Elk Hunting....Rem 700 VTR or XCR?

I am planning an Elk Hunting Trip to Colorado next fall and am going to need a bigger gun than my current .243. I am looking at the Remington 700 VTR or XCR with the triangular barrell in a .308 caliber. What is the difference between the VTR and XCR and would this be a good gun to carry on a ELK Hunt. Please give me your honest opinions! Thanks!

XCR with the 26 inch barrel and definitly not in 308. Any of the 300's would be a much better choice.

From my understanding, the diffrence is one has a corission resistant coating and one has a varmint stock and triangular. Im not crazy about the triangular barrel. Im sure either one, or any other rifle in the propper chamnering will get the job done.

I think they are two different guns for different types of shooting and game.

VTR
Cool triangle shaped barrel. The question is...what does it really do for the gun?
New stock profile. I like it.
Integrated muzzle break. Nice addition.
Short 22in barrel.
Only up to 308 cal.

XCR
Solid and true 26in barrel.
Nice stock with Hogue inserts.
All big game cals. available.
Trinyte Corrosion system. It really works!
Awesome trigger.

Weight: probably close to the same. I like both guns for sure. But I like the XCR for the corrosion system in Colorado. As well as the larger barrel and larger caliber options. I haven't been hunting long. But everything I read says to stick to the magnum rounds when hunting elk. The XCR gives you that option. Just my two cents.

I own the XCR II RealTree AP CAMO (ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION Special EDITION) in 300 Remington Ultra Magnum. I love the gun. And I will be buying a VTR in 308 for varmint and smaller game very soon.

I think either gun would do the job and think a 308 is enough, but if I was going to buy a gun specificaly to go on an elk hunt it wouldnt be a 308. It will work, but I would go a litle bigger.

matt

If this is a one time only Elk hunt, I suppose either rifle would work just fine. Then it could be multi-purposed once you got back home. If you are thinking of a dedicated large game rifle for mountain hunting, I'd recommend something on the lighter side in the weight dept, and a little larger in caliber. No doubt the 308 is very capable of killing an Elk. But given the caliber choices out there now I'd be looking more at the 300mag, 7mag, or possibly even some of the WSM's or the like for a dedicated elk/large game rifle. These would only be better in the aspect that they would extend your reach a bit over the 308 when using the heavier bullets, and provide a bit more energy down range. You are talking about killing something the size of a horse, you hope.

opinions will vary on the subject. But I look at it like this...I don't get the chance to go elk hunting as often as people who live in states that have them. So when I do get to go I want every advantage I can have, within reason of course. If I never did anything but rabbit hunt, then got the chance to go whitetail hunting once every couple of years, I'd bring more gun than my 22 with me. But that's me.

The .308 will work on elk, but the .30-06 has killed more elk than any round on the market! I would get the rifle that has the best action and accuracy for the price range you are wanting to stay around. The XCR would be the better choice between the two Remingtons that you are comparing.

If you don't plan on making Elk hunting a habit, the .308 would be OK.. Just be very sure on your shooting conditions and shot placement. But if it's an annual thing you really ought to consider a heavier caliber. I prefer the .300 WSM, but any 30 caliber magnum would do nicely. Flat shooting, hard hitting rifles are more forgiving on Elk outings.

Guys,
I realy appreciate your input and I think yall have changed my opinion on the .308 cal. I am going to start looking at a little larger cal.

Thanks,

7 mm is a good "knock down" pill. look at the savage rifle line, right price, adjustable trigger.

If I had an optimum shot at and elk and I had a .308 in hand, I would take it, but I would not purposely take a .308 elk hunting. Use enough gun! Yeah, I know people do kill them with a stick & string, but how close to an elk are you planning on getting and will you have the perfect kill shot available to take it with a .308? Probably not. I think the XCR Remington would be a good choice rifle in a bigger caliber, .300 mag. minimum.

Better still, If I were to get a rifle for elk, moose, buffalo, or bear, I would give serious consideration to the Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger caliber. It is stainless with synthetic stock, comes with intregal scope mounts, has controled round feed, three position safety, and is very compact. The .375 Ruger cartridge has the same or maybe a little better performance than the .375 H&H, but it is a bit shorter and therefore does not require as long an action as the H&H making it a bit handier. Top it with a good quality scope such as a Zeiss Conquest and you will be good to go with a "bang---flop" weapon. Maybe a bit much for whitetails, but just the ticket for mule deer and up. Also, don't scrimp on ammo! Use the premium stuff.

I have the 700 VTR in .308 and absolutely love it, very accurate out of the box, I shoot the 150 gr Superformance Hornady SST rounds which shoot at 3000 fps, and you can get 168 gr to hunt elk with if you want a heavier load but both have basically equal energy if you look at the ballistic tables.

I see all the Salvage supporters show up to toot their horn on their awful triggers and ugly guns.

Not enough difference between a 3006 and 308 to care. They both work fine. 300 wm or wsm would be better of course. Rifle is going to be up to you and what your going to do most of the time with it.

Of the two you mentioned either is fine, if you want a triangle barrel for some reason , I would go with the one thats a 5r rifling

Salvage guys

If you just really feel the need for a 300 Mag there is no doubt its a fine elk caliber.

But a 30/06 or even 308 will do just fine, great in fact.

Remember with that 300 mag comes something you might not be real accustomed to, recoil! Alot more of it than the 243 your used to!

If you decide to go the 300 Mag route, just be sure to practice, practice, practice!

If you gut shoot your elk because you were flinching like crazy with the 300 you would have been better off double lunging him with your 243.

Bill

Good point

No offense, but having several friends and a sister and BIL who live in CO. and further out west right in the middle of elk country, I consider this an old wive's tail.

They work 40-50-60hr weeks just like alot of us. They can't always take their vacation during hunting season.

So they hunt weekends just like alot of folks do here. A large portion of them can't hunt the whole season like the out-of-staters do.

Yet nearly all of them still use 30/06's, 270's, and 308's for elk and have for years just fine.

I'm not against magnums at all, I have a .300 Win Mag thats one of my favorite rifles.

just sayin'.

bill

I have the remington xcr in a 30-06 no problem for elk. One shot drop at 200yrds. For longer range i would consider a 7 mag or 300 mag. The xcr is a better choice than the vtr for elk and all around.