User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 2:30:13 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
So I'm headed out to a Late-Season (last week of Nov) Bull Elk hunt in AZ (7E - peaks around Flagstaff but mainly flat) This hunt will be cold and at high altitude. Generally through thick junipers and pinion. I was thinking of a 12" SOCOM for quick shots in the forested areas and it's lightweight for toting around. I can use a Grendel too. To give my shots a little more legs if need be. What would you say? .30-06 Why would you even ask? |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 5:14:37 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
.30-06 Why would you even ask? I'm not buying another gun just for this hunt. Shots are under 200 yards. Why not 338 LM?... Thanks for adding something constructive. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 5:18:38 PM EDT
[#3]
I have a Grendel and would feel pretty comfortable with a 200yd shot in most cases.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 8:55:00 PM EDT
[#4]
Personally out of those 2 I would use the Grendel.
Have you been to that area before and hunted it? I ask as you may think all your shots are close then before you know it you see a nice bull on the other ridge 400 yards away. I have hunted terrain like that in NW Colorado several years ago and shot a decent bull, in the scrub oak you could take a 50 yard shot but you climb any elevation at all and you could easily take a 4-500 yard shot. I hunt with a .308 with a 2-8 for aspen stands and thick forest, and use a .300 wm for long distance late season elk hunting. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 10:52:54 PM EDT
[#5]
200 yards or less I would take 450BM. Hand load some Barnes 275gr TSX. More than accurate enough, plenty of energy and the TSX is tough enough for good penetration.
ETA: I can't read. 458 SOCOM would be equally valid. I would take a big bore AR over a 6.5 Grendel AR for Elk. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 11:06:33 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Because I have the two aforementioned cartridges already. I'm not buying another gun just for this hunt. Shots are under 200 yards. Why not 338 LM?... Thanks for adding something constructive. Everybody should have a .30-06 hunting rifle. It's the American way. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/10/2017 11:59:15 PM EDT
[#7]
Neither is a great choice @ 200. If those are the only choices...?
You may gain an edge with a flatter trajectory from Grendel. Giving you an edge on shot placement. If you are supremacy confident in ability with the .458 then go .458. Double the mass @ POI with 1000ish Ft/Lbs of energy I believe will give better results with the right bullet. Especially if shot placement does not go as planned. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/11/2017 7:00:45 AM EDT
[#8]
If you don't want to buy a rifle I'd try and borrow something if I could; neither would just fill me with confidence. Reading another board and posts from guys on there who have a good number of elk under their belts they all recommend heavier rifles.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 6/11/2017 8:34:06 AM EDT
[#9]
If those are your only two choices, then I'd be using the .458 SOCOM for anything within 150yds and the Grendel for anything past that.
Or, as other posters have stated, I'd buy or borrow a legitimate hunting rifle. Normally I'd suggest a .270, but with bigger tougher game like elk why not get the extra oomph the .30-06 provides with heavier bullets? Hell, you could probably find a good used one at your local pawn shop for a couple hundred bucks. |
|
|
|
Posted: 6/14/2017 10:02:04 PM EDT
[#10]
I carry a 18" 6.5 Grendel. I hunt moutains in CO, dark timber above 9k feet. Most of my shots have been inside 100m, but have yet to get opportunity to kill with the 6.5.
My coworker kills elk every year with the grendel using berger hybrids. Shots are in the vitals under 300m. Do it and post results. I will do the same. Good luck! |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/31/2017 8:55:13 PM EDT
[#11]
You decide which one yet OP?
If forced to choose between those two calibers I would pick whichever rifle weighs the least. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/31/2017 9:41:40 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You decide which one yet OP? If forced to choose between those two calibers I would pick whichever rifle weighs the least. Anticlimactic I know. Sorry. I might pack the SOCOM for shits and gigs though. |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/1/2017 11:23:40 AM EDT
[#13]
Borrowing a WM is a good call. Just get some practice in with it to be sure you are comfortable. One thing I can tell you is in elk hunting anything can happen. you bring the 458 and you get a standing broadside shot at 300. You bring the 6.5 and you get a thick brush shot at 15 yds. It never fails.
