Ok so looking forward in the next few years, I am wanting to try my hand at doing a little more than whitetail hunting. I use a 243 and a 308 religiously hunting deer and hogs. But I am thinking I need to upgrade to a larger cartridge. Not looking to shoot 500 yds but if the need arises would like the ability. Main thing for me is having a clean and humane kill which I know with a 308 and me doing my part I would be fine.

So as far as new rifles go what are the best options? Under $1000 preferably. Tikka, weatherby, or Remington 700? Calibers? 30-06, 270, 7mm, 300 win mag? What do you guys think?

You'll only get about 20 different answers on this...

.308 is all you really need, but what's the fun of elk hunting if you can't do it with a new toy?

I'm partial to my .300WSM and have elk and a number of mulies under it's belt. Versatile flat shooting round.

$1000 inclusive of glass?

The WSM family in my mind are perfect elk cartridges with 270 WSM being my go to.

I've shot everything but an elk with my 280. Wouldn't hesitate one second on using it. Kind of like my 300 WM that I've been using the past two years. Dropped two mulies with it so far.

I would take my 270 wsm and either 140 gr Trophy Bonded Tips or 150 gr Nosler Partitions, if I was going after elk.

Tikka .300 Win Mag.

Friend of mine got one, on my advice. I worked up a load for it with 210's. Sledge hammer of a mass produced rifle.

270 win. Or 3006. 150 - 180 grain. JMO?

A friend lives in Colorado. His whole family hunts elk very successfully with 243's. Dad hauls a 300 Win Mag because of a bear encounter a few years ago in the first season.

Your 308 with Barnes 150's will be fine unless you just want something new.

Invest the funds in a quality scope and binos - and a gym membership.

I'm with jeffbird. Buy the best bino you can afford, and keep the .308 unless you just want something new, and that's always a good enough reason. I've been to Africa 4 times, and every time there has been another hunter with me using a .308 with Barnes TTSX or Nosler partitions. It makes quick work of plains game up to eland size with good bullet placement.

As many have said, the 308 is a great caliber for what your looking for unless your looking for a new rifle. Out of the three gun manufactures you mentioned, I experience with two. Both the Tikka and Remington 700's have served me well.

I have killed Mule Deer in Texas and Alberta along with Red Stag in New Zealand with 130 grain out of my .270. I have a .280 now that I am using on Mule Deer here in Texas. Pick a caliber that you like to shoot, along with the right bullet and then put that bullet were it needs to be. You will do fine with your choice.

As far as brands Win M70 or its clone Montana Rifle Company in stainless and synthetic. The Mauser M12 looks well designed, but I have not used it so cannot offer first hand experience with it, but it likely will be my next purchase. Chambering of your choice.

But buy good binos first.

MRC in Colorado looking for elk.

Killed my one and only elk with a .270, also used a .270 on my one nilgai. So .308 unless you want something ew.

Sweet rig, Jeff.



Cept for the quarters.

Thank you.

308 will kill Elk, I have killed 29 elk with a 30.06, 2 with a 375 H&H and, 3 with a 243.

Take the gun you shoot best and can carry well. I started with a Remington 700 ADL and moved onto a Sako 75 both chambered in 30.06.

Most of the answers are what I was expecting. Definitely wanting to get something new of course!!! I have heard so many good things about the Tikkas. I believe I will try and go that route in a stainless model synthetic stock. Probably a .270 or 30-06. Need to research the .280 more. Not familiar with that round. Thabks guys for all of the answers.

How high powered of binos do I have to have. Was looking at getting some Vortex Diamondback 12x50 this year but if I need better I may just hold off.

10x42's or even 8x32's, optical quality matters more than magnification.

Also consider weight and comfort holding them for long periods.

Vortex just does not do much for me.

Swarovski or Zeiss top or mid-tiers are great if the budget allows.

Pentax for mid-price range is another good option.

Watch the weight, they grow heavier as the day goes on.

Bino question is more about where are you hunting?

There are wide open spaces and quakie forest in which you can see 50 yards at most. If you are hunting wide open spaces a good spotting scope is a whole lot easier to use, if you are in the quakies good 8x are the best. If you are walking up and down mountains carrying big binos sucks. I hunted 30 years every year in Colorado and never carried any thing more than 8x32 binos. You are really looking for small details within 200 yards. The tip of an antler, the twitch of a tail or, legs through brush. If you are wanting to see elk over a mile away then a spotting scope is just easier to use.

My favorite binos for Colorado are my old small 8x32 Swarovski.

Right on both counts!

So y'all are saying a .308 Win is a 500 yard elk gun?

of course it is. i'm as big a fan as any on 6.5's, wildcats and the occasional WTF did you just make round - but a 308 will drop an elk at 500 yards without any hesitation....

that being said - if you want a shiny new toy for your elk trip and it's a few years out I would save a few more dollars and build a 6.5 SAUM or a 26 Nosler and have a gun for life that will drop anything on this continent and most things on most other continents.....

If it was me I'd go with the 7 mag or the 300 Win. 150 to 160 in the 7-mag and 150 to 180 in the 300. Most companies offer a rifle in the range your looking for and you can add some decent glass and still keep it under 1000.