Rifle and Scope?

[USMCret]

So we have about put the tent to bed so the second most important, DO NOT want to get into argument of what is the best caliber for sheep but instead maybe the options employed to lighten. If there is a particular Model that you would argue for like a Kimber Mountain Ascent Caza. What do you have or know about. I know a lot of guys are really liking the 6.5 creedmoor or the 300 win, I’m not a short mag guy but know that can help drop a little weight. And just as important what optics do you have on top. WHAT DOES YOUR WHOLE PACKAGE WEIGHT and are you counting your sling? I know I’m using this as an excuse to add another gun to the safe but my 300 is 9.5lbs and that is a tad heavy. I’m a retired Marine so you guys with 10k rigs will have to give the rest of us a break. If you don’t mind sharing what you have in your weapon please do so. I’m hoping to stay under 4k. Ok…Let them fly…..

 

[ljalberta]

My go-to is my Fieldcraft in 6.5CM with a SWFA 3-9. With a custom rail and Ken Farrell rings, it’s all-in at 6.85lb. I don’t use a sling and I’d add a suppressor if it was legal here. Even in 6.5CM, it’s a little jumpy to stay in the sight picture for spotting impacts under 400 yards for me. I’ve come to realize I don’t like light guns in large chambering.

But I would be equally happy with a Tikka in 22CM (if legal) or 6CM, chopped to 18”, Rokstok, and maybe some sheep porting or UM action cuts with a SWFA 6x or 3-9.

 

[TN2shot07]

I think you were barking up the right tree to begin with, I’d hunt down a Kimber mtn ascent or Montana in 270 win (because it just seems right, 280 ai would be my second choice) and call it a day. I don’t think you go wrong with a Leupold vx6 2-12, Swaro z5 3-15 (I really like their ballistic turret system) or one of the mavens if you can find it.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Buy an 8 twist .223 or .22-250 Tikka. $800ish

Send it to Karl Kampfeld and have him cut the barrel, thread barrel, add shoulder, stamp chambering, and re-chamber to 22 Creedmoor. $500ish

Buy a RokStok when they come back available for ordering, or try to find one here in the classifieds. $600.00

Buy a High Desert Bottom Metal. $135

Buy a SWFA Fixed 6 Scope. $300

Buy UM Tikka Rings, Level Bubble, and Bolt Handle. $200

Buy a suppressor if desired.

Buy a pile of 22 Creedmoor Hornady Precision Hunter 80 ELDX or Hornady Match 80 ELDM factory ammo.

Without ammo or suppressor you're at $2,500ish for a gun that will reliably shoot and kill way past the vast majority of folks shooting abilities. Add in $1,500 for suppressor and ammo and you are right at your 4K budget.

Install everything per @Formidilosus method and go kill!

 

[pbroski]

For serious backcountry mountain hunts for from 11 to 22 days, I've used the following:

Tikka T3 .338WM with Leupold 1.75-6x32 - no sling
Kimber Hunter .280AI with Leupold 2-7x28 - no sling
Kimber Hunter .280AI with Leupold 2.5-8x32 -no sling
Kimber Hunter .280AI with NF NX8 1-8x24 - no sling
Kimber Adirondack 6.5CM with NF NX8 1-8x24 - no sling

Next year, it will be either the Kimber Adirondack 6.5CM with the NX8 or another Adirondack in .22ARC with a NF NXS 2.5-10x42 - no sling.

For the following year's hunt, it's possible it could be a Tikka T3 6mm Dasher or 6mm GT with a Wildcat stock. Scope - undecided.

So that's where I'm at in my hunting career. In the high country, it's so much better to be unburdened with a light rifle. Anything much over 6.25 pounds no longer interests me.

 

[MTGunner]

An accurate rifle that you have confidence in. A well constructed bullet and lots of practice. MTG

 

[Smoke10]

I took a Weatherby Mark V Hunter in .280 AI to AK this August. My rifle setup includes Talley scope rings/bases and a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44. I run a Harris bipod, I think it's a 9-13 inch. I do not run a sling.
If I remember correctly, this setup weighs 8.5 - 9 lbs.
Biggest thing I don't like about this rifle is I'm not a fan of the Weatherby Mark V safety - just my personal opinion/preference.


