Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Mountain Rifle Recommendation

Good evening,

I was hoping I could get some feedback on a rifle for my brother-in-law. He is starting to get into hunting out here in Colorado and beginning to realize that mountain hunting is a tough game. He is looking to get a good rifle to start but not looking to break the bank. Below is the email he sent me:

"I really understand the need for a light rifle now. I was hiking on some seriously steep terrain this weekend where I'll be elk hunting in October... could be miles to walk and a heavy gun is the last thing you want.

I did some research for a cheaper option to the Kimber Montana and found the Tikka T3 superlight, it's only about 1/2lb heavier than the Kimber but $500 cheaper, and it comes in a .300 Win Mag. Thoughts?"

If money wasn't an option, I love Mel Forbes' NULA or the Kimber Mountain Ascent. When I went on my sheep hunt last year in AK, the guides were all carrying Kimber Montanas in 325. If more than one guide in camp is carrying the same gun, that says something.

We got him a Leupold V3 with CDS turrets, so he is good in the optics department. What would you recommend in the sub $1,000 marketplace. He will be hunting elk and deer. He is a decent sized guy, so .300 Win is a good caliber for him. A muzzle-break would be a plus.

Thanks for your help and good luck this season!

An ultralight 300 is going to be pretty hard on a new guy. I'd buy something with a sporter barrel in 270, 7mm08 or 30-06 as he doesn't sound like a reloader. I would never own another braked rifle. Ruger American would be high on my list.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...cts_id/84839/Ruger+AMERICAN+7MM-08+MTBLK

Nothing wrong with a tikka t3. Have him go find one locally and handle it. While there he may find a few others to handle and make his own decisions.

Yep, and there is nothing at all wrong with a muzzle brake that a set of ear plugs won't fix.
I don't use one, but my petite wife has a braked rifle that she'll shoot (accurately) all day long.

Have never understood the disdain....

This above is good advice. I really like the t3 for the price point. Also really like the m70 fwts, but a bit more cash than the t3/

I think you can find a used Kimber 8400 under a grand.

Tikka in 300 mag with limb saver replacement recoil pad and Talleys would be hard to beat. 30/06 would also fit the bill with less recoil. I don't mind a brake on some rifles and have been happy with a KDF on a couple of them.

Go stainless....

Here you go
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth.../1/F_s_kimber_montana_300_win_mag#UNREAD

A Remmy 700 SPS in 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag, then throw it in a B&C Medalist Stock, bed the action/free float the bbl and drop a Timney trigger in it� All for right at around $1,100 if you DIY. Oh, and forget about the muzzle brake. under 9 lbs scoped and loaded with 3 rnds. Lite enough to carry all day, but enough weight to help mitigate the recoil of a non-braked magnum. Perfect mtn rifle (IMHO).

I'd push him away from the 300Win and toward something on the 06 or 308 case in a light rifle.

I've been down that road and did not enjoy it. Also went down the tikka road with the same rifle and ended up getting a Montana or 3 eventually anyway, but that's all personal preference.

On the other hand, how well do you like your brother in law? A nice light 300Win and a Leupold 6-18 would be good for a lot of revenge!

One of these, 700 Mountain ss in 280. Can load lighter bullets until he get use to recoil. Don't start him on a light 300.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=443518664

The only time you feel the recoil is at the bench� go .300 Win Mag all day and twice on Sundays� they don't have all that much recoil anyway� and the extra downrange energy is appreciated at extended distances on big animals. Rem 700 in .300 Wn Mag and he'll never need another rifle in his life for big game.

Handing a new guy a semi-lightweight 300 Mag as his first hunting rifle is beyond dumb.

Tanner

Broomd, I agree on the break. Our family friends who competitively shoot have breaks on all their guns. Wasp, I PMed him. Thanks for the lead.

Yes on stainless.

If we can buy a Montana right, I think we'll go that route and throw a break on it. My Jarretts have breaks and I'll just put plugs in, if in a position to do so.

He is likely going to use my sister's .270 this season if we don't round something up in the interim.

Keep the advice coming, please.

Kimber Montana is really the only factory "mountain rifle" out there that's worthy, IMO that is still in production. You'll have to go through the necessary "moves" to make sure it'll shoot, but once you've done those, you'll have something. A used shooter off the classifieds is how I'd go.

Other option include putting an Edge stock on a Rem 700 Mtn Rifle.

Don't put a brake on any mountain rifle.

Nice gun. Wish they got the weight down a little though.

It doesn't sound like he has much shooting experience remember it's hunting not long range shooting. Right ?

"Yep, and there is nothing at all wrong with a muzzle brake that a set of ear plugs won't fix."

"Have never understood the disdain...."

broomd,

At the range I agree! But you'll not always have the opportunity to put plugs in while hunting, and they definitely amp up the blast.

Assuming your brother in law is a new shooter, there are two things that will put a serious flinch in his shooting; muzzle blast and heavy recoil... start him on something pleasant, 30-06, 270, 308 or 7-08 and move up from there with experience, if need be.

Jerry

this X10 in stainless.
also don't need a huge scope. 2.5-10, 3-9 or 4-12 to keep the wight down.