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I've got a Ruger M77 Mk II RL 30-06 that is reasonably weighted. Thinking of selling it.


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I am in almost the same boat minus 10 years but banged up from when I was an immortal kid and fond of doing stupid stuff for fun.

I would think about a light stock for the Ruger if you can ever warm up to being a Chubby Chaser. A Ruger can be slicked up nicely with a little honing and maybe some NP3 or other slick coating. I did this to a M70 Featherweight 270 WSM and really like it now ( it didn't need the coating ).

I also like my Forbes and CLR/NULA both handle nicely. But one thing that comes with being a Geezer in addition to lower stamina are two other PITA things that can happen. Your tolerance for recoil may drop and your hold may not be as steady as it was when you were younger. Combine this with less sharp eyesight and a medium weight rifle may be a better choice than a real fly weight. Just my thought everyone is different.

All of the given choices are good but I would drop down to a .308 rather than the 30-06 just in case the other old timers conditions set in later.


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tikka for the win. you re load? how about good ol 270 win.
I have a tikka 06 and its a pleasure to shoot. pharmseller had a NIB T3 06 stainless fluted for sale.


All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well.
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I turn 73 in a couple of months with chronic tendonitis in knees, shoulders, elbows and wrists so I have to pace myself. My solution is a Kimber 84L in 270. Recoil with a 150 g. bullet at 3,000 fps is crisp. The rifle with scope, sling and 4 rounds is 6 lb. 10 oz. When shot alternately with my 7MM Rem Mag with 175 grain bullets at about the same velocity, it is my perception that the 270 comes back a little faster but no harder. But the 7 Mag weighs 2 lbs more. For me the Kimber stock works very well and while I would not like any more recoil (thoughts of a 30-06 in that rifle make me blanch!) and I've toyed with the idea of having it re barreled to 7X57. Given my age, I won't. I like a 24" barrel because of the reduced muzzle blast, otherwise would have bought a 7MM-08.

The next lightest rifle I own is a 7.5 lb. 30-06 and I would not like it any lighter. I have other rifles with scope that weigh 7 3/4 pounds, but add sling and a magazine full of cartridges and they go over 8 lbs. It is noticeably easier for me to carry the Kimber especially on steep slopes and thick brush.

It is a personal decision that only you can make because we all differ in size, strength, agility, endurance and ailments due to age. All others can do is offer what seems to work for them; but only you can sort though the advice and make the decision the best applies to you.


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I'd recommend a T3 in .270. Light weight, plenty of power for most North American game, relatively mild recoil, and you might as well have a long action cartridge if you're getting a long action rifle. The .270 should kick significantly less than the .30-06 in that platform.

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Originally Posted by patbrennan
If you have not shot a real lightweight you may want to try shooting one in 06 before committing. For myself about 7lbs scoped is really as light as I'd want a 30-06 and what stock it had on it would play a significant part in deciding if even that was a bit much.

You're right! .........I have a 35Whelen that is a tad over 7# scoped. It does require a bit more attention when firing at the bench.

Originally Posted by PaulBarnard
I love my Savage lightweight hunter. It's proving to be pleasingly accurate and it's a joy to handle. The price is right too.

That is an excellent suggestion. That Savage Lightweight Hunter is one of the best lightweight deals out there right now.

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Been there, done that, with a whelen. At something less than 8lb scoped full power 250 grain loads were "enough".

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I've got a T3 Lite in 308 and a T3x Lite in 30-06. They're cheap and they shoot well without a lot of the tuning that some other rifles seem to need. Load development on mine was pretty straightforward, especially with the 308.

But with a Leupold VX-R 3-9x42 in Warne rings on a Picatinny rail and a sling, it's really close to 8 pounds. The 30-06 is OK at that weight and I wouldn't want it any lighter. I much prefer to shoot the 308 at that weight.


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Originally Posted by Brad
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
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Originally Posted by patbrennan
Been there, done that, with a whelen. At something less than 8lb scoped full power 250 grain loads were "enough".


