You know actually the recoil on that .340wby isn't that bad. Its got a muzzle break on it so its not bad at all. To answer your questions: Yes a rangefinder is ABSOLUTELY necessary for any thing over 200yds..I always have mine with me. Wind is a concern for me out at 500yds plus. The big 225gr .338 bullets don't get pushed around by the wind unless its a very stiff wind which if thats the case I shorten my shots or don't shoot. As far the .340 being better than the .300wsm, heck I don't know. It does provide more downrange energy by virtue of the weight of the bullet and velocity, if that means anything to you.. As far as shooting the rifle.. I shoot it quite a bit so I'm very comfortable with the rifle. I practice from 20yds to 700 right now. As I get better and more accomplished I can extend that but for now thats plenty far for me. To me the rifle recoils about like a .270 so I can shoot it all day without ill effects.
I friend left his .300 Weatherby at my house. I ask and got permission to rebarrel it to .340. I made a brake to tame the recoil. He shot it a couple days ago. In fact he probably shot more than a box of shell. There was one empty box and maybe only three or four in the other box. He said the recoil was way less than before.
"Only Christ is the fullness of God's revelation." Everyday Hunter
Spent a great deal of time in that part of the world doing what you are about to. Almost bought myself a lease from the Chinese Govt. to do it professionally. The problem is 3/4 clients can't hang. The altitude and cold are too much for most. The kickbacks and corruption were too much for me. DO NOT TAKE A RIFLE THAT YOU EXPECT TO RETUN WITH!!! You are most likely not going to come home with it. Take a tuned 300 WSM or 7MM nothing bigger nothing smaller. Do not try to carry a 6 pound gun. You need to be steady when your heart is beating out of your chest. Take a cheap camera and take lots of shots. Make sure your guide is for real or you losing your rifle will be the least of your worries. Get good with a range finder and I would put the money in a scope that is crash proof. Look at Nightforce's new 2.5 x 10 awsome for your needs. Make sure your life insurance is paid up and tell everyone you love that you love 'em and hope for the best. Chances are you might make it home with the greatest trophy on earth.
Lightweight and long range often don't go together. My ex bussiness pardner usses a 7mm STW. He has hunted all over the world and taken all NA sheep. He has no use for lightweight rifles and last year carried that 10lb rifle and took a ibex on his 68th birthday. He believes more in physical fitness than lt. weight rifles. And he can shoot! I built built up a .270 Wby. , lightened and trued 700 LH., Hart #1bbl, Bansner stock, and compact 3X9 Leupie dotted by premier. It is accurate and I feel confident out to 550 (where it is dotted to) under the RIGHT CONDITIONS. I have taken elk, deer , sheep, moose, black bear, etc. and never found it lacking using 130 partitions and x bullets. The moose was taken at a ranged 363 yards, and my outfitter had concerns about the .270 but it put him down quickly. Mountain goats are pretty tough and have put two of them down at fairly long rnage w/o problems. Ditto for "bullet proof elk" Pretty good moose and it was on the cover on Pelly lake outfitters brochure for a few years. Mule deer wrote a article on the .270 Wby. as one of the super flat shooting rifles that could made light enoug to managed w/o a brake and still be a very effective LR rifle. That was my inspiration for building that rifle and he was right! I also had a NULA .300 win mag. that was 6.25 lbs all up. NULA rifles are excellent and I used this rifle to take a grizzly, but I never really got comfortable with it. It was and is a hard rifle for me to hit with. It will be rebarreled to .257 Roy and that will add a little weight and it may work better. A NULA in standard calibers such as .270, 284, or 280 would be pretty good. My .270 mag is just shy of 7lbs and seems about perfect as to balance. Can send you pictures if you like. Have fun.
Oh yeah and I most likely would not be 4 builiding a light lil rifle either. As much as the idea intrigues me I would not put that much out for a hunt and then hang the balance of the hunt on a flyweight rifle.
My first 340 was on a 700 with a 4.5 weight Schneider on it and a 3-10 Leo in Conetrols and a Brown stock. This rifle came in ready to rock at 8.25 lbs.
Now, if a fella was determined to carry a 340 (and I do love the round) this is the way I would go.
And leave the sissy brake on the smiths bench.
