Mountain Rifles - Christensen, Tikka, Fierce etc...Thoughts, Suggestions, & Opinions

[Tips n Tails]

Alright, I’ll start off with saying I’m currently in the market for a “mountain” backpacking rifle. I currently use my Browning X-Bolt 30/06 with a walnut stock. Great rifle love it to death however, it’s a toad to be lugging around plus everytime I get a scratch, dent, ding in the stock I cringe lol. Therefore, I’m leaning towards a Christensen Arms 300 WM due to their generous Mil program.

Prior to pulling the trigger though, I’d like to hear what route others have gone in Tikka T3, Kimber, Fierce, Sako bolt action rifles. Ideally, I’d like to buy company direct or used with the following specs; CF barrel, or SS fluted, break, synthetic or CF stock, fluted bolt “type build”.

I’m not interested in getting into the weeds of building one out of a barrel blank or donor action. I’d much rather buy outright and be done with it.

 

[MT257]

Tikkas are fairly lightweight. They will shoot lights out. Never owned one that doesn’t shoot.
Kimber Hunter I had was super light. Nice but the thing wouldn’t shoot better than 1.25” and that was unacceptable since it was advertised to be a sub moa gun.
I think the super light rifles are harder to shoot more accurately just because shooter errors are more easily exposed. Good luck.

 

[jfs82]

Do you have a weight goal?

 

[elkguide]

I had a hard time deciding between a Kimber Montana and a Christensen Arms so I bought a couple of each. "IF" I could only have one....... no, I'm not going to go into that darkness.

Put one of them in your hands and see which one fits you the best. For a super light I grab a Kimber Montana in 7mm08. For an all around carry, I grab a Christensen in .300 Win Mag.

 

[peterk123]

I scoured for a deal on a tikka superlite in 308 and a leupold vx3i 3x9. Found both. Cost me $900. So now I have a light gun that shoots great with really nice glass for under a grand. I'm a happy camper.

 

[jfs82]

I went Seekins element in 6.5 prc but there's plenty of options based on what particular options/variables matter most to you.

 

[Tips n Tails]

Do you have a weight goal?

No I don’t. Just a budget. Not a fan of skeleton stocks for weight savings.

 

[Tips n Tails]

I had a hard time deciding between a Kimber Montana and a Christensen Arms so I bought a couple of each. "IF" I could only have one....... no, I'm not going to go into that darkness.

Put one of them in your hands and see which one fits you the best. For a super light I grab a Kimber Montana in 7mm08. For an all around carry, I grab a Christensen in .300 Win Mag.

I appreciate the suggestion. I’ve read good things about the Kimber Montana and Tikka as well.

How do you like your Christensen Arms rifle? What model/specs did you get?

 

[MTSasquatch]

I’ve owned a few kimbers in 308 and was decently happy with them. I’m really interested in a tikka superlite in 7mm mag though. Tikkas can shoot.

 

[Tips n Tails]

I scoured for a deal on a tikka superlite in 308 and a leupold vx3i 3x9. Found both. Cost me $900. So now I have a light gun that shoots great with really nice glass for under a grand. I'm a happy camper.

Dang!!! Was that locally or on Rokslide? I’ve been keeping my eyes open on Armslist. What type of barrel is on the supertlite? Straight pipe or fluted?

 

[Tips n Tails]

I’ve owned a few kimbers in 308 and was decently happy with them. I’m really interested in a tikka superlite in 7mm mag though. Tikkas can shoot.

Yeah there is one locally for sale. Tikka t3x lite stainless chambered in 7mm-08 with a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm scope with a duplex reticle for $850.

It’s not a superlite but I’ve also considered it as an option.

 

[Tips n Tails]

I’ve owned a few kimbers in 308 and was decently happy with them. I’m really interested in a tikka superlite in 7mm mag though. Tikkas can shoot.

