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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,792
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
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All my old rifles are getting to heavy. I turned 70 last year, and have a bad Knee from the Army. Possible surgery next month. I,m thinking a lighter rifle would help. The lightest rifle I have now is a Ruger M77 in 270WSM with a 2X7 Nikon Monarch scope. It weighs about 2lb. less than my other rifles. I,m thinking Tika 3Tx, Light weight 6 lug Weatherby , or Kimber Hunter. I,m not crazy about the M77 with those fat shells. Not as smooth a action as my model 70,s and Weatherby Vanguards. I was thinking 30/06 as I don,t have that Cal. What advice do you guys have?
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,082
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,082 |
A Tikka is never a bad idea. My 25-06 is a pleasure to shoot, but a 30-06 would be at the top of the cartridge range that I would want in that light of a rifle. I prefer light recoiling cartridges in light rifles. I've got a Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08 that I also really like. With the same scope and rings as the Tikka, it weighs just a couple of oz more. It is just as accurate as the Tikka for a lot less money. ,
Those who must raise their voice to get their point across are generally not intelligent enough to do so in any other way.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,256 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,256 Likes: 4 |
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 348
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 348 |
Browning X-bolt, mine is very light and the ergonomics are nice.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,575
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 709
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 709 |
Tikka T-3 Lite. 30-06. Never a hicup. Shoots great out of the box. With scope and sling around 6.5 lbs. Inexpensive too.
Better to be over the hill than under it.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,952 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 15,952 Likes: 2 |
The Kimber Ascent is insanely light but who would want to shoot something that light?
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676 |
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.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,771 Likes: 28
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,771 Likes: 28 |
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. 30-06 in a lightweight rifle will get your attention when you pull the trigger. For a not too light lightweight look at the Ruger ultralight 30-06 that CDNN has for $499. I have one and it's manageable. Dressed out with a scope it's about 7.5 pounds. Not super accurate, but certainly deer accurate.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 746
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 746 |
For me personally, '06 level recoil in a 7 lb rifle is too much. Lot's of nice lightweight rifles chambered in 7-08, 6.5cm and 243 out there.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,318 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,318 Likes: 4 |
Kimber MT in Creedmoor or 7-08.
"Light" (sub 7lbs all-up) and "30-06" aren't my idea of fun anymore, and I'm younger than 70.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,047
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,047 |
Weatherby Mark V Six Lug ULW 5 3/4 LBS I bought my 30-06 here on the fire sent it to Hired Gun also here for complete Cerakote and Micro-Slick With Leupold FX-3 6x42 with Custom Shop German # 4 Is the best option for this OLD REDNECK from bama! AMRA
Molan Labe
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,968 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,968 Likes: 6 |
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.
Can't say a bad thing about the Tikka. In fact it might be a smidge more accurate, but we'd be talking fractions of an inch in group sizes. The Ruger is just as good IMO for a lot less money in a hunting rifle. If my goal were tiny groups at long range I'd give the edge to Tikka..
The Kimbers are great rifles, I have one in 308. Mine is just a hair under 6 lbs including scope. Recoil is exactly the same as a 7.5-8 lb 30-06, which ain't too bad. The mechanical accuracy of the rifle is every bit as good as anything I own, but I simply shoot something around 7 lbs better. I've chased light weight since a backpack hunt in the 1970's with a 9 lb rifle. The Kimber is a great choice where every ounce counts. But as a general purpose rifle I find a weight of 7-7.5 lbs to be a good compromise.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,587
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,587 |
If deer is the biggest animal then a 243 is plenty I think but if you want to step it up a bit he 7-08 is a great choice. As to which brand you will have to handle them and figure out which fits you best which will help with the recoil. Tikka is great but it seems to be a waste to have a short action cartridge in a long action, I would look at a Sako finnlight or an A7. My dad just did what you are wanting to last year and went to a 243 finnlight which he uses for everything. Light and compact, fits him excellent and little recoil.
Rob
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,180
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,180 |
If you like vanguards, you could check out the vanguard back country/wilderness.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,676 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,676 Likes: 1 |
I guess I'll be "that guy" and suggest a low serial number forbes.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 83
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 83 |
I am now 70 and bought a Kimber M84 in 7mm-08 for the same reason. I have hunted with it for two years and love it. It weighs about 6.25 lb with sling and scope. Great gun!!! Don't get too heavy a caliber for a light weight rifle.
Last edited by jerry46; 05/23/17.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,262 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,262 Likes: 1 |
I agree with Jerry. If going light, keep it 7mm-08, 6.5Creed, or something along those lines. I've had a couple 7mm-08 rifles that went under 7lbs scoped, and while they were fairly shootable, I'd really not want any more recoil in a package like that that.
Now with even more aplomb
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