been having a discussion about the two, not sure how much this matters, we are talking Savage lever guns, 500-700 yds elk shots, what say you

Are you picking between the two calibers to take on a hunt or general discussion? Assume handloads?

284 Winchester?

It's a long action, so it holds more powder than the 7mm-08. More powder means more speed. More speed means more retained energy down range. But I wouldn't feel comfortable with either one on an elk beyond 500 yards. In fact, I wouldn't try 500 yards on an elk with the 7mm-08.

For shooting Elk at 500 yards, you need either a 7mm Remington Mag or a .300 Win mag, at a minimum


The 7mm-08 I would be comfortable shooting an elk at or around 300 yards.

No offense, but if I were planning on having to take a 5-700 yard shot at an elk, I'd do two things:

1. Find a bolt gun to take instead of a lever action
2. Find a different elk outfitter. My buddy here has taken over 30 elk (elk and mule deer are his thing) and has never taken a shot that far.

I've never shot an elk for what that's worth. I wouldn't attempt this either.

From reading seems like many recommend a minimum of 1500 foot pounds to hunt elk. If my magneto speed, Hornady's bc, and my ballistic calculator are accurate my 7mm08 load maintains 1569 foot pounds at 500 yards.

700 is a long way for either of those cartridges. If you think those shots are available, I'd gear up a lot farther than either one. After all, if 500-700 is on the menu, what if it's 818 on the only shot you're going to get? I'd be looking at a big magnum, likely one of the .300s loaded about as stout as you can make it.

Figure you are thinking about your Savage 99s in those calibers. The 284 really shines in a long action but originally I think was in a short action where the longer sleeker bullets have to be loaded into powder space. Great round but when Norma necked it down to 6.5 they did what the wildcatters were already doing and put it in a long bolt action so it could be seated further. 500 can be doable with an accurate rifle and good bullets but that is as far as I would consider with it for game that large. Could those kill an elk to those ranges? Yup but are there better rounds for it IMO.

The outfitter I hunted with in Montana pretty much got shots inside 300 yards for his clients and would prefer someone showed up with those calibers that could shoot them well than a magnum they were not proficient or familiar with.

Of your choices the 284 win. The Savage 99 is a fine old classic hunting rifle. 500-700 yards the way the wind blows in the mountains is a long ways to be drawing down on an elk. I bet it made for lively discussion between you and your buddy though.

Case capacity equals more range. More range equal great probability I forget where he was standing by time I get there. It’s been a real issue for me in the past.

Been there.

I have yet to do the hunt out west thing, but that is definitely a concern of mine.

Now I try to leave a way point on OnX before I shoot, if it’s tight. Also leaving hat back to be able to range back helps

God willing, you've got a buddy within radio distance at worst. Standing beside you at best. He stays at the shooting locatiom and helps guide you to the spot you both marked where the elk was last seen standing.

Whole different type of terrain in Marfa, TX than mountains, and we still did it this way on the pronghorn my bud didn't get a great shot on. I stalked up on him and put the final blow on him.

One of the finer points of hunting is get away from people.

I did have to stand on top of truck cab looking into CRP to find one of my Pronghorns. Was pain in the arse. Didn’t realize how tall it was.

I think If i stood on the roof of mine I may have a puddle up there from now on.

Negative. The 284 was made to provide 270 performance in the M88 and M100 (short action) Winchesters. It has a fatter case to provide more capacity than the 308 or 7-08.

Also fit in the M99 as mentioned by the OP.

I've had the same problem just sniping squirrels at 50 yards in the woods. I can't imagine trying to find a downed animal at 700 yards as the crow flies. In the mountains, you might be hiking a mile or more up and down and around in order to find it.

Am I missing something? When did the savage 99 become considered accurate enough for long range. Yeah, it’ll get the bullet down there, somewhere.

I dont believe the is being carried out in reality. Ive only shot one 99, it was a 243 and shot very well.

Guess I was referring to how I would run a .284 Win, which is in a long action. With a 168 gr or 175 gr having a whole lot of bullet outside the brass. Powder column filling into the shoulder.

thanks for all the post, we like to discuss what the 99's will do, I wouldn't have taken those shots with either, my limit would have been 300yds, at that I think either one would do.

I bet you can get one more 7-08 in the magazine than you can a 284. That would be more important to me given the criteria.

Inside 300 yards I agree either would work on critters up to elk, lots of critters that big and bigger have been killed with a 7X57 just stay within the equipment and hunters limitations.

Need one of those new 6.8 Westerns.