Best non custom mountain rifle

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Sep 30, 2019
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What don’t you like about long action fieldcraft?
If it's gonna be a dedicated mountain rifle (light/efficient), SA wins. LA gets you a longer receiver, a longer bolt that requires lifting your head away from the sight picture (upon cycling), often a tighter magazine, and as much as 300 fps - none are selling points.
 

brsnow

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If it's gonna be a dedicated mountain rifle (light/efficient), SA wins. LA gets you a longer receiver, a longer bolt that requires lifting your head away from the sight picture (upon cycling), often a tighter magazine, and as much as 300 fps - none are selling points.
Thank you, i was curious I have both a short and long, never noticed a difference. I will probably will now:)
 

Benjblt

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Right now, after my most recent purchase, I'd say anyone overlooking the Savage Lightweight Storm is making a mistake.
This is the one I was looking at.. and with the modular system I figured I could have my kids use it as a first-timer rifle. The only thing is is that I've seen negative reviews about the bolt sticking. I'm assuming it shoots well.
 

Jbxl20

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My vote is for the Tikka T3 lite. Great gun very light and accurate. Put some nice whitetails down with my .270
 

TomJoad

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At the risk of having an unpopular favorite. I would choose the Blaser R8 Professional. And if force me to choose on caliber, it would be the 6.5x55 Swede.
The Blaser R8 Pro is advantageous for the following reasons:
Very accurate - for the life of me I can't shoot anything worse than 1/2 MOA with this stick.
Trigger - Trigger breaks crisply (single-stage) at 1.9 lbs
Fast - The straight pull bolt operation allows me to get back on quicker than a lift bolt action.
Safe - The safety mechanism decocks or unloads the firing pin making it impossible for a ND situation.
Takedown - The rifle design allows you to manipulate two bolts and take the weapon down with zero effect on your zero.
Pointable - At 40.25 inches this rifle is easy to still hunt/stalk with and weighs 8.7 lbs fully loaded with a Swaro Z6i (2nd Gen) 2.5-15x56mm Obj
Versatile - You can do caliber switches on this rifle (.222 Rem up to .500 Jeffery).

The downside = It aint cheap!
Love that gun... but if I’m going blaser and mtn rifle R8 is way too heavy, I’m voting blaser K95. It’s on my list but I don’t own yet $$. For now I’ll vote with the kimber crowd. my 84M classic in 308 is only 6.5lbs scoped and a reliable shooter.
 
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Right now I have a Winchester low wall in 260, with a 20" barrel. Comes in right at 6lbs, with an octagonal barrel. Very sexy...
 

TomJoad

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Right now I have a Winchester low wall in 260, with a 20" barrel. Comes in right at 6lbs, with an octagonal barrel. Very sexy...
That is an awesome piece. I always thought those single shots were similar to a Ruger No.1: my last was over 9lbs
 
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As far as I can tell, the x-bolt pro is absolutely perfect *if* you’re willing to gamble ~2k on a gun with no MOA guarantee that gunsmiths don’t like working on.

I’ve handled a Bergara Mountain 2.0 a few times recently, feels far better than a Ridgeline imo. Stiffer stock and smoother action have me almost sold. The 2rd mag in 6.5 PRC is a major hangup, though. I can’t be the only one who wants more.

If the T3X Stainless was offered in .280ai (or just with faster twist rates for current chamberings) would anyone even buy $2k “mountain” rifles?
 

Trogon

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If the T3X Stainless was offered in .280ai (or just with faster twist rates for current chamberings) would anyone even buy $2k “mountain” rifles?

a standard tikka isnt crazy light, 6.6lbs thereabouts. Can pretty easily get a kimber under 5.5lbs. Ive chatted with Kampfeld custom about skeletonizing tikka action, but havent done it. Would need to do some whittling, barrel cutting, and aftermarket stocking on a tikka to drop another pound ($$$).

So about 1200$ bucks extra to drop a pound, which is 78 bucks an ounce. Not terrible really.
 
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That is an awesome piece. I always thought those single shots were similar to a Ruger No.1: my last was over 9lbs
The high walls are heavy. And some of the low walls can be as well.

I am tempted to flute the barrel, so I could get scoped weight down to 6lbs, but that tapered octagonal barrel just looks so svelte like it is...

Before buying this rifle I didn't know this, but there are some low walls with one screw holding on the foreend and some with 2 screws. I planned on cutting the foreend down and recheckering it, but I have the 2 screws, so I need to shorten the foreend hanger first. A total downer.

One day I'll do it.
 
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I like my 700 Remmy Gen1 TI in 270 Winchester and my Weatherby Ultra-Lightweights in 30-06 and 338-06. Weatherby makes some very fine lightweight rifles now.
 
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