Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Cart Before the Horse - What rifle?

So usually I/we buy a gun for a particular purpose, and then get the best scope for that application. Well, due to an unusual circumstance I've got a scope on it's way that needs a home. The void I feel I have is a true mountain hunting rifle. Mountain hunting to me is 4 to 11 miles a day, and elevation can go both ways many times in a day. So it needs to be easy to haul, but I don't really need an "uber" light gun. I had a 7-08 that always enjoyed, but now haunts me because I never should have sold it. So caliber, most likely 7-08...although 280AI, well I've always wanted one. The problem w/ the 280AI is it's quite similar to the 270 and I have a rifle in 270win that I'll never sell. Anyway, what rifle? $900 is the limit, give or take. I've been thinking the Howa Alpine, fondled one ~2 years ago, but can't seem to find one locally now. Like the savage lightweight hunters, but the barrel is almost too thin to me... but I could probably get over it. Doesn't have to be super light. The scope is ~18oz, so I'd like to keep the rifle to 7 pounds (or less) before mount and scope. I'm also thinking Tikka Tx3 lite, in stainless. I'd prefer stainless as I know some mountain hunts are more wet than not. I'm rambling...so what say ye, sages of 24HCF?

There are several rifles that would work and Tikka would be near the top for me. I like Howa rifles, but most of them ain't light. The ones that are light are light in the wrong places in my opinion. I have a Kimber 308 that will weigh 6 lbs with the right scope on it. I don't dislike the rifle, but have come to the conclusion that about 7-7.5 lbs including optics and mounts is ideal. Not too heavy to carry but still enough weight to shoot easily. A Tikka will make weight, and they keep some weight in the barrel for better accuracy and balance. 7-08 or 308 would be my choices in cartridge, even though Tikka doesn't offer a short action.

Well under your budget, but I'm just plain impressed with the Ruger Americans. You can buy 3 of them in blue and 2 in SS and still be under budget. Weight is about the same and if the Tikka is any more accurate or reliable I can't tell it.

Thanks guys. That's a deal there on that Mountain SS, Paul. I use to be a huge fan of Remington, but now hear some don't like the current trigger, and quality had been so so, although recently it seems QC is improving.

Used Kimber Montana would fit the bill....seen one go on GunBroker in 7-08 for 750 in recent months. or a new Kimber Hunter. Both will be lighter than anything else you can buy at that price.

What mountain game?
Personally, I'd go kimber hunter of tikka t3x in 6.5 creed with the constraints you mentioned...

Should have mentioned, 9/10 times it'll be hunting a muley. Elk is possible, but I'd take the 270 for elk. Last mule deer I shot with my last 7mm-08 was at 430 yards, so I'm not too worried about it. I like to get closer, and almost all are taken under 300 yards.

So what is the scope?

Cold Case:
SCOPE

I personally wouldn't touch a Kimber with a 10ft pole. It would be Tikka T3X all day long, and 7mm-08 would be my choice as well. It will be the least finicky rifle you've ever shot I bet. If your Toric is anything like mine, you will love it. My tracking has been great, and the glass is ridiculously good.

Never heard of Toric's before- but I've got Leupold wax in my ears when it comes to optics. Let us know how you like it!

That is a fairly heavy scope if you are trying for a lightweight rifle, specs say it is 18.6 oz, whereas a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 weighs 11.2 0z. That is nearly a half-pound difference, a lot for a mountain rifle. TheToric is a $674 scope and the Leupold VX-2 can be found for around $250 with a little shopping around. It all adds up to a significant weight and price difference in my book.

I have been very happy with Tikkas, a T-3 stainless/synthetic 7/08 with a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 would work for your weight limit and you should be able to bring in the whole package for your $900 limit.

drover

I'd be looking Kimber Montana and probably only Montana myself.

Have one in 7-08, been amazingly good. Very light. All i did was a proper bedding of the recoil lug and made sure that they scope base screws weren't touching the bolt. Done and easy.

I highly recommend you buy the Forbes 30-06 Daveh has for sale here in the classifieds. It weighs 6lbs so wouldn't be too heavy with that scope, but not so light as to be hard to shoot in a field position breathing heavy. I have one in 270 and it is the finest shooting hunting rifle I have ever owned. Mine shoots way more 1/2" MOA groups than 1" MOA.

I bought a like new Kimber 84 in 7mm/08 from Gander Mountain for 900. They are light weight.

Kimber MT 7-08. I have one, love it. (I have 4 Montana's).

Here's one for sale here on the campfire. This is a no-brainer purchase from a great guy on the campfire:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...m-08-w-extra-338-fed-barrel#Post12215739

If you want it, you'd better jump on it for that price.

Tikka in stainless and a VX-2 can done for $900 or less and no fuss.

