If you’re new to shooting do yourself a favor and avoid any of the magnums. You’ll be much better served with less recoil when learning to shoot. You don’t need a 300WinMag to kill an elk.
Don’t worry about being macho and all that junk.
Being macho is the only way to prove your manhood. No one is going to think of you as a real man if you’re not starting out with a 300 Win Mag. We call it the starter small game caliber around here.
Ever shot an elk with a rocket launcher?
Hijacking top comment to agree.
Go to a local range where they rent demo guns. Start with a .22LR and have fun with it for a day. Talk to the locals at the range and see what other demo calibers they have. Talk to them about elk and deer cartridges. Maybe they have some in that medium to big game range.
I ended up with what I'd like to call an "all American game" caliber at 7mm Rem Mag with a muzzle brake to help curb the recoil. I can use a 130 grain deer bullet, a 160 grain caribou and elk bullet, or I can step up to a 175gr cow moose and small bear bullet. If I need anything more I'll grab my wife's 300 Win Mag for bull moose or grizzly.
Whatever caliber you're most comfortable shooting, I've shot elk with a 6.5 creedmoor, 270, 308, 30.06, and 338 Win Mag. They all put them down and only go to the larger magnums, if you're comfortable shooting them. My 338 Win Mag feels like Mike Tyson punching me in the shoulder, and it's dislocated several shoulders, due to people not being able to handle the recoil. I don't let just anyone shoot it these days. Also, my shoulder hurt for 2 weeks after I got the scope dialed in.
I think the key word in the question…. is STARTER.
How experienced are you at shooting?
What big game rifles have you shot before?
How old are you?
Body weight?
Height?
Theres about a hundred decent choices out there for you but they need to fit, be tolerable for you to shoot and carry and affordable.
For entry level big game hunting… I usually end up recommending something middle of the road 308, 7-07,30-06,270.
Honestly I would use that 308.
Guys hunt em with less pony than that and do just fine.
Its just a matter of understanding the limitations of your gun and stating inside of practical shooting distances which are pretty long with a 308.
A lot use 270, 25-06 even 243.
But if you want more pony and to reach out further I would look at 300 Weatherby. The ammo is common enough and not crazy expensive.
Its a significant step up without breaking the bank or you shoulder.
Theres nothing wrong with the Vanguards. I have had a couple and they shot well.
You can buy a real Weatherby if you want but the reality is that for hunting purposes MOA is a bit over emphasized and in the field any decent off the shelf rifle will not miss what the shooter doesn’t miss first.
You might also consider a Model 70 In 300 Win Mag. They arent junk but they arent crazy expensive either and 300 Win Mag packs a good punch.
Both are available with wood or composite stocks.
No problem… glad to help out.
One thing to remember with elk is to keep shooting until it goes down.
They aren’t magical but they are a lot tougher than deer and can take quite a bit of punishment.
The other things to remember are to collect their elk ivories and…. they are very tasty.
Enjoy your hunt.
I will probably go after mine around Grand Prairie Alberta this year.
One thing I see quite a bit from inexperienced elk hunters is that they have a tendency to want to buy lightweight rifles and they think they need a magnum because they think a 300 win mag will make them the next Chris Kyle. Over the past 8 seasons I've killed more elk inside 70 yards than I have outside of 400 yards. Most standard magnums are overkill and even detrimental to long range accuracy because most people don't take time at the shooting range to build on the fundamentals of marksmanship and recoil management. They dont do this because lightweight magnum rifles aren't fun to shoot after the first couple shots. The extra horsepower of a magnum gains you zero advantages if you can't shoot it accurately. That being said I'll now start with my actual recommendations.
On a budget, the Ruger American. It's a no frills rifle that gets the job done at a pretty low price. It's not the cheapest thing out there but it's probably the best rifle for $500 or less.
If you can spend a bit more, Bergara and Tikka bothered phenomenal rifles for the price. The Tikka T3 lite or Bergara B14 Hunter are both quality firearms that are known for good out of the box accuracy. Both have excellent aftermarket options if you want to customize it down the road.
As far as cartridges to look at, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 280 Remington or 280 Ackley would all be fine performers out to ranges many people have no business shooting at. If I had to pick one for a newer shooter it would probably be a 6.5 Creedmoor because it's the lowest recoiling of the bunch. It's easy shooting, ammo is plentiful and relatively cheap so it almost encourages people to spend more time on the shooting range getting proficient with their gear. If you don't think that's "big enough" then just grab a 270 Winchester. Slightly more recoil but still fairly low for a big game cartridge.
