Lightweight Deer and Elk Rifle Advice

[Subaru297]

Hello everyone,

I have the itch for a new lightweight rifle for deer and elk hunting and I am having trouble deciding on a caliber. My current go to gun is a Rem700SPS in 7-08. It is nice and compact as I bought a youth model and then added a Boyds stock. Nice rifle but I would like something lighter. The closer to 6lbs the better and low recoil as well.

I went into Cabela's last weekend and shouldered a Browning x-bolt, Ruger American, Tikka T3 all of which are in the 6-7lbs range. Personally they all felt about the same to shoulder but I was most impressed with the Tikka.

If I get something new I will likely get a Tikka T3 but there is also a nice Sako 85 Finnlight (25-06) for sale here that looks nice.

Calibers I am interested in are:
25-06
260 Remington
280 Remington
7mm-08 (already have one though)
.308 Win

Animals that I have gotten in the past are typically between 200-300 yards (ranged) with some closer. My farthest to date is 330 but I would like something capable of clean 400 yard kills on elk. I think any of the above calibers would be capable of that right?

What caliber would you recommend and why? Any others I am leaving out?

I am leaning toward the 308 at this point due to the lower cost of ammunition and the wide selection of bullets. I also have a 270 in the safe but I always take the 7mm-08 over it.

Thanks

[Scott N]

I like the Tikka rifles too, and you can find some pretty good deals on the original T-3 model, now that the newer T3x model is out.

If it makes any difference to you, Tikka T-3s are only available in long action, so they use a bolt stop for the short action chamberings.

[Subaru297]

Yes I was looking at a T3x in Cabela's. I should also mention that I like short barrels 22" or less.

Cheers

[rembo]

If I were in your position I would buy a Kimber Montana in 7mm-08 and not look back.

[double gun]

If I was in your position I would put your current rifle in a 17 oz wildcat model 7 pattern stock and be happy. Weigh your Boyd's and you will get a shock.

[Fowl91]

Originally Posted by double gun

If I was in your position I would put your current rifle in a 17 oz wildcat model 7 pattern stock and be happy. Weigh your Boyd's and you will get a shock.

Agreed.

[Homesteader]

No 270 Winchester on your list wth? I'd go 7Rem for 400yds. 7-08 will do it too. I just like speed. Reloading the 7 Rem it will be breathing easy, for "me". I will always be loading the 7-08 to the max. 270, or 280 will do it easy peasy too, didn't know Tikka did 280's. I like a hole out the far side, but again that's personal preference. Elk are tough, not armour plated, but they won't lay down like a moose for a rest.

If you're looking at the smaller side 6.5x55 or 260 would be right there with the 7-08 too. All tikkas now are long action so of those I vote for the swede. I'm also a gun *****, so I like playing around with the less common chamberings. If you don't reload, I fully stand by 270 Win, or 7 Rem. 300 Win is my fave right now, but it steps up recoil another notch or two. This is all heavily biased towards elk. If you hunt deer most of the time, and elk rarely, I'd likely go towards the lighter end.

Good luck, oh and post a follow up when you make a decision.

[Prairiewolf]

I have a synthetic stainless X-Bolt in .308 Win and I love it. Super light, nice short barrel (22"), and like you say, the .308 offers bullet weights to do the job on elk at the distances you describe.

The Sako Finnlight 25-06 would be my next choice (gun and caliber) but you're at about $2000 just for the rifle there. The X-Bolts and Tikka's are half that, and the Ruger is a quarter of that.

You'll need some nice glass to touch 400 yds on game so go Tikka or Browning with a Swaro Z3 and you're set.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by double gun

If I was in your position I would put your current rifle in a 17 oz wildcat model 7 pattern stock and be happy. Weigh your Boyd's and you will get a shock.

This is wise advice^^^ Very wise.

[rem338win]

I've suggested the same thing as double gun. A SA Remington 700 dropped into a Wildcat will weight in the low 6lb range empty and unadorned.

The 7-08 is a very capable AB everything gun, especially if you're willing to sick within 300yds.

[openfire]

I just picked up a Kimber Montana in 7mm08

Its 5 lbs 2 oz

There is one for sale on gun nuts in 25-06 right now..

[Flight01]

So you hav a 270 and a 7-08 .....hmmm....

Well seems you want another gun, I'm gonna say 260 in Tikka T3x or 280 rem in Tikka T3

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by double gun

If I was in your position I would put your current rifle in a 17 oz wildcat model 7 pattern stock and be happy. Weigh your Boyd's and you will get a shock.

I hadn't thought of that yet. It is a good idea. I might consider that.

I still want a new rifle though

Thanks for all the advice. Gives me a few more things to look at.

