Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Help chosing a deer rifle

Well, I just got home from 10 days in the hospital dealing with compacted discs and a slew of other maladies to my back. There will be more work needed to get me back on my feet, but at least I can get around the house right now.They fed me lots of pain pills, some of which had some serious mindbender effecks. Gabapentin is some nasty stuff, and I hope I never have to take it again.

I don't plan on giving up the outdoor activity I love, which is deer hunting even if it means I'm down to hunting 100 yards off the roads. I'll do as much as I can to have a quality experience. I want to go with a lighter rifle. What do you guys suggest? A Winchester Model 70 FWT? Any brand's okay with me. Caliber will need to be something between .243 and .308 I'm not picky, have shot most of these rounds, and have little doubt they can get the job done. So I'm looking for a lightweight, carbine lenght bolt action with a lightweight scope. rings, and bases.

What would you guys suggest? I'm sure gonna miss carrying my 99's but I'll have to go ligter from now on.

Thanks for your help guys.

I dont think there’s enough difference in weight between a 99 and a Model 70 Featherweight to justify giving it up.

If you’ve got to go trim and light, I’m a big fan of my Kimbers, but again, that’s not much weight difference at all.

You ever handle a 1920 Savage?

My sons both have the Ruger American compacts in .308 and the love them. They carry these even though they have "better" rifles.

What about a single shot H&R break action Youth in 243 or 223 with fixed 4xpower scope?

This in .243 or .308 would be my choice for what you describe:

https://weatherby.com/store/vanguard-synthetic-compact/

It's worked for both of my sons, and it's super accurate with several factory loads:





Or something like this in .308 (which also will help in case you get attacked by a Chinese rifle platoon):

Slum's suggestion of the break-open in 243 is a good one. The Henry single shots seem to have pretty nice furniture. M70 Featherweights are great (I have two)... but if you're really looking for something light, they might not be the ticket. They aren't heavy. But they aren't that light either.

I would buy another 260 Rem, maybe in a model 7.

But the 7 is hard to find these days and even more difficult in 260.

So I s'pose I would have to slum a Ruger American in 6.5 Creed. I am secure in my masculinity. I think I could pull it off. (If I did not already have 3 260s in the safe)

If you're serious about going lighter, there are some stock options that really help. My go-to rifle is a Rem Mountain rifle in the Ti stock. It's just a plain jane, blue ADL, but it's short, light, balances perfectly and accurate
It weights 6.5 pounds with a Leupold 1.75-6 and Talley LW rings.

I'm not pimping Remington (I buy older guns and fix em up) and didn't mention the chambering on purpose....it really doesn't matter.

If recoil is a concern, I would consider the 6.5 CM, as much as it hurts me to say that.

How much do your 99s weigh and what ultimate weight are you looking for?

That might help with some suggestions.

Good luck finding something to suit your needs and good on you for not giving up.

You don't mention a budget which will determine the best rifle and scope for you situation. Most manufacturers make a really light weight rifle. Kimber probably makes the lightest but its almost $2k. With neck and back issues, another thing to consider is a really good recoil pad and possibly a muzzle brake especially with a light weight rifle. As for calibers, don't forget 6.5 creed, 7mm-08, and 260. If you don't need a super flat shooter then 7mm-08 is a good low recoil round. You want something that you can get ammo at wally world, when there is ammo, then go 243 or 308. I would push more towards 308 of the 2 but recoil maybe a factor. If you aren't going to be making any shots over 100 yds, a ruger 77/44 might be a good choice.


If money is not an issue

Kimber mountain ascent in 7mm-08 with a swaro z3 3-9x36. Total weight 5 pounds 9 oz, loaded with scope rings is probably pushing 6 pounds. Comes standard with muzzle brake and pachmayr 1 inch decelerator pad. Total cost approximately $2500.

Tikka T3x Superlite in .243 -or- previous model in .7mm-08 would be hard to beat. Meopta Meopro is the best rifle optic (for the money) on the market right now, IMO.

A post war 99F featherweight in a 243, 300 or 250 savage (I would avoid the 308 due to recoil unless you reload) and a lightweight scope and mounts might not be that big a load to carry and you can still enjoy hunting with a 99. Other than that there's been plenty of suggestions of other rifles.

my AR is the lightest rifle i own. its a 5.56 though, not sure what a 308 upper would add in weight but probably not much.

A Remington Model 7 would be a good choice. I hope you get through the health problems soon and not suffer any more.

Getcha a 99 thats had a few attempts at side mount scope bases.......

Lightening holes

99's aren't heavy.

jeff, sorry to hear this. hope you're doing ok now. text me and let me know more, and if i can help in any way.

for light weight, can't beat a plastic stocked rifle with 22 inch barrel like a savage 10 or 11, or a 700 adl...

My 35 EG once scoped was not light.
Metal buttplate too.
.300 savage, not bad but had some bump.

Recoil pad w high comb stock for scope use, on a featherweight is what id do.

Really light deer rifle.....Contender rifle, synth in .35 rem
Was a joy to carry.