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Hunting & Fishing Help me choose my Elk rig for this season..

3-0-hate

Captain Nimcompoop
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 13, 2011
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Lost in Idaho...
I have 3 to choose from. A big part of me wants to just roll with my pre-64 Marlin 336 in .35Rem.. But if my shot is more than 150 yards, I probably won't take it with that rifle.

The other two are an accurized R700 in a KRG Bravo and the third is my Browning X-Bolt in 7mm Mag. I know I can get it done with a 178ELD-X in the 308, but a big part of me is telling me to leave the 'cool' guns at home and just take the X-Bolt..

One bonus of the R700 though, is I would get to hunt suppressed. No such luck with the X-Bolt as it sits.
 
Super easy spot to get to. The 7mag is 7.5lbs. The .308 is around 11lbs. 11lbs is definitely not unreasonable for this hunt. The main draw for the .308 was the suppressor, honestly.
 
Where are you hunting? Idaho? Colorado, New Mexico? And even within those states, the terrain will provide different opportunities. If you are going to be within 200 yards, or if you are climbing some serious elevation, I'd focus more on weight. If you are going to be shooting beyond 200 yards, or shooting across valleys, I would factor into my decision the cartridge and rifle that will provide accuracy and enough kinetic energy for an ethical kill.

The Colorado Dept. of Parks and Wildlife suggests a minimum kinetic energy of 1,000 ft/lbs for whitetail deer, and 1,500 ft/lbs for elk. Your bullet also needs a minimum velocity of 1,000 feet/second for proper expansion. In my hunting journal, I made a chart of the velocity and kinetic energy for each of my common calibers and loads, .270 Win with a 130 grain Sierra Game King, 30-06 with a 180 grain Nosler Partition, etc., at 100 yard intervals. Then I know the effective range for ethically taking an animal with that rifle and cartridge. With my .270 Win., I can ethically take an elk out to 300 yards, but I wouldn't want to go to 400 yards. My 30-06 will reach 400 yards no problem. Then, I consider the terrain I'll be in and the opportunities it will present. When I'm up in the Colorado White River National Forest, those shots are all over 200 yards, but it is a lot of hiking and elevation gain. If I'm hunting deer, it is always the .270 Win. as I can reach out past 500 yards and it is lighter. If I'm hunting elk and there is a chance my shot will need to be beyond 300 yards, it's the 30-06.

You have roughly the same calculations to make between the 308 and the 7mm Rem Mag. All of that being said, there is something awesome about hunting suppressed, but the X Bolt will be lighter and have more than enough kinetic energy all the way out to 500 yards (or more), which gives you the best of both worlds--lighter weight and greater range. Hope that helps.
 
Thread the 700, maybe chop a couple inches off the barrel if you’re going to continue shooting it suppressed.
 
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The Colorado Dept. of Parks and Wildlife suggests a minimum kinetic energy of 1,000 ft/lbs for whitetail deer, and 1,500 ft/lbs for elk. Your bullet also needs a minimum velocity of 1,000 feet/second for proper expansion.
I like your energy suggestions but what bullets are you using that'll expand reliably at 1000 fps??
Everything made by Hornady or Berger requires at least 1800 for good expansion, I know Barnes LRX are rated down to 1500, cutting edge lazers and ABLR'S will expand down to 1300.
Point being make sure you check for each specific bullet before you send it
 
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Where are you hunting? Idaho? Colorado, New Mexico? And even within those states, the terrain will provide different opportunities. If you are going to be within 200 yards, or if you are climbing some serious elevation, I'd focus more on weight. If you are going to be shooting beyond 200 yards, or shooting across valleys, I would factor into my decision the cartridge and rifle that will provide accuracy and enough kinetic energy for an ethical kill.

The Colorado Dept. of Parks and Wildlife suggests a minimum kinetic energy of 1,000 ft/lbs for whitetail deer, and 1,500 ft/lbs for elk. Your bullet also needs a minimum velocity of 1,000 feet/second for proper expansion. In my hunting journal, I made a chart of the velocity and kinetic energy for each of my common calibers and loads, .270 Win with a 130 grain Sierra Game King, 30-06 with a 180 grain Nosler Partition, etc., at 100 yard intervals. Then I know the effective range for ethically taking an animal with that rifle and cartridge. With my .270 Win., I can ethically take an elk out to 300 yards, but I wouldn't want to go to 400 yards. My 30-06 will reach 400 yards no problem. Then, I consider the terrain I'll be in and the opportunities it will present. When I'm up in the Colorado White River National Forest, those shots are all over 200 yards, but it is a lot of hiking and elevation gain. If I'm hunting deer, it is always the .270 Win. as I can reach out past 500 yards and it is lighter. If I'm hunting elk and there is a chance my shot will need to be beyond 300 yards, it's the 30-06.

