Elk gun
 

Looking at going elk hunting next year. At the present I have a 270 winchester. Thinking about getting a new gun (can always use another). I'm not recoil shy, but don't want to be pounded while shooting to get familer with the gun either.Any sugestions,Thanks

RE: Elk gun
 

CD,
I would look at the 300 Win Short,300 Win Mag,or .338 Win mag.These guns do have some kick to them but not as bad as one would think.I would stay away from the Ultra Mags they kick more and are a little much for some.
I like mine but to put 10-15 rounds thru it tend to get my shoulder sore.

RE: Elk gun
 

I just bought a remington ADL 300 win mag and put one of those limbsaver butt pads on it. It sure worked. I shot a box of shells yesterday siteing it in and shoulder feels fine. all id had ever shot was my 270.

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a 7mm mag or a 300win mag would do good. if you go browing you could always get a boss if the recoil was to much.

RE: Elk gun
 

After I got a bum shoulder, I made a recoil pad just to use at the range. I just took a piece of denim and made a pocket and left the top open. I put a piece of soft foam rubber inside along with a piece of stiff indoor outdoor carpet. When I am shooting at the range off the bench in warm weather with just a T shirt on, the pad soaks up every bit of the pain part. While hunting with my hunting jacket or something heavy then the recoil does not bother me at all. The pad isn't thick enough to bother the eye relief or position of the gun off the bench. I like to think I am a bit smarter than that junk of wood that bangs the hell out of my shoulder. It might not look macho but it feels darn good. If you shoot well then your 270 is plenty of gun for Moose and elk. However there is nothing wrong with a new rifle either. Now if I can convince my wife of that I am in clover:D

RE: Elk gun
 

Just a different thought------I would use the 270 & take the money & buy a GOOD pair of binoculars. Like a pair of Swarovski, Leica or Ziess.

Your 270 will take any elk. The binoculars will last forever & are a HUGE advantage in glassing elk country. Not to mention all your future hunts. Cost about the same when you add in the cost of the rifle, scope & mounts.

But IMO the classic elk cartridge is the 300 Win Mag. But with that said I've used the 30/06 for over 20 years & never had a problem. I'm also sure I could have subed the 270 & been completely satisfied.

RE: Elk gun
 

Colorado Bob I like the way you think. I have killed elk in the past with my 270-winchester. My "go-to" gun for elk hunting today is a 300-win mag.
With all of the quality bullets on the market today, the 270-winchester will work as an elk rifle. If I were going on a one time elk hunt I would use the 270 & quality bullets.

Good luck,

WK

RE: Elk gun
 

I agree , take your .270 Winchester. It WILL kill elk. But hey a reason for a new gun is always good :D

RE: Elk gun
 

good post on add-on recoil pad. I also made an add on recoil pad - not as nice as this one, but it worked OK. I did it just because I didn't want to train myself to flinch.

I just use a piece of pipe insulation. The tubular foam insulation (usually dark gray or black) that is split lengthwise to fit over water pipes. Comes in various inside diameters (I use the widest), and the foam is about 1 inch thick. Just cut a length of this to fit over the butt of your gun. The lengthwise split allows you to fit it over the butt and it just stays in place. This works OK for firing at the range but would not stay in place in the field. Unless you added the elegant touch of ..... duct tape!

RE: Elk gun
 

Just use a good premium bullet and your 270 will work just fine. A really good set of binoculars or a really nice scope are a much better use of your money than a new gun in this situation.

RE: Elk gun
 

If I wanted a new rifle, that has slight recoil for Elk, other than my 270.

I think I would look into useing a 7 mag. With a heavy 175 gr bullet you wont be disapointed. It will do the job on just about anything in the US.

I have taken game from whitetail to Oryx with it.

That would be MY first choice.

hunter338.

RE: Elk gun
 

Having another rifle is just like and extra piece of cherry pie can't get enough. The 270win is sometimes underrated for larger animals but it does it's job everytime. Just like anyother caliber with a decent shot placement.

I use just four main rifle out of my collection, the 270win, the 300win mag, the 375h&h and the 22-250. The rest sit in the safe until I go play at the range. hmmmmmmmmmm a new hunting caliber. I'd have to go with something I'm totally unfamiliar with like a 50bmg. lol.

I think a 300win mag might appeal to you if you want to step up alittle on the 270win in the power class. But its totally not neccesary.

RE: Elk gun
 

Thanks for the help,I'll see what shoots best from my gun.

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I have to agree with the others that have posted responses. I would use the 270 and stoke it with premium ammo/bullets. There are any # of controlled expansion loads for the 270. To name a few, Nosler partition, swift A-frame, fail-safe, Barnes-X, & others. I would use 140 gr as a minimum weight and 150 would be preferable.