Cheers

[diamond k]

Get a tikka T3 in 308 and drop it into a wildcat stock. Even better if you can find a superlight

[gloszz]

I may not be of any help but I bought a Savage lightweight hunter last year when it was on clearance for $568 and then jumped up to $849. I bought it because it sat just right when I shouldered it. I have Ankylosing Spondylitits and the light weight of the gun really helps when I walk in the mountains. It may kick a little bit, but what gun doesn't. Many of my friends didn't know it was a Savage and kept complementing it.

[bb356]

.308

[Kurt505]

Well....

I think a Kimber Montana 280ai would be about the perfect gun for what you're looking for. As luck would have it I just so happen to have one that shoots about .75" MOA with 140gr Barnes TTSX that I'm thinking of selling. It took a moose at 575yds, a mule deer at 380yds, and a whitetail at 420yds+ this past hunting season, and it took an elk at about 120yds last fall. It might be a bit more horse power than what you're looking for, but it's light and nimble and really hides the recoil well, way better than the Sako Finnlights I've owned that's for sure.

I've been testing the lightweight rifles for a while, Winchester, Kimber, Tikka, Sako, and Forbes to name a few and for the money it's between Kimber and Forbes. Kimber seems to be either awesome or horrible, I just so happen to have an awesome one, Forbes are accurate but are no longer in business so they're tough to find, and they have to go to Gainesville West Virginia for any service work.

Another option for a more economical rifle would be a Kimber Hunter, same action and barrel as the Montana but with a plastic stock like Tikka and Sako, but I think the composite of the Montana is what hides the recoil, you can really tell the difference between the Sako/Tikka and the Kimber in that regard. My Tikka superlite 270, and my Winchester Featherweight 308 and 280rem all have more felt recoil than my Kimber Montana in 280ai. My Sako Finnlight in 300wsm kicked way more and my Sako Finnlight in 260rem barely kicked less. My Forbes and Nula are on par with the Kimber in regards to recoil and accuracy, but they are a little lighter and fit me better so I'm able to hold on target a bit better freehand with them.

I know you said you like a 22" barrel but I really think you should pick up a Kimber model 84L and feel the balance those rifles offer, really nice to pack and free hand shots seem solid.

Look at it this way..... it might just be the last rifle you buy, that is if you pick the right one. If you're going to hunt for the next 25yrs, spending $100 or even $200 a year is cheap!

[HuntinGuy]

Cooper model 92 in 280 rem with a conquest 3-15x42 RZ-800. This is going to be my next hunting rifle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ram crazy]

I have a couple of Kimber mountain ascents one is a 308 win. With scope and all it is 5 lbs. 6 oz. The other is in a 270 win. And with scope and all it is 5 lbs. 11 oz. Then I bought my boys Kimber Montana's one is 7-08 win. And with scope and all it is 5 lbs. 11 oz. The other is a 243 win. And scope and all it is 5 lbs. 13 oz. I'm not a real fan of the 7-08 it doesn't group as good as the others.

[Newview01]

I bought a Savage Lightweight Hunter, I believe they might even still be on sale at WSS. Nice rifle for the money.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

Hello everyone,

I have the itch for a new lightweight rifle for deer and elk hunting and I am having trouble deciding on a caliber. My current go to gun is a Rem700SPS in 7-08. It is nice and compact as I bought a youth model and then added a Boyds stock. Nice rifle but I would like something lighter. The closer to 6lbs the better and low recoil as well.

I went into Cabela's last weekend and shouldered a Browning x-bolt, Ruger American, Tikka T3 all of which are in the 6-7lbs range. Personally they all felt about the same to shoulder but I was most impressed with the Tikka.

If I get something new I will likely get a Tikka T3 but there is also a nice Sako 85 Finnlight (25-06) for sale here that looks nice.

Calibers I am interested in are:
25-06
260 Remington
280 Remington
7mm-08 (already have one though)
.308 Win

Animals that I have gotten in the past are typically between 200-300 yards (ranged) with some closer. My farthest to date is 330 but I would like something capable of clean 400 yard kills on elk. I think any of the above calibers would be capable of that right?

What caliber would you recommend and why? Any others I am leaving out?

I am leaning toward the 308 at this point due to the lower cost of ammunition and the wide selection of bullets. I also have a 270 in the safe but I always take the 7mm-08 over it.

Thanks

If you are seriously looking for a cartridge that is capable of making clean kills on Elk at 400 yards, be assured that almost any legal cartridge/caliber has the potential of doing that. On the other hand, if you are seeking a cartridge that provides the necessary performance to reliably do that (with a well placed shot of course), you would be well advised to look at cartridges that can deliver a good payload to that distance: ie a heavy for caliber bullet ( 160 gr or heavier) with good sectional density and substantially increased terminal velocities in the area of 2400 fps.
When reality sets in probably the best approach to a new lightweight rifle would be to set your sights a little lower, use some of the cartridges suggested in this thread and limit your ranges to 250 yds or less. Just a thought.

