Elk season is coming fast. I'm going to have to stop pouring money in to my truck and get a new Elk rifle. My old Rem 700 .30-06 is still fine but I want something that will reach a little further with more punch downrange.

I've been looking at a couple different calibers, .300 WSM & .270 WSM. As well as many others but these are the finalists. The .300 WSM would probably be the obvious choice. However, I could use the the .270 WSM for deer and elk. Damn, both are just excellent rounds.

This year I'm elk hunting in Oregon. I do most of my hunting in Oregon and Montana so you know what I'm dealing with. If you've never hunted these areas its fairly common to have 300 yard shots. I think the rifle I plan to get is a Winchester model 70 Super Grade.

Im undecided--any thoughts?

Stu

 

Man i envy you hunting the wide open spaces and good luck to you. I think a 300 win mag will reach out far and wide. This is the first year we are being allowed to hunt with rifle, we have been limited to shotgun only so i look forward to this season. I will be using the old reliable 30.30 marlin and with shot mostly under 100 yards it will be usefull... Can i come hunt with you???? I'll be good and i'll bring beer...

 

I live and hunt in Idaho. I've used both guns, but prefer the .270, both guns are excelent choices in my opinion. The last few years I hunted black powder but will hunt general season this year.
I will use A .280 rem. 700 this year as I broke the stock on my .270 and won't have it fixed by hunting season this year.
Let us know what you get and how it works out for you.

 

Are you guys on the night shift too? I really didnt think I'd hear from anyone tonight.

I'm really torn. I think I'm gonna get the .270 wsm. Its just more versitile. Damn, the .300 would put an elk down right now though.

Decisions...

 

Yes i work the night shift....

 

Buckdropper and I are the after hours regulars.

can't help with Elk hunting opinions, but I do happen to own a 270 WSM. I'm a browning fan myself. The 270 WSM is a heck of a round. Overkill for what I hunt here in PA (unless I someday win the lottery for one of our handful of elk permits). I originally had a full sized .300 Win. Mag., but with my spine problems, it was too heavy to lug around anymore. So I scaled down to the 270WSM and have been nothing but happy ever since. I wanted to scale down, but still wanted to be able to take down an elk easily. It fit the bill for me. I've got an A-Bolt II with the BOSS tuner/brake combo. Anyway, you're looking for caliber opinions, not brand opinions. My buddy has the exact same gun as I in .300 WSM. Only real difference between the two as far as hunting versatility goes is in bullet availability if you shoot factory ammo. The .300WSM factory loads tend to have bullets designed for elk/bear, while the .270 loads are a lot easier to find something more apropriate for deer as well as elk.

One thing about the short mags, with the shorter barrel and receiver, you get a much lighter gun. This is great for carrying, but not so hot for range shooting. A muzzle brake is a necessity for range shooting IMHO. Mine I can remove and replace with a non-ported weight so my gun shoots the same whether it's braked or not. That way, I can shoot away at the range, and I switch the tips when I hunt so I don't go deaf (learned that the hard way)

I've never hunted an elk, but I think with the right bullet, the 270 WSM would be more than capable, but would be better suited for deer than the .300WSM.

 

i am sure either caliber would be good- i have a ruger M77 stainless light weight/ mountain rifle type with the 20 inch barrel in the old reliable 30/06 and love it. I think it comes also in the 2 calibers u mentioned and with the stainless steal and synthetic stock is a great allweather rifle and easy to carry. weight about 7 lbs with 3x9 scope and sling. have had great luck with our rugers- i highly recommend them.

Dan.

 

Well, since I grew up hunting elk in Eastern Oregon, I'd have to say go with the 300. Personally the 30.06 would do fine as long as you aren't trying to hunt the canyons. It is nice though to have a gun that will knock an elk off it's feet. I've seen too many of those things run right to the bottom of the nearest canyon because they didn't go down right away. One of the guys I used to hunt with (my dad still hunts with him) uses an 8mm magnum. That SOB will knock both the elk and you down. The 8mm magnum is not very popular and expensive to get ammo for though.

 

LOL
Alright I have to know... HOW did you break the stock?

I've only busted one stock, I was coon hunting, the coon was we thought already dead. I had it chained to my back and was packing it throu the woods when it came back to life. LOL (You dont know fun until you have a mad coon gain consiosnes while on your back. It's just trying to get away and 5 dogs are trying to get to it! Your in the middle of this delima...) I threw it on the ground my dad and our buddies held our dogs back and I emptied my rifle into it's head. It was still breathing and so it wasn't dead yet. So I turned the rifle around and beat it's head in. I busted a nice nylon stock in the process.

Edited to add:
Of coarse it was just a cheap hunting .22 so when we got back to the trucks. I just wrapped it up with duck tape and thats how I used it for 2 more seasons.
Yes sir, I am a certified born and raised hillbilly!

 

The short version, I wrecked on my 4 wheeler antelope hunting

 

eww hate to hear that...

 

Have you considered the 7 mm WSM? The intermediate choice.

 

First off, do you handload? Second, why all of the short mag hype? If you are dead set on one ok, it’s your call. In know they are a little faster on paper but in the field there is not much of a difference. If you handload there is no difference. Take the 7mm Mag, factory ammo is not loaded to maximum potential for this round. A handloader can easily load up this cartridge a 100-200 fps and not exceed maximum pressures. Which have been decreased from when the cartridge was originally introduced for no apparent reason. The short mags have no capability in reserve. As an added benefit, the full length cartridges are more readably available and often cheaper.
As for a long range elk rifle, I would go with the 7mm mag. This fits nicely between the .300 and the .270. Loaded with light bullets (150 and down) it will work well on deer. Loaded with heavy bullets (160+) it is set for elk. Just my $.02.

Joe

 

I'm trying to avoid the short mag craze, but someone has to keep the ammo companies in business. LOL The new .325 WSM is pretty much a short fat 8mm round FWIW. If you hand load you'd be set. The .270 is neat, but you can just as easily shoot a deer with a .300, (I know a number of people who do) and still be good to hook for elk. If all else fails 'buy both'!

 

I don't hunt, but I own a 7mm Remington Mag; it hits hard on both ends, and with the right bullet, I don't see why it wouldn't ruin an elk's day quick, fast, and in a hurry. Plus 7mm RemMag ammo and loads are probably more common than the Wizzums.