If you were to buy a timber gun…

[Jesse Jaymes]

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".

 

[robtattoo]

Ok....this rig suplants RobTattoo's rifle for Kewl Faktor.

Awwww maaaaan

 

[DirtyLee]

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]

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

 

[FLATHEAD]

Predator in .308 here with a Leupold 1.5x5

 

[BjornF16]

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]

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

 

[2muchhp]

Just to be different, how about a 444 Marlin with a 2.5-8.

444 mariln for me as well, with a 2x7 leupold

 

[4th_point]

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]

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]

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]

My new favorite is the Savage Light Weight Storm in a 7mm-08. 20” barrel 5.6lbs.

 

[WCB]

20 gauge semi auto slug gun....

 

[SloppyJ]

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.

 

[Pony Soldier]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Warmsy]

Ruger mk77 "guide gun" in 30-06. Made the leather scope caps to keep wet brush from obscuring the lenses. Heavy but indestructible.