What is your favorite rifle setup for Colorado elk hunting?

[brightwhite]

I have several smaller caliber rifles (.25-06, .22-250, & .223), but I need to add a larger caliber to my collection for elk hunting here in Colorado.  I am also curious to what scope brand and power you like on your setup.


Here is what I am leaning towards setting myself up with to cover me for Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, and any of the bigger stuff I hunt in Colorado.


Ruger American .30-06 shooting a 180gr bullet (I tend to lean toward Federal)
Leupold VX1 3-9x40 Scope
a good set of Warne rings


Have I made good choices?  What would you change?

 

[hank4elk]

8) That should work fine,try 165's  too.    That or a 300 WM....

 

[cowboystl1]

perfect setup or a Remington model700 same caliber i would play with the rounds and see what your rifle shoots best im a fan of hornady my self they shoot best out of my rifle. 180 grain is the best round for elk in that round IMO

 

[brightwhite]

perfect setup or a Remington model700 same caliber i would play with the rounds and see what your rifle shoots best im a fan of hornady my self they shoot best out of my rifle. 180 grain is the best round for elk in that round IMO

I will look at Hornady.  I usually sight the gun in with something cheaper like the winchester super-x soft points, then start running some other stuff through it.  I will certainly look at the hornady stuff.


How about the 3-9x scope?  Should I go with more magnification or stay around there? 


How about a bi-pod...do those of you that have them like them and use them for big game?  I use my bi-pod on my .22-250 for varmint and coyote hunting all the time, but not sure about the extra weight going up and down the mountains chasing deer and elk.

 

[brightwhite]

8) That should work fine,try 165's  too.    That or a 300 WM....

I like the idea of the flatter shooting bullet, but everything I have read said go with a 180gr and that the difference in trajectory isn't that much, but the energy down range is significant.  What bullet do you like to shoot in the 165gr?

 

[cowboystl1]

165 will kill an elk but is better for white tail and mule deer better expansion . im no fan of a bipod never needed one chasing elk worst case id shoot off my pack or a limb. as far as scope your right on the money any bigger you risk loosing an up close shot. im no distance shooter i like my animals up close and personal  if your planning on shooting out past 400 or 500 yards you may want to consider a different setup all together inside of that 3x9x40 leo, vortex, or bushnell will do all day

 

[brightwhite]

165 will kill an elk but is better for white tail and mule deer better expansion . im no fan of a bipod never needed one chasing elk worst case id shoot off my pack or a limb. as far as scope your right on the money any bigger you risk loosing an up close shot. im no distance shooter i like my animals up close and personal  if your planning on shooting out past 400 or 500 yards you may want to consider a different setup all together inside of that 3x9x40 leo, vortex, or bushnell will do all day

Great, thanks for the advice.  I think I will bypass that bi-pod and look for a shooting stick that will double as a hiking stick as well.  That might be the best thing I could add to my collection that I don't have today.

 

[cowboystl1]

cabellas has them with the y on the top adjustable length  im a one stick walker myself i see a lot of guys using trekking poles and a stick or trekkers are awesome when the pack is heavy i also have an adapter for my pole to mount my binos for glassing or camera for filming

 

[RUTTIN]

A friend of mine had an awesome set of collapsible shooting sticks made by Easton you might want to check them out.


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