Best rifle for elk hunting

Nothing wrong with the Tikka in .308. It will kill an elk fine.

Here.....we.....go. Everyone on here will have a different opinion. I’d shoot 7 mag or 300 wsm. I just got back from Montana and was asking a local what he uses for elk. He said a 6.5 PRC is his choice.

.308 is fine for ANY American game.

I’ve got a Kimber Hunter in .308 that’s very light and a great shooting gun. Paired it with a leupold vx3i. Great combo that ran me $1200ish. Not saying it’s any better or worse than the tikka, just another rifle to look into.

Tikka in 300 Winchester magnum. You can shoot the heavy stuff on your elk hunt and 150s for deer when you get done with the elk trip.
The tikka is light enough that you won’t hate toting it all day.

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Currently shoot a pump action Remington .30-06, but I’d rather not lug it around in the mountains and beat it up as it has sentimental value (hand me down).

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Guess I’ll go against the grain here, but I recommend you go with what you got, especially since it is a sentimental piece. I may be in the minority, but I think there is something extra special about taking a hand me down rifle on a great hunt, even if it puts another ding or two on it.

I’d be pretty disappointed if I found out my sons were not hunting the guns I plan on handing down due to fear of beating them up.

My guide has killed damn near everyone of his elk with a .243ackley. He would shoot them out to 500 yards with it. He has now upgrading to a 6.5PRC for because he wanted to try a new cartridge for shits and giggles. I have hunted with him the last 3 years and have brought my .300WM. I’m tired of toting that thing around and will be using a 6.5PRC next trip.

Find a cartridge you shoot best. Know that rifle out to 400 yards and you’ll be fine.

I saw a guy flip a 250# mule deer on its back at 350y last week using a 300wsm. An elk is much bigger but I’m sure it will die the same

I have had zero complaints with my winchester model 70 chambered in .270 with a Tasco 3-9X40 world class all circa 1990. Probably have not taken the scope caps off in 20 years and she stays on target year after year. 130 grain winchester silver tips are the round she loves, and the 130 grain power points are second. Has brought down dozens upon dozen whitetails over the years with very very few taking more than a couple steps with ranges out to 300 yards.