Well, I'm finally getting to go on my first Elk hunt (Montana) and I'm looking for some advice. I love vintage equipment and will be taking my Remington 721A in 300 H&H. My first concern is with the rifle's wooden stock. According to historical weather data, it should snow on two - three days of a six-day hunt. Second, I have a grand old Weaver 2x7 steel scope on it and am wondering if I really should put more updated glass on it because of the weather. Lastly, is the choice of bullet and weight. I'm thinking about a Barnes 200gr X Bullet, 220gr Nosler Partion, or a similar A-frame. What say the audience?

First the rifle. That rifle has been around for what, fifty years or so? Wooden stocks have been used on rifles a long time. Make sure it is sealed, maybe put a coat of Johnsons Paste Wax on it.

The Weaver scope should be fine.

Either bullet will work great for elk.

Have a great hunt!!!

I agree with Impala about the rifle, make sure it is well sealed and take it hunting.

I have no experience with the scope you mention, but the important issue is whether you think it may fog up on you. If you are not 100% sure, that is a risk for a once (or at least a first) in a lifetime hunt. In that case, I'd look at a Leupold or similar scope.

I don't know how easy it is for you with this rifle, but I *always* bring along an extra scope - all sighted in and ready to mount. Just in case...

The choice of your bullet really depends on what shots you may be presented with. MT varies widely in vegetation, and long shots are a possibility as well as being up close. Unless you are hunting heavy timber, I would personally go with a bullet in the 180-200 grs weight class - just to have a reasonable trajectory. A 180 grs TSX or a 200 grs NP spring to mind.

- mike

The caliber is a great choice. I would stick to a 180gr bullet (it doesn't have to be "premium") for a slightly flatter trajectory as distances will vary substantially. I like standard Remington or Hornady SP bullets.

The power range of the scope is pretty good but I assume it has a 32mm or smaller which could pose an issue in low light. Fogging (and freezing) is a major issue especially late in the season up here. You could try antifog wipes, but I'm not sure if they work.

Be Happy--
Don't Worry--


Seriously, if the rifle and scope are in good shape, the mount is tight, the rig shoots well--

Find a good load &-

GO Hunt

I have hunted with "vintage" rigs for many years.

Mannlicher Schoenauers, Remington 30S , etc.

I agree with MThuntr the 180 will be a better all around choice. I also don't feel that you need a "premium" bullet a good hot core, game king, or corelock will work fine and have been proven effective for decades.
As far as your as your scope goes my old weaver still works great but will fog up when it gets wet and cold

Your rifle and scope are fully adequate for your hunt. As far as bullets stick with what is most accurate in your rifle but 220s are not optimum elk medicine.

I have killed all but one elk over the past 30 years in Montana with a Model 70 300 H&H and 180 grain bullets, mostly Noslers but some Silvertips and the old standby Coreloks in factory fodder.

Plan on oiling your rifle as necessary. You may or may not have to contend with winter weather. Obviously tracking is better in the snow.

My scope is a Burris 3X9 Compact and is quite sufficient. As long as the Weaver doesn't leak it shouldn't be an issue. If it doesn't leak in Virginia, don't worry about it.

I don't know where you're headed in Montana, but you're likely to find that elk are in timber at 150 yards or less, at least on public forest service land. Open shots are more common on the big ranches out in the valleys, as in guided hunts where the elk feel more secure due to less hunting pressure. In that case, you might consider how much you really want to load up the 200 or 220 grain bullets. These sweeping vistas of huge herds with attendant majestic herd bulls in the open parks and timberline meadows is mostly fantasy, not seen after the opening morning salvo, or reserved for Yellowstone Park.

Good luck and have a GREAT HUNT.

quote:

Weaver 2x7

FWIW - Get rid of the Weaver...isn't a 2x7 rimfire? Buy a Leupold and have it professionally mounted and zeroed at 200 yds. Buy 250 rounds of whatever you plan to kill an Elk with and go to the range and practice various shooting positions - off-hand, prone, sitting, kneeling, etc.

If you are riding horseback, get a proper fitting rifle scabbard.
Just My 2 cents.
Good luck and have fun.
Dave

A few suggestions:
Remove the rifle from the stock, put a good coat of high grade furniture wax, Johnson's is fine, on the stock inside and out, let dry and repeat. Wax the metal, seriously, it works quite well. Lightly lubricate the moving parts with Breakfree. No problems.

My go to elk rifle is a 9.3x62 with a 1xto4x scope. Until last year I'd gone over 10 years with shooting an elk over 100 yds. The two I dropped last year year were about 150 and 100+. (Cow elk in a field.) Unless you're hunting Ted Turner's Flying D don't count on seeing a bull elk anywhere except black timber hell holes and shots under 100 yds. The 2x setting is about perfect for most real world public land hunting.

Bigger bullet is better, I know there are those that disagree, except I've actually killed more elk, seen more elk killed and have more friends who've killed more elk than most of the arm chair experts or fellows whose experience consists of guided hunts on private ranches. Do what you like, but I've seen the difference between a 286gr NP or a 180gr NP on elk, NO CONTEST. In black timber you might only get an a** on shot, I have and there is no substitute for length-wise penetration, broken bones and big holes.

Do what you like, but I've seen the difference between a 286gr NP or a 180gr NP on elk, NO CONTEST.

It seems the older I get, the more "UMPH"
I want in my rifles also.

I too like the higher SD, longer, heavier bullets, especially on heavier game.

Have killed Elk with a 257AI, don't recommend it, but have.

As with my LR/LtWt Mountain rifle--
Did I need to go to the 300RUM from the 6.5/284 or the 7STW probably not--
but DRT at distance was the goal,
and 210 vs 168 or 140 gr--well--
mass means something.

Hunts cost more these days, not just the guided ones, but time off,gear, travel etc--

and though I have lost only 1 big animal in these many years-- it bothers me to this day.

So unlike the smaller, faster, mono-metal trends-- I have gone bigger and heavier,
even with good shot placement,
I like the "edge" as I perceive it.

So with the 300H&H I will vote heavier Vs lighter--too-
if --
the rifle shoots the heavys better.

COL,
300 H&H with 180 gr standard bullet will absolutely do the trick. No need to call for "155" backup when a standard M1 with infantry support will do the job.
I've been hunting with an old Weaver K4 on my 300 H&H for many years. It only fogged up once and I sent it to Weaver Repair Service in El Paso and they fixed it up just fine.
I'd avoid the X bullet fad unless I was traveling to the Soviet Socialist Republic of California with all their lead ban bs. X bullets usually work just fine but the old Hornady always works.

Here's my bit of advice.. I've been in Wyoming 19 years and hunted elk for that time.. Make a decision on what bullet you'll use, (I like 180 Nosler Partitions).. get a good accurate load and then chronograph it.. KNOW your fps for sure.. then go to www.biggameinfo.com/BalCalc.aspx and type in your specs.. print out a trajectory chart for YOUR EXACT RIFLE AND LOAD, tape it to your rifle stock.. USE A GOOD RANGEFINDER and go kill your elk.. (ask me how I know.. ) see my post 'bout the herd bull Les