stalking or still hunting rifles

Grumpy

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member



everyone will have a basic idea of the typical "still hunting rifle"

for most of the people I hunted with for decades, it was going to be reasonably light weight, fairly short length over all,
and most likely chambered in a cartridge that you totally trust to be lethal to any game you'll see, out to about 150 yards or more.
what most people I talk to want is a fast easy to handle carbine that drops game with authority if shot placement is decent,
most hunters typically want access to a fast second shot, but it's the ease of making that first accurate shot that's critical.
this takes well documented penetration an the ability to reach the vitals from less than ideal angles!

keep in mind you'll be carrying this rifle expecting to use it effectively at generally shorter ranges on what will frequently be
a walking target, you'll want something ideally under 7lbs , probably with iron sights or a small low power scope.
for many people thats the description of a lever action carbine, a few may prefer a slide action (pump) or a semi auto!
(yes a scope like this 4x16/50mm scope
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HYRGSLC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
works great but it is larger than required)(but it can be very helpful in low light conditions)
ON EACH AND EVERY ELK PHOTO, YOU WOULD AIM OR PLACE THE SCOPE CROSSHAIRS ABOUT 12 " HIGHER,THAN THE HEART IS SHOWN LOCATED,
THIS WOULD RESULT IN A LETHAL HIT FROM BETWEEN ABOUT 10 YARDS UP TO ABOUT 250 YARDS WITH MOST RIFLES

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FOR MANY OF US,
slowly walking through the woods looking for game.
is how we spend a great deal of or time "HUNTING"
this basically favors a short light weight easy to handle carbine
something rather different that a stand hunter ,
who might be asked to make much longer range, precise shots,
and where a need for a fast second shots less likely


my 7600 remington in 35 whelen (DAMN NEAR IDEAL IN MY OPINION)
my browning blr in 358 or 450 marlin caliber a ( VERY CLOSE SECOND PLACE)
even my ruger falling block in 270 win fit the requirements easily,
I don't think any pistol caliber carbine has the required near instant lethality to be in this group!
the only bolt action I FEEL fits that group in my sako 375 h&h (AND I ONLY SELECT IT FOR ELK IN DEEP COVER)

they are not the rifle you select if you're thinking, about having if you might get a shot at 400-500 yards
but a running deer or elk that typically jumps up or tries sneaking away from you in thick cover,
at 40-60 yards should be a reasonably easily handled target.

grumpyvette

Thread 'LONG RANGE CALIBERS FOR ELK ARE NOT MANDATORY'

now obviously this is a bit tongue in cheek,
because different areas may require different equipment,
and if you watch most videos or out door shows,
or read most hunting magazines,
you might get the idea most elk and mule deer are usually shot at long distance in open grass lands.
While this is true in some areas,
,its certainly not true for many areas I've hunted over 5 decades, most of the guys I started hunting elk with,
advised...

Grumpy

Thread 'Looking For A Decent Cartridge And Rifle Combo In A Deer/elk Rifle'

Id point out right up front, that we all, have preferences based on our personal experience's
and
it's a fact that most centerfire cartridges used by a consistently accurate shot, with good ammo at reasonable ranges by a hunter,
who understands a cartridges limitation's,
can make a rifle so chambered work well, in most areas.

but there are basic ballistic and physics standards ,we all need to judge our choices by,
choices made in reliability, carry weight, fit, function, consistent ,repeatable...

T-Test

Thread 'Lever Actions'

https://gunandsurvival.com/2020/09/25/enduring-legend-evolution-of-the-lever-action-rifle/
lever action rifle designs are almost exclusively an AMERICAN,design.
most lever actions use a many decades old rear locking bolt design limited to about a 42K cartridge pressure level,
only a few modern designs like the browning BLR are designed to handle the modern 50k-55K cartridge pressure levels safely
and there's absolutely zero question that many of the cartridges available in many lever actions like a 45/70, 30/06, 358 win significantly outperform cartridges like a 30/30 or 44...

Grumpy

Thread '358 win related (one of the more effective cartridge choices in my experience)'

two of the most effective cartridge choices I've used and two of the favorite cartridges,
used by several of the guys I've hunted with for decades use
are the browning BLR in 358 win, and the 35 Whelen , cartridge,
chambered in the Remington 7600 slide action and the Remington and Ruger bolt actions.
having a decent bi-pod and sling and quality scope on your hunting rifle so you can shoot accurately from a seated position helps a great deal.
ONE CRITICAL SKILL ALMOST ALL SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS MASTER.
IS UNDERSTANDING THE STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE WEAPONS THEY...


