Buying your first lightweight mountain rifle in 2025.

[Hnthrdr]

Seems like there is a point of diminishing returns with rifles… if you have one that shoots moa really what are you getting past that. Also do you have the time the money or the places to shoot enough, and really get to a place where you “need” a more accurate rifle? I know I don’t. All my lighter weight mountain rifles will shoot 1.25 moa or better ten round groups…

 

[go_deep]

Ive been really happy with my Kimber Montana 308, its had some work done to it but Its accurate and light. Even with the silencer, accupoint 3-9 and a more durable scope/ring setup its still under 6.5lbs.

The identical setup, just in. 270

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Only on RS will someone tell you Barretts, Kimbers, and Tikkas are sub-par.

Thank you for enlightening me. Listing my rifles today to buy a Sako 90 due to how convincing your pitch was.

Lol, can you buy a barrett off the shelf? Kimber roulette? Tikka projects?

You’re welcome, at some point down the road when you’re tired of being left wanting you’ll be glad to know there’s more than just accuracy and weight, thank me then, and I’m just thankful that the option exists that doesn’t leave me wanting at this point and I can go grab it off the shelf is a huge bonus. Zero fafo max versatile hunting option. Zero trade offs on features and materials and design and quality to consider between the subpar options. Just where some get over decades of facking around and finding out.

And just to add that this is more than just a first lightweight mountain rifle. Great for that and why it’s on op short list but also great on prairies, in forestry, in and out of truck type hunts and everything in between. It’s not just a dedicated mountain rig. Value! Can be a one rifle man if you wish and become one with it, for 99%+ of North America hunting.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Lmao, wouldn’t it be great if you could and carry and shoot em all at once?

It’s your money, no one cares what you spend it on. Several subpar rifles that combined still leave you wanting, or 1 Sako 90 and be fully satisfied.

Thankfully we’re free enough to make our choices and live with them. You said you didn’t see the value in Sako 90 so I’m just helping bring you up to speed on why others do. All the best.

Not sure the fieldcraft is subpar to a sako.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Not sure the fieldcraft is subpar to a sako.

Can you go buy one off shelf?

Detach mag, flush 5 round?

Bolt throw?

Integral picatinny?

Modern ‘recoil management’ stock design?

Trigger details?

That should warm us up a bit

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Can you go buy one off shelf?

Detach mag, flush 5 round?

Bolt throw?

Integral picatinny?

Modern ‘recoil management’ stock design?

Trigger details?

That should warm us up a bit

If you want a detachable mag,I don’t.
If you want picatinny,I don’t.
Nothing wrong with the timney trigger.
Why do I need one off the shelf,i like the fact there not on the shelf personally.
You can have crunchy or creamy,neither is subpar.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

If you want a detachable mag,I don’t.
If you want picatinny,I don’t.
Nothing wrong with the timney trigger.
Why do I need one off the shelf,i like the fact there not on the shelf personally.
You can have crunchy or creamy,neither is subpar.

Felt a timney recently, had some creep, howa more crisp, Tikka and Sako elite triggers but Sako adds adjustability that goes beyond the subpar Tikka.

So it hold 4 in belly and not even hinged floor plate? While Sako can be driven from the top like any blind or hinged rifle and never even want or need the detach feature plus it holds 5. Subpar again.

Added connection point for bases/rings, subpar.

Op looking for his first new mountain weight rifle...so he has to buy a used fieldcraft? Doesn’t even make the suggestion list. Can’t go get one unless it’s used...subpar again lol.

I would probably really like a fieldcraft but I’d be left wanting like everything else I’ve had. You weigh that against a kimber crf and potential work to fix their niggles as the roulette if project or not. Nice options in that 1-trick pony minimalist level well below the Sako 90, and all levels below that stacked closer together on all the trade offs vs costs etc., but it’s a pretty big gap from that level to the 90 level, a class of 1 really.

To be fair the kimber and fieldcraft can be lighter, but my Sako came in at 5.6 lb so .4 lb? So they have one win you just have to suffer all the minimalist trade offs that make the ounce counters happiest and as long as it goes bang and is accurate and reasonable quality materials are only things they ask of it. Lead follow or get out of way, Sako so far out front the others can’t even see they about to be lapped by an outfit that’s piling on the attributes and features and design that appeals to all hunting including mountain. Would take no time to be cursing that blind bottom, prolly first hunt lol. ‘Shoulda saved a bit more and got the damn Sako’. I got that shirt many times over however the rifle didn’t exist in the 75/85’s close but still couple leave me wanting issues, so kept wishing a no issues would come along and the 90 they did it and surprised with additional stuff like integral picatinny, modern stock design, and more refinements.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Whatever dude,I’ll take my “subpar”rifles.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Whatever dude,I’ll take my “subpar”rifles.

Lol, I got handful of them too. Just trying to help those that don’t understand the difference between 5 lb class stainless mountain rifles. There are levels to go with prices and people were missing what those levels were in relation to those prices. That’s all. Don’t see the value? Don’t buy it. Haha, it’s also fun to ‘discuss’ in a Honda Civic vs Ferrari kinda way, they both get you there lol.

 

[khuber84]

3 lug, shorter ~70 degree bolt throw, no plastic, stainless, aluminum or carbon fiber, the stock feels and sounds like wood or if milled from billet carbon, 5 in the belly plus 1 in pipe, flush detach mag has no equal with its push up on mag before you can flip the release tab, world record lock time, adjustable trigger for pull weight from 2 to 4 lbs in half lb increments(clicks that indicate what setting you’re on) and easy to adjust externally, trigger blade also adjusts forward or back 7mm or bit over 1/4”, integral picatinny bases machined right into the action, fluted barrel, comes with threaded muzzle, knurled dust cap and radial brake, modern stock design with higher and negative comb and vertical grip. Cycles almost as slick as a Tikka which is is slicker than most anything by long shot, but holds the ammo more securely than Tikka and doesn’t smash poly tips into front of magazine under recoil like tikkas do in proper recoiling cartridges lol.

If accuracy all you need pick anything that fits your budget and needs, so many options.

If the ultimate assembly of the best features, attributes, and materials, seamlessly integrated into a sleek compact design with incredible fit, finish and quality control...then no 90 degree rem kit gun can begin to compete.

They demanded perfection and they finally found it. But you gotta pay for it. Right out of the box, rings and scope and you’re all done. No building anything, no waiting, no assembly, no lottery on expectations of fit finish and quality control...it’s as good as it gets for what you can buy off the shelf in a box.

Now you know...

And I’m probably missing some things lol

How’s resale on the kit guns or pimped out tikkas?

Damn bro, are you a Sako pr rep? If not you should fill out a resume.......the sako does have a lot going for it. If we could get a Euro rifle over here, I'd love to see the "steel action" straight pull rifles available.

 

[plebe]

This is nice too.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Yeah I didn’t want to ask the safety details but wanted to leave some other room for discussion. They don’t skip a thing on it, well thought out and advanced features throughout.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Damn bro, are you a Sako pr rep? If not you should fill out a resume.......the sako does have a lot going for it. If we could get a Euro rifle over here, I'd love to see the "steel action" straight pull rifles available.

It would be an easy job! But sadly I’m not, if I were they’d fire me for constantly pestering them to build 90 peaks on xs action length to chamber all the Grendels and maybe .223’s for the roksliders, especially left handed ones.

 

[Scottf270]

If they keep working at it, Sako just might become as nice as Browning.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Kimbers, Sakos, Tikkas, Fieldcrafts, gosh, I love all of them. Is that allowed in this thread? Pros and cons to every rifle being discussed here, but I like them all in their own ways!