Back up elk gun

flexj · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 03:45 PM

Ok...headed to Colorado for an elk hunting trip in a few weeks. I have pretty much decided that I should shoot the 300 win mag for my primary gun. I can't remember exactly the name, but it is something like winchester power point or something like that in 180gr. I know this is a good round for elk, and am confident with the performance of this round in my gun. Here is my question...

I want to take a backup gun because...well...you never know what might happen in the mountains, and I would hate to be stuck up there with a gun that wont work or that gets broken somehow. My backup gun choices are .270, 30.06, or 7mag. I am comfortable shooting all of these, but I don't know which might work on an elk better. What do you guys think?

#2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 04:03 PM

all would be a good chioce but i think i'd go with the ol' 06 say 180gr. the 160 gr 7mm mag would be great also. alot of elk have been killed with the 270. jack o'connor used nothing but. if you were to nail me down to one i'd go with the 7mm mag

flexj · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 04:20 PM

hmm. that's probably a good choice...and the only one with a stainless barrel. That's probably the one I'll take. I would love to take my .270, but I would hate to abuse it up in the mountains. It is nothing special, but has been with me for a long time...killed my first deer with it. I don't really like the 30.06...don't know why, but I just don't like it that much. 7mag is fine, no major probs with it.

On a side note...I ordered a Leupold RX - 1 range finder today...anyone have input about that thing?

#4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 05:04 PM

i know i said the 06 and then said the 7mm mag but thats how much of a toss up it is. weight and how quickly it handles are also factors to think about. if i were going i'd be in the same quandary. but my primary would be my 338 win mag. its an 03A3 bored out to 338 syn stock timney trigger and pentax lightseeker. lots of whack and quick handling. back up??????????????? 7mm mag or 338 rem ultra mag but probably the 7mm. sorry got nothing on the leupolds

onehorse · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 08:45 PM

I agree with ronn on this. I kill elk here in Montana, and of the choices you mentioned , which are all more than adequate, I'd go with the 7mm as a back up. I agree with your first choice - that 300 is an elk killer for sure!

flexj · #6 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 03:48 PM

I heard it snowed in Colorado. Heavy in spots. I wonder if this will get the elk moving down early? Anyone follow the elk patterns and know what these early snows do to their travels?

onehorse · #7 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 06:19 PM

Early snows, in themselves, don't change things much as far as elk are concerned. It takes a lot of snow to get the bulls especially to move to lower elevations. Something else to consider is how much grass is at those higher elevations. In years that have dry springs and summers, elk may move down earlier after it starts snowing simply because they have eaten most of the grass at those higher levels.

Hunting Man · #8 (**permalink**) 09-23-2009, 06:39 PM

I hunt around the Eagle, Colorado area and like onehorse said sometimes it takes a lot of snow to move the bulls down if they are up. But, we've camped at 11,000 ft only to find they had moved lower to 8000 ft and no snow to move them? Feed had to be the reason. We've also gotten hit with snow storms which aren't too cool so be careful and watch the weather. No matter what a lot of leg work is needed to find where the elk are.

joel the signman · #9 (**permalink**) 09-24-2009, 05:14 AM

sounds like a lot of work and a lot of fun hope ya have a great time.oe of these days.........i'll get out there

Hunting Man · #10 (**permalink**) 09-24-2009, 05:32 AM

whichever is your lightest weight rifle is the one I'd carry, all the calibers you mentioned would work.