What to do??

JamieN

FNG
Joined
Jul 11, 2025
Messages
2
Hello to all,
New member here, but not new to hunting/shooting.. And I have a question to throw around.
I have a 7mm mag built on a Remington 700 action, 26" Benchmark barrel, HS precision stock, and a Leupold MK4 LR 4-14x50.. It shoots!.. sub MOA on out to 400-500 yards, so I have no complaints there. The gunsmith built exactly what I asked him to build, and he built me an accurate rifle, BUT, it is a 10.7 lb rifle, and is barrel heavy when it's slung on my shoulder. I want a lighter rifle/better balanced, but how best to do that?? Should I make changes to this rifle with a lighter stock,lighter barrel contour ( I think the barrel is Benchmarks #5 contour), or sell it and put that money towards a new rifle lighter in weight? ( the Seekins Precision Element has definitely caught my eye)
How much could I realistically expect to cut the weight on my 7mag with different components??, and would I end up spending the biggest part of the cost of a new rifle?
My hunting with this gun is kinda a mixture of slow walking \ spotting some large fields and big powerlines, and then I may sit for a while before moving on to another location... so slow walk/ glass for 20-30 minutes and then sit maybe an hour or two.. then move to another good looking spot and repeat.. shots are generally in the 200-400 yard range, off a backpack or a bipod
What you think? Make some changes to a rifle I know to be accurate to make it lighter ( and which changes?) Or start fresh with a lighter rifle to begin with
Thanks for the suggestions
 
Depends. On what you want to do. For shots at those distances you could get the weight down and shave about 3-4 pounds off. Might be cheaper to just start with a new rifle. Then you’d have a lighter setup and a heavier setup to give you more options.
 
@JamieN The question is, if you were to sell and build/buy a new rifle which cartridge would you get? Would you stick with 7RM or want something else? Seekins makes a nice rifle but so does Tikka. What is your budget?
 
There is zero in your scenario that wouldn't be well served by a Tikka T3 in .223 with a good optic. I hate to be the RokSlide fan boy but in this instance, it IS the near perfect answer.
-Doc
 
As far as budget, I would like to keep the cost around the $2000-$2500 mark for the rifle.. of course, a good scope is gonna hit the wallet heavy also, so let's say $3500-$3800 rifle and scope?
That would get me the Seekins Element ( probably in 7mmPRC, but not necessarily so) and nice optics.. but I'm open to a Tikka build also
Can somebody make some suggestions on the Tikka components to come out with a finished rifle and scope around 8-8.5 lbs? I wouldn't be shooting a supressor, but would probably want a muzzle brake on a rifle that light in 7PRC
My 7 mag does not have a brake, and it doesn't give me problems to shoot it..
I mean, you know you are shooting it, but I wouldn't call the recoil harsh.. But, giving up say 2 lbs in a new rifle, recoil is gonna come into play
 
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