Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best lightweight rifle under $1K

I am looking for a 7 mag in a lightweight configuration. My initial thought is a Tikka T3 Lite. Just wanted to see what others opion was on a factory rifle would be in the sub $1K range for light weight and accuracy.

You already have the answer!
Accuracy w/o mussing around.
Fantastic trigger.
Lite, Lite, LIGHT !

I'd add >>> S S.

Jerry

I've had a few 7mags, the lightest, easiest to get to shoot well, and by far the most cost effective was the T3 SuperLite

As an owner of 2 T3s I'd have to agree with Jerry.

However, I do have a question. Have you ever shot a lightweight rifle in a magnum chambering? I haven't but I really don't have a desire to do so. To me lightweight and magnum just don't sound like a great fit. I like a little weight to absorb magnum recoil. But to each their own I guess.

This was the response I figured. I already own 2 Tikkas, a 25-06 and a 223 superlite. I am gonna just go ahead with the Tikka T3 in a 7 mag. Tatelaw, I have not shot a tikka above the caliber of 30-06. I must admit, even that kicked a little. I do anticipate a heavy recoil. I am considering a muzzle brake. This is a rifle I won't really shoot much. I shoot my 25-06 for about 90% of everything I do. My hope and dream though is to someday in the near future go on an elk trip. I know my 25-06 is capable of an elk but I would rather hedge my bets on something with a little more punch. I am not wealthy by any means but the cost of a Tikka wont break the bank for me. Now my only decision is ss, blued, or superlite. Kinda leaning towards the blued just becouse like I said before, its a rifle I won't shoot much and the weight difference between the lite and superlite is negligible.

roma -

I'd like to give you something to weigh out (no pun intended).

I have a T 3 Lite SS in 270 Win. First I thot it kicked 'more' than my 700 Syn 7 Mag. Shot both back to back and the T 3 Lite did NOT kick more but I thot it did.

I don't know how a 7 Mag in Superlite would kick ? ?

Jerry

When faced with the same question I ended up going with a lightly used Kimber Montana in .280Ackley.

I don't miss the extra 100fps, or 7 more grains of powder.

The silliest part is that my accuracy load from my 7mag 168gr was running the same speed as I get with the Ackley.

YMMV.

The 7mag T3 SL that I owned had a Limbsaver on it and was not bad at all. But I was shooting 120s and 140s.

Well My plan is to shoot either the 140 TTSX or the 145 LRX.

Why a 7MM Mag? Why not just go with a Tikka T-3 in 270 with a good bullet (Nosler Partition) come to mind.
The 270 is a great elk cartridge, less recoil by far than the 7 Mag, no need for the muzzle break. And chances are you will not have to try to break the flinch you will probably acquire with a lightweight 7 Mag, especially if it has a muzzle break on it. Noise from breaks will cause flinching as bad, or worse in my estimation, than recoil does.
As you mentioned the Tikka in 30-06 kicked a little, in 7 Mag it will kick a lot.
I live in the heart of some of the best elk country and there are probably more killed with 270's around here than any other caliber.

drover

The recoil pad on the T3 Lite is hard as a rock. Cost of a Limbsaver is money well spent.

My .270 is very accurate, and the Limbsaver made recoil a lot less "distracting".

I'm hoping it's my CLR, after it gets back from Melvin.

romad97,

The limbsaver is about six ounces. The new Hastings Micro-cell 1 26" is about 3 ounces. Also I have a .264 Mag rifle all up with sling and 6-26X40 scope that is less that seven pounds. It has a T2 brake. I have no flinch and have never heard of a brake inducing a flinch. But then I use electronic hearing enhancers whenever hunt and ear plugs and the hearing enhancers when I shoot at the range.

This

30-06 and 7 mag have near identical recoil, near identical trajectory and energy levels too if both are loaded to their potential. Some get it in their heads that 7 mag kicks harder simply because it has magnum on the headstamp. It doesn't, the recoil levels overlap depending on the individual load and are usually within 1-2 ft lbs either way. I used to own a Tikka in 30-06, with the limbsaver pad it felt like a 243. A 7 mag would be very comparable.

Under $1,000 I can't think of anything that comes close to a Tikka for a rifle that can weigh around 7 lbs scoped if you choose scope and mounts carefully.

The 140 TTSX will cover a lot of bases in the 7mm RM. Recoil will be relatively light with that bullet. Whatever you do, do not put a muzzle break on it- the muzzle blast would be unbearable.

I've wanted a ULA since the 80's. Then, last year, I picked up a CLR in 7mm Mag. Seeing as it's a NULA 28 size action with a magnum bolt face, 7mm Mag really is an ideal caliber for it. In speaking with Melvin, I was advised not to rebarrel unless it failed to shoot, as he has a positive opinion of the SACO barrels. The plan has been to just have his trigger and stock installed. The problem is I don't need a 7mm Mag.

I would rock a Tikka T3 Lite or Superlite, and drop it into a McMillan Sako Hunter pattern stock.

Then spend the rest of your money on the best glass you can afford.

I'd go with your 25-06, load a great bullet, and kill an elk.

Or sell the 25 and buy a 270 for everything.

7Mag in a stainless superlite sounds like no fun to me.

This was my original thought when I first saw this thread. My T3 25-06 shoots the 110 Accubond extremely well at 3160fps. I've never hunted elk but I wouldn't be a bit afraid to with that combo.