I'm thinking about doing some elk hunts in the upcoming months and trying to figure out which rifle to get. I'm looking at getting a scendero in 300 win mag but thinking it may be a little to heavy for carrying for a week. I was also looking at a Weatherby vanguard 2 backcountry in 30-06 it weighs only 6.75 lbs but I want something that I can shoot accurate. What is yalls opinion? Thanks

I prefer the Sendero, but I like a heavier rifle than your typical elk hunter.

Sako Tecomate Edition?

Not trying to hijack the thread, but what about caliber???

Tikka 708 or 308

Caliber wise I am thinking 7mm, 300 wsm, or 300 win mag

I was looking at them but can't find how much they weigh.

We'll just have to start a new thread for that.

Look for it in the open hunting section.

What ever these guys suggest, get it quick, and put at least 100 rounds through it as as far as you want to hunt, before you aim at hide.

Chambering doesn't mean a hill of beans if the rifle/ optic system isn't an extension of your body, before the hunt.

I just purchased a Tikka t3 in 270. Very impressed with the quality and reasonably priced. Shot awesome right out of the box.

I know where there is a used 300win mag that the guy is willing to take 425 for it. Hurts me every day when I pass the joint.

Matt

Remington 700 XCR in 270 WSM or 300 WSM.

^^^^

Or snag an Alaskan TI or AWR I..you can occasionally find one NIB pop up for sale.

7mm Remington magnum

But dee, they're not powerful enough!

Yeah that's what I hear but that SD and BC tell me otherwise. At least I'm not the only one that feels that way.

If you're looking at Senderos then I assume you have a decent budget. Go pick up a Sako Finnlight and you will be hard pressed to not walk out of there with it. They're lightweight, perfectly balanced, and will shoot ragged holes with a multitude of different loads. A Sako A7 is another good option if you can find a used one. The new ones are high enough that you're better off buying a Finnlight.

You will notice the weight of your rifle a couple of days into Elk hunting in the high country. (Or at least I have in the past.) 300WM or 300WSM are my suggestted calibers.

I picked up a Winchester light weight model 70 in 300WM for my upcoming elk hunt this year. pretty nice to carry.

Never buy a used magnum without having it borescoped first. Lots of used magnums on the market are heat-crystalized in the throat area and will never shoot well after that.

Here's the throat of a nice-looking 7mm mag without a scratch on the outside:

( Click to see full-size )




Same goes for .243's. - Often the used ones are fried.

I've got a Remington model 700 Titanium chambered in .300 SAUM with a Leupold VX-3 2.5x8 (silver). This rifle has the skeltonized bolt, synthetic stock and stainless barrel. Very light package, great balance, and that cartridge really knocks em down. I think it's the prefect weapon for wilderness hunts where you can have all kinds of weather and have to watch ever pound you carry around. I'm thinking about selling, because I'm enamored with the Blaser R8's.

Granted the SAUM's didn't take off near as well as the WSM's, but it's still an awesome cartridge. I can readily find Remington ammo in 165 and 180 core-loke.

Good Post.

tikka t3 in 270 WSM. Happen to know where one is that could be for sale that is a good shooter with less than 60 rounds fired through it

I have a thread on here going about the opinions and feedback from the owners and shooters of the vanguard s2 and everyone speaks highly of them for a price. Accuracy was one of my key questions and everyone spoke highly of them. just a little more help but all the guns suggested have been good choices.

If you are worried about the wgt of your rifle, either don't go, don't walk, or get up and start humping it. Elk wgt between 350-600 lbs dressed are large targets and most have to pay their dues to kill the first one. Or pay $15-$20000 for a guided canned hunt and drive up, get out and kill it. A 10-12 lb 300 Win Mag with a 26 in bbl and good glass and premium bullets works well. Practice shooting 300 yds MOA groups.

As Elk is thin skinned, you don't really need a huge caliber. A 270 will do the job. But I find the .30 calibers better