Narrowed down new mountain rifle

[Mudshack]

I have been a whitetail hunter for 40 years. Have used mainly my Browning BLR in .308. Now that I live in Colorado, I am changing ALL of my equipment to lighter and longer shooting gear. It's crazy what a different kind of hunting gear is needed.

So....I have my mountain rifles narrowed down to the following in either .300wm or 7PRC

Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed
Bergara Wilderness Sierra
CVA Cascade LRH
Tikka T3X Lite (.300wm only option)

Thoughts?

 

[DangerRanger]

I like my tikka a lot, but if I was going to buy a 300 win id probably get a xbolt 2. The recoil pad is better and the factory stock is designed pretty nice

 

[JDMBEND]

Coming soon, 7PRC Tikka.

 

[TheYukiYama]

I bought a tikka t3x lite in 300wm from SW last summer. I like it a lot. I’m no expert long range shooter but was shooting sub moa straight away and got better through the first 40 rounds.
That being said, my dad who is a damn good shot had trouble with it, likely due to recoil. Ammo is also fairly expensive. I’m extremely happy with my decision but could understand if people recommend something smaller.
I don’t have experience with any 7prc but love the 7mm and it’s supposed to be a bit better

You could spend a lifetime trying to decide between options, but the truth is these are all fine choices and you’ll be in a great spot regardless as long as you do some practice.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

. It's crazy what a different kind of hunting gear is needed.

Needed is very subjective. I’d keep your 308….

All my elk have been closer than about 1/2 of the white tails I’ve killed

 

[Steve300xcw]

A 308 wont work in colorado?

 

[TaperPin]

It’s always a good idea to move up in recoil gradually - for that reason I’d always suggest the 7 mag. Once you’ve owned a 7 mag for a season then it’s less risky to get a 300.

 

[jimh406]

Fwiw, I’d look at the new offerings at Shotshow.

 

[huntnful]

Of your options I’d definitely go 7 PRC. You don’t need the added recoil, or shittier ballistics of the 300 WM. I’m not that familiar with the factory offerings, but brownings seem to be a decently built, as well as a decent shooting rifle from what I’ve seen.

 

[grappling_hook]

If you've limited it to just the things you have here, then I'd consider the following:

I have been a whitetail hunter for 40 years. Have used mainly my Browning BLR in .308. Now that I live in Colorado, I am changing ALL of my equipment to lighter and longer shooting gear. It's crazy what a different kind of hunting gear is needed.

So....I have my mountain rifles narrowed down to the following in either .300wm or 7PRC

Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed
Bergara Wilderness Sierra
CVA Cascade LRH
Tikka T3X Lite (.300wm only option)

Thoughts?

 

[jonesn3]

I’m certainly not here to claim 300WM is ballistically superior, but I ended up going with the 300WM primarily due to cost and availability of factory ammo in my area. I have all the equipment to reload, but with two kiddos under two year old, time for reloading wasn’t high on the priority list. PRC or Nosler cartridges were crazy expensive, 7PRC wasn’t on the market yet a couple years ago, and I do like 30cal. With a muzzle break recoil is really tame in my gun. For those reasons I went with a somewhat lightweight carbon barrel 300WM.

 

[huntnful]

I’m certainly not here to claim 300WM is ballistically superior, but I ended up going with the 300WM primarily due to cost and availability of factory ammo in my area. I have all the equipment to reload, but with two kiddos under two year old, time for reloading wasn’t high on the priority list. PRC or Nosler cartridges were crazy expensive, 7PRC wasn’t on the market yet a couple years ago, and I do like 30cal. With a muzzle break recoil is really tame in my gun. For those reasons I went with a somewhat lightweight carbon barrel 300WM.

Oh I'd have no problem hunting with one! I just loaded 208 ELDM's in one at 2850FPS. Those would kill anything easily.

Just in comparison, it is a lot of extra recoil, with no ballistic advantage.

 

[jonesn3]

Understandable. I have a buddy considering a 7PRC in a chassis gun, folding stock and carbon barreled, cool setup!

Before I got that WM, I did some “theoretical” recoil energy calcs for a few different models and cartridges, also compared to a few rifles I have in the safe, just for reference. On paper the recoil had a little concerned, but the muzzle break makes a big difference and tames the recoil to the point I was pleasantly surprised. I had been using a couple Pre-64 M70 rifles in 30-06 and 338WM (gifts, hand-me-downs) with hard plate recoil “pads” on the stocks. Those rifles definitely had some recoil in comparison. Granted the muzzle break on the 300WM isn’t all that fun to be next to at the gun range, and it will set off truck alarms in the parking lot, but it works great and I’m happy with it.

