|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157 |
Well guys looking at getting another SS lightweight rifle. Thinking a 308, or 7mm-08 with a max barrel length of 20" but more like 16"-18". I really would like to try out a Kimber Montana or the Adirondack. But the price and availability of the Adirondack is a bit troubling. So how much to get the barrel cut an crowned on the Montana or what other Rifles would you recommend and what length would be the shortest to go. This will be a Deer, Elk, and Bear rifle or the Quad truck and every day hunting when the Nula needs a nap.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2 |
Tom, I'd just get the standard Kimber MT in 7-08 or 308. Cutting and crowning is usually $35-$45 absolute MAX. My smith charges $35.
Personally, while I love carbines and have owned a pile with 18-21" barrels, I find the Montana "just right" at 22" due to the fact its receiver is shorter than a typical SA rifle.
If I did want one cut, I'd not go below 20" to preserve its balance, and 21" would be great.
Just my opinion...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,705
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,705 |
Even though the old Remington 600s are a favorite they've convinced me that 18" is too short for higher pressure or capacity rounds due to muzzleblast. Less than 20" barrels are now for me restricted to handgun cartridges up to mild rounds like .30-30 and .35R. An 18" barreled .30-06 (742) or .350RM (600) just dumps too much gas too near.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,866
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,866 |
Ruger Internationals.
Either the No.1 (20") or a 77 (18.5").
Oops! Forgot the SS bit. IIRC, some of the 77 RSI were done in SS and you can get a SS No.1A that makes for a pretty light, compact rifle (almost grabbed a Lipsey's in .257 Bob).
Last edited by MojoHand; 04/06/14.
It ain't what you don't know that makes you an idiot...it's what you know for certain, that just ain't so...
Most people don't want to believe the truth~they want the truth to be what they believe.
Stupidity has no average...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214 |
Ruger Laminate Compact, Ruger American All Weather Compact those are 2 SS models I can think of. Other compacts I can think of are Rem model 7 Win. model 70 but theyre not SS
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,753
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,753 |
I've got a few different light weight rifles and another on it's way, but have had a Stainless Model 7 (20") for years. Always felt kinda whippy, but recently dropped it in a Brown FS stock. What a world a difference that made to the rifle.
6 lbs 1 ounce with a Leupold 2-7 and talleys. Thinking about a light weight bolt shroud to drop it below 6 (just because).
Heck of a woods rifle in my opinion.
edit:
Forgot to add, you get much below 18" and things get to damn loud. My 16" XP-100 (.308) is deafening. I have yet to shoot my braked XP-100 (.260).
Last edited by cal74; 04/06/14.
Life is just one damned thing after another
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157 |
Thanks for the picks guys just need the shortest barrel for the Quad so it doesn't hang over and I love the lightweight rifles. I don't like taking the Nula on the quad hangs over to much and if I dump it over it would be a. $5000 mistake. So I'm leaning to the Montana but still might cut it to 18". Anybody cut one this short?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2 |
Tom, get it in your hands and let the rifle tell you what to do... might be 18", might be 19 or 20"...
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 153
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 153 |
I have to agree with Rovering. n 18" barrel is too short for anything but maybe a pistol cartridge. I personally wouldn't go shorter then 20" and only with short standard rounds like .308, 7mm-08, .260, etc. Even a Winchester 94 .30-30 most commonly has a 20" barrel.
Years ago I had a Husqvarna Lightweight .30-06. Though I loved the rifle it had a rather impressive muzzle flash with some loads. I sure wouldn't want anything shorter the it's 20" barrel.
Last edited by Cougarz; 04/06/14.
Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,948 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,948 Likes: 5 |
Balance is SOOOOO important, and often overlooked. That point has recently been driven home for me. My Kimber 308 is just a hair under 6 lbs with the Leupold scope and 22" barrel. The balance is perfect and offhand shooting is no problem with such a lightweight rifle.
I recently bought one of the compact Ruger Americans in 223 thinking it might make a good walking around rifle and even a compact deer rifle for out local 100 lb deer. Even with the 18" barrel it is still 7 lbs scoped. Trying to shoot offhand is much more difficult. Even though it is heavier, the sights wander all over the target. It will still work for my needs, but I've never felt handicapped with a 22" barrel.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 157 |
I know I need to feel it. But I see the adirondack is a 18" barrel. Also I don't want to pay to cut it 2 or 3 times, also once it's cut and I feel it's to short it's more $ for a new barrel. I guess this is the cost for beings gun nut.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,336
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,336 |
A 20" 30-06 I had many years turned out to be the ultimate point and shoot rifle for me...a 20" 308 should be just as balanced for you. 20" seems short enough, but even at 18", a 308 doesn't lose much or blast enough to be concerned about...you can't say that about most other rounds.
Howa makes a nice 20" compact rifle in stainless. I like my Howas... A cut-down Montana would be like a willow wand, but for a 4x4 beater rifle like you want, a $400 Ruger American Compact stainless, when they're available, or just a cut-down Hawkeye shouldn't offend anyone's sensibilities around here too much.
When you dump it, just dust it off and ride on...
It ain't all burritos and strippers my friends...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,554
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,554 |
If you are used to the ergo of the NULA, why not get a Forbes 20B in .308. IIRC, they come with a 21" barrel. You could try it on for size , and then shorten down the road.
Of course if it has to be all SS, you may have to wait a while.
Ready, Fire, Aim
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,920 |
...short barreled .308s...I have several and for as little one fires a hunting rifle it just doesn't make that much difference to me.
Remington 600 18.5"
Ruger Frontier 16.5"
Ruger GSR 18" barrel plus a 1.5" flash hider.
Remington Model 7 Stainless/Synthetic 20"
SAKO TRG 20"
My favorite length of all is the 18.5". That is where "balance" is best for me.
Bob
If you can not deal with reality, reality will deal with you....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3 |
My deer hunting rifle last year was a Remington SPS heavy barrel 20 inch. Nice and compact and shot really well. Reason I got rid of it was it weighted about 12 pounds. I am in the same boat as the opening post, but I'm pretty set on a Kimber 84M or if I pony up enough a Kimber Ascent.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,247
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,247 |
SPS 700 SS in 7mm-08, cut back to 20" and bedded in a light stock, like an Edge or Ti. With a 2-7 or 6x36 Leupold, it will go around 7lbs, be short/handy, yet still balance nicely with the standard contour. I did the same, using a 660 action, 700 barrel, and Edge. Great truck gun and one of my favorites.
Now with even more aplomb
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,766 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,766 Likes: 1 |
the older M7 FS and KS were short/light
Guns don't kill people, drivers with cell phones kill people.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,611
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,611 |
I had one of the first .250-3000 Ruger's made in an RSI. I wanted to save the stock so I put the barreled action in a Bell and Carlson camo stock...and it was heaven. 4x Leupold and I was off to the races. Killed a lot of deer w/that little rifle before a man saw it and wanted it for his son. powdr
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,247
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,247 |
But 16.5" has got to be loud. I think 18.5" is fairly loud, so I go 20" more often than not.
Now with even more aplomb
|
|
|
|
409 members (16gage, 12savage, 10gaugeman, 10Glocks, 10gaugemag, 160user, 47 invisible),
2,141
guests, and
1,127
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,859
Posts18,497,130
Members73,979
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|