I have just gone through the thought process of chosing the componets for a light weight sheep rifle. I wanted a rifle that I could use for moose, elk, and Griz also. So I went with the 300 WSM. It's going to weigh uder 6 lb. with scope and rings. I know it will kick but I carry my guns a whole lot more than I shoot them.

These are the componets I used does any one have any comments or recomendations
Rock Creek barrel #2, 24 inches 2 lb
Borden Timber Line action 1 lb 14 oz
Hi Tech stock 1 lb 1 oz
3-9 Leupold Light weight VX11 8 oz
Talley one piece rings 2 oz

Dr B

How about a fixed 4 or 6 power instead of the variable 3-9? Fixed power scopes are easier to make lighter. Add a 1" recoil pad and a synthetic sling. After that, I'd call it good.

I'd seriously look at a Kimber 8400 Montana...it has all the features you want and it will cost alot less than your custom gun. Accuracy in my 7-08 84 Montana has been exceptional.

I also think the Leupold 2.5-8 VX III is a perfect small, light scope.

Tex and Nimrod
The ultralight 3X9 is lighter than either of the scopes you mentioned. Is the VXIII 2.5 X 8 a noticably better scope than the VXII
Dr B

If you are only worried about weight, buy a kimber.

If you just want a custom, buy the Borden...


Sheep/mountain rifles are very hyped up, in my opinion. You work hard to lose unses(sp), and then you bring a heavier binoculars, or some more food, or more clothes, and gaining nothing.

A rifle weight of 7-8 pounds fully loaded is optimal..

And a 7-08 would be better than a 300 WSM. Less recoil, and shoots 120 grain TSX at 3000fps

That is a 300 yard PBR with a kill zone of 4"

270 Winchester would be even better.

Dr.B
280 Rem will do anything on your list..7mm Rem Mag will be better..I caution you on lightness in your package..There are trade off's Here.. Light is good but measured.. Lighten your gear..Make changes in your overall load.. The rifle can be made lighter just be sure the trade is in your best interest.. 6x42 Fixed would be the best..Euro's better.. On your barrel.. If you know this brand and it has worked for you Good.. If not Hart..
AK

I agree with your choice 100% the 300WSM is a great round and with a huge selection of bullets.

I would be less worried about scope weight and put a Zeiss 3.5x10 on that sucker.

ADD A MUZZLE BRAKE that you can open or close you won't be sorry it will make range time a pleasure.

I like your choice, especially if heavier game is involved (sure, grizz w/ a 7-08, why not ). The LEup. 3-9comp. is a good choice, I have one on my "mtn. rifle", a M70 in .280. It weighs in at a delicate 7#4oz loaded a ready to go. The VXIII is my scope of choice on all of my other rifles but you save 3oz by going to the compact.
Rifle weight really matters when you are toteing it in your hands up & down the mtns. Guys that think you can just leave a couple pounds of gear behind & carry a 9# rifle just haven't done it enough. Rifle weight does matter for guys that hunt high & hard.

You'll not make your weight goal. The High Tech stock will finish, with paint and pad, in the 26 oz range. The 3x9 compact may very well be the worst scope on the planet. Tiny, narrow little fov with critical eye relief.

I'd bet you'll be right at 7lbs or a touch more with sling and three rounds... might as well get a Kimber Big Sky.

Fred
When it comes to weight.. You do more.. Your pack..Your rifle..Your boots..Your S.bag..Etc..
Doc
The #2 taper will heat up quick at the range..Two shot stop.. 10mins cool down..This can make for many trips to the range to find the right load..Take other rifles to past the time..Also the 300wsm operates at a high level..Shorter barrel life.. If you get lucky with your load development with less rounds your barrel will last longer..My last rifle was over 100 rounds till I found what I wanted..50 more in practice.. With your #2 taper and the 300wsm You'll be in mid-life on that barrel if you don't get lucky quick..
AK

quote:

Originally posted by akrange:
The #2 taper will heat up quick at the range..Two shot stop.. 10mins cool down..

Nonsense. My Kimber 300 WSM MT has what amounts to a no.1 contour. I can shoot three shot groups no problem and it will hold 3/4" with bullets it likes.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr B:
Tex and Nimrod
The ultralight 3X9 is lighter than either of the scopes you mentioned. Is the VXIII 2.5 X 8 a noticably better scope than the VXII
Dr B

I have a Leu 3-9 Compact which is the previous model to the Lightweight and I like the scope for what it is. It's no Euro scope but it fits in a tight spot. The VX3's are about the same as the VX2's except for the price.

If you have the bucks for a custom like that then look at the upscale Euro scopes like Swarovski etc. They are superior to the Leu design. Scopes can come and go with a healthy budget.

While your spending grab a Kimber Montana in 308 too and shoot it til the custom gets made. Then compare them and tell us what you think.

Swaro



Here is my choice, considering my budget, for my lightweight mountain rifle. Its in Weaver Quads on the aformentioned 308 Montana.

As Ray Atkinson said "At some range every 300 magnum becomes a 30-06"

You are right about equip./gear wt. but you carry yor rifle in your hands & the rest of your gear on your body. A 1# diff. in rifle weight adds up after 4-5miles up & down steep mountains, been there done that. That's why I now have a 7#+ .280 for serious mountain hunting.
Brad, I agree, I think his rifle is coming in closer to 7# than 6#.

Savage99
Those "old" 4x and 6x Ziess scopes are really clear.
I have have couple of the newer 3-9 1" tube Ziess that I really like too. I have one on my Single shot Blaser K 95 Stutzen.