@huntnful - that 208gr bullet seems nice, what twist do you need to get that stable?

 

[huntnful]

Understandable. I have a buddy considering a 7PRC in a chassis gun, folding stock and carbon barreled, cool setup!

Before I got that WM, I did some “theoretical” recoil energy calcs for a few different models and cartridges, also compared to a few rifles I have in the safe, just for reference. On paper the recoil had a little concerned, but the muzzle break makes a big difference and tames the recoil to the point I was pleasantly surprised. I had been using a couple Pre-64 M70 rifles in 30-06 and 338WM (gifts, hand-me-downs) with hard plate recoil “pads” on the stocks. Those rifles definitely had some recoil in comparison. Granted the muzzle break on the 300WM isn’t all that fun to be next to at the gun range, and it will set off truck alarms in the parking lot, but it works great and I’m happy with it.

That 208gr bullet seems nice, what twist do you need to get that stable?

Oh yeah, I have heavier recoiling rifles and the muzzle brakes make a night and day difference!!

9 twist will stabilize them for sure. That’s what I shot them in. But I think an even slower twist will still work

 

[Davyalabama]

I've never hunted in Co., so I can't tell you why you would need more than a .308. Can you tell me critters, distances, etc. I don't get into all these new cartridges, bullets, etc. The 300wm. with ballistic tips shooting a high shoulder shot has been just fine for me.

Me, I've shot a 300 wm for 25+ years, before that a 300 whby. The only reason I changed, I couldn't get the proper eye relief for my eyes on the whby. with a new scope, I had to completely change guns, went to a Steyr, haven't looked back. That Steyr in a 300 wm. has some bad juju. They didn't have all these new fangled cartridges back then, but, I buy off the shelf, so if I couldn't readily find ammo, these new cartridges would have been out anyway.

I'm not a huge guy, weigh less than 165 most of the time, I don't use a break, I do have a limbsaver pad on it, and I added a neoprene comb riser kit to it (I'm running a 56mm objective, so had to go with higher rings - I shot without a comb riser for at least 23 years without one - it has made a difference settling in at the range -- I can't tell a difference in the field). The Steyr won't win any beauty contests, but the animals have hated it. I don't carry a gun for others to enjoy, I carry one to kill. I don't carry tools for others to envy, I have work to do.

If you really want a mountain rifle, Stery makes a pure mountain rifle in .308. I've shot a couple, those things are fast as lightening coming up to the shoulder. You also may not find a nicer factory trigger than a Steyr's.

Have you looked at the Sako offerings? Just throwing it out there.

 

[MoeFaux]

Like so many others have said, I would choose a smaller cartridge first and foremost. I'm not even a small bore guy, but I still feel that 300 WM is way more than necessary for what's out there. I do like to to err a touch on the heavy side, so my personal range of cartridges would be from 280 AI at the bottom to 6.8 Western at the top. Between those bookends, you've got great choices in the 7mm Rem Mag and the 270 WSM. Ammo availability will likely veto the WSM since it's on its way out. The 7 RM is a staple that's here to stay and the other two are on the rise. Even if you can't get ammo at your LGS, it's always available online.

That being said - you asked for rifle recommendations, not caliber commentary, so I would recommend the X bolt. That was what I wanted for my recent western rifle purchase, but I got pushed toward the T3X lite instead due to price and chambering considerations. Nothing wrong with the Tikka, and I'm sure I'll be very happy with it, but the Browning had a slightly better feel and balance.

 

[Weldor]

To many caliber's and choice's. Make friends at the local range and shoot a few of the big bores and small bores. Then you will have a feel for what's for you. Test drive first, LOL.

 

[def90]

Howa 1500 carbon stalker.. .308 will do fine on anything in Co.

 

[BigBelle]

The new Howa Super Lite is like 4.6lbs and under $1400. Those numbers aren’t exact, but something along those lines.

 

[Phaseolus]

I’ve dispatched pretty close to 30 elk over the years, the farthest shot was 340 yards, most were less than 100 yards. Your 308 will be fine but that’s not a good enough reason to you to not get a new rifle.