On the other hand if you want a new rifle I would look to the 300 Win. Mag. or the 300 WSM. Out of these I would fire a premium load in the 180 gr. class. Buying a 30 cal will still require good shot placement to take an elk. If you buy a new rifle practice and become proficient with it before you take it hunting.

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300 Win Mag with 180 gr Nosler Partitions.

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Dont listen to all the guys saying how great an elk cartridge the 270 is, it is not a great elk cartridge. It is barely ADEQUATE for elk, but is adequate. Colorado bob said he used an 06 for twenty years w/ no problems and I'm sure he did, but if he had used a 270 he would have ran into problems at some point. Especially considering the bullet choices offered twenty years ago. If your only going to hunt elk a few times, then get premium bullets and use your 270, if you plan on going often or for other larger than deer sized game go w/ a 7rem mag or 300win(or an 06). All are a significant step up on the power end and recoil is still not off the charts.

RE: Elk gun
 

I used a 270 to harvest 2 bull elk and 2 bull moose so it will suffice. However like mentioned the right bullet for the job is required (like a NP, Failsafe, Barnes X, etc in the 140-150 gr size) and might I add restriction must all be applied with a 270 and tougher game. This means distance and angle of shot taken. If one can do these then the 270 will certainly be adequate for your elk hunt...if not you should be honest with yourself and look for a bit more umf. 7mm mags or 300 wins are not a huge jump in recoil and will give you more options in distance, shot angles and bullet choice. I use 160 gr premium bullets out of my 7 rem mag and haven't had a single problem arise with any elk or moose I have encountered.

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I dont know about the 270 being barley ADEQUATE. And the hype about premium bullets is overrated too i think. I jsut got back from a hunt where i took my 270 win and i shot a 6X6 at 390 yds, no lie, we checked with a rangefinder. It wasnt a perfact broadside shot, he was going away, but i hit him in both lungs and the spine, the bullet lodged next to the skin on th far side, making a huge mess of his chest cavity. And the great thing was, i was shooting the cheapest bullets one the market for the 270. 150 gr Remington Core-Loks. They shoot great out of my gun and i saw no reason to try the expensive brands.

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sharpshot - sometimes its better to be lucky than good:D. if you broke his spine a223 would've put him down.

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I dont know that the 50 gr bullet of a 223 would have done the job. If i would have hit an inch lower i would have missed the spine and just got the lungs, the only differance would have been we wouldnt have found the bullet. He was still a very dead elk. The 270 has the same ballistics with a 150 gr bullet as the 300 does with a 180 gr bullet. It puts very nearly the same size hole in the lungs or other places. The only place that i could see it mattering is if you shot it in the shoulder. And yes i think at the long range then it would probably break the shoulder and maybe get one lung, but not both. But that is called shot placement. If you miss it doesnt matter what gun you use.

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Um I am not sure how you came up with this but at 400 yards(the distance you shot) the 300 win using the same bullet but in 180gr vs .270 in 150 gr ballistics (approx.). 150 gr .277 is travelling 600 FPS slower, has 1000 less Foot lbs of energy & 6"in drop. That ain't what ya call basically the same!!

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I am running a 7mm with 165 gr nosler parts. I have only taken one elk with it but at 250 yards breaking both shoulders and exiting i am quite confident it will do the job. Its a top notch elk cal in my books. My bro picked up a .300 that has been collecting dust at his place, I am thinking of beg, borrowing or stealing that off him for a season to see what it has to offer.

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RE: Elk gun
 

I follow Colorado Bob's thinking. Most people seem to agree a .270 is enough, so a good pair of binoculars would probably be more useful. But I would never turn down adding another gun to the collection. A .300 win. mag. or WSM would probably be my choice, don't think you could go wrong either way. If your going to step up, these would probably be the way to go. A 7MM has a good bit more power, but not a lot bigger bullet than the .270. A .300 has a good bit more power and bullet.

The .300 WSM's take a little weight off the gun and potentially offer a little faster follow up. Something to consider if much hiking is planned. Ballistically, it is about the same, although it uses less powder. This is supposed to lessen recoil. On the downside, ammo is a little more limited and more expensive (right now, anyway). The way I look at it, what's ten more dollars compared to what I would have to spend on the rest of the elk hunt?

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just a quick reply on the recoil asspect. my wife refuses to shoot my ruger 7mm rem mag but loves to shoot my dads 300win short mag which is shooting nearly the same weight bullet (162 gr 7mm to a 165 308). if you decide to buy a new gun go with the 30 cal.imo