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After 25+ years of carrying around his 9lb hunting rifle, I convinced my father an upgrade might be in order. The only thing my father hunts is white tailed deer at ranges less than 100yds. His only request is that the rifle be as light as possible. Here is what I was thinking: the local pawn shop has a Winchester 70 classic stainless in 243 WSSM for cheap. I was thinking of a re-barrel to something with a little more punch. I was thinking of either 7mm WSSM or 358 WSSM. I was thinking of a Lone Wolf Summit XL for the stock if they still offer it, if not then probably a McMillan Edge. What I am still not certain on is the barrel length and contour, should the barrel be fluted. Lastly, what scope would you recommend? "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | ||
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Why not just opt for the Weatherby Ultra-light rifle that weighs in at @5.75# and is offered in many standard calibers as well as some of the Weatherby magnums including the 300Wby. I would also recommend a Leupold 2-7X36mm scope since shots will be under 100yds. Dennis Life member NRA | |||
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Kimber Montana would be nice. 243, 257 Roberts, 7mm-08, 308, 338 Federal My personal choice would be the 7mm-08, but could be talked into any one of them except the 243 for the situation you are describing. Talley lights and a straight 4 or 2.5-8 Leupold and I would happy. | |||
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We looked at them but my father did not like how the stock fit him. At 1700.00 that's quite a price to pay for a rifle that still needs a stock swap. "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | |||
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I would take him to several good gunstores,and have him pick out a bolt rifle with an 18 to 22" barrel in 308 [my favorite] or maybe 7MM-08. I am NOT an Old Man YET...  But I have a light 308 standing by...  Just in case I live another few years...  DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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if your hell bent on building a custom then do it, but a rl ruger model 7 rem, kimber 84, all would ge great' at 100 yards a .308 is perfect. so are a lot of others...tj3006 | |||
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I would (and would like myself) do a Kimber Montana in .257 Roberts with the previously mentioned 2.5x8x36 and not look back for a second. Unless you can find a Kifaru in .260 | |||
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Tikka T-3 Lite in 7mm-08 or .308 with Leupold Ultralite 3x9x33. Rifle weighs 6.2 lbs and scope 8.8 oz. That package comes in under 7 lbs and is a super accurate and smooth rifle. All for easily umder a $1000 bucks. JP Sauer Drilling 12x12x9.3x72 David Murray Scottish Hammer 12 Bore Alex Henry 500/450 Double Rifle Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock 6.5x55 Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock .30-06 Walther PPQ H2 9mm Walther PPS M2 Cogswell & Harrison Hammer 12 Bore Damascus And Too Many More | |||
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With shots at + or - 100 yards, why something with more punch in a lighter rifle? Besides weighing 9 pounds, what caliber has he been using? I would look at the .243 or .257 Robert's on the small end and the 7mm-08/.308/.30-06/.35 Whelen on the upper end. JMO. No opinion on scopes, I use K 6 Weavers on nearly all my rifles. Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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You can get a Rem XCR II (weighs 6 1/2 lbs) for about $700 from Dick's Sporting Goods. Mine (in 375 H&H) weighs on a postal type scale 7 3/8 lbs with a Leupold 2x7 scope unloaded with no sling. I'd imagine smaller calibers might weigh a tad less. This is one lb lighter than the Rem web page states, but many XCR II owners have confirmed the 6 3/8 to 6 1/2 lb weight. Also the stock (which is a bit ugly, but I like) soaks up recoil. The XCR II with 375 H&H factory has less felt recoil than my 9 lb CZ 550 in the same caliber did. My youngest son (weighs 140 lbs) confirms my subjective opinion lol ... For whitetails, I think the plain old 270 Win caliber is perfect, if not a bit much. Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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For an "old" man, a pre 64 Winchester M70 featherweight might be a consideration. I just traded for one in 270 win and have fallen in love with it, and it recoils MUCH less than my Ruger M77 Ultralite 270 that I have had for over 25 years. | |||
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If the price is right on the Winchester, I would go for it. No deer that walks is any match for a 243 Win, WSM, WSSM whatever...and this is coming from a 243 hater. As for scopes, a nice 3x9x40 from any of the mid to high end manufacturers would be just fine. 30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking. | |||
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i'd have dad shoulder a rem model 7 in 7/08 or 308. add a straight 4x scope. no need for anything else imo. ymmv | |||
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I don't understand the desire for a magnum for whitetail under 100 yards. Especially in a light rifle for an older gentleman. You don't need that much punch for deer. | |||
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If plastic is acceptable to him, the new Ruger All American's are very inexpensive, light, and from all I have seen are shooters. Get on in .243 or .308 and have at it. Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum | |||
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 Custom! Long throated 250-3000 feather weight 19 " barrel on choice of short action, 2to7 low mounted Redfield scope, slim reduced profile black walnut stock with attention to intelligent weight removal, light recoil pad.  Hand loaded cup and core 100gr. bullets seated out to nearly meet rifling . At my age that's what I'd like to carry.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Whitetails at 100yds or less. Pick up a used 30-30. Marlin or Winchester. They are light, handy and have been reliably taking whitetails forever. | |||
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I would look for a good used Sako Finnlight. I prefer the model 75 and you can find them easily. Now that I'm in my seventies a Finnlight 6.5x55 is my whitetail gun. I like it with a 2x7 scope. | |||
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I 2nd the motion! Put a scope on it & you are good to go! If once insists on a friendly ammendment, then I agree that the Kimber 84 is the way to go, Montana being the lightest, and the wood stocks not much heavier. Good luck! friar Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain. | |||