I have shot elk with guns ranging from 7mm-08 through 45-70. At ranges of 2 yds to 325 yds. For me two guns come to mind when I think of elk hunting, 6.5 C and 300 wsm/wm. I prefer a flat shooting round that I can thread a bullet through holes in thick stuff over a heavy "brush busting" round. Good luck! |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/27/2017 12:22:38 AM EDT
[#14]
Interesting options.... I saw you post about borrowing a 300WM, good idea. The Socom would be a badass close range rig tho. There are some great bulls in GMU 7E, just going to have to work for them. A lot of the bulls will probably be on the north end of the peaks in the juniper flats if there is a lot of snow pack on the peaks. I saw a good number of 320"+ bulls last year. I haven't been up there since tho, but I am sure there is still a good quantity of bulls.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/18/2017 3:24:17 PM EDT
[#15]
Grendel would be plenty 300wm will be better.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/18/2017 3:33:54 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
300wm would be plenty Grendel will be better. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/18/2017 3:34:19 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have a Grendel and would feel pretty comfortable with a 200yd shot in most cases. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/18/2017 3:55:44 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Fixed Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
300wm would be plenty Grendel will be better and 6.5 creedmoor the best. |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/19/2017 2:15:02 PM EDT
[#19]
I'll hopefully let you know how 6.5g w/ 123sst does this weekend on a bull
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/19/2017 3:31:27 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'll hopefully let you know how 6.5g w/ 123sst does this weekend on a bull |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/19/2017 6:47:24 PM EDT
[#21]
Now y’all are just teasing me. Maybe I’ll drag all 3 with me.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/28/2017 2:21:17 PM EDT
[#22]
I killed a 6X6 with the Grendel 14October. 123gr SST. One shot. Double lung, heart, and exited out the spine. Shot was 25 m. He moved approx 20m before he piled up.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/28/2017 2:34:07 PM EDT
[#23]
I had my 12" .458 as my elk gun this year. Zero reservations about any shot inside 200 yards. I loaded up some Lehigh Defense bullets, and could comfortably hit moa at 200. We weren't successful, but i will continue to use my .458 in the future for my bush/closer distance elk rifle. It's a damn amazing round!
 Attached FileI love this build!  Attached File |
|
|
|
Posted: 10/28/2017 2:48:04 PM EDT
[#24]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/9/2017 10:36:42 AM EDT
[#25]
Ended up toting a 338 Win Mag around.
Hard hunt, came up empty handed. Temps were WAY above normal and it was exceptionally dry. Game warden said there were 2/3 less in that zone than a couple years ago. Still had fun running around Northern AZ.  Attached File |
|
|
|
Posted: 3/17/2018 7:44:53 AM EDT
[#26]
Another reason why I love the 30 Rem AR.
IMHO its the only AR15 cartridge that is an honest big game cartridge out to 350 yard. Pushing a 150gr accubond @ 2650fps, mimics the tried and true 300 Savage, which gained popularity as one of the greatest all time hunting cartridges in its era. |
|
|
|
Posted: 3/19/2018 2:02:52 PM EDT
[#27]
After having taken an elk with an 18" 308, I really think 308 is on the light side for elk. Doable, sure. But on the light side. 6.5CM has better sectional density, but would lump it in the same class as 308. I wouldn't try a grendel. 458 SOCOM, if you can keep your shots inside of 75 yards. 458 bullets slow down FAST.
Elk are very big critters. You probably don't want to be tracking one for miles. Especially when you consider that might mean you packing out 400-900 lbs of elk for several miles further than you had planned. I'd recommend using something bigger, something than can anchor an elk with ease. 300 win mag or bigger with heavy for caliber bullets, solidly constructed. |
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
Attached File