If you could take any gun and any scope to Colorado to hunt elk and mule deer, what would it be and why?

I can't seem to settle on any one. I like short and light but need to balance that with long range capability. I have a couple in mind that meets one of the two but can't find one perfect combo. Would like to stay under $2,000 for the combo.

.260 of course! Would want a 24 inch length though. Savage Remington T-C.Scope? Sightiron just cause it's kinda outta normal.

Kimber Montana 300wsm, Swarovski z6 2.5-15x44mm

Brad, I like my Browning 30/06.I've got 300 Weatherby Mag , and 300 Winchester Mag , either would do fine.

Savage Lightweight Hunter 30-06 with a Leica ER-I 2.5x10x42. You'll come in under $2000 by a couple hundred

My weatherby s2 6.5creedmore with 140gr accubonds topped with a 44mm vortex viper has served me well harvesting a cow elk 200yd behind the shoulder pass through practice out to 600yds very accurate but thats just my thoughts but 260,308,243 is just as good if thats your thing to seen several drop to a 308 but never to a 243 or 260 not saying they won't just no first hand experience

7mm stw. I just like fast cartridges.

If you don't want to buy a rifle for the trip, I have a wthby 270mag you can borrow for the hunt. No we don't know each other. I figure anyone on here that has 22 thousand posts is probably a pretty good guy.

That is a mighty generous offer.
Very impressive

This my 257 or my #1 pick would probably be my lazzeroni

270wsm, 6.5 creedmoor, or 30-06

Oh and Trox's 280 would be a sweet rifle also..

270wsm finnlight.

Sako/Swarovski 7mag

Have browning abolt 300wsm with zeiss diavari z 3x12x56 I'd rent for the hunt

My neighbor took it to Colorado and killed an elk last year

Are you walking a lot? If so then think about the weight of the rifle.

Good choice right here only the scope will run you about 2000 by itself. Substitute a Swarovski 3.5 x 18 x 44mm for about 1200 and the gun will run you about 1000. Pretty close to two grand and a great, lightweight package with downrange punch. Load it with 180 Nosler Accubonds and go kill elk & mule deer.

I would take my old .270 Rem., dead is dead.

That's what I took when I went elk hunting in Idaho. Only time anything but a 130gr bullet was shot in it. I bought a box of 140gr Winchester failsafes and sight in with them for that hunt. After the hunt I went back to the 130s

It sure would