Light weight hunting rifles

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elktrout

elktrout

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After some years of lugging my 7mm Wby Mark V up and down the mountains in my home state, I am considering a light weight "mountain" rifle (whatever that really is) for deer and elk.

My initial specs would be: 1) Rifle/scope combo weighing around 8 pounds total; 2) 30-06 caliber; 3) synthetic stock; 4) scope either a straight 6x Leupold FX or reputable brand 3-9x variable.

What make and model rifle would you recommend and why?

Thanks.
 
The Tikka will be close to 7.5 lbs scoped, and very accurate. I also do like the 700Ti, if you have the budget. I am building a silenced and scoped 300 WinMag, hoping to come in under 8lbs loaded and needed to go with the Ti for that application. If you want to do it on the cheap and want a super accurate lightweight rifle that gets the job done, I'd recommend a T3 Lite Stainless.
 
The Browning A-Bolt Stalker and the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight are both at or under 7lbs IIRC, and both should make a great hunting rifle (without costing $2k+ P.B.W.). :)
 
I don't know if CZ does the 550 in a synth stock, but if they do, that would be
it, hands down.

if not, then tikka or sako would really be nice...
 
I decided to go the lightweight route this year and found a used A-Bolt Ti in 300WSM for an all-round hunting rifle. Pretty much had to be an all-rounder because I can't afford two of em. :)

Very nice handling. Real sweet trigger and accurate as heck. Bolt has a bit more play in it than I like though.

When I rescope it with a compact Leupold 2-7 or 3-9 and Tally mounts it should come in at 6.5 lbs ready to go.

Now a 6.5 lb 300 mag is gonna kick but I can load it down for most of my hunting. With Blue Dot powder and 125 Ballistic Tips it should kick like a 300 Savage for black tail. With 4759 or 5744 powder it should reach .308 Win velocities and recoil with 150s-180's. For elk I'll shoot full power or -06 velocity loads and just grin and bear it. :uhoh: Or I could put a removable Vais brake on it, we'll see.

I know you were asking about an 06. I was looking for one as well when I found this 300. I figure I'll just load it down a touch and call it an 06 improved. :)
 
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For I lighter weight rifle I like the Kimber M84/8400, either in the Montana or the Classic. Mine weigh just a couple ozs over 7 lbs with scopes. They shoot circles around the Tikka 270wsm I had and are lighter to boot.
 
If you choose your scope carefully and use Talley lightweights you can eaaily come in under 8 lbs with a lot of rifles. These are actual weights of rifles in my safe including Leupold scopes

The Winchester Featherweight is 7 1/2lbs.

A Ruger All Weather in Synthetic is 8 lbs even

My Tikka is 7 lbs even.

I have a Rem 700 in a Brown Precision synthetic stock thet weighs 7 1/4lbs.

My Kimber in 308 is 5 lbs. 14oz. with scope.

If you want to put together a light weight rifle look hard at the weights of your mounts and scope. The Talleys weigh 2.5 oz. and are stronger than the typical steel Leupold mounts that weigh about 6 oz. A Leupold 2-7X scope will be 4-8 oz lighter than a 3-9X scope made by most anyone else and do anything you need a hunting scope to do. You can easily loose 3/4 to 1 lb just in your scope and mounts.
 
personally id look at a used model 70 featherweight.

I wouldnt carry the tikka to the car if the store gave it to me. just an opinion
 
you might take a look at the .308. It treads very close on the heals of the grand ole 30-06. By going with the .308 you can easily get into the weight range you are looking for.

I believe that Hornady and Federal make, "High Energy" or "Light Magnum" loads for the .308 that boost the velocity quite a bit. Here is some Hornady info:

.308 Win., 150 gr. SP

Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
3000/2997 2721/2466 2459/2014 2212/1629 1979/1305 1762/1034

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.50 1.60 0.00 -7.40 -21.90 -45.30

I really like the Remington Model Sevens. I have had good luck with them. The Kimber's are awesome too. The Montana is one of the best looking guns around in my opinion.
 
I bought a Rem 700Ti in 7mm08 when they first came out. Quite satisfied with it. 6.5 pounds with scope, sling and ammo.

0.25 pounds heavier if the long action for .30-'06. 22" barrel, so might as well go .308 as '06.

Good crisp trigger, set at three pounds. 3/4 MOA, reliably. Pretty much same point of impact with handloads or factory, in 140-grain.
 
I wanted a lightweight rifle so I picked a Tikka T3 Lite in 308Win.
With a Leupold 3-9x40mm scope it's just under 7.5 lbs.

I love the gun. It's lighter than the majority of unscoped rifles, it's accurate, the action is silky smooth, the stock trigger is great (adjustable 2-4 lbs), and the stock fits me perfectly.

With 165gr Nosler Ballistic Tips it'll shoot a consistent 1" at 100 yards with many groups around 0.5"
It'll shoot 3/8-1/2" groups with factory match ammo.

The best thing is it cost me $450 new 5 years ago.
It's got to be the best buy in "normal" hunting rifles.
 
For I lighter weight rifle I like the Kimber M84/8400, either in the Montana or the Classic. Mine weigh just a couple ozs over 7 lbs with scopes. They shoot circles around the Tikka 270wsm I had and are lighter to boot.
Click to expand...

+1
The Montana fits your criteria to a "T".
 
If you want a light weight rifle(6.8 lbs, long action)that won't break the bank, then take a look at the Savage 116 Accustock. The short action, the model 16 is in the neighborhood of 6.7 lbs. 'Standard calibers with a 22" barrel'

:D
 
My Browning X-Bolt Hunter in 7mm-08, with 2.5-10x50mm Nikon Monarch scope, X-rings and sling weighs a grand total of 7.2 pounds. 22" bbl.

My Browning X-Bolt Hunter in .300WSM, with 2.5-10x50mm Nikon Monarch scope, X-rings and sling weighs a grand total of 7.6 pounds. 23" bbl.
 
JFlongshotfin.jpg

660muley-1.jpg

I bought this Remington model 660 just before the end of 'Nam War. Short, light, powerful for all big game in my native state of Wyoming. The only professional work I've had completed are glass bedding and trigger job.

.308 is versatile:

- FEDERAL Lite ammo featues 170 grain flat nose to produce low recoil.

- Remington's Managed Recoil ammo features 125 grain pointed soft tip
for hard hitting low recoil

- Wide variety of 150, 165, 180 grain ammo for BIG game

Remington dropped the 660 in 1971 but good used ones are fairly easy to find on Gunbroker. Remington built other carbines including model 788, model 7, and model 673. My brother recently bought a new walnut stocked TIKKA with full length barrel and had it "chopped" to 20 inches. His .308 shoots and handles just like mine.

TR

TIKKA.jpg
 
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I might need to buy an "acual" hunting rifle, because mine right now is a Remington 700 .308, 26" .750" muzzle with a B&C Vertical Grip Medalist stock, and big A BSA scope, Eagle SSP, and sling, and it weights in at....12.4 lbs., so.....
 
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