Short Action Elk Rifle

I have a custom 300 WSM that is on a short model 70 action that is a real nice elf package it just kind of limits you to 180 grain bullets or lighter when I really prefer the 200s
 
Personally I lean towards the 7-08 but I have an avid dislike for the majority of 30cal cartridges. I know several people who take elk every year with the 7-08. The 6.5prc or 6.5rpm would also be options worth looking into, both are modern renditions of the 270win balisticly.

I am curious who you are limiting yourself to the short action, going to a standard length action not even a magnum would open you up to several far better options than the 308 and 7-08 with very minimal increases in recoil.
 
Mnwhiskeyman said:
Would anyone use a 308/7mm-08 for an Elk hunt within 400 yards. I am asking cause I would like to double this as my sons new rifle and with the cost of things why not get one that can do elk pronghorn whitetail and more?
Thanks
Click to expand...
@Mnwhiskeyman
With elk being included I would personally go the 358 win or the 338 Federal.
They might not have the 400yard range you are seeking but will carry a lot more authority for elk than the 7mm or the 308.
Both would would be fine within 300 and be fine for other species.
Dare I say it ( I may be hang before dawn for blasphemy) but just maybe the 338 Fed may be a better choice for your son's needs.
Plenty of range, good projectile selection and good down range ballistics. A 185 gn TTSX or a nice 210gn accubond for the big critters and a nice 210gn non bonded for the lighter species
Fulfills your needs for a big game and small to medium-sized in a compact package that's recoil friendly with plenty of power.
I know it's not a 35 but it's the next best
Bob
 
I appreciate the messages back. I do have a 338 win it is heavy for walking up and down the mountains, but would work. I just like the ease of a smaller and layer rifle and one that can piggyback as my son’s coming up.
 
I’ve not hunted elk but there’s a fairly prominent elk hunter on the YouTubes who seems to have settled on the 7mm08 after using everything else. I think his elk numbers are in the 40s or so.
Pick either of the cartridges you mentioned and teach your son to be deadly with it.
 
Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@Mnwhiskeyman
With elk being included I would personally go the 358 win or the 338 Federal.
They might not have the 400yard range you are seeking but will carry a lot more authority for elk than the 7mm or the 308.
Both would would be fine within 300 and be fine for other species.
Dare I say it ( I may be hang before dawn for blasphemy) but just maybe the 338 Fed may be a better choice for your son's needs.
Plenty of range, good projectile selection and good down range ballistics. A 185 gn TTSX or a nice 210gn accubond for the big critters and a nice 210gn non bonded for the lighter species
Fulfills your needs for a big game and small to medium-sized in a compact package that's recoil friendly with plenty of power.
I know it's not a 35 but it's the next best
Bob
Click to expand...

Bob, this brought a tear to my eye to hear you promote a 338 my friend. I even ran to the window and looked outside to make sure I wasn’t in a third dimension! Haha
To the OP, of the two 308, but as Mr. Whelen and a few others have mentioned the 338 Fed is a fine cartridge for what your intentions are. Light recoil, hard hitting! I started my youngest out with a model 7 in 7/08 and it is a great deer cartridge and will certainly kill elk but a bit light IMO. He stepped up to a 338 RCM at 14 and I don’t think I could get him to trade that gun for anything now. If you do not reload the 338 Fed can be a pain to get ammo for at times as can the RCM but it is worth the trouble when it comes to putting meat in the freezer. Good luck to the young man and yourself.
 
Mnwhiskeyman said:
I appreciate the messages back. I do have a 338 win it is heavy for walking up and down the mountains, but would work. I just like the ease of a smaller and layer rifle and one that can piggyback as my son’s coming up.
Click to expand...
@Mnwhiskeyman
The 338 Fed can be had in a short action light weight rifle for your son and you already know the 338s work so a baby 338 would be the ants pants.
Bob
 