In Leupold I would prefer thwe 2.5-8 because it has click adjustments. The two I have track very well.

Savage99

As Ray Atkinson said "At some range every 300 magnum becomes a 30-06"

That's is correct a 30-06 and a 300 Weatherby both shooting a 200 gr. bullet. The Weatherby becomes the equal of the 30-06's velocity at the muzzle at 200 yards.

Sounds like a good setup. My sheep rifle is a weatherby ultralight 240 with a leupold ultralight 3x9(current model) on it.

I really like those compact 3x9 leupys. I had one on a 300 ultra and another on a 375 ultra.

Brad
Your a lucky Dude..Don't sell it ..
Fred
I think you could carry my Rifle..
AK

quote:

Originally posted by RMiller:
Sounds like a good setup. My sheep rifle is a weatherby ultralight 240 with a leupold ultralight 3x9(current model) on it.

I really like those compact 3x9 leupys. I had one on a 300 ultra and another on a 375 ultra.

I'm working on a Weatherby Ultralight in 257 Wby with a 3-9x Leupy Ultralight. Replacing the Wby B&C stock with a Lone Wolf flyweight. Hoping to have this rifle at 7lbs all up.

quote:

I'm working on a Weatherby Ultralight in 257 Wby with a 3-9x Leupy Ultralight. Replacing the Wby B&C stock with a Lone Wolf flyweight. Hoping to have this rifle at 7lbs all up.

Nice. I have 257 in the same rifle also but I like the weight of it now. It has a weaver grand slam 3-10 that was on it when I bought it. I am guessin that it weighs 7 3/4.

Hey DrB I like your choice of rifle, scope and cartridge!
Don't let anyone of these guys try to tell you that a 7mm-08, 280, or a 7mag will do the same thing as your 300 WSM...impossible. A lightweight SHeep rifle that will double as a Moose, Elk and Griz rifle is not a 7mm-08, 280 or 7 mag.
Your Leupold Compact or lightweight will do nicely on your short action, those scopes don't always do so well on a longer action because of their relatively short ring spacing. I have a 3-9 Leupold compact and 2.5-8 on some of my guns and they are both fine scopes, I think I prefer the 2.5-8 but only by a very slight margin.
Who will be putting your rifle together for you?
I was wondering if you were using my neighbor Kevin Weaver?
Good luck and show us the finished product when available for photos!

Snellstrom
Just curious..What did you use before the 300 WSM came along...
AK

Snellstrom
Good guess Kevin is puting the rifle together. We both ordered Borden tiberlines at the intro. price. All of kevins rifles average under .5 MOA I can't wait to see what he can do with the Borden actionand Rock Creek barrel. This is my third Weaver rifle this year and the first two are awsome!!!.
He built me a .223 wssm on a mod 70 action that shoots 40gr NBT at 4400 fps in under .3 MOA i havent weighed it but it is verey light with the super short action and Pacnor #2 fluted. It's still hard to belive that a rifle as light as this is so accurate.
He also built a .257 STW on a 700 action 27" 3# fluted pacnor. it pushes 100 gr TSX at 4000 fps under .5 MOA.
I don't know what he does, but he builds the most accurate hunting rifles I have ever shot, at a great price, and he is the nicest guy you ever want to meet. He never gets tired of my dumb questons.
If anyone is looking for a great rifle check out Kevin Weaver

WEAVER RIFLES
16850 SAGE CREEK ROAD
PEYTON, COLO. 80831
719-683-3024
“kevin@weaverrifles.comâ€

Dr.B
Post your range work with the new Rifle if you would...Always interested in the "Special One's..
AK

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
A lightweight SHeep rifle that will double as a Moose, Elk and Griz rifle is not a 7mm-08, 280 or 7 mag.!

Take the grizzily bear out of the equation and the 7X57, .270, .280, and 7mm mag will do the job just fine.

If you can afford the hardware discussed here you can get a separate bear rifle and do all jobs the way they should be done. Does anyone know a guide that uses a .30 cal. back up rifle for Alaskan brown bear ? If you do let us know so we can avoid him or her. roger

Roger said it all!

quote:

Does anyone know a guide that uses a .30 cal. back up rifle for Alaskan brown bear ? If you do let us know so we can avoid him or her. roger

bartsche
When I start guiding BB hunts then I'll get a cannon that will make him DRT if I hit a toe. Untill the I'll take my chances with the 300 WSM
Dr B

akrange
Check out Kevin Weaver's Web page under Index of Rifle Pictures fith from the bottom Dr Baylor Jewell's rebarreled Win 223 wssm. Their is a picture of the first group shot with my rifle.
http://www.weaverrifles.com/

Dr B

458WIN used to back up BB with 30-06.

I would not avoid him for a BB guide.

Sorry to detract from the original thread, but if you haven't already selected your smith I'll chime in for Kevin Weaver once more. He recently did a rebarrel on my Weatherby mark V that I took from 7mm to 257 Wby with a #3 Pac-Nor. Breaking in nicely and tightening up along the way as I do load dev.

What's more fun is that I just got him started on a matched set (relatively speaking) of rifles for me - Both are on Remington 700 actions, Lilja stainless barrels and High-tech stocks. The first will be a 7mm-08 AI on the short action, #1 contour at 22" on a Sheephunter stock (should be sub-6lbs, and the second will be a 338-06AI on a #3 contour at 24".

I have been very impressed with Kevin's work on the rifles he's donated for the RBMS (Bighorn Sheep society)so am looking forward to the results on this pair in the coming months.

I know a fellow who finished his Grand SLam, a few years ago, with a .280. He was very pleased with the round!