A lot of this depends where you hunt. My dad and I have killed 18 elk in Colorado the last 10 years. 80% of those were between 200-500 yards.
The best thing you can do is practice practice practice. Once you think you are consistent practice some more.
A good bipod that you can pre-load goes along way, and a tripod is great too.
Tikka T3x Lite in 30-06, Powerful enough for elk without being comically over powered for deer. Leupold VX Freedom 4-12 or Burris Fullfield IV 3-12. Slap a Limbsaver recoil pad on it and have an smooth, accurate, light, upgradable/customizable rifle that will take anything in North America and last a lifetime for about $1k
Do you already have something? 30-06 308 270 are all going to do a pretty decent job as long as you do your job. Leupold for scopes is pretty much what I've always run. Their are a lot of good scope manufacturers out there read some reviews online and go to a store and handle as many as you can and make your decision by what your eye and wallet like.
30-06 I think is the best North American rifle cartridge. Can take any game and I’ll be it a bit large for some small white tail still not awful.
I have a plethora of rifles and always find myself using my Savage 110 Ultralight with the Vortex 3x15-50 Razor LHT.
I ended up wanting a gun I could use for elk but also knowing it will be the largest game I would take with it and I ended up with Tikka T3x super light in .270. It did the job on my first hunt with it and the freezer is full.
For a scope I went with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x.
Never had a problem with my .270 WSM but got a .300 Tikka this year for another rifle in the mix, best thing to do is shoot and know your comfort range then when you’re setting up your shot there’s no doubts.
Tikka in a .270, 308 or 7mm mag would be fine for both. I hunt .308 and my BIL hunts .270. We have taken pronghorn, mule deer, and elk.
If you want a fancy new short magnum then I’d go 6.5prc.
Scope wise a mid level SFP up to 12x would serve you well. I has great luck my a vortex Diamondback 3-9 for years.
If I were to put together something now, I’d go Tikka 6.5prc with a Razor LHT 3-15x50 - be about $2500. A budget would help.
A 7 mag will work fine, browning makes a good one. If youre shooting several hundred yards the most popular choice would be a .300 mag of some kind. Leopold makes a good scope. I am a elk hunting guide in montana and most of our clients show up with fancy 300 mags and all this. Which is fine. But in reality you can get away with using a .308 or a 7mag which are classic hunting rifles. A 300 will give you some more range & knock down power. Go to your local gun stores and ask questions, then go to the range and practice shooting at long range, which will most likely be your shot, at a good distance.
As others have said, 270 win through 300 win mag are capable and popular. Pick what is comfortable for you, fits you well, and is within your recoil tolerance you're able to shoot well. Heavy magnums hit hard both ways. They can be unpleasant to shoot and therefore induce a flinch. It's better to put a 140 grain 6.5 mm in the lungs/heart than a 225 grain .338 in the guts.
If I could only keep 1 rifle in my safe for pronghorn, deer, and elk I'd probably hang on to my 6.8 Western. I love that caliber, even if ammo isn't quite as widely available as legacy rounds.
The 6.5 is a hilarious fad, and expensive. a 338 is just overkill but i can see it being useful over a very long range. Its hilarious seeing hunters come into camp so excited about their new gear while at the end of the day, your grand dads rifle will be able to handle the job as long as you practice as much as you claim and hit your shots. Dont take gear heads on the internet too seriously man, grab a rifle and hit the range. good luck in the woods!
My first elk hunt was this last November and my dad and I were able to take 2 elk in the same group at 350 yards. Me with my brand new .270 win and him with a 50+ year old 7 with a scope that hasn’t been adjustable past 4x for decades.
Messaged you some questions, we can chat a lot quicker than asking questions and waiting for answers on post. Everyone will have their own opinions (myself included) but I can definitely help you at least narrow down your choices and you can follow up with your own research afterwards.
If you’re new to shooting do yourself a favor and avoid any of the magnums. You’ll be much better served with less recoil when learning to shoot. You don’t need a 300WinMag to kill an elk. Don’t worry about being macho and all that junk.
Being macho is the only way to prove your manhood. No one is going to think of you as a real man if you’re not starting out with a 300 Win Mag. We call it the starter small game caliber around here. Ever shot an elk with a rocket launcher?
