I am searching for a hunting rifle. The goal is to drop a deer or elk at 800m. I know a 30-06, 308, 300, and 7mm can all make the shot, but I need help narrowing it down or actually finding a rifle. For the rifle I'd like to keep it cheap. I'd say 800 is my true max that I could spend now, but I'd like to spend a lot less on then that. Optics I know will cost me more. I have shot that far, but with a machine gun so don't think it really counts.

Do you have a spending limit??

Whats your budget? Have you shot at 800m before?

7 stw if a neat caliber especially for long distance shooting... kinda hard to find ammo, and finding a gun can be hard as well, but still very neat caliber.
300WSM has some pretty good balistics behind it but ive heard of some people complaining about the cartridge wearing down the chamber and rifling a little too fast.
all of the .30 mag calibers are pretty good. There are a ton of opinions on here... there are a lot of calibers that can do it just gotta decide which one you think will work for you.

338-378 that what u need lol

270 wsm 7mm wsm 300 wsm and 325 wsm will all do it just fine there are many other options as well

300 win mag... I hope that $800 bucks doesn't include optics....

I think that's his distance.

He also says that "800 is my true max that I could spend now".

I'd go with a Remington 700 in .30-06/.300WM/7MM Rem Mag.

Missed the edit

300 Win Mag. Forget about those WSM's and stick with what's tried, true and proven.

x2

Bet JCB would say a Rem 700 in a 300 Ultra for long distance calls.

Why would you want to attempt to shoot a trophy animal like an elk at 800 meters? If you want to shoot distance shoot paper.

300 win mag or 7mm rem mag. 30-06 may be able to make the shot but it's trajectory is not as flat. But ammo is cheaper

At 800 meters you're not only talking about equipment but ability.

What is the show on The Outdoor Channel where they shoot 1000 yds routinely hunting?

NOTHING is routine at the distance. NADA.

Gimmick hunting. Even bench rest at 1000 yards if pretty rarified air and very very few people have that ability to hit from a cold barrel at that distance. In field conditions the equipment needs and skill levels get pretty rare. You owe the animal a clean kill.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=296046591

This gun should do the trick for you...

Thank you for saying it...That is elk shooting, not elk hunting. If you dont have any more respect for the animal than that, and cannot get any closer than that, you are not much of a hunter. I am amazed every time one of these threads opens up. I want to shoot deer at 1000 yards! What do i need? What you need is to get closer. If you want to shoot something at 1000 yards, shoot paper. That way, if you are a little off, no big deal, there isnt some animal running around with his hind quarter blown off. Most people, and I will repeat that, MOST people, have neither the equipment AND the ability to take shots at that distance on paper, let alone at an animal.

JMHO If you want to learn to "hunt" at 800-1000+ meters it's really pretty simple. Enlist in the military and qualify for USMC or Army Sniper School, and they will teach you how to shoot a 338 Lapua or 50BMG and kill "things" that need to be killed reliably and regularly at distances up to double your goal.
Or learn how to get closer using Hunting Skills and use a normal off the shelf hunting rifle at 3-500 yards in any of a dozen or more calibers from 264 thru 338 calibers, and stay under your stated goal of $800 for a scoped rifle. Think $500 for a rifle and $300 for a scope and go from there. OBTW At these ranges Practice really does make Perfect,and it will take years of coaching and practice to achieve your goals so cut to the chase and make that step across the line and raise your hand to ..."protect and serve against all enemies foreign and domestic" like lots of us have ... but I understand YMMV
Cheers
Ron