Putting together my Elk rifle

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Putting together my Elk rifle

Posted: 1/15/2015 2:12:55 AM EDT

So the wife and I hit 12 years together tomorrow and what did she get me? The start to my Elk rifle... The optic.

Here's my planned build:

Scope: Nikon BDC 3-9 x 40 (damn this thing is beautiful!)
Rifle: Browning X-Bolt composite stalker in either 300 WM or 300 WSM, not sure yet.
Mount: Browning X-lock, just not sure if I need the Low or Medium.

What do you think?

Posted: 1/15/2015 3:09:54 AM EDT

[#1]

Sounds good, I used to have a lot of disdain for short cartridges, but the .300 wsm has been around long enough to now be a mainstream cartridge.

I'd go with it, if you reload it's cheaper on the wallet and is more than ample for elk. With a 40mm objective I think low rings would be gtg.

Where I was elk hunting this year in the Avery area of ID, I was using a 2x7 scope and was in woods so thick that I never turned it up past 3x.

Posted: 1/15/2015 3:13:58 AM EDT

[#2]

Appreciate the input!
Where we hunt it's wide open so shots are taken out to 600 yards. I'll be keeping mine well under that until I get experience.

Posted: 1/15/2015 8:28:17 AM EDT

[#3]

I have no experience with the WSM, but I do shoot a 300WM at elk sometimes. The WSM has a lot going for it,
particularly if you reload. Check ammo cost wsm vs wm. I get ammo for my wm for 20/box that goes into an inch and lays elk out. Std. 300wm can be found anywhere ammo is sold, IDK about the wsm.

Either one will be a great choice, and that rifle should too. Get the scope as low as possible and buy top quality rings. The scope on my 300 landed on the range bay when it broke free from the shitty rings under recoil.
It was a used ruger 77 with a cheap weaver/ring combo. I put a zeiss on with leop. steel rings and it has not moved in years.

The 300 gets left in camp most of the time anymore, pretty rare that I end up with any shots over 100, so I usually carry a 308AR or 45/70.

Motivational pics:

And coming soon to a roadside near you, CO DOWs ROBOELK>>>DO NOT ENGAGE!!!

Posted: 1/17/2015 3:46:13 PM EDT

[#4]

Here's my ultimate go anywhere shoot anything (lower 48) rifle

Winchester Model 70 Stainless, 300 WM, probably a fluted barrel, all the metal Cerakoted gloss black
McMillan "Winchester Express" stock, in a 'Dark McWoody' swirl pattern
4-12 Huskemaw scope

That rifle, in my opinion would be the cat's meow, look as nice as walnut and bluing but tough as nails.

Posted: 2/27/2015 5:56:43 PM EDT

[#5]

Im goint later this year on my dream elf hunt and will be taking my 1903A3 sporter with 4-12 leo rifleman scope. Will be going to the smith for low profile safety, recrowned and maybe bedding. Its accruate as is but we are making dreams come true here!

Posted: 2/28/2015 12:51:15 AM EDT

[#6]

Will .300wsm kill a roboelk?

Love the .45-70

Posted: 2/28/2015 1:41:38 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
Will .300wsm kill a roboelk?

Love the .45-70

View Quote

It got pretty exciting. Stopped to take a pic of robo , and after the 3rd pic DOW came out guns drawn.
Had about 4 rifles unloaded in the back seat, since we had hit the range in rifle earlier.....they seemed pissed and refused to get a pic of me kissing robo.

Posted: 3/20/2015 10:12:50 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

It got pretty exciting. Stopped to take a pic of robo , and after the 3rd pic DOW came out guns drawn.
Had about 4 rifles unloaded in the back seat, since we had hit the range in rifle earlier.....they seemed pissed and refused to get a pic of me kissing robo.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Will .300wsm kill a roboelk?

Love the .45-70

It got pretty exciting. Stopped to take a pic of robo , and after the 3rd pic DOW came out guns drawn.
Had about 4 rifles unloaded in the back seat, since we had hit the range in rifle earlier.....they seemed pissed and refused to get a pic of me kissing robo.

LOL no sense of humor with them guys

Posted: 3/20/2015 10:33:45 PM EDT

[#9]

Beautiful animals! Congrats OP.