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btw most of the guys I reload for prefer the sierra 225 grain bullets in a 358 win or speer 250 grain in the 35 whelan or in the 358 BLR carbines

I would point out that in most cases many of the guys I hunt with use a REMINGTON 7600 in 35 WHELAN or a BROWNING BLR chambered in 358 WIN, and ranges where we see and shoot elk in the rolling aspen and conifer tend to be in the 100-150 yard range far more often than at longer ranges, mostly because its rare to even be able to even see elk at ranges exceeding 200 yard in that type of cover these 225 grain or 250 grain 35 caliber bullets shot from those rifles, have proven very effective
Grumpy

Post in thread 'whats your favorite and most used big game rifle?'

I occasionally have guys I see at the local range or if I meet someone out in the field start a discussion, about the suitability, characteristics, advantages or problems ,
they seem to think are all important in the rifle and cartridge , I or they are carrying.
(think deer and elk hunting as the basic back ground for the discussion)
I don,t at times know if its based on envy, curiosity ,our some unconscious need they have to justify their particular choices in equipment vs what I'm carrying.
Ive generally found , that if you want to logically discuss the subject, you should start with a...

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

35 Caliber .358 Diameter 225 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail Gameking 50 Count

35 Caliber .358 Diameter 225 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail Gameking 50 Count by SIERRA BULLETSFor rifles, when Remington standardized the popular .35 Whelen wildcat cartridge, Sierra designed the 225 grain #2850 Spitzer Boat Tail bullet for the 35 Whelen and similar cartridges. This bullet has a...
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

35 Caliber .358 Diameter 250 Grain Hot Cor Spitzer Soft Point 50 Count

35 Caliber .358 Diameter 250 Grain Hot Cor Spitzer Soft Point 50 Count by SPEER Product Overview: Get incredibly reliable all-range accuracy and terminal performance with Speer Hot-Cor bullets. Molten lead is poured into the jacket during the construction process to maximize consistency while...
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Grumpy

Post in thread 'Looking For A Decent Cartridge And Rifle Combo In A Deer/elk Rifle'

if I was asked to pick the two best elk hunting cartridges,
for me it's a very easy choice
, the 340 weatherby and 375 H&H easily fill that nich, but it's not the cartridge you use ,
it's how well you understand its strengths and limitations and your skill in its use!
in the list of cartridges best suited to that usage, if you ask WHY? I think that?, it's simply, every elk I ever shot or saw shot with those rifles, did exactly what as an elk hunter you hope and expect to happen, on bullet impact the elk obviously was hit lethally, few moved more than a few yards and most dropped...





 
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keep in mind that the projectile you use ,
and how CONSISTENTLY well you place your shots MATTERS

30/06 Springfield (moderate recoil)
(generally the 165-200 grain projectiles)
300 win mag (noticeable but tolerable recoil)
(generally the same 165-200 grain projectiles but about 200 fps faster velocity)
45/70 (recoil depends on the loads used they go from mild to noticeable)
(350-405 grain bullets in a lever action with a 5-8 cartridge capacity)
375 H&H (recoil is more than some hunters can easily handle)
(almost the standard stopping rifle using 270 grain-300 grain bullets)
(but with at least a 300 yards reach)
(338 win mag or its improved 340 wby loaded with a 250 grain bullet gives impressive results)
(recoil is noticeably more than 300 mag but a bit less than the 375 H&H)
these last two the 340 wby and the 375 H&H are the rifles I used on most elk hunts)
 
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grumpyvette

Thread 'what are you looking for in an elk rifle'

theres always been a constant debate on what a good ELK rifle caliber is,
ID simply point out that almost any center-fire deer rifle will work
when everything goes right,
but remember while almost any center-fire rifle from 25-45 caliber will work,
if the guy holding it has the experience and skill to use it to its full potential,
and understands its limitations.:like:
you are certainly not going to need a 458 lott or 458 win to hunt elk,
but both rifles, if hand-loaded to milder ,but hot 45/70 power levels...
 
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when properly loaded with heavier bullet weights, for caliber,
with proper shot placement and at reasonable ranges for the cartridge,
as always its the skill and consistency of the hunter that maters

30/06
300 mag
300 prc
338 mag
340 wby
35 Whelan
7mm rem mag
375 H&H
 
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