Bullthrower338 said:
Bob, this brought a tear to my eye to hear you promote a 338 my friend. I even ran to the window and looked outside to make sure I wasn’t in a third dimension! Haha
To the OP, of the two 308, but as Mr. Whelen and a few others have mentioned the 338 Fed is a fine cartridge for what your intentions are. Light recoil, hard hitting! I started my youngest out with a model 7 in 7/08 and it is a great deer cartridge and will certainly kill elk but a bit light IMO. He stepped up to a 338 RCM at 14 and I don’t think I could get him to trade that gun for anything now. If you do not reload the 338 Fed can be a pain to get ammo for at times as can the RCM but it is worth the trouble when it comes to putting meat in the freezer. Good luck to the young man and yourself.
Click to expand...
@Bullthrower338
Cody it was hard to say but under the circumstances I felt the 338 Fed would be a better choice for the youngsters needs.
Both the 358 and the 338 Fed would be fine but for the longer ranges past 300 the little fed just out edges it's bigger brother.
I would still prefer the 358 but in this case I caved in.
Fortunately the 243 wasn't mentioned or all hell would have been unleashed.
You can close your window and relax you are still in the right dimension. Rest assured I'm still a 25 & 35 lunatic but there are some (very very few) other cartridges that I can see merit in and the little 338 Fed is one of them. It is a good little round. My mate Ted Mitchell has even used it on scrub bulls with 185gn TTSX with great effect.
Bob
 
My short action Elk rifle is a Winchester XPR 325 WSM. One of least expensive rifles. It shoots 200 gr. Accubond in 3/4 of an inch. I will take it to the Eastern Cape for Eland. Not classy but very effective!
 
I watched my buddy put a blue wildebeest down with one shot this past April. His rifle was a .270 WSM. The PH and I just looked at each other, as we both thought the wildebeest would do what they normally do and run all over hell and half of Geargia. My buddy turned from the sticks and said, "That was good, right?"
 
Mtn_Infantry said:
I used an older Rem 700 BDL in 308 for multiple elk before it was stolen. I shot 165gr Trophy Bonded Tips, and older Federal loaded 165gr Accubonds. Within 400yds you should be fine with quality premium ammo and knowing/learning both you and the rifles capabilities.

I now shoot a 257wby or 300WM but wouldn’t hesitate to use a 7-08 if that’s what I had. I know a lot of guides and almost universally they’d say they prefer someone to hunt with their deer rifle or whatever they’re most comfortable with than a new gun or a bigger magnum that’s a little bit too much for them to practice with.
Click to expand...
I am learning to love my .257 Wby, but on a bull elk? Though I will testify that it will cleanly drop a free range scimitar horned oryx out there a ways.
 
Mnwhiskeyman said:
Would anyone use a 308/7mm-08 for an Elk hunt within 400 yards. I am asking cause I would like to double this as my sons new rifle and with the cost of things why not get one that can do elk pronghorn whitetail and more?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Either would work. I’m a big 7-08 fan. Though I did Ackley Improve one of mine and absolutely love it. Anyways I would simply recommend no shots past 400 yards and use a good bullet. Lately I’ve been using 141gr Hammer HBCs loaded around 3050fps out of my 24” barreled 7-08ai. It’s killed aoudad sheep, hogs, feral goats, coues deer, and an oryx at 350 yards. I would not hesitate for a second to use it on an elk. The .308 is best suited to the 165gr class and under bullets while the 7-08 is best suited to 150gr and under. The 7mm bullets have better B.C. And Better Sectional density at 150gr than the .308 at 150gr. Either one I’d stick with a good bonded or mono bullet (I like hammers, Lehigh Defense, and Cutting Edge personally).
 
Either one will work just fine. I've killed several bulls with 270win but would not hesitate to use 7-08 or 308 if that is what I had on hand. Those two are also great to build a light weight 20" barrel gun with suppressor as they do not give up too much in a short barrel. At altitude those two cartridges do not lose too much performance out to 400 yards.
 
If you can find the right rifle and ammo, and/or reload, the 284 Winchester may be the ideal short action cartridge for this scenario. 7mm bullet, 30’06 case capacity in a short action cartridge.
 
If situation becomes less than ideal, I'd prefer a .338 diameter bullet.

If I had to use a .308 it would be with a Barnes 180 grain bullet.
 
Mnwhiskeyman said:
Would anyone use a 308/7mm-08 for an Elk hunt within 400 yards. I am asking cause I would like to double this as my sons new rifle and with the cost of things why not get one that can do elk pronghorn whitetail and more?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I’ve used both. Both work great. You can’t go wrong with either choice. But, if you don’t handload, get a 308.
 
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