Not 7mm however, there’s also a Tikka T3X Lite Compact with only 42 rounds through the gun. Comes with Warne 30mm rings, Warne Pic Base, Warne 25in. lbs wrench for rings, two 5rd. mags, sling, gun bag, and 99 rounds. Gun has stock spacer installed so it's a standard length of pull, but it's got the harder to find short (20") barrel for $590.

I personally like the fluted barrels and I hardly see people selling their “builds” therefore, I thought it might just be easier to buy new.

I’m halfway tempted though to buy one of the above mentioned Tikkas and call it a day. Hell after all, elk and deer don’t care if the barrel is fluted or not lol.

 

[peterk123]

Dang!!! Was that locally or on Rokslide? I’ve been keeping my eyes open on Armslist. What type of barrel is on the supertlite? Straight pipe or fluted?

I found it all new online. Grabagun had a ripping deal on the gun and some of the shops were blowing out the leupolds for $249.

 

[Kiwihillclima]

I would go with Christensen ridgeline ,reason i have one it is not super light but it is easy to shoot and its a tack driver .It shoots hornady white tail at 0.5 moa at hundred yards and 140 eld match at 0.3 moa . IT didn't like sako 136 grain match ammo though at 1.25 moa . But i only fired 15 rounds to sight it in and work out what factory ammo it liked and no 16 was dead deer so thus far to say I'm rapped with it is an understatement . Mind you at $4.700 I'd expect it to be good and it is .6.5 Creedmoor by the way , and yes that's what we pay down here in NZ a bit over double what you would pay in the states and the same goes for the ammo

 

[elkguide]

I have a custom CA and a Ridgeline. A .300 RUM and a .300 Win Mag.

I have Montanas in 7mm08, .270 WSM and .300 WSM right now.

 

[Ross]

It will all come down to the price you want to pay and aesthetics...... tikkas are a very good choice if wanting to use some other cash on other purchases....they are not sexy nor do they photo well unless modified but they will get the job done, and not break the bank.My choice in 2003 was simply I wanted to go from a 9.5 pd rifle down 2 pds that shot well....my purchase has served me well coming on two decades it has been carried uphill a long ways and always done its part with zero issues. I like it because I’m not a tinkerer I go to the range each year verify still zeroed shoot a box, then shoot my 223 tikka for fun and ready to go each year....a few it has helped me on.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I’ll comment just because I’ve got two versions of what you’re considering. I’ve got a 300WM in a CA Ridgeline, and 6.5 man bun in a Kimber hunter. Both with Talley rings, swaro z3 on Kimber with bdc type reticle, and z5 with turrent and 4w reticle on the 300.

The Kimber is super svelte and I LOVE practicing with that 6.5 CM cartridge. Quite casual. Takes some real attention to shoot it well, but doesn’t cost a lot of money to do it. Carrying it in the mountains is quite nice, very light with the scaled action. I’m sure a Montana is even better. Very happy with my Kimber.

Since you’re looking at a CA, couple things I’ve noticed contrasting to the Kimber.
- the barrel seems crazy long. It’s actually 25” to the threads and 26” to brake tip.
- Ridgeline fore end moves a bit compared to the hunter stock.
- the Ridgeline is WAY easier for me to shoot well. Love the TT trigger.
- bolt throw comes up quite a bit, very close to scope.
- weight wise, in notice the Ridgeline more, but it’s really not a brick to haul around. It helps shooting it accurately for sure. If I bought one today, I’d probably try the titanium one. The brake really helps with recoil. If I had to have 1 rifle it would be it 100%.

Neither are the end all be all, but for factory rifles I’ve been impressed with both. When I draw mountain goat and have to backpack deep, which one comes? Weight savings of Kimber would be nice, but at longer distance and margin of error, the CA rifles seem like they are a pretty damn good fit.

Good luck with the search!

 

[Ndbowhunter]

I don’t think a tikka will work for what ur wanting. Doesn’t have a fluted bolt

 

[Elkdreamer]

Ross. What rifle is it?

 

[HighUintas]

Sako carbon light.... Because I wish I could have one.