Elk Rifle for the Wife
I need a light rifle in a caliber => .270 with as light a recoil as possible for my wife to elk hunt with this fall. I'm considering something in a .308 win or 7mm-08. I can't find a factory cartridge for 7mm-08 with any more than a 150 grain bullet. That seems too light for a bull elk. What do you think?
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Hello snood...
What you are attempting to find is not a wise idea... the optimum cartridges that are capable of cleanly killing a big bull Elk are not something that you want to have or shoot in a "light rifle". Light weight rifles = heavier (stouter) recoil regardless of the cartridge used. Typical recommended bullet weights for Elk in a 7mm cartridge is 160 grain or bigger. I use a 165 grain bullet in my 7mm Mag for Elk. If you select a .308 caliber cartridge (lots of them to choose from), 180 grain bullets (or larger) are the ticket to putting a severe hurt on a big bull Elk.
I would personally recommend a Winchester Model 70 chambered for the 300 WSM cartridge
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
150 is a bit lite, but it will do the job. I would prefer 165-180 grains, but obviously that will add a bit to recoil. Best way to tame recoil is with a heavier rifle, but I would guess you are between a rock and a hard place on that one.
"Crazy Horse laughed in my face. He said, "I am no white man! They
are the only people that make rules for other people..." - He Dog0 -
.308 180 grain with recoil pad 0 -
Hey snood!
7mm-08 has and does take a bunch of elk. I know a gal who has taken a dozen elk with a 243 (which I can't really recommend!) Point being here is......Premium bullets, excellent marksmanship, reasonable distance to target (250 yards or under) (proper advice for any caliber....!) and she will be hunting elk just fine.....standard ammo for deer etc, Hornaday light magnum for elk....I am a lady, have hunted elk for 16 years....she will like the handy rifle this will come in, the 7mm-08 won't kick her to pieces....a confident shooter with a rifle that fits her is a much better shot...Let her practice with standard ammo and save the HLM for the hunt, let her wear earplugs AND earmuffs (we are sensitive to noise!) and let her get familiar with HER gun, and she will make you proud.... the 7mm-08 will do the job, just keep repeating the (BULLET, PLACEMENT, DISTANCE) mantra, and good luck to you both...
Don't pick on my mule, and we'll get along just fine!0 -
Thanks to all for the advice. I was thinking of a light weight gun because of the fatigue factor of her carrying it up and down steep terrain all day. I realize it will increase felt recoil, but that's just a one time pain during a hunt. If she tires from carrying a heavy rifle, the hunt might end early. 0 -
How about a medium weight with longer barrel and a muzzle break plus a Pachmeyer Decelerator or the "Gooey" recoil pad and as mulerider said a Hornaday light magnum load? 0 -
Snood, you are right in that struggling to carry a really heavy (to her) rifle around is a memory that she will latch on to. You know that when she really gets to shoot an elk, if she is like me, in the great joy of the moment, she won't remember any recoil at all (shoot, I don't even remember aiming at my first deer!!! hheee hee) Good luck in your gun purchase.
Don't pick on my mule, and we'll get along just fine!0 -
I like Berts advice, you can get either a Browning A-bolt, or Winchester mod 70 in 300wsm. The rifle is standard sized, shoots a round with almost the same case lenth (for comparison) as a .308, but with the power of a 300 Win Mag. So what you've got is a standard size rifle, with a short action, 60 degree bolt throw and plenty of power. You really can't go wrong in this selection, though it may be wise to have a good recoil pad installed for her use.
Man's last hope... The Star Wars Kid.. Jedi Master!
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The 7-08 will work if you limit the range and be careful of the placement (same as any medium caliber). 140 grain x-bullets or nosler partitions will do the job as will failsafes.
Mobuck<BR>0 -
Last I checked people were still able to take an elk with a bow... No one NEEDS a large rifle to take an elk. If using a smaller rifle such as a 308, or 7mm-08 you may want to use some hand loads. Something like a Barnes TSX, or a Failsafe would be exelent choices due to the weight retention. I load for my friend a 140gr TSX for his 270 which has taken many deer and an elk. The elk fell dead in its tracks! And yes the bullet did exit.
As for a light rifle that shoots well, my chice would be a Tikka T3 Lite in a 308 Win. This is a high performance round almost equals a 30-06 (which we all know has taken plenty of elk) in a shorter lighter rifle. I can even reccomend a hand load in the 308 using a 150gr TSX that has proven very accurate in my mod 70 and leathal on big northern deer.0
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