300 wsm is nice and same with teh 7mm rem mag. they will both get it done. 300 win mag is also a good choise.

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If I was gonna get a ruger (nice gun) for elk and mulie hunting i would get the belted 300 win mag. IMO it is a great cartridge for that rifle and for the game you speak of. Good luck

I have seen some elk in there that will curl your toes..I mean outright monsters and of course I had a bow in my hands and they were just out of range. At the time I saw them I figured on a 338 being the perfect rifle for something of that size. I would go with the heaviest caliber you can shoot 300 wsm with 180 partitions or 300 win mag or a 7 mag will do the trick but I like the first 2 in that situation. An STW would be nice as well but your not going to find one in a Ruger unless I am really mistaken ..maybe a number 1 you will. Good Luck and let me know how you made out.

I agree with everyone, that is a great price on the Ruger! I own one of the MarkII's and I absoulutely love it!! I have one in .280 and by far the best rifle I've ever owned and I've had some decent production rifles. Calibers I believe are personal preference as they have all killed deer/elk, but i'm sure you'll love it. I paid $465 for mine 7 or 8 years ago.

Ruger in 280.

I would like to thank everyone for their comments--I bought the 7mm wsm yesterday (had to order it) and I should have my hands on it some time this week. I'll report back after taking it to the range.

Oldelk,
I sent you a message

Well HillBilly if I would have know he we are talking about chasing elk and I didn't even know you needed a gun.
I just sold a winchester m-70 300 WSM with scope for $325.

What kind of glass are you putting on it?

P.S. Did you buy it from Capital Sports?

1st choice - full-size .300 Win. Mag. 2nd choice full size 7mm Rem. Mag.

Nothing wrong with the .338 Win. Mag. either if you plan on shooting a LOT of elk as well as big mulies.

thanks to everybody for your help and am happy--more like ecstatic to report that got my hands on the m77 7mmwsm yesterday went to the range with the cheapest shells i could get--win 150 pps-gun performed great--went back to the range today with federal acubonds 160gr five out of first six shots cut the holes--absolutely could not believe it--had less than an inch of paper to move the crosshairs until i was where i wanted to be--over compensated a couple of times-cut three more pairs of holes along the way. by the end of the box had it dead solid perfect with three holes touchin each other--still can't believe it --never had a rifle shoot that good. Thank you for your support--there is more shootin to be done--it was too much fun.