I've got a 7mm hand me down from my dad that is my elk gun. Can't compare to 300wsm, but congrats nonetheless.

Posted: 3/22/2015 1:39:16 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Beautiful animals! Congrats OP.

I've got a 7mm hand me down from my dad that is my elk gun. Can't compare to 300wsm, but congrats nonetheless.

View Quote

Thanks! Taxes came in and I bought a Browning X Bolt synthetic stalker, got medium mounts and a Nikon scope. When I get it together I'll post pictures.

My wife was ecstatic when I told her I expected it to pas me a good 20 years worth of hunting.

Posted: 3/22/2015 8:54:24 AM EDT

[#11]

What part of WA are you hunting and what is the light transmission on the Nikon?

I know you already bought the scope but my advice from someone who hunts Central and Coastal OR. Get Something that gets at least 98% light transmission. You will hunt a lot of tree lines and draws that get dark fast. You need every bit of light transmission you can get to see an elk against a dark tree line.

Posted: 3/22/2015 9:24:32 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
What part of WA are you hunting and what is the light transmission on the Nikon?

I know you already bought the scope but my advice from someone who hunts Central and Coastal OR. Get Something that gets at least 98% light transmission. You will hunt a lot of tree lines and draws that get dark fast. You need every bit of light transmission you can get to see an elk against a dark tree line.

View Quote

I hunt elk in Eastern WA around Ellensberg, lots of wide open spaces.

Posted: 3/27/2015 12:44:19 AM EDT

[#13]

got it together... just need to shoot it.

Posted: 3/27/2015 1:15:23 AM EDT

[#14]

Niiiiice

Posted: 3/29/2015 12:46:05 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
got it together... just need to shoot it.
<a href="http://s66.photobucket.com/user/2T2_Crash/media/Weapons/5F540AAF-CB49-468C-9E7E-BBC76D05D47D_zpsqm7xts4m.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h246/2T2_Crash/Weapons/5F540AAF-CB49-468C-9E7E-BBC76D05D47D_zpsqm7xts4m.jpg</a>
<a href="http://s66.photobucket.com/user/2T2_Crash/media/Weapons/458BDB3A-F655-4613-9B85-43B29435CD91_zpsnjnhdnac.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h246/2T2_Crash/Weapons/458BDB3A-F655-4613-9B85-43B29435CD91_zpsnjnhdnac.jpg</a>

View Quote

Nice looking Rifle OP.

Get back to us with a range report.

Posted: 3/30/2015 6:33:12 AM EDT

[#16]

Nice pics DVCR,

What distances have you been successful with the 45-70? I have a stsinless GG with a 1.5-5X Leupold

Lj

Posted: 3/30/2015 4:19:38 PM EDT

[#17]

Nice rifle, OP. Which caliber did you wind up with? .300 WM or WSM?

Just a note about wide open, 600 yard shots...

Last fall I went on my first elk hunt. Day 1, I scored on a runner 40 yards away. Day 2, my grandson (age 13) scored at 448 yards (lasered by his dad.) Moral: even in wide open country, you could spook one bedded down. Make sure you're ready for your "short game", too. Keep that scope on 3x when you're moving. If its a 600 yard shot, you'll have time to dial up the power and adjust for distance.

Posted: 3/30/2015 5:31:44 PM EDT

[#18]

I went with the .300 WM

Posted: 3/30/2015 6:59:59 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Nice pics DVCR,

What distances have you been successful with the 45-70? I have a stsinless GG with a 1.5-5X Leupold

Lj

View Quote

My long shot with that 45-70 was a lasered 180, and I had an Eotech holosight then. Can't recommend that sight for that app though. Too high over the bore.

I currently keep it dead on at 75 and can shoot to 175 w/o holdover. 2x leo. mounted.
I really think if I had a reticle made for my load, it could be a 400 yard gun with the proper holdover marks.
The wind hardly moves a 405 gr bullet out to 300.

Posted: 4/2/2015 5:50:50 PM EDT

[#20]

Gotta love Brownings!

I love mine. 2.5 inch groups at 350 yards last time I took it out.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Putting together my Elk rifle

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