[markg]

Its a short action Cartridge so you can get it in a lightweight gun.

Here is a Video of a guy anchoring elk with it.

https://youtu.be/IOo6gprtKeA

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by ram crazy

I have a couple of Kimber mountain ascents one is a 308 win. With scope and all it is 5 lbs. 6 oz. The other is in a 270 win. And with scope and all it is 5 lbs. 11 oz. Then I bought my boys Kimber Montana's one is 7-08 win. And with scope and all it is 5 lbs. 11 oz. The other is a 243 win. And scope and all it is 5 lbs. 13 oz. I'm not a real fan of the 7-08 it doesn't group as good as the others.

Wow those sound like some nice light rifles. I think the Kimbers are not in my budget though. One day maybe.

Originally Posted by Newview01

I bought a Savage Lightweight Hunter, I believe they might even still be on sale at WSS. Nice rifle for the money.

I think I looked at those but discounted them because of the wood stock. Surprised to see how light they are. Could be a good option with an aftermarket stock.

Originally Posted by Salavee

If you are seriously looking for a cartridge that is capable of making clean kills on Elk at 400 yards, be assured that almost any legal cartridge/caliber has the potential of doing that. On the other hand, if you are seeking a cartridge that provides the necessary performance to reliably do that (with a well placed shot of course), you would be well advised to look at cartridges that can deliver a good payload to that distance: ie a heavy for caliber bullet ( 160 gr or heavier) with good sectional density and substantially increased terminal velocities in the area of 2400 fps.
When reality sets in probably the best approach to a new lightweight rifle would be to set your sights a little lower, use some of the cartridges suggested in this thread and limit your ranges to 250 yds or less. Just a thought.

Points taken and I would be looking in more detail at the ballistics for whatever cartridge I decide on and I of course would not take a 400 yard shot without the confidence that I could do it. I have not practiced at that range yet. So it would be off in the distant future for sure. And if the cartridge I choose is a 400 yard deer cartridge and only a 250 or 300 yard elk cartridge so be it. Then I have an excuse for another gun!

I appreciate all the advice but now I have more to think about........

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by Salavee

If you are seriously looking for a cartridge that is capable of making clean kills on Elk at 400 yards, be assured that almost any legal cartridge/caliber has the potential of doing that. On the other hand, if you are seeking a cartridge that provides the necessary performance to reliably do that (with a well placed shot of course), you would be well advised to look at cartridges that can deliver a good payload to that distance: ie a heavy for caliber bullet ( 160 gr or heavier) with good sectional density and substantially increased terminal velocities in the area of 2400 fps.
When reality sets in probably the best approach to a new lightweight rifle would be to set your sights a little lower, use some of the cartridges suggested in this thread and limit your ranges to 250 yds or less. Just a thought.

Just a thought,,,but a very good thought.

[Pathfinder76]

This has my attention. https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/bar...hot-show-2017/

[Deer Hunter]

^^^
Unreal how lightweight sells these days... apparently no one can carry a 8 lb gun anymore.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

^^^
Unreal how lightweight sells these days... apparently no one can carry a 8 lb gun anymore.

It's not that no one can carry an 8lb rifle anymore, it's that you don't have to carry an 8lb rifle anymore.

Kimber makes an accurate lightweight rifle, Forbes rifles are lightweight and accurate, now Barrett is making a Fieldcraft Hunting rifle and Cooper is making the model 92 lightweight rifle. Barrett was supposed to have the Fieldcraft rifles available last fall but I don't think they were ready. Now I see that they have the pricing up so hopefully soon. I'd bet the Cooper 92 is an accurate rifle but I think they're ugly. I'm going to wait and see what that Barrett shoots like, it looks a lot like a Forbes (which I like), and I think they're probably around the $2400 mark which is pretty appealing.

[Deer Hunter]

For sure. Lw has its advantages. But 8 lbs is still fairly lightweight to me.

[lone wolf]

Originally Posted by Flight01

So you hav a 270 and a 7-08 .....hmmm....

Well seems you want another gun, I'm gonna say 260 in Tikka T3x or 280 rem in Tikka T3

Unfortunately Tikka does not offer a .280 ...... if they did I would have bought one. Closest is the European 7x64 but they are a special order form Stoeger Canada.

Personally I would go with a Tikka over a Sako Finnlight, and put the $$ saved toward some really good lightweight glass (Swaro Z3 series for example)

[Slicktricker]

I wouldn't buy a finnlight paying that much for a Molded stock is ridiculous. I liked tikka and browning. Kimbers not so much don't like the safety