Perfect Rifle?

[avboiler11]

Just a question, I am a .308 nut, and a .243, is a necked down .308, would that take an Elk, at 300 yards ?????

Yes it would, with a quality bullet like a 100yd Partition. Is 243 generally considered 'undergunned' for elk? Yes, it is.

Some folks think elk require a 300WM shooting 200gr bullets...but the reality is a 223 with a 70gr Barnes would be just as effective at 300yd provided the person puts it where it needs to go (ie. heart/lung or CNS and not shoulder). After all, plenty of folks kill elk each year with a bow...

 

[John Galt]

Maybe an AR in 6.5 Grendel? Seems like it would fit most of those criteria. Being able to be built on a small frame would keep the weight down as compared to an AR10 variant, with the right parts it shouldn't be too hard to get it down to 7.5 with a scope and meet all the other criteria as well.

I am searching for a POF in 6.5 Grendel. I think this would be the "prefect" gun and if anyone sees one for sale, give me a shout!

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Just a question, I am a .308 nut, and a .243, is a necked down .308, would that take an Elk, at 300 yards ?????

Absolutely.

[video=youtube;hY0w1c-gf18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY0w1c-gf18[/video]

Remember what the OP said:

5. Caliber capable - not ideal, but capable - of taking an elk at 300 yards

I don't think *I* would be comfortable with that shot, but its certainly capable in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Pretty impressive group from a .45-70. My Marlin would shoot closer to 30 inches at 300 yards, even though it shot tennis ball sized groups at 100 yards. What kind of rifle fired those groups?

Ruger #1 single shot. I ran across it on a handloader web site when I was doing some research on rifles.

 

[ssdoug]

The Remington 742&760 are great guns . I own both in .308&30.06 but their not what I would call recoil friendly.

 

[sig1473]

Ruger #1 single shot. I ran across it on a handloader web site when I was doing some research on rifles.

I believe the OP was looking for a gun that wasn't a single shot or bolt action. So once again, show me some proof of a 45-70 shooting 1.5 MOA @ 300yds

 

[metaldog]

How about a Remington 742 Carbine in 30-06? Weighs in @ 6.5lbs. Tough to find one though. Always wanted one.

Inherited my fathers 742 in .30-06 cal. Love this rifle! Not for sale... now or ever.

How's the reliability of that model?

Very reliable, and accurate too. Dad sighted the 3-9x42 scope w/BDC out to 500 yds. Watched him take out a rabbit (trial shot) at 250+/-yds. after it was zeroed in. Great rifle!

 

[dross]

I think I've narrowed it down:

Possibility 1: Winchester 94 in 307 Win. Meets all criteria - reloads only, of course. Accuracy reports vary.
Possibility 2: 6.5 Grendel upper - light for big game - and overpriced at the moment
Possibility 3: Remington 740 or 742, or 750. I've had one of these that jammed and their reputation is for malfunctions, which I despise. If I knew I had one that was solid reliable, it would be perfect in 270. I love the handling and the weight, and the accuracy is just fine.

Runner up: Savage 99 in 300 Savage or 250 3000. Again, though accuracy reports vary.


Thanks for all the input and feel free to keep going.

 

[avboiler11]

Possibility 3: Remington 740 or 742, or 750. I've had one of these that jammed and their reputation is for malfunctions, which I despise. If I knew I had one that was solid reliable, it would be perfect in 270. I love the handling and the weight, and the accuracy is just fine.

I'm tellin' ya, a 7600 is yer huckleberry...

 

[maxmayhem]

m14 or m1...i know thats mine...you could look into variants in 30-06 or 308

 

[sig1473]

I would tell you a big "MAYBE" on a M1A Socom. I have one and weighs in @ 8lbs stripped in my VLTOR stock. Putting in a fiberglass stock will cut down on the weight. Mounting a scope could be a problem getting the weight up and also 1.5 MOA is tough to achieve with my 16" barrel.

 

[sloughfoot]

I reject the notion that a bolt action or single shot are not players in this field. Your standards are not realistic. I challenge your assumptions. Watcha going to do about it?

A Ruger No 1 in the caliber of your choice is the ideal in my opinion. 30.06 would be good.

That is your answer for all points except for your unrealisitic first one.

 

[kludge]

1. Not a bolt action or single shot
2. Accurate to 1.5 MOA or better
3. Carbine - less than 40 inches OAL, 36 inches or less would be ideal
4. Low recoil
5. Caliber capable - not ideal, but capable - of taking an elk at 300 yards
6. Aesthetically pleasing
7. 7.5 lbs or less with scope

#1 makes #3 difficult. #7 makes #4 coupled with #5 difficult.

For 40" you can get a .358 Win in a Browning BLR Lightweight. That's right on the edge of being a 300 yard elk cartridge at 6.5 lbs. For less recoil, the 7mm-08, but again, probably even a bit less potent at 300 yards than the .358... But it's a stellar 400 yards deer cartridge... but so is the .358 Win... however because of the trajectory I would limit it to 300 yards regardless of the game.

For 42" you can get a 7mm WSM or .270 WSM in the same package. Recoil takes a step up however.

I would not be shooting at elk at 300 yards with less than a 7mm something, and definitely not the .250 or .300 Savage.

A .284 Win in a Savage 99 - NOW yer talkin'! (but $$$$$)

 

[kludge]

I think I've narrowed it down:

Possibility 1: Winchester 94 in 307 Win. Meets all criteria - reloads only, of course. Accuracy reports vary.
Possibility 2: 6.5 Grendel upper - light for big game - and overpriced at the moment
Possibility 3: Remington 740 or 742, or 750. I've had one of these that jammed and their reputation is for malfunctions, which I despise. If I knew I had one that was solid reliable, it would be perfect in 270. I love the handling and the weight, and the accuracy is just fine.

Runner up: Savage 99 in 300 Savage or 250 3000. Again, though accuracy reports vary.


Thanks for all the input and feel free to keep going.

1. How about a .356 Win instead? On the other hand, besides the .284 Win, the .338 Marlin Express was the best thing to happen to lever action rifles in the last 100 years. But good luck finding any. It's a shame really.
2. 6.5G is a non starter for me for elk. I like my bullets to pass through.
3. My dad had one in .30-06. Now my brother has it. Meh. Might be for sale if you want it.

 

[Rob377]

1..
2. 6.5G is a non starter for me for elk. I like my bullets to pass through.
....

It can apparently do that. Mark LaRue (the guy that makes all the nice AR goodies) took his 6.5 Elk hunting.

Elk ! ! Pics pg. 2 & 8 !!! LaRue's Great American Safari - Page 2 - AR15.COM

 

[avboiler11]

2. 6.5G is a non starter for me for elk. I like my bullets to pass through.

A 129gr SST @ 2300fps (easily obtained from a 16" Grendel according to AA) has roughly 950ft/lb energy @ 300yd; a 125gr Partition @ 2350fps has 925ft/lb.

Definitely less energy than the general consensus for elk, and certainly wouldn't be my first choice for that quarry...but a modern bullet shouldn't have trouble with a through-and-through at that range unless one tries to anchor with a shoulder shot.

Besides...you can always skull'cap em

 

[kludge]

Exactly, 950 ft-lb is a good for a deer cartridge. I'm not saying it *can't* do it, and that some people haven't been successful, just that if I were spending money on a rifle knowing it will be used for elk, it would be a cartridge that can do the job in less than ideal conditions/positions/shots presented.