Need help building a sheep/goat rifle....

[Duckhunterbrad]

I have been a bow hunter for all of my hunting life besides one moose hunt where I took a 28 nosler. The 28 nosler is a great rifle but too heavy for back packing into mountain goat county. I'm very close to putting my deposit down on a goat hunt at this time and need to start thinking about a rifle that will work for both mountain goat and the potential for dall/bighorn sheep. I geek out on dialing in a bow but don't have a strong desire to do the same with a rifle, so I am looking for suggestions on an easy to find factory rifle. I picked up a Zeiss V6 scope to top it a few years ago when it was heavily discounted, so optics are taken care of. This gun will be used on maybe 3-5 hunts, so ideally would like to keep it under $1,000. I do have a local guy who is happy to make up custom ammo for whatever caliber I end up with. Throw me your lightweight gun and caliber suggestions that can accurately shoot at least 500 yards!

 

[mtnbound]

A 6CM or fast twist 243, if you just can't do those, then go with a 6UM or a 6.5 PRC.

 

[Jake Larsen]

6 CM would be my choice. Tikka just announced factory stainless, 20” barrel threaded 5/8. I’d grab one of those and snag an Airlock ZG 6mm once those launch.

If you end up wanting to further upgrade and make it even more shootable, you can drop it into a Rokstock Lite.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skipper907]

6 CM would be my choice. Tikka just announced factory 18” stainless, 20” barrel threaded 5/8. I’d grab one of those and snag an Airlock ZG 6mm once those launch.

If you end up wanting to further upgrade and make it even more shootable, you can drop it into a Rokstock Lite.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is the tikka you talk about going to be a 6cm in 18 and 20inch ?

 

[Jake Larsen]

Is the tikka you talk about going to be a 6cm in 18 and 20inch ?

20”, 5/8x24 threaded, 1:7.5

Sorry that 18” was a typo.

Check out the latest few posts on this thread

Tikka 6CM

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=45046&share_tid=432112&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Erokslide%2Ecom%2Fforums%2Findex%2Ephp%3Fthreads%2FTikka-6CM%2E432112%2F&share_type=t&link_source=app

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Duckhunterbrad]

Thank you for the replies. Interesting that some consider the .243 to be a big enough caliber gun for sheep and goats. If that is the case I do have a .243 Ruger M77 in stainless that would fit the bill.

 

[Banana_Horn]

Thank you for the replies. Interesting that some consider the .243 to be a big enough caliber gun for sheep and goats. If that is the case I do have a .243 Ruger M77 in stainless that would fit the bill.

I think most people like the fast twist 243’s and the 6 creedmoor because they can throw heavy bullets (103gr ELDX, 108 ELDM, 112 Barnes, etc). These bullets really help exceed normal 243 performance that was known for a long time. Depending on the twist rate in your existing rifle, these bullets could be not an option for you, and you could be stuck with lighter bullets.

For my recommendation to your original question: 6.5 creed factory tikka, and a crate of ammo, and maybe a suppressor if you will be hunting in the US. You’ve already got a scope so you are one 3 purchases away (rifle ammo rings) from getting experience practicing with your new setup.

 

[Slick8]

For your budget and weight considerations the Tikka certainly fits the bill. Numerous options offered from the factory and many many options for after market parts should you decide to go down that rabbit hole.

I know the 6mm is king here and are stone cold killers but I'd like a little more horse power personally for a trip of this magnitude, JMO.

In tikka, I'd look at the 6.5 or 7 PRC (I'd lean on the 7 personally). Both have good factory offerings and easy to load for.

I'd be rolling with a 6.5 creed, 260 rem or 7-08 on low end if it were me.

 

[KHntr]

Most folks get caught up in the hype around goats being “tough” and needed a big cartridge and stout bullet and lots of horsepower.

Goats are a thin bodied animal, pick a bullet that will break some bone if needed and open up fast. If you poke a small hole in his lungs and he is still capable of moving capably for 30-90 seconds you run the risk of a dangerous rodeo.

Set a cherry bomb off inside his chest cavity and make him sick immediately. I would have zero hesitation shooting a goat with a 6 Creed and 107 ELD m, or 1:8” 243, or 6.5 Creed and a 147 ELD m.

Sheep are lightly boned and not heavily muscled animals. Doesn’t take much of a hit to make them want to lay down and die.

Would be pretty tough to go wrong with a Tikka in a 6.5 Creed set up properly.

 

[puckhead]

For a factory rifle a 6.5PRC would be an easy choice with all the offerings its chambered in. I like the Tikkas in that price range. A cool alternative would be the new 25RPM from Weatherby. My 25-284 is basically a wildcat version of that cartridge and it's so pleasant to shoot in a light rifle and with projectiles in the mid 130s grain weight you're not losing much to a 6.5PRC.

 

[elsb0048]

Thank you for the replies. Interesting that some consider the .243 to be a big enough caliber gun for sheep and goats. If that is the case I do have a .243 Ruger M77 in stainless that would fit the bill.

If you like the rifle and it shoots send it!
I got a m77 .243 threaded and suppressed to be the 'kid gun' but I've been really enjoying shooting it myself.

 

[wildwilderness]

Thank you for the replies. Interesting that some consider the .243 to be a big enough caliber gun for sheep and goats. If that is the case I do have a .243 Ruger M77 in stainless that would fit the bill.

That would work with the right bullets- but it’s a heavy gun compared to other options.

Personally I would go to a light weight 6.5 prc to make a new rifle worth it- you will get increased performance and a more versatile rifle for future hunting (elk, moose)

If you are a geeked out bowhunter than practice with a rifle at the 1000 yard range! It makes your 500 yard shots easier

 

[mtnbound]

Thank you for the replies. Interesting that some consider the .243 to be a big enough caliber gun for sheep and goats. If that is the case I do have a .243 Ruger M77 in stainless that would fit the bill.

What is the twist rate of your barrel?

 

[SDHNTR]

With sheep and especially goats, I want to shoot them through shoulders and break them down so they can’t run/jump into somewhere unrecoverable. This site has an obsession with small caliber hunting, and most have never hunted sheep and goats, so take things with a grain of salt. To me, a short barreled 6.5 prc or even .308 is perfect.

 

[Tanner]

Goats and sheep are both very easy to kill.

Kimber Montana in 6 or 6.5 Creed, or a Tikka set up light in the same chambering would be my choice. Ditch the Swaro idea because your rifle is going to get bounced around on those hunts. Get a 2.5-10x42 NF and call it bueno.

Tanner

 

[Marbles]

6 Creedmoor Tikka lite when they are available in a few months.

I used a 243 with 108 ELDMs for my goat and it never moved. Same load worked well on my buddies goat once placed properly.

At @B_Reynolds_AK has used 6 Creedmoor and 22 Creedmoor for sheep and goat with success (also moose).