You have roughly the same calculations to make between the 308 and the 7mm Rem Mag. All of that being said, there is something awesome about hunting suppressed, but the X Bolt will be lighter and have more than enough kinetic energy all the way out to 500 yards (or more), which gives you the best of both worlds--lighter weight and greater range. Hope that helps.

the .308 will get me to 600 yards with 1340ftlbs and 1841fps.

the 7mm mag will get me to 975yards with 1191ftlbs and 1820fps.

the .35rem will get me to 275yards with 1061ftlbs and 1546fps.

I don’t plan on taking a shot longer than 400 yards and the plan is to be within 200... how that works out, well...


What’s the minimum diameter to thread for a can? Safe to thread a 7mag to 1/2x28 and just bore out the QD mount?
 
I would pick the 7mm, unless you live out here and are shooting 1000 yards every day and hitting pie plates with every shot I'd stick to under 600.

I live in elk country and don't have time to get my skill there, the winds here are killer. Most days we have winds above 30 mph.

Weight is the biggest factor.
 
My vote is 7mm with NAB.

Sometimes you don't get the perfect shooting angle, so I lean a little more toward a bullet with more "substance" for those off angle shots.

However, only you can judge when to pull the trigger.
 
I have 3 to choose from. A big part of me wants to just roll with my pre-64 Marlin 336 in .35Rem.. But if my shot is more than 150 yards, I probably won't take it with that rifle.

The other two are an accurized R700 in a KRG Bravo and the third is my Browning X-Bolt in 7mm Mag. I know I can get it done with a 178ELD-X in the 308, but a big part of me is telling me to leave the 'cool' guns at home and just take the X-Bolt..

One bonus of the R700 though, is I would get to hunt suppressed. No such luck with the X-Bolt as it sits.
Get Browning with 150gr Barnes LRX. Cool guns are cool till you start hiking with them.
 
Pounds are pain, and Elk are tough critters. Take the 7MM. I also like the Barnes LRX, but shoot what works from your rifle.
 
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I have grampas 35rem that will make it out soon. I would go with the 7mm depending on where you hunt.
 
I actually settled on the R700 .308 with 165gr Sierra Tipped GameKings. Its a bit heavy, but I'm not hiking more than 2 miles in and I really REALLY want to hunt suppressed.

Half way into load development with the 165 GameKings and things are looking promising, as long as I keep my shots 500 yards and in.
 
LEAVE the 35 rem at home. in a closet or wet basement. 46 years ago I was shot with a 35rem. , thru the car door of a 70 camaro and into me from less that 100 yds. thru the rib cage, missed the heart and stopped against the spine. 10 days in the hospital , and out. maybe it should have been used as a club. lol
 
LEAVE the 35 rem at home. in a closet or wet basement. 46 years ago I was shot with a 35rem. , thru the car door of a 70 camaro and into me from less that 100 yds. thru the rib cage, missed the heart and stopped against the spine. 10 days in the hospital , and out. maybe it should have been used as a club. lol
Finally some first hand testimony in one of these “which cartridge” threads.

For the rest of the thread, can we limit the responses to only the guys who have been shot by one or more of the cases in question.

PS - All those guys who have said, “deer never know the difference...” Well, you’re wrong.
 
Marked this thread as I am in exactly the same boat, my standby 7mm WBY mag or the new Beraga HMR? The 11 pounds scoped compared to 8 ish of the WBY. I’m thinking of loosing 10 pounds and wearing light weight boots and carrying very minimal gear on my back- still be easier than humping the M249 SAW and full combat gear. Guess I could take both and if 11ish pounds is to heavy I could switch to the more conventional hunting rifle.
 
Marked this thread as I am in exactly the same boat, my standby 7mm WBY mag or the new Beraga HMR? The 11 pounds scoped compared to 8 ish of the WBY. I’m thinking of loosing 10 pounds and wearing light weight boots and carrying very minimal gear on my back- still be easier than humping the M249 SAW and full combat gear. Guess I could take both and if 11ish pounds is to heavy I could switch to the more conventional hunting rifle.

Strap one to your pack and go for a long walk around your neighborhood. The next day, strap the heavier one on and do the same. If you can live with the weight difference on the second day, then you will be fine on the first.

Granted, this doesn't take into account terrain and elevation, but it will help make the decision a little easier to come by. At least it did for me.
 
LEAVE the 35 rem at home. in a closet or wet basement. 46 years ago I was shot with a 35rem. , thru the car door of a 70 camaro and into me from less that 100 yds. thru the rib cage, missed the heart and stopped against the spine. 10 days in the hospital , and out. maybe it should have been used as a club. lol
Bonnie and Clyde would probably disagree with your assessment of the .35rem... It helped kill them dead just fine.
 
How many time were they hit? I have always said that it Doesn't hurt to get shot! BUT it hurts like hell to get well !!!!!