Help with new rifle choice.

Hey guys, thanks in advance for the opinions. I am looking to add a hunting rifle and I am torn between a couple. I was hoping to get some feedback. I hunt whitetail deer and the occasional mule deer. 90% of my shots are under 200 yards with the longe being 300 yards. Most are at 100. I am looking for something under 6lbs with a 20” to 22” barrel. I have several rifles in .308 and I am leaning toward a rifle in that chambering. my budget would be around 3k for the rifle. I would prefer a carbon wrapped barrel but I would be ok with steel. No pencil barrels as I shoot suppressed. I have 3 that have popped up as contenders but there is an issue with all three and was wanting to see what ya’ll thought and possibly get suggestions on one I have overlooked. First, Seekins element. This one seems to get great reviews but my issue is no distributor within 100 miles carries them. I am having a hard time buying a rifle without every seeing it in person beforehand. Also, and this is nit picking I would prefer not to have a detachable magazine. Second one is Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT. My hunting buddy has one and I have shot it and his is great. Problem is their reputation is trash and it seems to be a coin toss on wether or not you get what you paid for. I know his is good and exactly what I was looking for but I don’t want to deal with a lemon. Third, weatherby backcountry guide. I have not held this rifle either but I own 3 Weatherby rifles and they are all excellent. Problem with the weatherby is it is over budget by a bit and I haven’t found one in the wild to touch. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Try the Tikka T3 in .270 Winchester. Won’t break the bank and real good gun. Put a good scope on it and you’re gonna do fine.
 
Sound like you're not planning to shoot pass 200-300 yds at deer size game. I'd buy a Tikka T3X or Browning X-Bolt 2 270 or 6.5 CM and put a solid dependable scope on it. You can always customize down the road with a better stock or trigger. Save $ upfront and spend it on some good out of state tags. You only live once, just saying.
 
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Savage 110 ultralight would match your description. I've heard great things about them. Another to look at is the howa 1500s with the carbon wrapped barrel. I'm if you still don't like those then you could buy an basic rifle that's got an action you like (something like a Remington 700 adl) and have a gunsmith install a carbon barrel. Luckily for me I have the tools for rebarreling so it saves me the cost of a gunsmith to do it myself. You should be able to build a good rifle for under 3k if you don't get too fancy with the action. Bell and Carlson makes good looking stocks that are pretty lightweight and better priced than McMillan. Good luck with whatever you do decide to buy!
 
Savage 110 ultralight would match your description. I've heard great things about them. Another to look at is the howa 1500s with the carbon wrapped barrel. I'm if you still don't like those then you could buy an basic rifle that's got an action you like (something like a Remington 700 adl) and have a gunsmith install a carbon barrel. Luckily for me I have the tools for rebarreling so it saves me the cost of a gunsmith to do it myself. You should be able to build a good rifle for under 3k if you don't get too fancy with the action. Bell and Carlson makes good looking stocks that are pretty lightweight and better priced than McMillan. Good luck with whatever you do decide to buy!
Second the Howa recommendation - everyone I've ever known with one was tickled to death by them and the aftermarket isn't terrible if you want to change something up in the future. Stockys has VG Carbon Stocks on Sale right now also.
 
I picked up a Chrstensen Arms Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC and I am very happy with it so far. Light weight and accurate. When I got it I was planning on doing some mountain hunting with it. So far only used it in PA and Kodiak black tail. A lot easier climbing the hills of Kodiak with it than my wood stocked 7mmMag Savage 110.
 
Check out the Wilson Combat NULA 20. They are really nice, and around 5.3 pounds. Or, since you have experience with your buddies Christensen Ridgeline you could go that route, the Mesa FFT is really nice too. I think Christensen problems are over exaggerated.
 
For a 300yd and in deer rifle? I either would find one of those new threaded Tikka Lite stainless or the none threaded and chop and thread it ( which is more likely). 7mm08. Add a limbsavor just because and spend the rest on glass.
 
A Seekins is as likely to go back as a Christensen. I will say the difference is Seekins will throw everything at it to make it shoot. Up in this price range you are right on the door of a modest custom.
 
Call me biased, but my “300 and in” rifle cost me less than 1/3 of your budget.
That will free up $2k for tags, gas, other gear etc…

She weights right at 7.5# and shoots 1” MOA 5 shot groups with my hand loads, but maneuvering around with a rifle that’s 36” long rather than 42-46” makes a HUGE difference in these GA swamps.
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Call me biased, but my “300 and in” rifle cost me less than 1/3 of your budget.
That will free up $2k for tags, gas, other gear etc…

She weights right at 7.5# and shoots 1” MOA 5 shot groups with my hand loads, but maneuvering around with a rifle that’s 36” long rather than 42-46” makes a HUGE difference in these GA swamps.
If I'm not mistaken, That's a CVA Scout? I've wanted one of those for a long while, but it has always been a little lower on the "priority" list compared to certain other firearms when I have some spare change, which seems to be rare these days to begin with. That's a dandy of a buck. Shooter for sure.

To sort of reinforce your point...I think there's a lot more emphasis placed on accuracy for a hunting rifle than should be. That's not to say that I'd want a rifle that won't shoot 1" at 100 yards, but the vast majority of production rifles are plenty capable of shooting well. I think a guy is far better off to spend around $1k for a rifle and use the savings on other gear, or tags. That said, it's nice to be able to get a rifle with as many of the features that YOU want. That's going to be different for everybody, and price is going to reflect that.