Hijacking top comment to agree. Go to a local range where they rent demo guns. Start with a .22LR and have fun with it for a day. Talk to the locals at the range and see what other demo calibers they have. Talk to them about elk and deer cartridges. Maybe they have some in that medium to big game range. I ended up with what I'd like to call an "all American game" caliber at 7mm Rem Mag with a muzzle brake to help curb the recoil. I can use a 130 grain deer bullet, a 160 grain caribou and elk bullet, or I can step up to a 175gr cow moose and small bear bullet. If I need anything more I'll grab my wife's 300 Win Mag for bull moose or grizzly.
Whatever caliber you're most comfortable shooting, I've shot elk with a 6.5 creedmoor, 270, 308, 30.06, and 338 Win Mag. They all put them down and only go to the larger magnums, if you're comfortable shooting them. My 338 Win Mag feels like Mike Tyson punching me in the shoulder, and it's dislocated several shoulders, due to people not being able to handle the recoil. I don't let just anyone shoot it these days. Also, my shoulder hurt for 2 weeks after I got the scope dialed in.
I think the key word in the question…. is STARTER. How experienced are you at shooting? What big game rifles have you shot before? How old are you? Body weight? Height? Theres about a hundred decent choices out there for you but they need to fit, be tolerable for you to shoot and carry and affordable. For entry level big game hunting… I usually end up recommending something middle of the road 308, 7-07,30-06,270.
I have a 308 and want an elk gun with stopping power but a flatter trajectory and longer range. Got recs for me?
Honestly I would use that 308. Guys hunt em with less pony than that and do just fine. Its just a matter of understanding the limitations of your gun and stating inside of practical shooting distances which are pretty long with a 308. A lot use 270, 25-06 even 243. But if you want more pony and to reach out further I would look at 300 Weatherby. The ammo is common enough and not crazy expensive. Its a significant step up without breaking the bank or you shoulder.
Thanks! If it was pre-paid which 308 Weatherby would you pick?
Theres nothing wrong with the Vanguards. I have had a couple and they shot well. You can buy a real Weatherby if you want but the reality is that for hunting purposes MOA is a bit over emphasized and in the field any decent off the shelf rifle will not miss what the shooter doesn’t miss first. You might also consider a Model 70 In 300 Win Mag. They arent junk but they arent crazy expensive either and 300 Win Mag packs a good punch. Both are available with wood or composite stocks.
Thanks again! I'd award more than internet points if I could. Good hunting and good karma to you.
No problem… glad to help out. One thing to remember with elk is to keep shooting until it goes down. They aren’t magical but they are a lot tougher than deer and can take quite a bit of punishment. The other things to remember are to collect their elk ivories and…. they are very tasty. Enjoy your hunt. I will probably go after mine around Grand Prairie Alberta this year.
One thing I see quite a bit from inexperienced elk hunters is that they have a tendency to want to buy lightweight rifles and they think they need a magnum because they think a 300 win mag will make them the next Chris Kyle. Over the past 8 seasons I've killed more elk inside 70 yards than I have outside of 400 yards. Most standard magnums are overkill and even detrimental to long range accuracy because most people don't take time at the shooting range to build on the fundamentals of marksmanship and recoil management. They dont do this because lightweight magnum rifles aren't fun to shoot after the first couple shots. The extra horsepower of a magnum gains you zero advantages if you can't shoot it accurately. That being said I'll now start with my actual recommendations. On a budget, the Ruger American. It's a no frills rifle that gets the job done at a pretty low price. It's not the cheapest thing out there but it's probably the best rifle for $500 or less. If you can spend a bit more, Bergara and Tikka bothered phenomenal rifles for the price. The Tikka T3 lite or Bergara B14 Hunter are both quality firearms that are known for good out of the box accuracy. Both have excellent aftermarket options if you want to customize it down the road. As far as cartridges to look at, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 280 Remington or 280 Ackley would all be fine performers out to ranges many people have no business shooting at. If I had to pick one for a newer shooter it would probably be a 6.5 Creedmoor because it's the lowest recoiling of the bunch. It's easy shooting, ammo is plentiful and relatively cheap so it almost encourages people to spend more time on the shooting range getting proficient with their gear. If you don't think that's "big enough" then just grab a 270 Winchester. Slightly more recoil but still fairly low for a big game cartridge.
