I opened a thread about a month ago...
There was a lot of really good discussion, and my friends read the thread and appreciated all the comments. Due to privacy concerns, they don't want to actively participate in online discussion forums, but they found all the advice quite helpful.
She has decided to accompany her husband on the elk hunt this autumn in Canada, probably Ontario. She is starting to train now to get into shape (that won't take long, she is in awesome shape for 51 years).
She shot several friends rifles, including a DPMS AR-10 type in 308, and also a 10 lb Savage bolt with a bull barrel in 308. This convinced her she could shoot a 308 without pain in her right shoulder.
I also explained that a 180 grain 308, from 0 to 200 yards, has the same velocity and energy as a 180 grain 300 win mag from 150 to 350 yards.
Although she really wanted a Sako, she fell in love with a 2 year old Winchester 70 featherweight, with a supergrade walnut stock. Her husband is having it shipped to California to have the length of pull shortened, and some kind of high tech recoil pad/ recoil absorber put on.
So it is a good ending. I doubt she would have seriously considered this elk hunt without the very positive feedback from this forum. She needed the confidence that she did not need a 338 or 300 mag to take elk. I wish I could go with them !
lowest recoil rifle for elk
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A conversation with some friends turned into a vigorous discussion, with strong opinions on every side. I would like to get the opinions of the experts on this forum.
What is the lowest-recoiling rifle/cartridge combination that would be suitable for elk hunting?
Assumptions:
The hunter is an experienced deer hunter, and she has taken many white-tails over the years, but has never been elk hunting.
No shots beyond 200 yards.
She can afford a new rifle but would prefer to keep the cost of rifle/scope below $2000.
She currently uses a 6mm Remington 700 on deer because of the light recoil. She has an old shoulder injury which makes her recoil sensitive. She can tolerate the higher recoil of a 9 lb 30-06 for 3 to 5 rounds, but that’s about it. She also had to give up shooting skeet and sporting clays. She can shoot a bolt 223 all day.
There was a lot of really good discussion, and my friends read the thread and appreciated all the comments. Due to privacy concerns, they don't want to actively participate in online discussion forums, but they found all the advice quite helpful.
She has decided to accompany her husband on the elk hunt this autumn in Canada, probably Ontario. She is starting to train now to get into shape (that won't take long, she is in awesome shape for 51 years).
She shot several friends rifles, including a DPMS AR-10 type in 308, and also a 10 lb Savage bolt with a bull barrel in 308. This convinced her she could shoot a 308 without pain in her right shoulder.
I also explained that a 180 grain 308, from 0 to 200 yards, has the same velocity and energy as a 180 grain 300 win mag from 150 to 350 yards.
Although she really wanted a Sako, she fell in love with a 2 year old Winchester 70 featherweight, with a supergrade walnut stock. Her husband is having it shipped to California to have the length of pull shortened, and some kind of high tech recoil pad/ recoil absorber put on.
So it is a good ending. I doubt she would have seriously considered this elk hunt without the very positive feedback from this forum. She needed the confidence that she did not need a 338 or 300 mag to take elk. I wish I could go with them !