If a person could find a Kimber Montana, I think it would make a great option also.

This summer I tried to order a Montana new and found out the Kimber Montana chambered in .280 AI has been discontinued effective this summer...

 

[V2Pnutrition]

The ram I took this year was with a Tikka T3 in 6.5 CM. Trijicon Ceredo 2.5-15x in Hawkins Hybrid rings.

The rifle was $629 with a $75 rebate last year on Black Friday. Scope was ~$1,000 and rings around $100. It was a factory stock, but I did put on a Victor cheek riser and vertical grip (combined cost of ~$70).

That would leave you with $2,250 to burn through a pile of ammo get reeeally familiar and proficient with that rifle.

 

[LightFoot]

With a $4K budget, I’d go with a Seekins HAVAK Element with a Maven RS1.2. Should put the total weight around 7 lbs, no sling.

With the Maven and Seekins warranties, you could take a hard fall, drop you setup off the mountain, or run it over (by accident) with your truck, and you will be taken care of by those companies. Also, Leupold, Vortex, and a few others.

For the ultimate budget-lightweight… Kimber Hunter (Montana if you can find one) in 270 Win or 280AI, and a Leupold 2.5-8.


>>>——JAKE——>

 

[ResearchinStuff]

@B_Reynolds_AK has a lot of relevant experience

 

[schmalzy]

The ram I took this year was with a Tikka T3 in 6.5 CM. Trijicon Ceredo 2.5-15x in Hawkins Hybrid rings.

The rifle was $629 with a $75 rebate last year on Black Friday. Scope was ~$1,000 and rings around $100. It was a factory stock, but I did put on a Victor cheek riser and vertical grip (combined cost of ~$70).

That would leave you with $2,250 to burn through a pile of ammo get reeeally familiar and proficient with that rifle.

This would be my vote. Sub out a kimber Montana/MA if you want crf and shave a few oz.

I carried a 30-06 Montana with 2.5-15x42 credo and was very pleased. All in was a touch over 7 pounds if I remember right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

@B_Reynolds_AK has a lot of relevant experience

@USMCret I’ve owned & killed sheep with a Kimber Adirondack, Barrett Fieldcraft and a custom Defiance/HNT 26. All were chambered in 6.5 CM. Out of all of those, I’d say the Fieldcraft is the most ideal sheep rifle. 6.9 lbs scoped with a NXS 2.5-10 and loaded.

The Kimber is lighter, but less shootable due to ergonomics & extremely light weight. 6 lbs scoped with a Leupold when I had it.

The Custom is better at true long range, but only one of my 7 sheep have been past 500 yards. 8 lbs scoped with a NXS 2.5-10 or 8.5 with a RS 1.2.

If I was you, I’d either look for a Fieldcraft for a one stop solution, or go with what @mxgsfmdpx and others have suggested, build off of a Tikka & put it in a Rokstok for the most shootable and reliable gun you could own, at any price. Though it will be heavier than a Fieldcraft by about a pound or so.

 

[Bambistew]

I keep thinking I need a "better" sheep rifle setup, but the one I have has killed 12 rams in the last 12 years. Distances from 40 to 425 yards. Its not the most accurate rifle and is difficult to shoot well at longer range, but it hasn't let me down yet. Its also killed probably a dozen caribou, half a dozen deer and a brown bear.

Kimber Montana with a VX2 4-12 CDS.

I have no idea what would be better, but I'm sure plenty shoot better. I'm no help on the newer rifles, I have a bunch of old Remington and Winchester rifles.

 

[NilsBackstrom]

Oh boy did you open up a forum for opinions.
I run a kimber montana in 300wsm with a vx-3 HD 4.5-14x40 CDS. I can't tell you what it weighs all in but I think it's close 7 lbs. I will say it kicks like a mother since I don't have a muzzle break. It's the older model.
I also have a kimber hunter 6.5 creed with the same scope. Mainly I use that for blacktail. I toyed with the idea of bringing it on my next sheep hunt but I'm on the fence. It's lighter and all but I think I would fall back on the 300wsm to feel a little bit better about being in bear country.

