeable pain. This is a pretty light rifle, which tends to transfer more of the recoil to the shooter's shoulder.

My goto gun has allways been a 1964 vintage Sako in .300 H&H has a bit more power than a 30.06 and is perfectly suited for the wide open sagebrush filled canyons that I hut elk in!
prety easy on the shoulder also!!

If a .300 WSM has too much recoil for you, you might want to stick to bow hunting.

There are many ways to manage recoil and it shouldn't be an issue at the range ever. Get a Lead Sled or something similar and even a monster gun will have no significant recoil at the range.

The limbsaver recoil pads really help out as well, my 7mm Rem Mag has a limbsaver recoil pad and it has significantly less percieved recoil than my friends .270 winchester that just has a metal plate on the end of the stock.

There could be a problem with the way you are holding the rifle when you shoot or something.

New recoil pad...

lighter loads, 165gr/150gr TSX...

could have it ported, but not a big fan.

once it's sighted in though, you'll never notice kick in the field...

add weight/mercury recoil reducer...

Thanks for the input guys!

Before getting into muzzleloaders. I hunted with a Winchester 70 30-06. 150gr for deer, and 180 gr for elk.

It had some recoil, but I only noticed it at the range. Never felt a thing while taking a shot at game.

My go to gun is a Winchester Model 70 in a .30-06. I shoot Federal Premium 180gr Barnes TSX bullets. A deadly combo and the recoil isn't bad at all. I have it topped with a Swaro 4x12x50.

I love this gun!

7mm Rem. Mag. Good luck.

Instead of getting rid of your rifle I'd look at a muzzle brake.

I like this one myself:

http://www.muzzlebrakes.com/Default.aspx

I shoot a .300 Win Mag myself and consider it a great elk caliber. Another option is this:

http://graco-corp.com/products/model-number-gc15r

Put the Graco and a Vais on and your .300 WSM will shoot like a 7mm - 08.

Biker

My feeling is that if you have to use recoil reducing gizmo's on a rifle, your shooting to much cartridge. In every cal from the 6.5's up are really good cup and core bullet's that will do exactly as you need in standard cartridges. My last two elk were killed with my 6.5x06 and 140gr Hornady's and if there's another it will be with my 6.5x55. The secret is in the choice of bullet. If velocity is the Holy Grail to you, I can't help you. Men used to kill elk very dead with round lead balls.

We still do. ;)

I use a 338 Remington Ultra Mag. and a 375 H&H Magnum for elk. You need to get out and practice more. I go shooting about 30 times a year. When I shoot my 30-06 or 270 Win., they don't even kick. Do alot of practice with your 22, real cheap and helps alot when that time comes to pull the trigger.

I have a buddy that had a 300 win mag that kicked like muley hunter (have to see a pic of him to understand that statement), he put a muzzle brake on it and now it kicks like a .243. But it is loud as hell now. I have only killed 1 elk and that is the one on my avatar, i had my ruger 7mm rem mag with handloaded 150 gr nosler partitions, it was a 75 yrd shot and he only went one direction and that was straight down.

.308 winchester model 600 is a great one

Prolly taking the 300RUM this year, plus the wife and her 300win. Will be covering some forest fire recovery area. If we go back to the thick woods next year, the 45/70 is going with me.

I have a .300 WM that kicks like h3ll too. I wanted to sell/trade it off until one day at the local gun shop the guy said exactly what another poster said here, "it only takes one round to kill the critter you are after". So with that I now you a shooting sled and small ratchet straps to secure the rifle in the sled when sighting it in. Once I think I have it sighted in I shoot three rounds and if it is acceptable, that is it, I put it away until I head out hunting. It is a very, very accurate rifle (Rem 700 Classic) and I am so glad now that I didnt get rid of it.

Chief

I shoot a very similar rifle as the original poster...except a Sako Finlight in a .300 WSM caliber. Does it kick, sure, but not to the point that I'd ever think about selling it. It's a real tack driver.

This past week I took this bull with an uphill 376 yard shot. I was shooting Winchester Supreme Elite 180 grain bullets. He dropped in his tracks and you can see the exit hole in the photo...good stuff!!