Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Accurate rifles for backcountry use

I've had really good luck with Kimber Montanas through the years but am curious on other rifles. I may be in the market. I'm not opposed to building one either. I've run into a few issues on hunts over the years. Had the old style M70 trigger fail to pick up the sear, had a magazine spacer in a Kimber pop off, had a M700 trigger freeze after it fell in the snow, etc. Im not inclined to bash any brand, rifles are simple machines and can break/malfunction on occasion.

My goals are almost always the same: 7.5-7.75 lbs with scope, dependable in the backcountry, stainless/synthetic, and stock with 1/2" to no more than 1" drop at heel. 5/8" is about perfect. Prefer 23" barrels, wont own another over 24". I am biased toward Mauser style extractors but AM open to push feeds. I want MOA or better from my hand loads.

I've owned a couple Browning Stainless Stalkers back in the day and was not real impressed with some of the parts. I've owned more than a few Remingtons and generally had good luck. I really like Win M70s but they tend to fail the weight limit and trying to find an aftermarket stock is a challenge. Kimbers have been good to me but want a bit more weight in their larger offerings. I've never owned a Tikka/Sako, Christenen, newer Browning, or Weatherby. I do see most of the last mentioned have lighter models seemingly designed for backcountry hunting. Some have 26" barrels which I find burdensome in the field.

Alot of rambling to say - what are you all using in the backcountry? How durable/dependable have they been? Any comments on the backcountry models from Christensen, Weatherby, or Browning? Have the MOA guarantees been valid with a bit of prudent handloading?

Thanks.

Sounds like you need to try a Tikka.

Depending on scope and mounts, you may make the weight limit with a M70 XTR Winlite or a Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness/Backcountry.

...For cartridge's, I'm thinking 300 WSM for elk+ and a 6.5 PRC for deer size. A 30-06 and 6.5 or 30-06/270 are also considerations. The 30-06/270 is attractive not because they do everything perfect but because they are available everywhere. I've considered the 1 rifle battery but shooting a 100 ln pronghorn or deer with a 300 WSM seems a tad much. I previously owned a Kimber 270 and it covered most of what I needed to do, currently have a Kimber 280 AI but its a tad on the light side with 160-175 grain max loads.

Several years ago I bought a Ruger .30-06 from CDNNsports.com for a wedding gift to a SIL. It was a synthetic-stocked/blue Hawkeye with a 30" barrel. Daughter sent me a scope for it, which I mounted and sighted in. Love that rifle - light, very handy, Ruger rugged, sturdy stock and accurate. If I didn't already have three .30-06s I'd get one. CDNN still has them for $499.

A note on the stock. I hate flimsy synthetics. I have two of the Ruger synthetics like this and like them a lot. Nothing flimsy about them


https://www.cdnnsports.com/30-06-hm77rlfp-20-syn-ultra.html?___SID=U#.X42IX9BKiUk

Paul - thanks for the link. I hadnt considered a Savage. They are the red-headed step children of rifle looneys but I know a buddy of mine has weather warrior or some such name. He swears by it and has killed several animals on guided hunts. I'll have a look. Thank you.

Kimber rifle, add weight in your scope.
My 280ai is 7#s flat with a 3-18x44 scope and cheek rest.