Mark D
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
How about an Allen extreme sporter in 7mm Allen mag.? a 338 lapua necked down and AI'd will get 3700 fps with a 160 gr accubond. or for real LR work (beyond 1K) a 200 gr wildcat ULD @ 3200 fps Here is a pic of it between a 7 rem and 7 rum. RR
If your going through hell, keep on going, don't look back, If your scared don't show it. You might get out b'fore the devil even knows your there. (Rodney Atkins)
I'm inclined to go for a non magnum for that job. And not too little in the weight department. I've never hunted or killed a Marco Polo Sheep. But I have spent a fair amount of time in the 10,000-12,000 ft. range. I've killed say a dozen critters in the 500 yd ranges. What has worked for me, has been stuff in the '06 class with a good bullet like the Nolsler Partition. Even the 7X57 will work out there with that bullet. Been there, done it. I mean, where is he going to go if he doesn't drop right away ? Open country, right ? Animals don't drop just because the bullet that hits them is going 200-400 fps. faster when it hits them. But, if you hit them right, they at least don't go far. Much easier to hit something with standard rounds than with the harder kicking magnums. That's why the .308 is so popular as a long range round. Lightweight is also really nice to have when you are way up there. Less strain on the body just getting around. But, when the moment of truth arrives, that weight needs to help you settle down to make the shot. However, you can select light rifles and accessories that help. A rifle that has it's balance point at the reciever ring and not the center of the action helps. A good shooting sling is also a huge aid. They will shrink your groups about 30%. I'd go for a good '06 or a .270 with say a 6X glass w/ an elevation turret, a good shooting sling, and good ammo like the federal Nosler Partiton loads. E
If I absolutely HAD to have a magnum for whatever motivation I'd do a 7mm RM with 24" tube and try to get it "all up" no more than 8.5 lbs... however, Eremicus's reccomendation makes the most sense to me... a nice, light 270 or 30-06.
Since the proviso has been stated, and rather forcefully, that this is an area that you might not come back from the hunt with the rifle, I'd go with a .270, .30-06, 7RM, or .300WM. Likely in a Rem. 700 bone-stock barreled action (well, maybe having the action trued and lugs lapped... and the trigger worked a tad...).
Stocked in something light, but ugly and functional. And, the more scratched, battered, and paint covered from use, the better.
Scope it with something dead reliable but rather unfancy in appearance (Sightron 6x42 SII; Leupold 6x42 FX-III, matte, etc.).
Functional? Absolutely. Up to the task? As long as the shooter is. Will if break your heart (or your bank account) if it goes over a ledge or into the truck of some corrupt local bureaucrat after the shot is made? Probably not.
And, if she makes it back in one piece, restock the rifle in something gorgeous (Claro walnut? XXX-grade?). As a reward... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Under these circumstances, you're already spending a fortune for the hunt. But if you're concerned about the rifle coming back, the Savage is 6.5 lbs, and $400 with the plastic stock and accutrigger for street prices. In 270, or one of the WSM rounds, with a decelerator and a good scope, you'd lack very little.
Yes, I know, they're a little homely. But they work.
Under these circumstances, you're already spending a fortune for the hunt. But if you're concerned about the rifle coming back, the Savage is 6.5 lbs, and $400 with the plastic stock and accutrigger for street prices. In 270, or one of the WSM rounds, with a decelerator and a good scope, you'd lack very little.
Yes, I know, they're a little homely. But they work.
I think you've hit on a great idea if losing the rifle is a concern.
A Remington Titanium would also be an option in a light accurate gun for a reasonable price in either 270 Win. or 7mmSAUM if you need more power.
2Seventy
Member: NRA Life Benefactor Gun Owners of America 2nd Amendment Foundation
Given all the parameters, I sure like the Savage in 300 Win Mag with accutrigger topped with a Burris FFII Ballistic Plex. Accurate gun, good trigger, pretty light, tough, functional scope and under $600.00 for the package. If you know the size of your target, you also have a pretty good back-up range finder with a little practice just in case your range finder goes belly up or sprouts wings.
Weatherby UL in 270 winny a classic sheep cartridge w a Leupy lightweight scope your talking under 7 lbs..As Mark D said were talking sheep here. I would be a little worried though about dimecovers statement about not returning home with my rifle <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
You could also be a real difficult SOB by removing the head from the bolt, and storing it in your other luggage. If they steal it on the way back, they haven't gotten much.
Oh... you is a sneaky bastid... I like it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I gotta remember that one... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
