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This Is My Western Big Game Rifle; Share Yours

By: Josh Dahlke
13 comments Mixed Bag with Josh Dahlke

Nov 07

At the end of this week I'll leave the Midwestern whitetail rut behind for my first-ever Western big game hunt in southwestern Montana. I'm feeling a mix of anxiety, nervousness and excitement for this high-elevation pursuit, but thankfully I'm confident in my rifle setup.

Guiding the adventure will be The Montana Way Outfitters. I'll share camp with friends from EOTech and Mike Schoby, editor of Petersen's Hunting. We'll all have big game combination licenses in our pockets, allowing us to target both elk and mule deer in the remote area where we'll be hunting. I'd be glad to kill either beast—I've never chased either—but our hope is to take mature bull elk.

EOTech is hosting the hunt as part of their active expansion from military and law enforcement applications into the hunting world. We'll be utilizing EOTech's state-of-the-art holographic weapon sights to try and fill our tags. From what I've gathered, the other guys will be donning AR-10s because the AR platform naturally accomodates EOTech's rail-mounted products. However, I want to kill my first mountain critter with a bolt rifle—just because—so I put together my own unique setup.

I'll be shooting a Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle chambered in .308 Win., topped with a custom Picatinny rail from XS Sight Systems. Sitting on the rail is an EOTech XPS2 sight (XPS2-0 reticle). Behind the sight on a Quick Switch to Side (STS) mount is an EOTech G33.STS 3X magnifier, allowing for improved long-range accuracy. The optics sit rather high, so I attached a Blackhawk! Rifle Cheek Pad to attain a comfortable cheek weld. (Note: It pays to know gun gurus such as Ron Spomer and Richard Mann when getting this sophisticated.)

After methodical testing of five different ammo types, I found that my Ruger Gunsite Scout really loves Federal's 165-grain Trophy Bonded Tips. Shooting from sandbags out to 100 yards using just the sight (magnifier flipped to side), I'm drilling consistent 2-inch groups. I know an elk's vitals are much bigger than that. Now it's onward to some 200-yard practice before I head West.

During the next week I'll discover how this setup works in the rough Rocky Mountain terrain against some of the toughest big game animals in North America. I'll provide more of the rifle specs and details from the hunt later.

In the meantime, please tell me about your Western big game rifles below.

 

13 comments

# jareddavidson1
Wednesday, November 07, 2012 6:32 PM
Ruger M77 30-06 with a Nikon Buckmaster scope using 180 grain Hornady SST. Good for a mule deer to a bull elk only rifle I need here in Colorado.
# dcarter11
Wednesday, November 07, 2012 8:20 PM
I hope that you video your hunt. That would be a fine way to share your hunt with the rest of use her at NACH. Your Rifle really looks awesome with your optics setup and I am sure you will have no problem putting down an elk or mule deer with your 308. I have a Russian Mosen Nagant which shoots a 7.62x54r which is about the same as a .308 and let me tell you, That thing will really do a number on a white tail. I know it would do just fine with bigger prey. Best of luck to you on your hunt. Have a good time.
# Crouch Jr
Wednesday, November 07, 2012 9:15 PM
Since I grew up out west, and have lived here my whole life, I cut my hunting teeth on mule deer, pronghorn and elk. I now utilize several different rifles, for different circumstances and terrain. However, my favorite setup for all-around use is my Ruger M-77 Mark II in 7-mm Rem. Mag. It is now topped with a Nikon Monarch 4x16x44mm with the bdc reticle. It is stainless with a laminated stock and a Timney trigger. It is flat shooting and has the power to put down elk, moose or bears. I stoke it with 160 gr. Barnes TSX BT. If had to go with only 1 rifle this would do everything I need it to do and do it well. Goodluck on your Mont. hunt.
# bdiaz16
Thursday, November 08, 2012 12:14 PM
I use a Steyr Model M (circa 1993) in 30-06 mounted with a Nightforce 3.5-15x50 with a mildot reticle for those really long range shots that can be common out here. Didn't need quite that much glass this year as I got my elk at 175 yds in timber and heavy brush. The Steyr has the ability--if you push the trigger forward--to become a set trigger with a very, very light trigger pull. You basically almost blow on it to make it go bang! That's nice for those long range shots where you can take your time. I use a Thomson Icon in 308 as a backup rifle mounted with a nice Leupold VX-7L 4.5-18x56. Both are sighted in a 200 yds and have bubble levels.
# GKING14
Thursday, November 08, 2012 3:22 PM
Dying to try my new Weatherby 300 WBY mag this year. There isn't much it won't takedown.
# wishunter2
Thursday, November 08, 2012 4:34 PM
I use my Remington 760 GameMaster pump-action in 30.06 (made in 1960) with a factory reconditioned 3-9x32 Bushnell Sportview scope. The scope was sighted in at 200yds. I shoot Remington 150gr Accutips for antelope and mule deer. I used this combination to take my first antelope several years ago now at 400+ verified yards. It took alot of practice and rounds getting ready.
# npaul
Thursday, November 08, 2012 5:37 PM
That rifle should do the trick. Since you have not hunted Elk before you should be made aware that once you have hunted them you will be consumed with hunting them. I know I am. After you bag one with a gun you should give bow hunting them a try. There’s nothing quite like it.
Good luck.
# pmumm
Friday, November 09, 2012 2:51 PM
I have a Ruger #1 25:06 with a 3.5x10x50 Leupold scope and was able to tak an antelope a 650-700 yards
# gman
Friday, November 09, 2012 11:23 PM
i use a winchester in .308 now used to use a remington 722 in 308 finaly had to put her away but have never had any trouble puting game down with either 308.
# tomfales
Saturday, November 10, 2012 7:23 AM
I find that many shots at elk, especially later in the season, are 400 plus yards so I try to target practice at 500 to insure my accuracy with my 7mm Mag Remington 700 cdl
# jboshoven
Saturday, November 10, 2012 10:48 PM
Winchester Model 70 in .270 Win, 130 gr nosler hand loads. Leupold 4-12 Vari X 3 with AO. Only hunt Mule Deer and antelope so far. Someday would like to try elk, have a Winchester Model 70 in .338 Win mag topped with a 3-9 Leupold. Probably use 225 gr Horanady hand loads since they shoot on holers at 100 yrs on the bench.

jack
# rmiller5
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 3:46 PM
Good luck on your hunt Josh I have a Rem.700BDL 300win Mag with a Burris 3X9 fullfeild 2 just put a Rem realtree hardwood stock shoots great i have taken Elk out too 350yrds use 165 grn nosler hand loads knocks them fast if i do my part

rmiller5
# joseph.bigelow
Sunday, November 25, 2012 7:29 AM
i use a savage 116model bear, 338 win mag 225gr rounds, with a Nikon monarch 5-20x44 scope. droped moose 1 shot took out both lungs and had plenty of punch to go right through like hot knife in butter

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