Also I will say that the hunter stock feels pretty cheap and flimsy. I'm looking at options now to get a different stock. Unfortunately when it's kimber there aren't a hell of alot of option out there without spending a fortune.

I think if I would do it over again, I would probably get a tikka t3x superlite in whatever caliber you are wanting, buy a carbon stock like stockys and call it good. The action is just so smooth and the accuracy i would say is better in the sense that it is not as ammo picky as the kimbers. From my experience at least.

Alot of good scopes out there. I'm fine with leupold as you get alot for the money and it is light. I do like the CDS system.

 

[bascott1]

Haven’t been on a sheep hunt but have done ibex and a mtn goat hunt. Hard to beat a tikka for price and weight. Throw a 2-10 NF on there and don’t think there would be too much you couldn’t do with that setup.

 

[Snowhunter11]

I am happy with my current choice. A 6.5 creed Tikka SS cut to 18” with UM SS pro 4 muzzle brake. Maven RS 1.2 and UM lows mounted to factory rail. Rokstok arca/pic to use with a Leofoto tripod. Shooting Hornady ELDM 147. (8.1lbs) without sling or loaded mag.

Garmin chronograph 2482 fps avg.
Around 1800fps at 600 yards.

My current go to for sheep/general rifle hunting. Soon to have a silencer..

Gun ~$850
Barrel cut ~$200
Break ~ $130
Or optional silencer ~1000
Stock ~$650
Trigger- I adjusted down myself it is nice from factory
UM direct rail rings-~ $140
Scope kit ~ $1400

~$3,370 without a silencer fits your budget and decent weight. I have ~450 rounds through mine this summer no issues. I agree with above to mount to “Forms” specs. My 2c

 

[cumminsbassguy]

Savage 116 in 338WM. Vortex viper 2.5x10x44. I think she is 8#10oz with 3 rounds and sling.

Would like to get ahold of my grabddads 280rem and convert that to a sheep gun. Or kimber montana in 308 with a can and be done with it.

 

[cuerro viejo]

A) a caliber where recoil is a non issue at distance

b)rifle weight you can carry comfortably but still shoot well

That’s simple, for me its 22cm(no min caliber requirement)or 6cm shorty suppressed with folding stock

Scope a tough 3-15 range…, maven trijicon, NF, March

 

[cbeard64]

I have two Sako Finnlights. One in .300 WSM and one in .270 Win. Both topped with Leupold VX3 4.5-14 x 40 scopes. They are 7 1/4 lbs. total weight (cartridges, sling included).

I use the .300 in grizzly country and the .270 in non-grizzly country.

Many of the guides and hunters I encounter on my hunts who have handled them love them. Some so much so they tell me they are going to get one. Nothing fancy or elaborate but they are lightweight, durable, ergonomic, and unfailingly accurate. In short, perfect mountain rifles.

Way too much ink is spilled about rifles, calibers, setups, etc. for mountain hunting. Get a lightweight stainless rifle and scope combo that fits you and is accurate.

Don’t fall prey to the latest fad. Currently it’s clunky rifles with a pound of suppressor on the end making for a horribly unwieldy and unbalanced gun. Past trends ran the gamut from ultra lightweight rifles that were hard to steady to 12 lb. sniper setups, etc., etc.

My advice is keep it simple. Simple is best when it comes to making that shot of a lifetime in the field.

 

[USMCret]

The input has been great so far, So let me ask this guys, I was looking at the Kimber and the Tikka but a friend with pretty good knowledge and smart gut is telling me that they are so light in the barrels that after 1 shot that the barrels are to hot for an accurate follow up at longer ranges, His answer is the Christensen but the quality has gone down with the buy out and now the ridgeline is so much of a production gun and if you want the 1/2 MOA that you now have to go to the custom route, Oh and now you are at 3k on top of that. Is there a lightweight TRUE 1/2 MOA out there that I wouldn’t have to spend 4 or 5k on to get it. I know, I know but I’m a retired Marine and I can shoot it and really want one for Christmas. Prices have just gone crazy and inflation is killing all of us.