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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 138
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 138 |
heading out west for a hunt next year. what the best lightweight rifle for up to $1,500? will be chasing elk and mule deer.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 519
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 519 |
I’m partial to the Remington model seven or 700 mountain rifle.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,621
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,621 |
Tikka T3x 30-06, Burris 3-9 FF II & a few bucks leftover for tags.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,135 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,135 Likes: 12 |
Tikka T3x 30-06, Burris 3-9 FF II & a few bucks leftover for tags. Damn hard to beat that package. Op could take his pick of good cartridges to use. I have them in 6.5cm, 7mm08, 308win. All prime candidates sure to work on elk. Great choice though.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,283 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,283 Likes: 4 |
Tikka T3x 30-06, Burris 3-9 FF II & a few bucks leftover for tags. Although all my lightweight rifles are M700’s, that combo would be a good and easy way to go. Take the remaining money, put it in the bank to pay bills, and spend a couple extra days in the field…….
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,605 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,605 Likes: 2 |
Another vote T3x. But in 270 or 06. Vx3 3.5-10 with CDs for easy dialing. Or meopta 2.5-10. Maybe 7 rem mag if you feel you need a magnum to kill an elk.
All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 759
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 759 |
I went from a Ruger M77 boat paddle in .338 to a Kimber Montana in 300wsm. The 338 felt like it was 10 pounds, where the kimber comes in around 6. Killed several bulls with the WSM out to 280 yds. Archery hunt now and prob never go back to a rifle.
Don't gobble at me
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,948 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,948 Likes: 5 |
A SS Tikka is around $750 here. Blue, closer to $600. I can see the advantages to SS, but it wasn't worth an extra $150 to me. I have other rifles that cost more, but I sometimes wonder why.
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: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,160 Likes: 3
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,160 Likes: 3 |
My choice would be a Winchester M 70 Featherweight .30/06. A Leupold 6x or 2-7x would be good choices for scopes.
Load it with 180 grain Nosler Partitions and go hunting.
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,081 Likes: 1 |
My nephew has a Kimber Hunter in 280AI, I'm seriously jealous, wish they made them in 22-250, would be a great coyote calling rifle.
After the first shot the rest are just noise.
Make mine a Minaska
Heaven has walls and rules, H-ll has open borders
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 518
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 518 |
Model 70 Classic Stainless synthetic in 308 that I bought in 93-94 with a VXII 3x7 weighs in at 7.8.....use to wear a 3x9 but like the 2x7 for what I hunt.
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 518
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 518 |
Meant to say a VXII 2x7 shooting the TTSX 130 in handloads.
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,359
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,359 |
Really hard to beat Tikka. Super accurate as well. Add a Swarovski 3.5-18 x 44 on it with the ballistic turret and you're good to go out to 500 yards (with proper site in). The scope weighs a mere 15.9oz. with best of the best glass. You can have a rifle, scope, sling, and loaded magazine under 8lbs.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2 |
My choice would be a Winchester M 70 Featherweight .30/06. A Leupold 6x or 2-7x would be good choices for scopes.
Load it with 180 grain Nosler Partitions and go hunting. Good choice, and one I had for a long time, but the OP want's a lightweight... the M70 isn't!
“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: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,307
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,307 |
lightweight rifles ? is kinda a decision each person has to decide your size and how fit you are can make a decision more than the weight of a rifle .
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2 |
Tikka T3x 30-06, Burris 3-9 FF II & a few bucks leftover for tags. Totally agree... I'd go 270 Win, but the concept remains the same. Whenever I meet someone new to hunting here in Montana who is asking for rifle advice, that's the setup (in 270) I tell them to get.
“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: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2 |
lightweight rifles ? is kinda a decision each person has to decide your size and how fit you are can make a decision more than the weight of a rifle . I agree, but by any reasonable modern definition, an all-up 8+ lb rifle is not a lightweight.
“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: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,168
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,168 |
My choice would be a Winchester M 70 Featherweight .30/06. A Leupold 6x or 2-7x would be good choices for scopes.
Load it with 180 grain Nosler Partitions and go hunting. Good choice, and one I had for a long time, but the OP want's a lightweight... the M70 isn't! I feel like one of those featherweights in a LW stock like an EDGE or Brown, is just about right. for me its like the 3 bears, Standard featherweight too heavy, 308 Montana too light for me to shoot really well in all positions, but a 22" featherweight with a 22oz stock just right.
The collection of taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny. Under this Republic the rewards of industry belong to those who earn them. Coolidge
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,860 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,860 Likes: 2 |
Relating to your OP, this rifle should meet you price and weight requirements, the Tikka is also very popular. https://christensenarms.com/mesa/
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,287 Likes: 2 |
My choice would be a Winchester M 70 Featherweight .30/06. A Leupold 6x or 2-7x would be good choices for scopes.
Load it with 180 grain Nosler Partitions and go hunting. Good choice, and one I had for a long time, but the OP want's a lightweight... the M70 isn't! I feel like one of those featherweights in a LW stock like an EDGE or Brown, is just about right. for me its like the 3 bears, Standard featherweight too heavy, 308 Montana too light for me to shoot really well in all positions, but a 22" featherweight with a 22oz stock just right. I've had something like 6 M70 Fwt's with the McMillan Hunters Edge before I quit them... man do I hate that stock! I'd go Brown or Bansner. A LA M70 Fwt in a 24oz fiberglass stock, with all-aluminum bottom metal (or a blind magazine), X-Low Talley lightweights, a 6x36 Leupold, 5 rounds, and a Butler Creek Mountain Sling, can be brought in "all-up" right around 7lb's 8oz's. In my world that's a "midweight" but it's still a darn good place to be!
“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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