BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[Keepitsimple]

I just bought a new rifle and scope. I got a great deal on a Brand New Zeiss on Ebay. It has all the same warranty features as a store bought at about 30% less price. They have a lot of Leupold too. As for a scope for an .06, you might want to check out Nikon. They have great optics at a fraction of the price, only reason I didn't buy one was the recoil shock of my rifle which was is much greater than an .06.

Model 700 Remington is a great gun. I bought the LSS, laminated stainless. Beautiful gun, very solid, I'll own it forever.

[bitmasher]

The '06 in Remington is a good choice. For bullet mass, 165 grain does the job for me, although Rather_Be_Huntin's suggestion on going for 180 grain is good too. As for scope, just go for something that you can comfortably make up to a 300 yard shot with (I'm assuming your going to be hunting open areas).

Depending on your comfort zone that may require more or less magnification. What the other guys have suggested should work great.

Keepitsimple, yeah there are parts of Colorado that steadily continue to be developed and yeah the Blue does seem to be busy quite a bit, especially towards the south end of Green Mtn Res. You should see the elevation of of the Reservoir now though, I have never seen it that low ever. The drought has really sucked a lot of water out of many of the reservoirs....

I hear you on the getting shack happy! :wink: Maybe getting out and doing some ice fishing would help?

[StalkingPrey]

Rather_Be_Hunting yeah it will be here in Oregon most likely somewhere in Eastern. My dad use to do a lot of hunting here in Oregon but since we moved away in 82 neither of us have had a chance to do much. I have moved back but he is still in Cali but is going to come up and hunt with my brother and I if we can get tags out of the draw.

Thank you for all the gun/scope combo suggestions. As my signature says I am in the proccess of getting my Upland game bird gun and hope to get a 30.06 sometime in the fall.

[rather_be_huntin]

I'm not sure what the terrain or hunting conditions will be there in Eastern Oregon. The reason I ask is you should buy a scope to handle the conditions in your area. If its fairly flat you'll want low power cause you'll have to get close to game. If you were hunting here in the Rockies you want a good high power scope for long shots. But at any rate if you get a variable 3-9 power scope that should cover just about any hunting you do for the rest of your life. Most of em you can change in a second with a quick adjust to any conditions. I almost forgot, if its real humid up there make sure the scope you get is real fog proof. Been in that boat one too many times.

[ This Message was edited by: rather_be_huntin on 2003-03-10 14:10 ]

[StalkingPrey]

I believe that is the scope my Father uses but I will be sure to check into it more before I purchase. We have some very brushy area's out here but I do not plan to hunt in them if I can avoid it.

[harv3589]

The 30-06 is an excellent choice for elk and as for the Remington 700...it is an awesome gun. I just bought a Rem BDL stainless/synthetic 7mm mag and put a Leupold VXII 3x9 on it.

Another choice for elk would be the 7mm mag, it works really good and gives you alittle more range than the 06 but in exchange for that it has more kick to it.

[rather_be_huntin]

My elk gun is a 7mm mag and I love it. I handload 175 gr partitions and it is excellent for elk even out to 400yds. I used to use a 30-06 for elk its nice but I like 7mm better, just more range.

[jsalas68]

I hunt Elk with a 264 Winchester Magnum hadloaded with 140gr hornady Interlock ahead of 65 grains of MAG-PRO and the freezer is filled

[donmillion]

I have to say that I think a .264 Mag is too small to recommend to someone who is trying to decide on an elk rifle. That's not to say, however, that I don't think YOU should be using it!

The thing is this, if you need a recommendation, then it means that you don't have a whole lot of experience with either elk hunting or the particular rifle in question. For those people a .264 is just not enough rifle.

Anyone who can ethically hunt elk with a .264 mag isn't going to be asking for recommendations on a board like this. They will KNOW their rifle, their abilities, and their own limitations. They will make their own decision and not need to ask.

The minimum caliber for someone who needs to ask, in other words, should be more than the minimum caliber for someone who doesn't need to ask.

[rather_be_huntin]

Well said donmillion.

[HuntorDieHunting]

I agree with the 270 guys for the minimum cartridge size. Unless you reload and are an awful good shot with smaller bullets. My personal preference is a Ruger No. 1, gray and black laminate stock, stainless, in a 300 Win. Mag. with a 4.5 x 14 x 50mm Leupold. It also has factory target turrets installed and a four inch sun shield, and a few other amenities. 180 grain Nosler Partitions using Reloader 22 powder. Chronographed loads and dead-on set at 500 yds. One shot on every elk I've taken.

[ This Message was edited by: moderator on 2003-04-06 18:38 ]

[jb5]

I usually just take a quick scan of the posts to see what's happening out there - but this one is worth commenting on ( for what my comment is worth ). Having outfitted in the mountains of Colorado the last 15 years ( I just retired ) and dealt with the results of wounding animals - which sometimes involved tracking for days, I would recommend the 30.06 or larger for elk. Practice has been stessed, and should be, but the many variables in the field often result in less than perfect shots. A cartridge such as the 180 will provide some forgiveness. Over the years I saw the favorite in calibers for elk go from the 30 06 to the 7MM and in recent years the 300 mag is rapidly becoming the gun of choice. Personally I still use the same 30.06 I've used forever and generally do not shoot beyond 200 yards ( after all part of the hunt can be getting closer to the animal and shooting/bagging an animal is not the whole point of the hunt - this is another subject! ). Placement and size of cartridge are important but foot pounds of impact at distance is just as critical. Also, for those of you on a budget, the 30 06 is a very good deer rifle with a 150 grain cartridge.

[Britt]

I found a Rem. 700 stainless steel synthetic stock, topped with a Leaupold 3x9 in 7mm Weatherby at the local pond shop for $400. So they are out their for good deals if you are patient.

[swollen tongue]

Minumum cartridge on elk.... .270
minumum I.Q. ............... 90

[dino]

what good is having a magnum if you cant shoot it well? alot of people go out and buy a gun because they hear that its the flattest and hardest hitting ect. but if you cant shoot it strait what good does it do you? I think that a .270 will take care of everything in the western united states without a problem whatsoever. I have seen elk deer caribou moose and other things taken with one shot and dropped solid to the ground. I got asked a question by my father once, What is the least expensive thing that you take on your hunt that could cost you the most? After several minutes of wrong answers he told me, the wrong bullet. if you shoot a cheap bullet your going to loose an animal. a well constructed bullet in the vitals of an animal will kill. period. and if your not certain that your rifle will kill at a long distance, actually hunt the animal and get closer!!!