Hello All, I'm in search of a nice liteweight rifle to use for those days I feal like covering a lot of ground, or for when we get together and do some drives. My primary rifle is a 7mm Mag. I love this caliber, but the gun its-self can get pretty heavy when walking a great deal.

I would like to keep the weight no more then 6.5lbs but stay with a 22in. Barrel. and in a short action Caliber (7mm-08, 308, 270wsm) I would like to stay at a .277 and above. I really like the ballistics of the 270wsm and would prob. choose that caliber. The gun will be used for mainly Deer and Bear in Pennsylvania, and a back-up elk rifle.

I like Remingtons, so I have been looking hard at the LSS mountain Rifle, but they do not make this in the WSM's as of yet... Other choices I looked at is the Browning Micro hunter, and the Tikka T3 light SS. The Remington model 7 is out. I wish to stay with a 22in Barrel. The Remington Titanium would be excellant, but a little to much for this college student at this point. I really havent heard much about the tikka T3's yet. I work at the local hunting store, and we havent really sold to many. As of now im leaning to the Mt. Rifle in 7mm-08 with Nikon 2-7x32. I never held the new T3's, but if get some good reviews i just may get one in a 270WSM.

I'm just looking for opinions. If you have an idea of another brand, or type please share. Also a little help with caliber selection would be nice too. Thanx guys for the help.
Ryan

http://www.remington.com/firearms/centerfire/fi_700tul.htm

Check this rifle out. 7mm-08 would be my choice, unless I could have it re-chambered in .300SAUM.

At just over 5lb it's sure handy, I've played with one and liked they way it handled better than the Seven.

RDNeck,

Perhaps you should consider a wider range of rifles. Some European options exist such as the single-shot stalking rifles. For example, here is the 2.45 Kg/5.4 pound Merkel version.

http://www.gsifirearms.com/gsif/prod_detail.asp?prod_id=42

Steyr's Ultra Light is selling in Europe, and will be in North America in '04. This is a 2.7 Kg/5.94 pound rifle

http://www.steyr-mannlicher.com/index.php?id=99

My personal "fave" is the .308 Win: it is a go-anywhere, shoot anything rifle cartridge with ammo common. None of the WSMs offer that virtue, and seem to me to be the antithesis of light weight.

jim dodd

Don't dismiss the Model 7 that quickly. The new magnum models come in 7mm or 300 SUAM with a 22" barrel and should do everything you asked for in a pretty light package. That being said, I have the Mountain Rifle in 30'06 and wouldn't hesitate to use it for anything I'll ever hunt. Good luck,


NoCAL

I have a Weatherby Ultra Lt Weight in .280 Rem that fills the bill for me. VERY accurate, 24" barrel. With a lt wt Leupold scope , nylon sling and ammo its just a tad under 7 pounds.

CDNN Innvestments has them right now for $899.

My other thought would be one of the new Kimber lt wt rifles in 7mm-08.

FN in MT

If money's an issue the tried and true Savage comes in the Sierra model which is light and comes in calibers you like. CDNN also has Colt Light Rifles for $399 but I think 30-06 is all that's left. Good rifle, though. All the others above are as good or better, IMHO, but you said money counted...

The T3 uses standard clibre length actions. No short action. Still you could get the 270WSM at under 7lbs with a 24" barrel. You could go with the 270W, 7mm-08, 308 ect. at 6.5lbs and a 22 barrel.



If you wan't to stay as light a possible with a Rem, don't go with laminated. Heavier than sythetic.

Redneck, I think you should look at the Kimber 84M in 7-08. You have the choice between stainless synthetic and blue/walnut. Both about 5.5 lbs or less with a 22" barrel. I have a classic in 7-08 with a Leupold Vari XIII 2.5-8 and I love. IMHO,fit and finish is far superior than Rem, Win, Ruger, etc. Comes with CRF, air gauge barrel and pillar/glass bedded. Lou

Short on cash but want the high-tech low-weight big-$$$$ WSM guns? A seemingly impossible problem...



NOW SOLVED !!!!!



Savage Model 110FXP, .270 WSM, with Simmons scope. mounts, sling and hard case - $350.00 at Gunsamerica



One pair 30 lb dumbells - $25.20 at Megafitness



Total cost of Savage hunting rifle and dumbells - $375.20

Total weight of Savage hunting rifle without dumbells - 7.75 lbs.



Total cost of similar Remington 700 Ti - $1075.20

Total weight of similar Remington 700 TI - 6.5 lbs.



Workout with dumbells 5x per week for 1 month: bicep curls, shoulder shrugs, tricep extensions.

After 1 month of dumbell training total apparent weight of Savage hunting rifle - 6.5 lbs.



YOUR SAVINGS = $700.00 !



Voila !

I'm not sure who said it but it's something along theese lines ." Instead of spending more and more money on ultralight rifles , to save a pound or two , why not buy fewer donut's and shed the pounds off your guts ". I'm sure there are probably some of us who should be carring a 20lb rifle simply for the workout .

kuduking, regarding the Colts. I know a run of 30-06 was recalled but I can say from a sample of 14 different Colt Light Rifles currently owned by me and other people I know and see regularly (most of us bought one standard and one mag caliber)that these have been satisfactory and most of them shoot MOA or better. The only things we don't like are the flex in the forend and we have found several means of addressing that plus the bolt handle will hit some scopes and you have to select carefully.

Go handle a T-3 Tikka, you'll not leave the store without it!!! Accuracy is a given, never seen one that wasn't deadly!!

Redneck,
I own Mountain rifles in 260, 270, and 30-06. I think they're great. The Kimber is a nice rifle, but probably out of your price range. It's cost is pushing the Titanium. The T3 is a nice rifle too. A little heavier. They use one action legnth, I imagine to save cost. The Model 7 in 7 SAUM should give you velocities close to what you're getting in your Mag. It does have a 22 inch barrel. Good luck. Much of the "fun" is selecting a rifle in the first place.

Bob257

Not too sure why you won't go below 277 bore, but whatever. 7mm-08 in the a 700 Mt. rifle or Kimber 84. Don't bother with a magnum, especially in something so light. I'd choose the 260 myself. 2-7x Nikon is a good scope choice - I've had quite a few of them over the past 10 years or so.

I love my weatherby lightwieght synthethic. It is easier to carry. The sling is one of those neoprene one that has been the best sling for carring I have found for any rifle. With this combo it feels light than my Super Redhawk, scoped in a shoulder holster. This gun has made me keep my other in the case when I go hunting. You can go with the Ultra light wieght if needed for the extra 3/4 lb weight saving. My gun is light than alot of short action, short barrel guns. You can get the 30/06 size action in the smaller gun and they have a magnum length action too.

I have shot alot of A bolt and they are fine rifles if you want to go to the WSM mag calibers. I haven't shot one of those but the other I have handled have been tack drivers.

Good Luck

Hcliff

KuduKing, my Remington Titanium orginally purchased in 7mm-08 and rechambered to .284 is topped with a Luepold 2.5-8 using Talley rings. My scale shows the total weight to be 5.975 pounds. I'm into mine for $1200 total. The scope was purchased used. There is no doubt in my mine that for the money it is the best option at that price.

Boise:

Are we related? I recently bought a 700 Ti in .308 and put a Leupold 2.5-8x on it. Probably one of the two ro three best rifles I've ever owned (out of many many more than I care to remember spending my money on). I'm getting 2900 fps with a 150 gr bullet and 1/2 MOA accuracy. Little to no barrel fouling. I like the blind magazine. Shoots very well from field postions as well. An excellent rifle!

But the Topic Starter stated he didn't have the money for that rifle. Hence, the dumbells.