Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Ultimate Backpack Rifle

I am looking to buy a good all around rifle for whitetail in the midwest, Elk out west, and maybe a future Alaska hunt for moose or caribou. I am leaning toward a 30.06 in synthetic w/ a stainless barrel. I have had a few people strongly suggest a .300 mag or even a .270. So any ideas? Also, any suggestions especially on a brand? I see kimber does not sell the montana in a .300 or a 30.06. I have heard good things about the new Winchester Model 70.

I know everyone is real conscious of weight,but weight distribution and length should really be considered just as important,whatever you get I would suggest as short of a barrel as you can stand.

Kimber (I believe) is going to be making the new 84L in a Montana chambered to 30-06.
I backpack hunt for elk with a Montana, although chambered to a 325WSM and the light weight is a Godsend after a few days of hunting.

When Kimber brings out their 84L in the Montana I'll own one in, most likely, 270 Win... that'll be my BP, do everything rifle. "All-around, whitetail to moose," has the 270 written all over it, as well as 30-06.

Kimber does make the 8400 in the WSM's as Tim rightly points out. I have a Montana in 300 WSM that has accounted for several elk. The 300 WSM Montana combo is a heck of an all-around package. Mine, scoped with sling and three rounds weighs 7lbs 6oz's, which is plenty light. The 270 Montana should come in around 6lbs 12oz's ready to rock.

30-06 sounds about right for what you're looking to do. I don't think I'd be looking for a really lite weight rifle in a 300 mag, unless it was a wsm, etc. unless your very recoil friendly.

A lot can be said about the weight and balendce of a rifle when backpacking. Some want a 6.25lb "all up" rifle. Mine is a Ruger Mark II SS ultralite in 30-06 with a 20" barrel - "all up" right around 7.25lbs. Balences very well and not heavy.

My father bought a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 and I wouldn't hesitate to have that as my primary backpacking rifle either. That thing is a really shooter to boot.

I've handled the Kimbers, but it didn't do it for me. No 1st hand experience with the new FN Winchesters, but I hear good things. Take a look at Ruger and Remington as well.

Keep in mind too that when you're wearing a backpack you're going to need longer eye relief on your scope.

Mike.

IMO, you can't go wrong with either the 270 or the 30-06, many a elk and moose has fallen to both those rounds. I don't back pack for moose or caribou and don't really know anyone that does but back packing for elk is something that a lot of folks do.

This past fall I carried a Winchester model 70 in 270 for 2 weeks while hunting sheep and managed to kill one, along with a decent sized bull moose and both were 1 shot kills. I thought about trading it for different rifle in 7mm-08 but after it's performance this fall, i'm keeping her. I say she's about 7-7 1/4 lbs all up.

How about a takedown?

Blaser K95 single shot.
Sauer 202 bolt action.
Benelli R1 semiauto.
Browning BLR takedown.

Rem 700 TI

Would love to see pics of those!

Never mind... went to the AK forum and found them. Outstanding!

I'm a big fan of the orginal Rem 700 Ti and have two of them. Punching a 7mm/08 out to .284 Win. has worked very well for me. Scoped rifle sans sling is 6.9 lbs. Of course a 7mm/08 would have also worked but where's the fun in that? In a long action I would go with a .270.

Premium bullets have made the need for a big bored rifle all but obselete unless you're in bear country and then I would like a larger bore.

Sako finnlight in 300 win mag or 7 mag.

.308 is the answer. Kimber, Rem, Win, Sako, Ruger, etc. What was the question...?

Rem 660 in 6.5 Rem Mag. Now you're talking,

I have a first generation Remington Ti chambered in .270, that will throw 130 Accubonds at 3200 into 3/4 inch, three shot groups with alarming regularity.

I topped it with an older Vari-X III in 3.5-10x40 with a custom matched, long-range reticle.

I couldn't be happier with this set-up, and short of Grizzly/Brown Bear, I'm confident in taking anything in North America.

If you have the means to procure one, I highly reccomend you do so.

Walther P22 with Mini-Mags, but you gotta get real close if you're going to hunt moose.

Man I love my P22, tis great for all kinds of fun.

Dober

Tag,
Ultralight Arms Model 24 in your favorite caliber. 270, 280, 280 Ackley (my choice), 30-06. Per your specs any of these calibers with premium bullets would work fine.

Dave

Personally I still feel like Brads original idea of a Lil Sky 308 with a 6x36 with dotz is about model perfecto!

Dober

I think my Remington 700 SS 280, with a 6x42 is the ultimate backpack rifle. It sits in an Edge stock. One hell of a rifle, IMO.

Wait a minute...308 is a .30 cal....


Let me write this date on my calendar!!!

Ingwe