one of the guys I've hunted with for decades, who lives in Colorado,
recently lost most of his rifles in a house fire.
As a result hes on a rather limited budget and has come to the realization that he should and will be forced due to financial restraints to both be far more selective and objective in hes up-coming purchase of a new elk rifle.
He is determined to find a first-class lever action, to replace his now useless, and recently destroyed previous rifle battery,
and hes looked at the marlin and Henry 45/70 rifles and he has, not been impressed, hes decided on a BLR.
I offered him a loaner rifle, in several calibers and action styles, until he gets back on his feet financially, but he declined the offer,
the area we hunt is the thickly timbered canyon with occasional open aspen and creek bottoms,
that will rarely allow any shot exceeding 250 yards max,
and the vast majority of elk we have shot were shot at well under 130 yards.
ELK COUNTRY IN MY EXPERIENCE LOOKS MOSTLY LIKE THIS
one of my late, hunting partners had successfully used a BLR in caliber 358 win with a 250 speer bullet for 3 plus decades,
another, a rather successful member of our hunt club has used a BLR in 30/06 with 180 grain bullets.
(regularly hand load ammo for both)
I've used a BLR in 358 win on a couple hunts, using the same 250 speer bullet over 44 grains of imr 4064 and recently purchased a BLR in 450 marlin to use 405 grain bullets in the same area.(50 grains of imr 3031 works best in that BLR)
the evidence I've seen, is that it really won,t matter,what caliber he selected or used,
if his shot placement is consistent from rapidly acquired field positions.
I like the 450 marlin BLR or the 358 win BLR .
(I just have more confidence in more bullet mass)
but a 308 win or 30/06 would be just as effective in my or anyone else I knows hands.
it will be interesting to see what he decides on and why he makes that choice.
personally, if I was in his place I think I'd go the 30/06 or 308 win route just to have a much easier time getting ammo.
(BTW if anyone suggest a 308 or a 30/06 won,t put an elk on his butt , even out at 300 yards,
with a single well placed shot...you know they are clueless and have little field experience)
He is debating browning BLR rifles in calibers,
358 win,
308 win,
30/06 sprng ,
or
450 marlin.
https://www.browning.com/products/f...r-lightweight-stainless-with-pistol-grip.html
recently lost most of his rifles in a house fire.
As a result hes on a rather limited budget and has come to the realization that he should and will be forced due to financial restraints to both be far more selective and objective in hes up-coming purchase of a new elk rifle.
He is determined to find a first-class lever action, to replace his now useless, and recently destroyed previous rifle battery,
and hes looked at the marlin and Henry 45/70 rifles and he has, not been impressed, hes decided on a BLR.
I offered him a loaner rifle, in several calibers and action styles, until he gets back on his feet financially, but he declined the offer,
the area we hunt is the thickly timbered canyon with occasional open aspen and creek bottoms,
that will rarely allow any shot exceeding 250 yards max,
and the vast majority of elk we have shot were shot at well under 130 yards.
ELK COUNTRY IN MY EXPERIENCE LOOKS MOSTLY LIKE THIS
one of my late, hunting partners had successfully used a BLR in caliber 358 win with a 250 speer bullet for 3 plus decades,
another, a rather successful member of our hunt club has used a BLR in 30/06 with 180 grain bullets.
(regularly hand load ammo for both)
I've used a BLR in 358 win on a couple hunts, using the same 250 speer bullet over 44 grains of imr 4064 and recently purchased a BLR in 450 marlin to use 405 grain bullets in the same area.(50 grains of imr 3031 works best in that BLR)
the evidence I've seen, is that it really won,t matter,what caliber he selected or used,
if his shot placement is consistent from rapidly acquired field positions.
I like the 450 marlin BLR or the 358 win BLR .
(I just have more confidence in more bullet mass)
but a 308 win or 30/06 would be just as effective in my or anyone else I knows hands.
it will be interesting to see what he decides on and why he makes that choice.
personally, if I was in his place I think I'd go the 30/06 or 308 win route just to have a much easier time getting ammo.
(BTW if anyone suggest a 308 or a 30/06 won,t put an elk on his butt , even out at 300 yards,
with a single well placed shot...you know they are clueless and have little field experience)
He is debating browning BLR rifles in calibers,
358 win,
308 win,
30/06 sprng ,
or
450 marlin.
https://www.browning.com/products/f...r-lightweight-stainless-with-pistol-grip.html
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