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why not just put a lighter synthetic stock on his old rifle. and upgrade to a new scope. | |||
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X2, an aftermarket recoil pad may be in order...prob not in the calibers mentioned though (I know I needed one for bench work on my TT3 Light in 270WSM) | |||
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Not sure that chopping up the existing gun would solve the weight problem. Besides there are sentimental reasons for not doing this. "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | |||
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Last I looked, you can still pick up a NIB Colt Light Rifle for $600-$750 in 270 or 30-06. They shoot very well and with the addition of a NULA stock from Melvin Forbes, they handle as well as one of his $2800 rifles. "Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson. | |||
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So I had my father check out the Kimber's, likes everything but the stock fit. They had one in 257 Bob that looked promising but at 1200.00 it was a little much for a rifle that still needs a stock swap. I showed him some tikka's, model 7's and the Sako (Base model). He is the most finicky person as to what he likes, doesn't like foreign and gun has to be CRF. We went back to the shop that had the Win 70 in 243 WSSM to see if he could do any better with the price. The guy went down to 500.00 so we bought it. If it were up to me I would just do a stock swap. However, my father seems to think that anything under .30 cal is too small for deer. So I will be going with the 358 WSSM. Mainly because I can get preformed brass and dies from: http://www.bfgcartridges.com/358BFG.html "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | |||
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35 Remington? 358 Win? 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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thecanadian, just one question, how old is your Dad? Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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he is 68 years old "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | |||
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The old guy sounds like a prime candidate for a Marlin 336/.30-30 with a nice recoil pad and a compact fixed 2x or 3x scope to me. In fact, at 72 with a bad heart, bad back and artifical right shoulder it sounds right for me - works good too. | |||
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A Ruger RSI in 7x57 at about 7 lbs without scope is in my safe and I'm just 8 yrs shy of your Dad's age. Will be my primary deer gun in a few years. Very compact gun with the short barrel as well. A Browning composite Stalker gets you down to 6 1/4 lbs in 7mm-08 or 243. I have a stainless stalker in 25/06 which make a dandy deer rifle too. Another one to consider is a Ruger model 96 lever gun in 44 Mag. Very light and compact gun with plenty of punch for deer out to 100 yds. Mine wears a fixed Leupold 2.5X scope. | |||
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I vote for a CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39. Weighs under 6 pounds, and has plenty of punch for deer out to 100 yards. | |||
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Well done that man still going for a look see for a deer at 68 years of age  | |||
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Seems to me a Marlin 30-30 is just the ticket for your father, put an aim point on it and call it good. | |||
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my grandma hunted till the year she died, that was at 82. She is the one that taught me how to gut a deer. "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | |||
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I have 3 Kimbers Buy him a 84M in the Clasic or Montana and never look back ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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I think there are some great suggestions here. You should ask him what he would prefer: Lever, bolt, single-shot. He may have a favorite, dream, nostalgic, or modern itch that may make it even that much memorable. How about an AR-15 or Garand? Managed-recoil bullets are also an option. | |||
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Too bad you can't convince him calibers under .308 actually can, and do, kill deer. At those ranges, there is nothing wrong with the factory barrel, or stepping up to the 25wssm. But if you're willing to go the wildcat route and trouble for him, cheers! Maybe you should hit up Michael458 about one of this WSSM wildcats? You can get dies through him without waiting ages from Hornady or RCBS. Michael usually carries a dozen sets of every caliber he's dreamed up it seems lol. The 458 or 50 cal super shorts he does would be super cool. I mean, if it takes a 30 cal bullet to kill deer, certainly you can convince your dad a 45 cal bullet will kill em deader lol If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter! | |||
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If your dad is in fairly good physical shape, why limit him. If he is in fairly good health and enjoying himself it might not be a good idea to start treating him like he is old. I know and have known quite a few guys in their 70's and 80's that enjoy hunting and go every chance they get. I may be some what prejudiced about this, and I guess at 62 I am still a kid, but I don't want anyone putting me out to pasture before my time, no matter how good their intentions. Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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Its not so much his age that is the problem. He has a rotator cuff problem and it hurts him to lift up and cycle a rifle. This why he wants to go as light as possible, it is much easier for him to hold up a 6.5lb rifle than a 9lb rifle. "though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ---Thomas Jefferson | |||
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You mentioned "his" once and you mention "I" six time! Obviously it's not about what your father wants, it's about what YOU want. Stop being selfish, pay attention to what HE wants and get him a lightweight rifle in a practical standard cartridge (243 win., 260 Rem, 7mm-08, 308 win) for deer under 100 yards. | |||
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This old man (67 yrs) have among other rifles a Kimber Montana in 308 Winchester and I´m a very happy customer. A perfekt light rifle toppet with a good Zeiss scope, handles all aspects of deer hunting where I live. And belive me, we have som rough going up here.  Arild Iversen. | |||
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