Lightweight Whitetail Choixes

[Yurch0111]

I’m in the market for an another lightweight whitetail rifle. Typically shots are from 50-400 yards so kind of an all around gun. I have it narrowed down to 4 choices and want to hear your opinions, as you guys tend to be more informed. Choice 1: Remington model 7 in 7Saum. Choice 2: Kimber Montana in 270WSM. Choice 3: Tikka T3x in 270WSM. Choice 4: Tikka T3x in 270WSM and re barrel to 7Saum. Ammo availability is not a concern as I will reload. Please let me know some pros, cons, and your opinions of the situation.

 

[Oldffemt]

Why do you think you need a magnum to kill whitetails? Tikka ftw.

 

[Yurch0111]

Why do you think you need a magnum to kill whitetails? Tikka ftw.

Just because they’re different cartridges that I do not have.

 

[Oldffemt]

Gotcha. Nothing wrong with it, but you can certainly get it done with less. I have a sub 9lb ready to hunt 300wsm and it’s a handful for sure. I’d think the 270wsm would be similar in a lightweight rifle. It takes serious focus to shoot them well at distance from field positions.
I actually left my wsm in the safe this year and used a 6.5 creed cause I didn’t have sufficient practice with the wsm prior to my elk season.

 

[Yurch0111]

Gotcha. Nothing wrong with it, but you can certainly get it done with less. I have a sub 9lb ready to hunt 300wsm and it’s a handful for sure. I’d think the 270wsm would be similar in a lightweight rifle. It takes serious focus to shoot them well at distance from field positions.
I actually left my wsm in the safe this year and used a 6.5 creed cause I didn’t have sufficient practice with the wsm prior to my elk season.

I was kind of figuring that. I don’t know why but they were 2 calibers I’ve always wanted. I also didn’t plan on putting a brake on it either so that’s definitely something to think about.

 

[Oldffemt]

A break would be horrible imo. Can or bare muzzle for me.

 

[North of 60]

Save your hearing and your brain, buy a suppressor.

OP, if you have never fired a weapon suppressed, suggest at least trying it before deciding to see. If you have, carry on.

 

[elkguide]

My Kimber Montana in .270WSM is easy to shoot, very accurate, deadly on whitetails and just a fun, all around rifle.

 

[Jon C]

I’m in the market for an another lightweight whitetail rifle. Typically shots are from 50-400 yards so kind of an all around gun. I have it narrowed down to 4 choices and want to hear your opinions, as you guys tend to be more informed. Choice 1: Remington model 7 in 7Saum. Choice 2: Kimber Montana in 270WSM. Choice 3: Tikka T3x in 270WSM. Choice 4: Tikka T3x in 270WSM and re barrel to 7Saum. Ammo availability is not a concern as I will reload. Please let me know some pros, cons, and your opinions of the situation.

Bought the kid a 6.8 western in a Winchester xpr 16” suppressor ready. Recoil is tame and shoots real well. I’d imagine it would kick a little more than a 270 wsm. Think he’s shooting 170 gr. No suppressor or brake. In a tikka either of the calibers you listed would not be real fun to do a lot of Target practice. That model 7 would be better without a break. My dads got a 7 wsm in a wooden Kimber(not sure model). That isn’t bad to shoot without a break.

 

[surfr716]

Ive got a Montana in 300 WSM, awesome little rifle, killed several deer with and a black bear. Been debating buying a model 7 and building a gt or a ppc bolt face from ppg to build another ARC. Really a big fan of the Howa Mini if youre not deadset on running a magnum.

 

[TradLife406]

22 creedmoor
16" barrel

 

[BigNate]

You said lightweight and then gave heavy choices?
If you want lightweight whitetail capable, look at a 22 CM or if you have caliber restrictions then 6mm CM, in a light Tikka, pick a light scope to go on it.

 

[KyleR1985]

Howa mini 6ARC sporter 22” cut to 18” suppressed in one of the aftermarket stocks available.

Tikka 243 1:8 cut to 16” suppressed

Tikka 22-250 reamed to 22creed or 22GT cut to 16” suppressed

All you need for whitetails to 400

 

[112Savage]

Nobody here actually reads, just parrots opinions not even related to the OP’s question. SMH

 

[Deere_Man]

A light rifle paired with a magnum cartridge isn’t typically great, but it probably works for many. In my mind, a regular 270 Win is a better choice than a 270 WSM because of the available factory ammo for a reasonable price.

But the best lightweight cartridges for whitetail are 223, 22 ARC, 22-250, 220 Swift, 22 Creedmoor, 6mm-223, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62x39, 243 Win, 6mm Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, or 308 Win.

If you want a magnum, a 22 Creedmoor is very much a small bore magnum.

 

[Dave0317]

Nobody here actually reads, just parrots opinions not even related to the OP’s question. SMH

People do repeat others opinions fairly often here and answer questions with answers well outside the OPs intent.
I don’t think that’s what happened in this case.

He asked about whitetail rifles capable to 400. Then he says he is considering a handful of cartridges that are often used really on large animals at really far distances.
So the advice trend was, a lighter rifle is more shootable and fully capable of your desires in smaller, easier to shoot cartridges, that are proven deer killers to beyond 400.

I think a lot of people here have gotten some experience shooting whitetail with lighter calibers and are just happy to share the info. It’s a lot of fun to practice all day in comfort with the same rifle you hunt big game with.

 

[wpeach1912]

I generally think the tikkas are better rifles than the others. Pick whichever cartridge you want. Both will be plenty, and I’m guessing 270 WSM will recoil a bit more with the extra powder. I have a model 7 243 that works great for whitetails, and there’s something nostalgic about carrying a wood blued rifle around the whitetail woods. It was very loud, so I got it threaded for a suppressor this year. Now it’s very pleasant to shoot.

 

[Macintosh]

My opinion is that I would not want any of those cartridges for a lightweight deer rifle. It’s putting a rocket engine in a go-cart, ie not the right mix of traits for me. You said “another” lw deer rifle, so it sounds like you already have at least one, so you dont need another functionally and are just looking to get a 7saum or 270wsm. If so I would build a rifle that is tailor-made to utilize those cartridges to their potential. For me that would be a heavier rifle more set up for longer range shooting where a cartridge like that has more functional merit. If I wanted a lightweight deer rifle effective to 400 yards in an interesting cartridge I didn’t already have, I’d be looking at a 7mm-08, a 7 x 57, a 6.5 Swede, 260 Remington, 257rob, or something along those lines.