He already has the Toric Scope. He won it in a drawing that Toric held here. NTG, don't be afraid of Remington. Most of the people running them down these days haven't fired one. They are parroting what they heard on the internet. I was getting ready to buy the one I linked for you when a Ruger Ultralight 7mm-08 fell in my lap for a really good price. I held one like it at Cabelas and thought highly of it.

Does Remington offer anything 6 lbs or less, for under $1000?

Negative. I do like my 7-08 Mountain rifle at just over 7lbs all-up, but its no Kimber Montana or Forbes.

That 7-08 in the classifieds would be my first choice, the Whittakers 6.5 Tikka Creed

Christiansen Mesa in 6.5 Creedmore. A little bit more but a supreb Mtn rifle.

Not that I know of.

Ruger American, get the whole thing Cerakoted, Multicam stock, graphite black metal

T3x would be my choice as well...

So what kind of270 do you have? What keeps you from using it?

I'm always surprised that Browning doesn't come up in more rifle selection discussions. The x-bolt is a very fine, well built and accurate rifle. The list price may be a bit over your spend, but they can be found stainless in 7-08 (or 6.5 creedmoor if you want to be trendy ... :-) for around $900. 6lbs, 5oz. They're worth a look.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/684687242
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/684378500

Great point Jeff !!!~ my daughter shoot a Browning X-Bolt Micro Midas, 7mm-08, under an inch all day long.

Also Jard makes a drop in trigger for the X-Bolt if the great Feather trigger is still too heavy.

Brownings are good rifles, but its 2017 not 2007

When comparing apples to apples both the Ruger Americans amd the Tikka T3 lites offer.more bang for the buck and are a bit lighter in weight.
The way the Ruger Americans shoot and perform right out if the box they are hard to beat for the $$ in my opinion amd every part on them is made by your neighbors here in the USA.

If you need a rifle lighter than 6 lbs , go with a Kimber Montana/ Hunter or a Barrett.

So I have a 1951 721, that's my 270. It was grandpa's before it was mine. It's an amazing shooter. I'm not opposed to getting another 270win if it's the right rifle, but the 7-08 is the "short 270" IMO and I still have reloading supplies for one, so why not?! I'm leaning towards the T3x, and SAS's shop has a great price on them!

Actually ,in a Tikka, a 7mm-08 isn't a "short action " anything..

Because Tikka builds everything on an '06 length action.


In a Tikka ,if you like the .270 ,ya might as well just get one.

jk16, Your point about the long action 7-08 w/ the Tikkas is one of the things I get hung up on with them. On the other hand, with a mod, you can chase the lands with them to your heart's content. I stopped at a store while running errands. They had a 700 Mountain SS. Overall it seemed nice. Decent, not great trigger. The paint/finish on the mag was a bit sloppy. They're on the current Remington rebate right not to boot! Decisions.

Where did you see Remington has a rebate on their 700 mountain rifles?

Thank you, Buzzsaw. I took a look at this and noticed that they also make one for the A-bolt. Thank you for the referral.

Here's another good buy in the Classifieds that I'd consider. Per Christensen Arms website it weighs in at 6.5lbs on a short action.

It's in .308 vs. 7-08, but that wouldn't stop me from owning it- https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...box-950-00-shipped-lower-48#Post12201918

Website link- https://christensenarms.com/mesa/

remington.com/rebates I had to drill into it to get a list of sku#s. I did find the sku for the 7-08 Mountain SS on it

Certainly nothing wrong with a new rifle and a 7-08 is certainly a good choice. The reason I asked about your 270 as it seems to be a favorite so I was wondering if you had considered ways to lighten it up. If you only need an occasional light mtn rifle a light weight stock and a scope change might save you quite a few ounces and you can switch back and forth from its current configuration to lightweight and back again as you wish. All the while you are hunting with your trusty 270 or in your case granddads rifle.

Got my son-in-law one of these for $499:
https://www.cdnnsports.com/30-06-hm77rlfp-20-syn-ultra.html?___SID=U#.WZsE9VGGOUk

CDNN says it weighs 7.5 pounds but the real weight is closer to 6.5.

I had a Howa Alpine Rifle in 308. These rifles have Bansner stocks, which are superb. Mine shot well off of a rest or a rucksack, but did not balance well at all--the muzzle was very light and it tended to float around on fast offhand shots. Nearly everything around here is an offhand shot, so that was a dealbreaker and down the road it went.

I also have a Tikka T3 in 308. It's superbly accurate without tuning and balances well for offhand shooting. It's my first choice for an inexpensive lightweight rifle.


Okie John

Has he shot it yet? The recoil pad is pretty good, but the gun comes back at you pretty hard. I haven't even fired heavy loads in mine yet.