Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats high rugged country plus sheep guns

Hey folks,

I have been kicking around the idea of another custom rifle, this one an exceptionally lightweight, but still accurate enough for the potential of a longer shot on Oregon Bighorns, that is a once in a lifetime tag, and it would be a shame to lose your opportunity to a missed shot. anyway, I am wondering what you folks think about action/cartridge/stock/barrel length and weight/optics combo's. My most recent thought has been with the advent of the high BC hunting bullets from berger in 7mm another MK X in .284 winchester, little heavier barrel, but only 20" all in a mcmillan, and wearing a vx3 6.5-20 on top.
I know that this question is something akin to asking which grain of sand on this beach is the blackest? but i do love the controversy that should ensue, and who knows, maybe more than one rifle will be made of it.

Exceptionally lightweight sheep gun and 6.5-20?
Do you sheep hunt off a quad to?

Kimber Montana in 280AI, Talley LWs and a 3.5x10 Leupie if you have to have a variable. If not just a 6x42.

Done.

Easy enough eh Karnis:)

Well you know more about your hunting area than I do....but, I believe Jack didn't have any trouble with a Model 70 chambered in 270. However, good luck with your custom build.

Did you pick up an Oregon Bighorn tag? If so, congratulations - I have seen some big animals over in the Steens.

Check out the new Forbes 24B or the Kimber 84L. Both are light, handy and plenty accurate.

Like most people I am sure you just live for unsolicitated opinons so here is mine --- What's the point of such a monster scope? A 6.5 - 20 would add a lot of weight and bulk but no utility. Something in the Leupold 2.5 - 8 range would seem called for.

Exceptionally lightweight & Mk X don't go together.

Same for the 6.5-20x scope.

I like what Karnis said.

NULA 280AI, VX3 2.5X8X36 ....

Kimber in 7-08 would do it easy enough, if you want very light.

And skip the huge scope.

I almost spit Diet Coke on the screen when I saw the 6.5x20 scope.

Get a Forbes, Kimber, Tikka T3, or M70 Fwt in a Synthetic stock, and put a Leupold Dual Dovetail Low, or Talley Lightweight Low, and a Leupold 6x, take your pick, a 33mm compact, a 36mm, or 42. Add a CDS or M1, IF you get that long shot, have a rangefinder and good binos.

If you must have a variable, a 2-7 CDS, 2.5-8x add CDS/M1, or a 3-10x40 CDS. Use a Duplex, post duplex, or LRD.

Practice, with your rifle, and get in shape so you aren't huffing too hard when you need to squeeze. Have a decent trigger and trigger pull weight, not too heavy, nor light.

Personally, I'd choose a 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, or 7/08. A 270/280/or '06 will do fine, as would a 6.5x55 or 7x57 if you want nostalgia. A 308 will get it done, as many others, inc. the puny 243. Pick a good bullet, and push thru vitals.

Hell, why stop with a Mk X? You need a Sendero and a Nightforce or S&B scope, with steel Picatinny rail and rings, with the heaviest bipod you can find! Load up a bubba buddy with extra ammo, and you're golden!

Kimber .280AI, Talley LW, VX3 3.5-10x40 or Swaro Z3 3.5-10x42. (Though I would really rather rebarrel my 700 Ti to .280AI.)

I have two rifles in the class I think you are looking for, a Montana 84M and a Forbes 24B. Weight of my Kimber 84M Montana in 7-08 with a Leupold 2.5 - 8 in Talley LW's is 6 pounts 1 oz.

Weight of a new 24B in .270 with Leupold 2.5 - 8 in Talley LW's is 6 pounds 9 oz.

In comparing the two, both have really superb triggers and feed and extract smoothly and reliably. I like the fit of the trimmer stock of the Kimber as well as the 3 position wing safety better than Forbes but the 24B is more accurate.

Despite it's greater bulk, the Forbes stock is lighter than the Kimber and is noticably more rigid - I think the Forbes is the clear winner in the stock department but I would prefer it be a bit more trimmed down, especially in the wrist. I do not own an 84L but I suspect the weight difference between the Forbes and the 84L Montana would be next to nothing.

Of the two, I would give the edge to the Forbes but you could hunt either with complete satisfaction.

There is a Nula in the classifieds. Ya it's mine. Lot's of good choices out there though. Good luck, awesome tag.

Yes...or the same in a Forbes or NULA depending on what you want to spend. M1 elevation on the scope...might go CDS (w/zero stop) but I haven't played with the one I have enough to say yet.

Not the lightest but carries well. 6.5x06ai.

I'd take a 270 M70 FW with a Brown Precision Pound'r or Edge stock....6x36 Leupold.

Who needs a 280AI?

Do people really hunt with those? I thought it was just stories.

Now and then;here and there.

Ayup, I have three P-64-Fwt.-.270Win. rifles, one original in a 20+ year old Brown Kevlar stock, Talley QDs, 1988 B&L Balvar 3x9, a good and TOUGH scope with many Blacktails to it's credit.

This old rifle was "used" when I got it in 1991 and I have worn quite a bit of finish off of it, but, while now "retired" to "spare-.270" status, the bore still is fine, it shoots well and it is "there"when/if I need it.

I bought another, 95% and hardly shot, knew the original owner and had it put into my first Micky HC Edge stock that a friend gave me not long after they were introduced. It also wears Talleys and a Leupy 2.5x8, a new one bought for it and it SHOOTS.

But, as much as I like original P-64 Fwts, my latest and most loved has been made from used parts and works superbly. A 1946-70 action, "take-off" Classic Fwt. sts tube, Micky Edge MKX pattern stock fitted to the 70 in the tang and Talley-Brockman setup, holding a Swaro. Z3-3x9....irons on all of these and this one just suits me.

I think that these wlll equal ANY "mountain rifle" and I have about 20 such rifles from 7/08 to .308Norma.