Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Looking for 7-08 sporter weight hunting rifle....

Hey everyone,

I am going to be hunting a new farm this year and am wawnting a new rifle for this upcoming season. I have been on a remington 700 kick for a couple of years and think it may be time to try something a little different. This rifle will be used primarily for woods hunting and most shots will be 10-150 yards(probably more of an 80 yard average). I am looking for something fairly light weight that I can manage to carry a little easier than some of the heavy barreled guns that I have. I have been looking online at a browning a bolt stainless brush gun but haven't been able to find one locally. Any opinions/suggestions would be appreciated.

Lee,

Check out the Steyr Mannlicher rifles:

http://www.steyr-mannlicher.com/fcb/index.php?id=1&L=1

I have two of the SBS rifles (a Scout in .308 and a .376 Steyr). A ProHunter in 7-08 or an UltraLight would be great.

jim

Take a look at the Kimbers. I have a 84M Classic in 7-08 that is the lightest and handiest rifle I have ever owned. Also very accurate.

If you like synthetics and stainless look at the Kimber Montana. Very well put together tools, IMO.

Just pick-up a 84M in 7-08. How accurate is accurate? Probably going to feed this one factory ammo less I free up some time.

BLR in 7-08 is always a sweet option for brush hunting. Mt 308 is the handiest rifle I own. BMT

Lee ...

I know you said you want to try something different ... but you also said you've been on a Remmy kick as of late ... May I ask, are you not liking your Remmies? Or are you simply in the mood for a new taste?

I ask, only because I would think that a Rem700 Mountain Rifle would be perfect for what you want ... and it would keep your rifles of like mfg, keeping familiarity at a high point ... plus, you know what you're getting, give or take a very small margin.

Unless I just had to try something new, I'd opt for either a Ti 7mm-08, and LVSF 7mm-08 in a Ti stock ... but if I did go a different direction, I't would likely be a kimber ... I've not shot one, but I've handled a few in the stores, and they are very nice from that perspective ...

how about a marlin 30-30 or 35 rem. light handy goood for 150 yards. but they are common with no bells and whisles so they probably wouldn't fly around here.

Kimber, Kimber, Kimber. My Montana in 7mm-08 is my favorite rifle. The classic is also a fantastic, lightweight rifle.

Another vote for sticking with Remington.
Top choice would be the LSS Mountain rifle, or maybe the new Model 7 CDL.
If you can find one, the LVSF in either a TI or Mnt rifle stock would be great too.

No matter what brand you end up with, It's hard to beat a 7mm-08 for deer!

Go to some shops and handle what they have. Having used most of the rifles out there I have now focused on the Kimbers as being the best American made rifles. I started with the Remmy's but soon found nice machinery to be what I favored.

The Remmy's don't have a good safety, trigger or a secure bolt handle. Move on.

When you handle a Kimber that does not have a scope on it you will be looking down at the barrel as they have a very high comb. This high comb turns out to work well recoil wise when the scope is mounted. Give them a close look.

Don't just order a wood stocked rifle but instead buy it when you see it. On the other hand the Armoury in CT has a Kimber 7mm-08 with nice wood. I don't know why its still there.

What do you mean by this? Had one come off in your hand?

Speaking of bolts, though I do like the Kimbers, especially the Montana models, the last one I had in my hands for examination had a "rattling" bolt. That is, it took very little effort to make the bolt rattle just by handling the rifle. I'm assuming all Kimbers don't exibit this annoying trait. The salesman that handed me the rifle was perplexed by the rattle and commented that he'd be contacting Kimber cust service.

For a good hunting rifle I have 2 Stevens 200s in 7mm-08,, one shoots way sub moa the other moa. Compairing them to the Remington mnt rifle, the Stevens has a 3 position safty, a trigger without any safty concerns, a bolt that is very well attatched, a slightly heavier barrel but still weights 6.5 pounds and cost half of the remmy, I know because I sold my remmymnt rifle and bought the 2 stevens. The Remmy mnt rifle looks sexier, and I like the feel of the laminated stock on the remmy as it is smaller in the gripping areas as I have smaller hands.

Yea I can pull a Remmy bolt handle right off. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The Kimber magazine follower does not touch the bolt when the mag. is empty. Thus some bolts may rattle.

My wife's Ruger compact is a nice little woods rifle. Its like a kids gun. Worked great after getting the trigger smoothed up

Nothing has yet to impress me like the Ti..................

There's just millions of them out there with their handles falling off, isn't there? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

I know it's happened, but I've never had one or seen one fall off. Makes me wonder how much of an issue it really is. None, perhaps (excluding dangerous game)?

As far as Kimbers go, I've tried to like them, but can't yet.
Tried them out about three years ago, and every one had a rough bolt and the forend was hitting on one side. Then I handled 4 at Cabela's in Michigan last weekend, and they just don't feel right to me.

A lot of the guns listed above are in $1,000 range. As an alternative, you could build a rifle for that. I have the following 7-08 in process right now:

Rem. 700 ADL - $314 in .243 at Academy Sports;
Rem. Ti stock - $150 off the net;
Pac-Nor #2 .284, 3 groove, 9 twist - $240;
Barrel installation - $300.
Total = $1,004 (plus incidentals, taxes, shipping, etc.)

" Yea I can pull a Remmy bolt handle right off."
Not saying it's really common, but my brother had it happen to one of his 700s. I know, since I took it to the gunsmith for repairs.
Can't say it's stopped me from buying a few though.

Remington Model 7 CDL with a small 4x scope.

Held one of those last night in 7-08. What a cutie!
It would fit my short tube 1.75X6 quite nicely! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />