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So I've been wanting a new, lightweight rifle. My others are Remingtons with one Ruger in the mix. They all weigh between low 8 lbs to about 9 1/2 lbs.

I would like to have one that weighs 7 lb or less all up.

I have been thinking about the following. I know there are a lot of differences in them, but what do you think.

1. Build on a remington. Will probably be spendy after machine work and still purchasing a nice stock.

2. TIKKA-

3. Kimber Montana

4. MRC-XWR-Haven't handled this one, only there ASR.

Am looking at either 30-06 or 300 Winnie. I want to stick with .308 caliber on this one.

OK let er rip. Opinions please.

Stick a Remington MR into an Edge stock. With a normal size Leupold scope and Talley rings, you'll come in under 7 pounds.

I'd say Kimber if you were going 308.

The MRC IIRC is nearly your weight sans scope and mounts. I would be you will be closer to 8+ lbs with that one.

I agree with Steelhead above. MR tube, edge stock for a quick route to get there. The 8400 Kimber montanas are not in the same league as their short action brethren.

My M700 in 30-06 weighs 7lb 8oz empty. Is that close enough?
Didn't do any metal work so it could have been less if I were so inclined. Custom syn stock fitted to me, Leupold Ultralight 3-9. It aint pretty but it works.

Sako Finnlight in 300 WSM, Swarovski 3-10x42, composite stock weighs 7.1

#2.

Everything else is dropping serious money to get the others to shoot like a Tikka.

I have a lite fluted in 308 that meets all of your criteria and was under $700 all up and shoots bug holes.

Remington? Really? How much money do you have to spend? Hopefully lots.

Kimber - some shine, others not so much. 100% of the Tikkas I've shot (upwards of 20?) were hammers out of the box.

Others? See notes on Remington

Why is that? Would you explain please?

One thing with the MRC, is that with the new stock it will be about 6 oz less than what the weight on they're website says. And possibly cut 2 inches of barrel off to make it 22" with the 30-06.

Not decided on that, just throwing it out there.

Also, whats it cost to get into a McMillian Edge or something like it? $600 or so

A 7 lb all up 300 Win Mag has bad idea written all over it. Even a 30-06 at that weight is more than most can handle. If really intent on that weight, you might think about dropping down to a 308.

Also, I�m assuming your �all up� reference means with sling and full mag. Otherwise add half a pound to come up with the all up weight.

Here is a Weatherby Bacik Country in .300 Win Mag with a Leupold 3-9x33 Compact in Talley mounts;



Recoil is not objectionable (to me), and I am of just average height with a relatively slim build. It is a pleasure to carry and is about as accurate as any rifle that I own.

7 1/2 is not a problem recoil-wise in a 30-06.
The stock just needs to fit well and have a good pad.

Prairie Goat,
I'm not worried about recoil. Although, something too severe can be quite uncomfortable. Usually, don't notice when shooting at a critter.

Mudhen,
Sweet setup you got there. I just put one of those Ultralight, 2-7, on my 350 rem mag. Nice lightweight little scopes.

Blacktailer,

What kind of stock are you running?

Haven't heard much about the Tikka Lite in 30-06 kicking to bad.

I have a Montana in .300 WSM and it would be one of the last shooters that I would let go.

donsm70

You should be worried about recoil.

But what the hell do I know. I�ve only seen a couple thousand hunters come through camp, and about 2 out of 10 who brought 300 mags could shoot a 300 Mag accurately. Those were usually in 8-9 lb. rifles. The guys shooting light 300 mags were basically guaranteed to screw up.

I've never held a 84M, but rumor has it they're a good deal more svelte than the 8400's.

I've got an 8400 in .300 WM, that goes just under 7#, 12 oz with a Conquest in Talleys. The stock handles recoil surprisingly well, but I'd not want to go much lighter. I can manage OK with 168's, but 180's and up get a bit too sporty for me.

FC

PrairieGoat,
Not trying to ruffle feathers here. I appreciate everyone's opinion. I've not been through your camp, so don't know what that involves. It does make sense that a hot loaded magnum in a light rifle will come with more severe recoil than a standard chambering.

Just for reference, a factory stock Model 700 .30-06 standard sporter contour barrel in a 22 ounce Brown Precision stock with Talleys and a Leupold 4x scope weighs 7 lbs 2 oz. Recoil is brisk but not painful in the least with a good recoil pad. A short action .308 Model 700, again with a standard 22" factory sporter barrel, weighs 6 lb 15 oz set up the same.

An out of the box Tikka .223 with factory rings and a Leupold VX 2 3-9 scope weighs 7 lb 4 oz even. Take away 2 ounces for a 4x scope and about 6 ounces for a cylinder of stainless steel 22" long with roughly .084" thick walls and that's around what a Tikka .30-06 would weigh.

Don't know much about Kimber Montanas.

The MRC is a heavy action, anything on that action with a decent barrel and scope would end up heavier than a Remington.

Tikka would be the cheapest and easiest way to meet your goal.

how about a model 70 fwt in a mcm edge, depending how you scope it you can be pretty close to your target weight, if not I'd just buy and kimber and give it a whirl.

The 8400 magnum Montana is nearly 7 lbs for the bare rifle (6# 13oz). compared to the 5# 6oz 84M Montana. Simply, the 8400 loses a good deal of the qualities of the 84M