Custom 7 Backcountry build or off-the-shelf rifle?

[fishin fool]

So I have been researching and thinking of building a short-barrel (16-20") rifle that has a collapsible stock and is sub 9 lbs for the last year or so. I have an incredible shooting semi-custom 7mm Rem mag I've been hunting with for the past 4-5 years, but it has a 24" barrel and weighs just over 11 lbs. I've killed everything we have aimed it at up to 725 yds but I hate carrying it around and feel like it limits how far I want to go into the backcountry. I also know that there are sacrifices with short and lightweight rifles. I am taller around 6'3" and I would like my rifle (with a 5" suppressor) to not be too far above my head when it's attached to my pack but also want to try to squeeze all the potential speed and accuracy out of the rifle while keeping it shootable. I have looked at the Weatherby Alpine carbon MDT and the Seekins Element Hunter as off-the-shelf options. The other possibility that I have been exploring is building a semi-custom Defiance or Zermatt action with a Proof PXT barrel on a MDT or XLR Element chassis. I thought about lots of different calibers but I keep coming back to the 7BC due to it's short barrel velocity. I am by no means an expert on these things so I wanted to see what some smarter people thought about this and what I may be missing? Also thought I could share the suppressor between my two rifles. Thanks for the input!

 

[coachmks]

I do not have a folding stock, but I do have a Weatherby CT Alpine in 7 Backcountry. The 20” barrel is very nice. I’ve shot it with a Mac Bros Zenuth K and with a Scythe Ti. My entire rig is 7 pounds and 14 ounces with a suppressor, sling and scope. The Seekins Element Hunter will have a 22” barrel. Not sure why they went with a longer barrel. Mine likes the 170 Terminal Ascent loads. Average velocity in my gun is 3071. Not bad for a 20” barrel. It will shoot .5 to .75 MOA when I do my part. Recoil is very manageable. I’m sticking with the Scythe suppressor. I’m leaving my Zenith K on a 26” barreled Seekins in 300 Win Mag.