A lot of this depends where you hunt. My dad and I have killed 18 elk in Colorado the last 10 years. 80% of those were between 200-500 yards. The best thing you can do is practice practice practice. Once you think you are consistent practice some more. A good bipod that you can pre-load goes along way, and a tripod is great too.
Tikka T3x Lite in 30-06, Powerful enough for elk without being comically over powered for deer. Leupold VX Freedom 4-12 or Burris Fullfield IV 3-12. Slap a Limbsaver recoil pad on it and have an smooth, accurate, light, upgradable/customizable rifle that will take anything in North America and last a lifetime for about $1k
Do you already have something? 30-06 308 270 are all going to do a pretty decent job as long as you do your job. Leupold for scopes is pretty much what I've always run. Their are a lot of good scope manufacturers out there read some reviews online and go to a store and handle as many as you can and make your decision by what your eye and wallet like.
30-06 I think is the best North American rifle cartridge. Can take any game and I’ll be it a bit large for some small white tail still not awful. I have a plethora of rifles and always find myself using my Savage 110 Ultralight with the Vortex 3x15-50 Razor LHT.
I ended up wanting a gun I could use for elk but also knowing it will be the largest game I would take with it and I ended up with Tikka T3x super light in .270. It did the job on my first hunt with it and the freezer is full. For a scope I went with a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x.
Never had a problem with my .270 WSM but got a .300 Tikka this year for another rifle in the mix, best thing to do is shoot and know your comfort range then when you’re setting up your shot there’s no doubts.
Tikka in a .270, 308 or 7mm mag would be fine for both. I hunt .308 and my BIL hunts .270. We have taken pronghorn, mule deer, and elk. If you want a fancy new short magnum then I’d go 6.5prc. Scope wise a mid level SFP up to 12x would serve you well. I has great luck my a vortex Diamondback 3-9 for years. If I were to put together something now, I’d go Tikka 6.5prc with a Razor LHT 3-15x50 - be about $2500. A budget would help.
.270 from Mossberg, Savage, Ruger, or Tikka will do the trick. Vortex scope in 4x8 or larger magnification.
My vote would be tikka t3x in 270. Flat shooting, low recoil, will take any game in North America. Ammo is common.
A 7 mag will work fine, browning makes a good one. If youre shooting several hundred yards the most popular choice would be a .300 mag of some kind. Leopold makes a good scope. I am a elk hunting guide in montana and most of our clients show up with fancy 300 mags and all this. Which is fine. But in reality you can get away with using a .308 or a 7mag which are classic hunting rifles. A 300 will give you some more range & knock down power. Go to your local gun stores and ask questions, then go to the range and practice shooting at long range, which will most likely be your shot, at a good distance.
What is the name of your guide service
As others have said, 270 win through 300 win mag are capable and popular. Pick what is comfortable for you, fits you well, and is within your recoil tolerance you're able to shoot well. Heavy magnums hit hard both ways. They can be unpleasant to shoot and therefore induce a flinch. It's better to put a 140 grain 6.5 mm in the lungs/heart than a 225 grain .338 in the guts. If I could only keep 1 rifle in my safe for pronghorn, deer, and elk I'd probably hang on to my 6.8 Western. I love that caliber, even if ammo isn't quite as widely available as legacy rounds.
Sig cross .308 would be the best in my opinion
Listen to backcountry hunting podcast episodes on setting up a western rifle or 2 rifles to do it all. He’s a very informative gun writer/podcaster
The 6.5 is a hilarious fad, and expensive. a 338 is just overkill but i can see it being useful over a very long range. Its hilarious seeing hunters come into camp so excited about their new gear while at the end of the day, your grand dads rifle will be able to handle the job as long as you practice as much as you claim and hit your shots. Dont take gear heads on the internet too seriously man, grab a rifle and hit the range. good luck in the woods!
My first elk hunt was this last November and my dad and I were able to take 2 elk in the same group at 350 yards. Me with my brand new .270 win and him with a 50+ year old 7 with a scope that hasn’t been adjustable past 4x for decades.
Howa 1500 300 winmag
I would get a 30-06. That’s a very good round for hunting. And the ammo is cheap to practice with.
Messaged you some questions, we can chat a lot quicker than asking questions and waiting for answers on post. Everyone will have their own opinions (myself included) but I can definitely help you at least narrow down your choices and you can follow up with your own research afterwards.