I had a 1400$ Weatherby on My Bighorn Sheep hunt last September, and it never left the pickup. Instead, I used Dad's "old" Model 70 7mm Mag with a newer, plain-Jane model Leupold Scope. I think he paid around 500$ for the rifle on Gunbroker 20-25 years ago. Granted, there were some nostalgia reasons for using that rifle, but that "plain" rifle did just fine on my ram. That same rifle has killed an untold number of whitetails back where I grew up in PA.
 
If I'm not mistaken, That's a CVA Scout? I've wanted one of those for a long while, but it has always been a little lower on the "priority" list compared to certain other firearms when I have some spare change, which seems to be rare these days to begin with. That's a dandy of a buck. Shooter for sure.

To sort of reinforce your point...I think there's a lot more emphasis placed on accuracy for a hunting rifle than should be. That's not to say that I'd want a rifle that won't shoot 1" at 100 yards, but the vast majority of production rifles are plenty capable of shooting well. I think a guy is far better off to spend around $1k for a rifle and use the savings on other gear, or tags. That said, it's nice to be able to get a rifle with as many of the features that YOU want. That's going to be different for everybody, and price is going to reflect that.

I had a 1400$ Weatherby on My Bighorn Sheep hunt last September, and it never left the pickup. Instead, I used Dad's "old" Model 70 7mm Mag with a newer, plain-Jane model Leupold Scope. I think he paid around 500$ for the rifle on Gunbroker 20-25 years ago. Granted, there were some nostalgia reasons for using that rifle, but that "plain" rifle did just fine on my ram. That same rifle has killed an untold number of whitetails back where I grew up in PA.

Yessir CVA Scout in 6.5CM.

Originally bought it as a Truck/Loaner gun, as I have custom 700’s, Steyer Mannlicher, AR’s.. but I mainly bow hunt anyways…

That being said, that CVA Scout “hunts” significantly better than the bolt guns and AR’s. On “paper” the bolt guns and AR’s smoke that little single shot.. but in actual hunting scenarios be it a blind, stand, stalking / walking around; 9/10 times I grab for that CVA Scout over the “superior” other rifles at my disposal.

Sentimental gear aside, I dog my equipment out. I prefer the more “affordable” equipment because when it gets beat up, broke, lost etc… it’s not going to piss me off as much. I.E. SWFA scopes over Swaro, S&B….
 
but in actual hunting scenarios be it a blind, stand, stalking / walking around; 9/10 times I grab for that CVA Scout over the “superior” other rifles at my disposal.

Sentimental gear aside, I dog my equipment out. I prefer the more “affordable” equipment because when it gets beat up, broke, lost etc… it’s not going to piss me off as much. I.E. SWFA scopes over Swaro, S&B….
I completely agree with that second statement. I don't mind spending good money for quality and durability, but It's a hell of a lot less frustrating when that 800$ piece of equipment gets scratched up as opposed to a 2000$ piece.
 
300 and in deer rifle less than 6 pounds? Kimber Hunter in 6.5 creed or( my personal favorite) savage lightweight hunter in your choice of chambering. Save the other 2k for a hunt out of state and enjoy it. I own one other lightweight, Remington model 7 in 308 that has the bolt fluted and the know skeletized. Honestly would rather it be a 6.5 creed or 7-08. Deer aren't that picky about what they are killed with, shoot what you like and don't overthink it.
 
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Several Bergaras come with a flush fitting enclosed magazine. And I believe Greyboe stocks offer an enclosed bottom metal for many or all REM 700 clones. Might be worth your time to check out a Bergara Sierra or one of the carbon models and a Grayboe stock with your price range. Reviews on Bergara have been a little hit or miss, but it meets your criteria.
 
Could be off base on this, but I believe all Tikka rifles are tested and leave the factory only after shooting a 3 shot, sub MOA target. My T3X Super Varmint did. And it certainly does.
Tikka would be my choice
 
Another vote for 280 AI - and shoot the loaded 152gr LRX. I'd go Weatherby. I wish Tikka made a 280Ackley.

Im hoping Barnes will add to the new harvest collection and put 280AI in the lineup with that 150gr sierra TGK for ~ $45/box or less. Have not shot that bullet, but the price of the 7Mag harvest ammo has me wishing...
 
I had similar needs for a whitetail rifle and decided to build exactly what I wanted. My farm has a couple fields where 300 yds + shots are possible, but most shots under 100. I wanted a shorter gun, low recoil, easy and light to carry with barrel sufficient in size to suppress. Received all the parts a couple weeks ago.. Shooting factory 120 BT @ .75 without trying. Very happy so far.. under 3k

Tikka stainless action
McGowen barrel 18" in 7-08 / Sendero profile
Manners EH1-TK w/ mini chassis
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Ted
 
Why are you. Not considering a Tikka Roughtech?


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What he said... my tikka t3x varmit 22-250 just shot a 3 shot .27 with win factory ammo, and it's sister a t3x upr shoots equally well.
If you really want to spend more coin, I think beretta offers a carbon 20" brx1 in 308. Accuracy wise, beretta owns tikka & sako and it can hold its own, plus it's a really slick straight pull.
 
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