Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Lightweight Deer Rifle

I am either going to put together (buy) a Stainless Remington Seven and add an Edge/Manners stock or just buy a new old style Kimber Montana. .260/.243. They are both in the same price range and will finish out in the low 6lbs range with a VX3 2.5X8/Talleys. Advantages, disadvantages? Experiences? Would love a NULA but more $ than I want to go. Whitetail deer hunting in the WV mountains will be its main use. (2500' to 4000') Or just go a new Montana 6.5 CM. (if available)

Unless you get a deal on a used 7 I think the Montana will be cheaper. You'll get a longer barrel. And in my opinion a better action with CRF and a better safety.

I have a Kimber in 308, mine is still a hair under 6 lbs with the same scope and mounts. I like it, but it is almost too light. I've found that somewhere between 7-7.5 lbs scoped is still pretty easy to carry around and easier to shoot than a sub 6 lb rifle.

In my opinion, none of the choices you mention are bad ones. I've hiked WV mountains quite a bit, and a fairly light rifle is in order if you are doing some traveling, rather than standing.

The .260 is one of my favorites and would get the nod if bears are something you intend to possibly take. But I wouldn't pass on a bear with good bullets in a 243.

I like my Kimber Montana (.308) for hiking/climbing, but I need a decent rest to stretch it's barrel much. A model 7 is not a bunch different. I happen to have a Model 7 in 260 20". Nice little package with an 8 twist (Remington's early offerings lacked). My son killed one of his first 3 deer with that rifle.

I more often reach for my 700 with 8 twist barrel in a McMillan. A little over 7 pounds finished seems about right for me if I'm not doing a lot of hiking steep and far. I have a Tikka that is wonderfully accurate (8 twist also) that finishes at a little over 7 lbs.

Moses

I've owned both rifles you mention in 243.
The kimber will come in lighter due to it's trim action

Also the kimber will have a slightly heavier contoured barrel in addition to being longer so it won't have that whippy feel a lot of mdl 7 owners don't care for.

Plus the kimber will be cheaper til it's all set and done, only downside is the 10 twist in their 243 but I've had no problems getting any hunting bullet I want to use to shoot well in mine

Have you considered a Sako 85 Finnlight? I have both a 75 Finnlight and a NULA, both in 7/08. Love them both. The Finnlight comes in right around 7# all up and has real good balance for a woods rifle. The NULA, well its a NULA.

Pass on the Model 7, it's never the right answer.

We have seven model 7's and two older 700 mountain rifles used in my hunting camp. Not much difference between handling a Model 7 or an older 700 Mountain. ---- Web

Maybe not quite so light, but solid and cheap are the Ruger All Weather UL 7-08s that CDNN has for $499. 20" barrel and CRF. The stocks are a little heavy, but pretty stiff and have a cushy pad. At that price, the stock could be replaced by a lighter one.

I'd buy one myself, but need another rifle like I need another winky.

My 'Old School' lightweight deer rifle is a first year Remington M600, 308. Weight with Weaver rings and bases, a Leupold M8 3X, Butler Creek Mountain sling and three rounds of 150 gr. ammo is just over 6 1/2 lbs. My 84M Montana, also a 308 with a Leupold 2.5 X 8, Talley low lightweights, Butler Creek Mountain sling and 3 rounds of 150 gr. ammo is also just over 6 1/2 lbs. Both are a pleasure to carry....

If I knew at 25 what I know at 57.....

I would spend the necessary money and have a custom rifle built to my spec's and be done with it. Had I done so I would not have gone through 20+ rifles in 280 Remington looking for the one.

When I finally had a custom 280 AI built, my first thought was, I should have done this from the beginning.

Got that right.

BTDT and 100% agree.

Agreed.

Whatever you do, don't go to Sportsman's Warehouse and buy a Tikka Superlite. That would achieve your goal at moderate expense and totally eliminate the need for you to fuggg with it other than to scope and zero it.

The Rem. design lacks strength. We used them for hunting and target shooting and they got by.

There always have been stronger designs that have the machinery look of having extra, pride in metal.

Here is a Rem bolt handle that fell off. Some have a screw put thru them into the bolt's body.

Add a full pound for your mauser answer....

Well....Don has weighed in....so theres one definite vote for anything in a 700......

So true...and don't be in a hurry...:)

Faux Ti 260 LW's 6x42 will go 6lb 12oz done. I believe that's the same weight as a LA Montana, scoped.

Gawd damn, I wish there was a way to send a power surge to an IP address.


Moses, the fastest way to what you want is the Montana and is never a bad choice.
Chambering choice is a personal thing but the 260 or the Creed would both be excellent choices - same for .308.

With so many 6mm bullets to choose from today, I can't figure out why Kimber is still twisting 1-in-10 for the .243.