Reading and studying and watching every review under the sun (including Jim 20 times!) because I am a novice! Starting to hunt with my 3 sons. Looking at Fierce and Proof in 7PRC and 300 WM. In early 60’s but fit but need a fairly light rifle in the mountains. With a light rifle and muzzle break, is a 300WM too much recoil? 7 PRC in Rogue sounds pretty sweet but Jim says he has a love hate relationship with PRC in first podcast. Also, wondering about getting a rail on rifle instead of rings but really clueless on that one.
Thanks for any insights! I am new but having fun learning!
Just to add confusion, look at the 300 WSM. No belt, short action, identical ballistics to the WM (harder to find in heavier loads). But a 300 WSM in 168 gr. Barnes TTSX has a tremendous amount of energy. If not, I would probably go 7 PRC.
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Recoil won’t be a problem with a muzzle break but the noise will be tremendous. Shooting without hearing protection will plain hurt. I would seriously consider a suppressor. I also run rails on all my guns that I can. The scope might be a little taller but not much, but the ability to move the scope around for fine tuning your eye relief is much better.
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If you’re not a reloader, my number one choice would be 7 Rem Mag. It has FAR more options for loads available. If you go with a 7 PRC and your gun doesn’t like that load, you’re stuck. 300 Win Mag would also be a solid choice.
@jeshoffstall mentioned 300 WSM which I really like a lot, and could be another good choice. Another to consider would be 280AI, which would save you some recoil so you won’t need that muzzle brake which will almost certainly do hearing damage unless you wear two types of hearing protection while shooting (in-ear and over-ear).
If you ARE reloading and can control all the variables to find a load that works, then 7 PRC or any of the others would all be good choices.
As far as rifles go, Fierce is a good option, but I’d go with stainless actions and hinged floorplates. I’d recommend buying a Fierce gun directly from Cabelas rather than Fierce directly because their customer service and wait times can be a little annoying.
Proof rifles are excellent, but also very expensive. I like the Proof Elevation MTR.
Another really compelling option would be the Bergara B14 Squared Crest, which is coming out any day in 300 win mag, and would save you a bunch of money. I shot one and was very impressed.
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BTW, this original post was a great question that got me thinking about some things. I’m going to discuss this more in-depth in an upcoming episode of the Backfire Mancast.
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Thanks for advice on rails and suppressor!
Look forward to that! Enjoyed the April 3 podcast…and your wife adds a nice touch!
My first post! I have shot 300wm for a long time. I use Barnes copper 165 gr on elk and deer. I use a TC Encore with a vortex viper hst 4-16 scope. I cannot disagree on the 7mm and have just got a 7mm PRC for no other reason than I wanted one. But my 300wm is hard to leave in the safe when I go hunting because it works. The encores have very nice recoil pads and recoil is not an issue for me at all. I have shot pronghorn, bulls, cows, bucks and does with it and nothing has gone more than a few feet before tipping over.
Another rifle to consider is a Seekins if you are okay with Fierce pricing. My buddy got one in 7mm PRC that he’s waiting for snow to melt to shoot it. For the price of the Proof rifles you can possibly build some customs (assuming you have the time to wait) or find one in stock at a lot of places. Just another option to consider.
I second the choice for 7 RM/7PRC/280 AI but I’m heavily biased about 7mm cartridges personally. The 300 WSM would be on my short list of nice 30’s. If you don’t mind the ammo prices the 338 Weatherby RPM looks really nice on paper too.
Did you get to shoot it in the 300 win mag? I have been trying to find a rifle for a elk hunt this fall and was worried about the 1-10 twist in a 22" barrel. I see others like Browning have went to a 1-8 when they went to the shorter barrel? Do you think this Bullet will stay stable.
I don’t think it’d be an issue in most bullets. Check out the Berger Twist Rate Stability Calculator on their website and it should give a difinitive answer on twist rate.
Elk are EXTREEMLY tough animals with great cardio. This means you must use a caliber that has good knock down ballistics. Shot placement is vital. Even after a good shot (dead run) they will run 100 yards or more without O2. A heart shot, double lung, or nervous system hit are your best choices.
Good luck and have Fun
This is an interesting thread, but I have a question for @backfire --what cartridge would you recommend for a new youth shooter going after his first elk? Like, what is the “.243 of elk” cartridges? Something with a bit lower recoil but still plenty of umph to get the job done confidently, where you’re not worried about it being underpowered?
I just recently took my nephew on his first hunting experience (feral hog), we had a great time, and he will be joining me for deer this fall, but sometime next year (2024) I would love to find us an Elk opportunity somewhere out west. I just don’t know if something like 7 Rem Mag even is appropriate for ~13 years old (14 by next year) with slight frame? Especially when his experience to date = .243 Win?? (My initial thoughts were 7mm-08 but wondering if that is “underpowered”)
I’ve seen the 7mm-08 recommended a lot for younger shooters. I think if you had a limb saver recoil pad and a muzzle break/suppressor, you’d be fine with the 7mm Rem Mag. Not sure I’d have them shoot a 300 WM, but maybe it’s manageable if it’s setup properly. 
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IMO I would start with either a 7mm-08, 308, or a 270 Win.
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I like those as well, what do you (and others) think about 6.5 CM or PRC? Is that diameter just too small?
In Kentucky (where I live) there’s a minimum diameter requirement so all of the 6.5’s are “elk illegal” in the state. There’s a requirement that you have to use a cartridge with at least a 27 caliber bullet at a minimum.
For that reason I’ve personally never gotten into 6.5’s as a “do all” cartridge but to each their own. Not saying they don’t work. Never found a reason to try them.
Agree with @iiiNelson about the 6.5’s. They’re great cartridges and have their place, but are not a do-everything round. If you’re concerned about managing recoil, you could consider the 270 Win (Plug here for the recoil data base @backfire published) and it is proven on elk for almost 100 years. I love my 270 Win. If recoil isn’t as much an issue, you could consider 7 Rem Mag or 300 WSM. Both have a little less recoil than 300 WM. At most reasonable ranges, I’m going to borrow the Ron Spomer line and say the animal won’t be able to tell the difference between the two and there is better ammo selection than the 7 PRC. Of course that will likely change over time. If you think you might be taking longer shots, at game or at the range, the PRC has the advantage with similar recoil to the 300 WSM. Some of it comes down to personal preference. While I like hearing about the latest and greatest, I’m not one to abandon proven cartridges for the hot new thing. Did I mention I love my 270 Win? And for my next rifle I’m going with the 300 WSM.
Shot my first elk with a 240 Weatherby mag with a 95 grain bullet. Killed that bull flat dead. 243 will work with a broadside shot and proper bullet placement. I would do a 7mm08 or 6.5 CM
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Kind of depends what elk for youth. Huge difference between a 6x6 vs. a cow. Pun intended. I would shoot cows with the 6.5 stuff and on up. 270 or the 7mm-08.
Now here is where I get in trouble. If I am hunting for bulls - 7mm mags and 30-06 and up. Some will scream about 308 not on that list or 6.5s. But I do not want to chance a big bull walking away. As others have said - a 6x6 bull likely the toughest animal any of us will hunt. More so than moose imo. And I have shot both. Not a lot of moose but it seemed different. Only a griz would be tougher but most us aren’t doing that. So for kids (12-15) cows. 16 yr old and older that can handle the 06 recoil or more all of it. Just my opinion.
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