I was tweaking 250 Hornady (2500+) and 225 TSX (2700+) loads this afternoon in a 7#, 12 oz Whelen.


... maybe that explains my headache...



Originally Posted by JMR40
Unless I just wanted to spend more money one of the Ruger Americans in any of the short action calbers will come in under 7 lbs with a Leupold scope. The 7-08 or 308 won't beat you up in a rifle that light. You'll never notice the difference in performance compared to 30-06 which will beat you up in a 7 lb rifle.


I'd also suggest taking a long look at this setup. While I'm certainly a fan of the Marlin X7 bolt guns, the RAR is lighter. I set up a .308 this winter with Weaver rings and a VX1 2-7. I can't decide whether I like most that it's light & points like a setter, that it prints small groups with Federal blue box 150's, or that it was < $400, all-up.

That being said, I'd not dissuade you from considering a Kimber if it's in your budget. A sample of 1 has given me the opinion that their stock design does an excellent job of dealing with recoil for my particular body.

Let us know what you decide on.

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GunTruck50,

You said "advise" so here goes mine. I would forget the .30-06 because it kicks too hard for what one gets. The six lug Weatherby sounds good because I like the "three" lug concept over the two lug idea. I would go with a .243 or .260 or 6.5 something if they make it. If I was going with a two lug rifle I would go with the Savage. They make a 5.5 pounder.


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I would go with the Tikka T3 in 7/08 or 308 depending on your cartridge preference, there is minimal difference in recoil between the two, I am old and have shot so much high-power silhouette that I have become recoil sensitive and can appreciate a little less recoil. Although if you are only shooting deer or antelope consider a 243 or 260, they both work great in my experience.

The reason for the Tikka is that are pretty much a "plug and play" rifle, put a scope on it, adjust the trigger if you like (easily done - one screw), then go out and kill stuff. I have owned a lot of rifles in my life and none have impressed me as much as Tikka's, they are a great value for the dollar, I currently own four and the only thing close to them are my Cooper's but they are a lot more money.

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I would go with either the Tikka or Kimber Montana in .243. Ain't much in North America can stand a good hit by one.

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I like the idea of the old rem700 Titanium 22" in .270win pushing lighter recoiling mono-metals.

it would scope out to approx. 6.5lb if using a Lpld 2.5-8x36 with steel 2pc mounts.


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I would suggest as already mentioned and step down from 06 to 7mm08. a 18" model 7 is 6.5#. Have you considered a single shot like a CVA? They are around 5.2#

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I'm turning 78 this fall and also found I wanted a lighter primary rifle. Did a lot of comparisons for a year and worked a trade for 270 Win Kimber Montana. Fast, deadly, accurate, lightweight. As previously stated the Kimber stock helps with recoil. The 270 is fantastic shooting lightweight mono's or almost anything 130 grain. I think I did that's the best I could do. Love it.

Last edited by Rug3; 05/23/17.

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If you want light weight you may be looking for low recoil too, I'd get a Kimber Montana in 243 Winchester and stoke it with 100 gr Partitions at an easy 2850 fps, a nice matte finish 2-7 Leupold in Talley lightweight's would finish the package.


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The 243 Kimber Montana with a 4.5-14 Zeiss Conquest weighs 12.5 lbs.

The 12.5 lb weight shown above is wrong!

That rifle weighed 6:13 5/8 lb on my US postal scale just now!

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Originally Posted by Savage_99
The 243 Kimber Montana with a 4.5-14 Zeiss Conquest weighs 12.5 lbs.


WOW that must be a heavy scope smile

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I haven't read other responses so maybe I'll be redundant.

I've had a Tikka T 3 Lite since 2003 and hunt it a lot. It ain't pretty in appearance but pretty is as pretty does.
I never consider selling/trading it.

Jerry


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My dad is 8 years ahead of you. He transitioned from a Browning Stainless Stalker in .30-06 to a stainless Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 three years ago.


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He hasn't missed a beat.





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