Wanting a new 7mm Mag Mountain Rifle (sub 7 lbs)

[NJDiverDan]

So I've got the "new rifle" bug and looking to replace my old Savage 7mm Mag with something new that will hopefully be significantly lighter. I've looked into Tikka, Christensen Arms, Sako, and a few others. Would like to keep the rifle under $2k, under 7 lbs and I am really preferring to stay with 7mm Mag for the caliber. Kind of leaning towards Christensen but felt I would put it out there for comments.


Thanks in advance!!

 

[Unkept]

I have a Christensen mesa with a swaro z3 and ballistic turret and tally rings $2300 absolutely love the gun you get a lot for your money with the Christensen only wish I would have ponied up the dough for the ridgeline
I shoot sub/moa with quality factory ammo

 

[JakeB2010]

I will second the Christensen mesa. I picked up the 7MM last spring, topped it with a boat anchor of a NightForce NXS (kind of eliminated the point of a light gun but wanted reliability) and it shoots consistently around half moa if i do my part with factory 162gr ELDX. Have taken it out to 700 with no wind while maintaining near half moa on steel without problem as well.

As previous poster said, only regret was not stepping it up to the ridgeline, especially with a magnum caliber as the sporter barrel will heat up pretty quick. Heat has shown little to no differences in my groupings but to prolong barrel life I will usually let it cool between each string.

 

[MNhunter]

I've got the "New gun" bug as well and I've been looking at a Winchester model 70 extreme weather and possibly one of the Bergara rifles like the ridge or the hunter. So many good choices out there these days.

 

[bascott1]

I will third the mesa. Great gun, mines in 300wm though but .5moa all day with factory loads. Thinking the ridgeline is next in line to be purchased.

 

[Dhbwa]

So I've got the "new rifle" bug and looking to replace my old Savage 7mm Mag with something new that will hopefully be significantly lighter. I've looked into Tikka, Christensen Arms, Sako, and a few others. Would like to keep the rifle under $2k, under 7 lbs and I am really preferring to stay with 7mm Mag for the caliber. Kind of leaning towards Christensen but felt I would put it out there for comments.


Thanks in advance!!

7lbs for bare rifle? Either way the Mesa is almost 7.5 bare in the magnum calibers. My 6.5PRC is anyway. Not what I call light. My Ridgeline in 6.5 CM is like 6.5lbs bare.
They both shoot well but lots of choices today for that much coin and 7lbs bare...
Tikka T3, Kimber Montana, Sako 85 Finlite, etc

 

[BjornF16]

Seekins Precision Havak PH2 - 6.9 lbs

CA Traverse with Ti action (if they release that).

 

[Kimber7man]

Tikka with a Mesa Precision Altitude stock.

 

[Gasman]

OP,

By "7mm Mag", do you mean 7mm Rem Mag? Or can it be a 7mm WSM, Weatherby, 28 Nosler, etc?

For a mountain-style rifle, my vote would go to the Kimber Montana.

 

[Unkept]

I sold my Kimber in 6.5 cm (won it at a DU banquet) after about 6 months I could not get that rifle to shoot moa with factory ammo

 

[Gasman]

You gotta know how to tweak 'em.

 

[Unkept]

Yeah I'm sure, I tried lots of different ammo and checked my scope, mounts and torqs and all that then when that didn't work I traded it for a Christensen arms mesa and that fixed the problem!

 

[deadwolf]

Have you seen the new Savage 110 with Proof barrel??


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[16Bore]

Tikka 7RM, spend the rest on boots and/or ammo.

 

[zeroforhire]

Tikka would get my vote. It's going to take a bit of work to get it all in under 7 lbs.

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[NJDiverDan]

Sorry, just the rifle sub 7. Planning on a swaro v5 on it. I am not looking for a rifle that I need to tweak or change the stock on. Really like the CA ridge line or Sako finlite. I know there is a lot of love for Tikkas but then; change the stock, thread the barrel etc. Beyond working up a load, I am not into working on the actual rifle.

thanks for all the advice so far.

 

[Jardo]

Cooper 92 Backcountry in 280ai. Same ballistics with hand loads as a 7mm rem mag. Mine pushes a 160 accubond at 3020 FPS. Very lightweight.

They make it in 7mm mag but why deal with a belted case and muzzle blast when you can shoot a 280ai.

I originally had a Swarovski z5 on my rig but couldn’t get it to return to zero. It now has a zeiss V6 I bought from Redhawk rifles. I’m very happy with it. It will shoot .25 moa with my handloads. I’ve killed a bunch of deer, 2 elks, and countless goats and pigs with this rig.

The 280 ai is every bit as powerful as a 7mm with lest blast and more magazine capacity. Here’s some elk I’ve killed with this rifle. I won’t take shots past 400 on elk but will shoot deer size game all day long at 800 plus yards.

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[Decker9]

A tikka in a wildcat stock, under 7lbs, will have $$ to spare, and it will shoot as good as any other.

 

[16Bore]

800 yard deer shots. Wow.

 

[manitou1]

Browning X-Bolt comes in around 6.5 lbs bare. Their stock/pad design reduces felt recoil very well... best of any rifle I have shot.
Mine are 1/2" shooters, consistently.