If you were to buy a timber gun…

Joined
Feb 3, 2014
Messages
1,554
Location
Boundary Co. Idaho
My light weight timber rifle is Remington Model 600 350 Remington Magnum with 18.5" factory barrel in a Brown Precision Stock shooting 225 grain Barnes Triple Shocks. Scope is Leupold 2-7 x 33 and total rifle weighs 7 lbs. 3 oz. without sling and bipod.


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Ok....this rig suplants RobTattoo's rifle for Kewl Faktor. Growing up...by best buddy's Dad had one. Then my Dad got on a 600 collection kick and had every 600 made along with a 660 or 3. Those Birch/Walnut laminate stocks were to me....so bad ass as a kid. When they dropped again in the mid 2000s I almost bought one....and I am a Lefty. Super neat rifle with the Brown upgrade.


My "build" to get as close is a long ago cancelled run of the Ruger Compact Magnum in 338 RCM. I have a lefty with a 20" tube and irons. Best I could get "Backwards".
 

DirtyLee

FNG
Joined
May 4, 2023
Messages
11
I really want a light weight semi .308 but cant complain about my 18" American predator that i've been thrashing around in the east texas woods. For $400 I don't think it can be beat.
 

Hnthrdr

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Messages
2,495
Location
Co
I was going to say BLR, but I’ve been beat to it, I own 2, one in 300 win and one in .308 the .308 is handy and is a great timber rifle
 

BjornF16

WKR
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
2,519
Location
Texas
BLR stainless in:
1. 243 Win shooting 95 TMK, or
2. 6.5 CM shooting 130 TMK, or
3. 7-08, or
4. 358 Win, or
5. 308

I’ve got .243 and 7-08 barrel for my BLR take-down that I’m considering having bored out to 338 Federal
 

Kimber300

FNG
Joined
Aug 1, 2021
Messages
7
I like my Kimber Montana 300 wsm but but there are probably better caliber options topped with a light Leopold scope it's a nice compact shooter
 

4th_point

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2022
Messages
596
I’ve got a Bergara wilderness hunter in .300 win mag with a vx5 3-18 on top that’s a straight up shooter, but it’s not the lightest rifle and there’s a fair amount of recoil for off hand follow up shots in the thick stuff.

Thoughts?
I really don't see a problem with the rifle you already have for that use. However, I totally understand the desire to buy something new.

I'd just use what you got, even though I personally really like some of the suggested rifles like the BAR, BLR, 760, 336, etc. I've owned them all and like them for various reasons but I really don't think that they would do anything that your existing rifle wouldn't. Unless you were culling!

If I were in that situation and wanted to carry something different, I would choose an AR15 carbine.
 

KenLee

WKR
Joined
Jun 9, 2021
Messages
1,715
Location
South Carolina
BLR stainless in:
1. 243 Win shooting 95 TMK, or
2. 6.5 CM shooting 130 TMK, or
3. 7-08, or
4. 358 Win, or
5. 308

I’ve got .243 and 7-08 barrel for my BLR take-down that I’m considering having bored out to 338 Federal
300wsm BLR would also fit nicely on your list.
 

Long Cut

WKR
Joined
May 24, 2019
Messages
316
EFB3B8E6-E76B-41DA-BCE6-DF7D4A642E71.jpeg
CVA Scout in 6.5CM with the 20” barrel. Cost me $310 if I’m remembering right.

Put an SWFA 3-9 on it and called it a day. Total weight mid 7# and when this thing gets scratched and beat up, I won’t be upset.

CVA is owned by Bergera and Bergera makes the barrels for CVA. This gun consistently shot MOA with handloads.
 

RS3579

WKR
Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Messages
1,180
My new favorite is the Savage Light Weight Storm in a 7mm-08. 20” barrel 5.6lbs.
 

SloppyJ

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2023
Messages
681
Now we are talking my language! This is where 90% of my hunts happen and I'm lucky to have a 100yd shot. Here are my favorite setups for that. I haven't hunted Mule Deer but I'm likening them to a whitetail for better or worse.

18" 308 with a 3.5x10 Leupold (damn near perfect setup for this type of hunt.)
20" Model 70 30-06 (Gives me some extra ommph)
20" Henry 30-30 with a 1x6 scope (This is just a really fun gun.)
The sleeper: Winchester Model 100 in .243 and a 3x9 leupold.

Any of those will do the job but the Henry is limited on range. If I had to pick one it would be a toss up between the 308 and the 30-06. The 243 makes for a great lightweight brush gun though if you can put your pride to the side and wait for a good shot presentation.
 
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Messages
1,625
Location
Montana
As a long time heavy timber hunter, my perspective is: 1) a reasonable weight (6-8 lbs) 2) enough gun to compensate for your mistakes or difficult choices. 3) accurate enough to be able to thread a bullet through a three inch gap in the tree branches at 40-50 yds. 4) and fast enough to cycle for a second shot when that tiny branch takes your first bullet on a trip to never never land.
 

Fetty Wapiti

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 7, 2023
Messages
102
Location
Wyoming
I would say it is hard to beat a lever gun for the timber. 45-70 carbine with a red dot is my choice for all 200 yard and under work.
 

Long Cut

WKR
Joined
May 24, 2019
Messages
316
I’ve tried LVPO’s (1-4x24) and their low light performance leaves a lot to be desired.

I lean towards 42/44 or 50/56mm objective with premium glass now for a timber gun, as low light is a frequent issue.
 

2muchhp

WKR
Joined
Oct 26, 2021
Messages
378
I’ve tried LVPO’s (1-4x24) and their low light performance leaves a lot to be desired.

I lean towards 42/44 or 50/56mm objective with premium glass now for a timber gun, as low light is a frequent issue.
Low light, very true. Good point
 

35remy

FNG
Joined
Mar 12, 2022
Messages
60
My #1 is a 336 in .35 Remington. I also enjoy my Henry 45-70 guide gun style with 300gr cast coated hand loads. If you don’t need magnification, it’s getting too easy to mount a reliable micro reflex or red dot onto a lever gun. They don’t leave a large footprint and they are fun. Carbine length AR’s in .350 legend or 6.5 grendel are nice to have when suppressed, but I think my third choice would still be a short barrel .308 (16”). I also have a short barrel 6.5 creedmoor but it doesn’t gain much over a mini action grendel that is roughly the same overall length.
 
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