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Old October 22, 2015, 11:13 PM   #26
Radny97
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For the narrow circumstances that you have stated you might be best served with a short, light and handy lever gun in a big caliber. I have a lever gun in 454 Casull that will shoot a 240 grain xtp bullet at 2300 fps. It's short for easy handling in thick woods, accurate out to 150 yards and very quick reloads. Plus the 454 Casull packs a punch. Will leave a fist sized exit wound. Even an elk won't be running far. Just a thought.
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Old October 23, 2015, 05:11 AM   #27
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from your description of your common hunts, I absolutely look for a big-bore lever action rifle, can't think of a rifle you can have shouldered and aimed faster that those. You can save a buck buying a rossi, and I am very happy with mine, but you will find better caliber choice and pre-drilled scope threads on a Henry or Marlin, and likely better CS if needed. A fixed power scope is affordable and quick to target, any 4x will do, but I would think irons may be your fastest bet unless deplorable weather conditions. Henry offers the 30-30, 45-70 and I think even the 45colt would be okay inside 100. The market seems to have a good flood of 35 Remington's as well in Winchester's, very affordable. I would likely take a 30-30 for your assumed distances, I don't love the ballistics past 150 yards though, but I am not a hunter, so what do I know.
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Old October 23, 2015, 10:56 AM   #28
Sure Shot Mc Gee
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You're commenting shots would be under 100 yrd's. Is there a Law requiring rifle bullets only for the taking of Elk. Why not a Slug shooter? Just as easy to break a spine or slip a slug thru a rib cage at 75 yards as it is with a rifle.
My experiences.
I've shot one or two BIG deer while hunting in Southern MN's corn fields using a 12 ga. 870 loaded up with Ball type slugs. Heavy 1 oz or 1-1/4 either weight slug just poleaxes anything it comes in contact with.

Isn't it said some of these new slug shooters are just as capable at close range in the taking of big game with a high degree accuracy as is a rifle? And too at a 100 yards or less elk standing in front of you. "You'd have come up with a really Jim dandy excuse for missing with either long gun in hand."

Some fellows prefer a scope mounted on everything they own. Not me. Although I wear glass's I'm not quite that blind yet. And maybe that would apply to you once you get accumulated to a firearm having a Bead or better yet open barrel sights. That said: You could save a few $$$ not having to buy a spendy scope also.

But my comment is just a thought. Do buy /what you think/ best suits U.
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Old October 23, 2015, 11:25 AM   #29
Ruger480
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This would get my vote. Not sure how easily you can find one though, contact Ed Hubel. He's a member here
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Old October 27, 2015, 01:54 AM   #30
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A Remington autoloader in .35 Whelan might be ideal. Power to anchor? Check. Fast follow-up shots? Check. More reach in a pinch? Check.

The same gun in 30-06 would probably be as good...but less, I dunno...just less.
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Old October 27, 2015, 09:13 PM   #31
Northslope Nimrod
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I totally agree on the 35 Whelan. An auto-loader would be great if I could get one in a light package. I would settle for a 6 pound bolt action.
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Old October 27, 2015, 11:04 PM   #32
drive_sideways
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45-70 in a marlin guide gun with the big loop lever.
Short, light, and with buffalo bore hardcast loads packs some serious punch. Ive seen 45-70's do 200 yard shots on elk before
That is pushing the limits though ;p
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Old October 28, 2015, 06:09 AM   #33
kcub
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I just traded for a Zastava M76 sniper rifle semi auto in 8mm Mauser. It will do 1" groups at 100 yards with milsurp! If the 10 round mags are legal it would be nearly perfect. One could probably improvise a temporary 5 round cutoff limit if your state requires that, mine doesn't but no elk in Texas. I love this rifle.

Mine looks just like this.

http://petesdiscountfirearms.com/ZastavaM76.html


Last edited by kcub; October 30, 2015 at 08:26 AM.
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Old October 28, 2015, 08:26 PM   #34
Radny97
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^^^^^^^^ nice!
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Old October 29, 2015, 08:29 PM   #35
tahunua001
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my personal nod for a 100 yard elk gun would go to a Marlin 1895 in 45/70, the cartridge packs a really good punch, and the rifle is pretty darned compact and lightweight.

another option I could think of would be a Ruger M77 compact in 7mm-08 or since you already have one, 308, those rifles are surprisingly light and make good little brushguns.
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Old October 30, 2015, 11:03 AM   #36
kilimanjaro
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Since you have a .308, you could very well just pick up a good bolt action deer rifle in .308, it's perfectly acceptable for knocking elk over. A .30-06 would be another good choice. A Browning BAR would be a peach of a choice if you want semi-auto.

If you put a round in the boiler room, the elk will be elk meat in one shot.

A 1.5x-4x scope would be good, if you like them.

You could push either cartridge out to 400 yards if you can shoot that well. Me, I like to stay close to the game and ensure a clean kill.
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Old October 30, 2015, 11:43 PM   #37
WIN71
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This is a no brainer for me

In normal circumstances I would use a 30-06 or 300 H&H on elk. Rain, snow, and short range shooting in a hurry I carry a WIN 71 with 250 gr. hand loads. What ever rifle I have next to me that one is in a leather scabbard hanging over the back seat of my truck at hunting season. That big, round nosed, relatively slow moving heavy bullet will drop about anything that I can hit at 100 yards.
If it is rain, snow, and short range that's what I use.
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Old October 31, 2015, 12:04 AM   #38
natman
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Kimber 84 Montana in 308 or 325 WSM if I could still find one, 300 WSM if I couldn't. 358 Winchester would be ideal if only the Montana were chambered in it.

If I were guaranteed that the shots were going to be within 100 yards I'd be very tempted to use a Model 71 Winchester in 348 Win or a Marlin 1895 with warm 45-70 loads, but neither is particularly light.
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Old October 31, 2015, 01:51 PM   #39
kilimanjaro
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You can guarantee your shots are within 100 yards by not taking shots beyond your comfort or skill range.
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Old November 1, 2015, 11:11 AM   #40
natman
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Quote:
You can guarantee your shots are within 100 yards by not taking shots beyond your comfort or skill range.
True enough, but for general hunting I'd like to extend my comfort range further by using a scoped rifle that shoots flatter than either of the cartridges I mentioned.

If it were guaranteed that the elk would appear no farther away than 100 yards, I'd use one of the lever actions I mentioned.

I hope that clears things up.
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