Who shoots one and what is your pet load?

I’ll look tonight on the powder charge. 180 swift sirocco RL 25 powder.

180 gr accubond in front of 93 gr retumbo.

180 grain

I have shot many 300 Winchester Mags and 300 Wby Mags and a few 338 Winchester Mag. And finally decided I don't need that big of rifle. They kick the crap out of you and do not kill any faster than a 30-06 and 6.5 x 284. That is why I shoot my 6.5 x 284 about 90 % of the time and 30-06 10% of the time.
My big Magnum rifle never get shot anymore.

Yep, unless dangerous game hunting, otherwise I equate it to a little guy in a lifted truck kinda thing…lol

Yeah, or a guy that had his hip replaced, and has to hunt from a a four wheeler and has to make shots on elk at four and 500 yards because that’s as close as he can get without spooking them.

Cotton those high volume to bore ratio require the slowest powders. The rifle that I built for the guy mentioned above was fond of Sierra 180 Gr game, kings with near maximum charges of Retumbo.

Rattles my bones. Shivers my timbers.

Just me but seems like someone in bad shape would be better off with a lower recoil rifle. It's not like any standard cal candy take elk at 500 yards just fine and drop and win drift is not likely much or any better than a high bc 6.5 or 7mm. Cal. I mean a 6.5 creed has less drop and wind drift by 10" at 1000 yards.

Just my personal preference is to shoot lighter recoil accurate rounds that get the job done. I'm not old and restricted in my movement. But if I were I really would like hard recoil less.

big rifles are fun

Sure, yet I don't see anything .30 as big. Rather shoot a 338 Lapua if I feel I need a large gun. Bmg is fun but not at 300 yards. And my kids have shot them both as young as 9 years old.

Still yet a 7mm08 will kill an elk just fine at 500 yards.

Probably I'm just cheap and would rather burn 43 GR of power than 70+ per shot. I won't get the recoil and can shoot more for the same cost and those tow things will make me a better shoot.

My cousin had a 300 prc built it was like a Lazer. But even at 300 yards to much for deer in my opinion. Probably ok for elk off a 4 wheeler. Recoil was not to bad due to the weight of the gun but it was not something your going to pack up a mountain. They have their place for sure. Just seems like there are better options. In either direction.
The good news it we have so many choices so there is something for everyone. What I used to think was great I don't like so as much. Why experience, age, changing needs.
Guns are like golf clubs a different one for different task.

Providence farm I said his injury was in his hip, not his shoulder. I took care of the recoil with 11 ounces of mercury in the bud stock. And a custom break that I built myself. Recoil was less than a 7 mm WSM that I was working on at the same time.
Just curious, how many elk have you shot over there in Indiana?

Whenever I here the reasoning that just because a cartridge can kill an animal it is an adequate cartridge for hunting that species I think of the once long standing world record grizzly taken with a 22 rimfire. I believe 22 shorts or long if memory serves me. Always wonder why more don't use such a proven bear cartridge.

That the load I been shooting for years, but I hear they are not making retumbo any more.

Retumbo is in stock at Powder Valley

Just assumption on my part hip injury is normal an older person. They tend to be more sensitive and don't heal up as fast.

I also am cheap and enjoy shooting more than a box of shells at a time. And it's cheaper to shoot other rounds and can get the same results. And if shots are long that means more practice is needed.

Just me but I'd I need a big gun it will be bigger than .30 and more efficient and more energy. Only reason for me to stay .30 would be If I didn't want to buy a larger cal suppressor. Yep recoil can be reduced and why my kids when only max 80lb were shooting desert tech suppressed 338s and suppressed arm light 50 bmg at such a young age. a break would be my last choice but I like what little hearing I have left but they are effective.

I understand more gun and that's why I prefer things like 243 and 7/08 for coyote vs a 5.56. Bang flop vs spinner and flipper.

Different things for different people. We all have our preferences. Those preferences have changed for me based on needs and experience.

I have never shot an elk probably never will. I tend to gravitate twords the cheapest most effective tool for the job that gets the job done to my standards. Ballistics don't always reflect killing performance. Yet going back and forth for years in Magnum guns and shooting mostly inside 600 yards occasionally out to 1100 I came to have my preference. Hard recoil nearly 2x more powder burnt for a couple inches less drop and drift (especially when at 500 or less) was not worth the minimal gain. I like light, accurate, efficient, and quiet with energy to put the critters down at my expected range. For me and if I were hunting Elk it is obvious not the same thing you would choose. That's why we have choices. .22 lr to the head drops deer faster than a 300 in the chest at 40 yards . But neither is my
preferred choice. Lots of things work very well. Pick what you like.

Got to say if I couldn't walk well I would not be taking long shots on game alone especially big game. It's hard to find where animals were standing at 100 yards let alone 500 across a cannon. I shot a deer at 302 with a muzzle loader once when I was on a walker from a wreck. It dropped I needs help to get it up the steep hill. Can't say I would want to pack an elk very far even In pieces. Then again maybe the area most places can be driven to ?

Edit I sold my .50bmg. Fun but not practical or useful for me to have so much capital tied up in at the time.

i like my boat paddle stock stainless old ruger 300 win mag. bought it new. folks talked about how ugly it is. seems everyone wants one now. put a timney trigger in it. original was awful. it hits hard out there a ways. takes a good bunch of powder. barnes tsx shine in it. hits where i aim it.

Providence Farm, a good mule is a real nice criiter to take elk hunting

They have been on my I think would be the best option for me to ride list for a while now. But they are not very common around here or I just have not found the enthusiast in my area yet. I'm not a skilled rider, don't need to go fast, so something sure footed and not likely to spook could be the ticket. But the noise and looks. They just aren't as good looking as most horses. Yet have been growing on me.

like everything there is plus and minuses. if you get serious about one give tommy a call.