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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18,033
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18,033 |
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.
Last edited by gophergunner; 01/13/21.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,388
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,388 |
I dont think there’s enough difference in weight between a 99 and a Model 70 Featherweight to justify giving it up.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,388
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,388 |
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.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,077 |
You ever handle a 1920 Savage?
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 224
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 224 |
My sons both have the Ruger American compacts in .308 and the love them. They carry these even though they have "better" rifles.
No people will tamely surrender their Liberties when knowledge is diffusd and virtue is preservd. On the contrary, when people are ignorant, and debauchd in their manners they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of Invaders. Samuel Adams
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,154 Likes: 35
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,154 Likes: 35 |
What about a single shot H&R break action Youth in 243 or 223 with fixed 4xpower scope?
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,527 Likes: 4
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,527 Likes: 4 |
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):
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4,680
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4,680 |
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.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 25,926 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 25,926 Likes: 2 |
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)
People who choose to brew up their own storms bitch loudest about the rain.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 50,169 Likes: 1
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 50,169 Likes: 1 |
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.
The only thing worse than a liberal is a liberal that thinks they're a conservative.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45,202 Likes: 18
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45,202 Likes: 18 |
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.
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
member of the cabal of dysfunctional squirrels?
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,956
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,956 |
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.
Last edited by JimFromTN; 01/13/21.
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 125
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 125 |
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.
Last edited by Mid_MO_Hunter; 01/13/21.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,681 Likes: 4
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,681 Likes: 4 |
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.
Figures don't lie, But Liars figure Assumption is the mother of mistakes
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408 |
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.
My diploma is a DD214
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Joined: Dec 2017
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 4,576 |
A Remington Model 7 would be a good choice. I hope you get through the health problems soon and not suffer any more.
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,821
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,821 |
Getcha a 99 thats had a few attempts at side mount scope bases....... Lightening holes
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13 |
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,754 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,754 Likes: 1 |
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...
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,821
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,821 |
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.
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