Best rifle/scope for Colorado Elk hunt.

Just practice with what you have.

Me I carry one of two.

Winchester Model 70 30.06 with a Luepold 4x9 or a Sako 7mm mag with same model scope.

I am comfortable with both out farther than what I need to be in Colorado.

I have the Swarovski with a ballistic turret. Longest shot on an animal was 225yds. but I have shot targets out to 400 yards and it is dead on.

Browing Bar in 338
4-12 Leupold VX 2

quote:

---

Just wanted to get peoples opinions. I go every year and I've hunted with my Thompson Encore single shot 300 win mag with Zeiss scope. I've killed the last two years but I was fortunate that the shots I took were only about 120 yds.

Just curious of what others opinions might be on what to carry. I'm interested in getting another gun.

---

Your current setup is very capable of killing elk at 500 yds. My suggestion, find a local private/public shooting range so you can gain confidence by shooting your rifle at 200, 300, then 400+ yds.

Get to know YOUR rifle and the bullet drop at various yardages. Make a "cheat sheet or dope chart" (see below) that you reference after confirming known target range with a range finder.

Personally, I wouldn't change a thing

Your current set up is fine but get something you are comfortable with. This past year hunting muleys in nevada with my son I saw some guy miss a shot at 125 yards while he was fiddling with the elevation on his whizz-bang scope and 340 weatherby. My son and I were able to get close and he took it with my 12 gauge shotgun with a slug barrel.

your confidence in the gear >>> minor differences in the gear itself

I read somewhere a guide said the average shot distance is somewhere from 180-200 yards.

.308, .270, .30-06, 7mm would all work great

Pretty close. I don't think I've ever pulled the trigger on an elk longer than 300 yards.

.270 Ruger has dropped many an animal....

quote:

---

Sako Long Range in 338LM

---