Hi All, new to the club, but with a burning question.
I am getting closer to retirement and I would like to do an elk hunt as a reward, but I also want to reward myself with a fancy new rifle for it. I have always hunted whitetail in Eastern Oklahoma, usually with a 30-06 or 45-70. I know the 30-06 would work, but I got a Sig Cross in 308 last year and I like it, so I am thinking about a Tikka Ace Game in either 6.5 PRC or 7mm PRC. I just don't know which, or if I even want to bother with the new fad cartridges. I also like the look of the Bergara HMR or Sierra.
I'm looking for advice for those rifles in those calibers, or just any advice in general. I like shooting long at the range, but where I hunt, a long hunting shot is 150 yards, so elk ranges would be a new thing for me. I don't climb up and down hills, so rifle weight means little to me, other than light = kick. I can lug one to a stand and sit, but if weight is that important, I need to know!
Oh, on the Cross I also have a QD Dead Air suppressor, so I'm not quite so archaic as my calibers of choice make me look.
Thank you,
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Not every elk hunt is long range, but I can’t image many that don’t include miles and miles of hiking and climbing (unless you have a spot that does a blind, I have heard of some that have that). 10lbs is about as heavy as I’d recommend for a Magnum cartridge, you could go down to 8-9 for something lighter. If you’re worried about recoil, a 7mm-08 is going to do the job out to about 400yards, which is a pretty long poke for hunting.
I have a 7prc on a chassis and with the break and the backstop, recoil is very managable. 6.5prc will also do the job. So if you like the Tikka Ace, I might lean in towards the 6.5.
BTW - I will be taking my 45-70 Marlin on my elk hunt this year. I have a couple spots on the unit I hunt where the longest shot will be about 80 yards. It is a hammer at that distance.
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Oh yeah, my Marlin 45-70 is a hammer here in the hills and brush. Love it. The Hornady Lever ammo changed the game there.
I prefer still hunting to stand hunting, so the hiking part will be new to me. Gotta get in shape for that. I appreciate it, and I’m leaning toward the 6.5, but wanted to make sure it was “enough” gun. Wish I could just buy them all.
6.5 PRC is enough, accuracy is king. I personally don’t shoot a 6.5 anything but I have watched video after video of 6.5 PRC getting it done on monster bull elk. Saw one video where a senior citizen hunter in Washington or Oregon took down a monster Rosy.
Nice. Now, we have to throw in the “cheap” factor. These new bullets are EXPENSIVE compared to the old things I can find on any shelf. 
I don’t have a 6.5 anything either. I’ve always believed in the 30 caliber, but dang there is a lot of hype! I guess I did buy in several years ago and I had a 223 WSSM. I didn’t keep it long, but it was longer than it was supported, and I guess it made me gun shy, literally, when it comes to new calibers.
Yeah, the PRC ammo is going to cost you more… but there is plenty of 6.5 PRC offerings. Its a proven hit with consumers, which is what will keep it on the shelves.
Here are my picks for your situation:
Tikka Supervarmint in 6.5 PRC and then upgrade to a nice carbon stock or chassis. Same barrel as the ACE but you’ll have a much lighter rifle by using an aftermarket stock/chassis.
Sako S20 Hunter in 6.5 PRC Excellent rifle. Garrett swears by it.
Tikka Ace Game 6.5 PRC is a heck of a rifle. Pretty heavy but it’ll shoot lights out. The chassis is great but… heavy.
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Ben and Marc,
Can you help me persuade Jim to make a Backstop Recoil Pad for the Marlin 1895 45-70 Govt?
It kills on both ends!
Although a stock Browning X-bolt 308 is the only rifle that left me bruised and sore after a day at the range.
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I think you already have your elk gun in that sig cross 308, if you don’t like humping up the mountains you might look at land owner tags that are available at a higher cost, but the money your saving by using what you already have can be put towards that. I know they do a lot of stand hunting over watering holes in New Mexico, check with Hunts - True Grit Trophy Outfitters as they have some good land owner connections etc, with good honest reviews.
Garrett likes the 90 hunter? I thought he was an s20 kind of guy. Hopefully have some content coming for this?
Sorry about that. Edited my post to say s20 now.
Excellent. Now, I just need to get in shape for hiking/ packing. I did see something about pack goats the other day though….
There’s not a backstop for 45-70 Marlin already? I actually need one to lengthen my eye relief/ l.o.p. My scope is pushed as far forward as it will go and I still have to pull my head back to get a clear window.
Your Sig Cross 308 would work fine. I have a 6.5prc and 300wm, im really in love with the 6.5 sub moa all day long. Im reloading with the Berger 156g EOL bullet.
Good luck on your hunt get in shape.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out. I honestly think I’m looking for a change in experience and terrain from what I’ve grown up on. What I definitely don’t want is the “controlled hunt” where you drive over to the feed trough, told “shoot that one,” and set up on the truck hood. But…. I don’t want to wreck myself on a mountain either.
Really appreciate all the advice. Wealth of knowledge in here!
I just picked up the Tikka T3X Ace Game in 6.5 CM for range and PRS plinking - and it’s a hammer, but think it’s oddly maybe 1.5 lbs heavy for hunting once you’ve got an optic and brake. The Tikka ACE series are perhaps the best factory rifles in their price range. For hunting I’m running the Bergara Carbon Crest Squared chambered in 300 win-mag - which is plenty light (running a Leupold Mark IV scope) with a banish 30 suppressor and MDT hunt bipod (6 oz) and weigh in at 10.7 lbs. I hunt in Western MT, SE WA and NE Oregon so the terrain is fairly rugged and there’s a lot of overland travel, climbing, down-climbing, etc. I think Jim’s suggestion is spot-on regarding the Varmint. I plan to build a second hunting rifle and will chamber in 6.5 PRC and leaning hard towards the MDT Hunt26 chassis (weight ranges from 26 - 31oz). Will likely go Tikka short action which would accommodate the varmint. You can get a folding stock configuration which is great depending on your type of hunt and how much overland travel you may have to begin a hunt. Also in hindsight, I would not go with a carbon fiber barrel due to heat management requirements at the range. It’s fine for hunting, but if you want to experiment with determining what ammo your rifle works best with, the range experience with a carbon fiber barrel requires patience due to how fast the barrel heats up and the impact on accuracy (at least for the Bergara I’m running – which can do 1/2 minute after a cold bore shot followed by a 5 shot group and then cooling the rifle with a barrel and bore fan).
if there was a backstop of the Marlin 336/1895, i’d def buy one. need it for a 444 Marlin
WANTED: Backstop for Marlin 336 and 1895.
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Circling back….. my plan is get an Ace Game and then buy a hunting stock for it, rather than Jim’s suggestion of buying the Varmint and then buying a chassis. Stocks have more options and are generally less expensive than the chassis, so in my mind I’m coming out money ahead. Probably looking at a B&C stock.
I appreciate all the advice!
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Walked into my gun shop today and there sat a 6.5 PRC Super Varmint, so I got to get my hands on one. Didn’t buy it, deviates from my plan, but I did get a feel for it. First impression was that it felt a little front heavy, but I’m sure I’ll be back by today to verify that impression. Thought about it all evening. At the price they have it, I don’t know if I can walk by again.
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