What Would YOU Do

[Long Cut]

Off season tinkering here..

I’m mainly a Southern Bowhunter, but I’ll break out a rifle every now and again. Primarily hunting Georgia where my shots are 10-350 yards and I can walk anywhere from 100 yards to 1.5 miles in some cases hunting WMA’s.

I currently have a Thompson Center Compass in 6.5 with a 3-12x44 Bushnell Nitro scope. The setup cost me less than $500 and suits me quite well.. Buts it’s heavy.

I’m looking for a lightweight, 6.5 CM run & gun rifle to hunt WMA’s. Preferably a cheaper rifle as it’s goimg to be used and abused. The CVA Scout single shot really catches my eye..

Any other lightweight, cheaper rifle options in 6.5 CM?

( I’ve got an abundance of reloading equipment for 6.5 CM or else I’d be seeking a different caliber.)

 

[Bloodsoakedberber]

Kimber Hunter in 6.5? Not too expensive and there are a couple threads on here to give you an idea of finished weight once you pull the gel from the stock.

 

[JohnnyB]

Tikka T3x lite or superlite.

 

[Gutshotem]

Ruger american if you're looking for something cheap.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Ruger american if you're looking for something cheap.

I second this. They are the perfect compromise between cost and quality.

 

[Weldor]

Howa has some new ultra light rigs out.

 

[passinggas33]

Not sure what you consider “lightweight” but I bought a browning a bolt pretty cheap. Super nice to carry and very accurate. I think it was under $400 with tax.

 

[TxxAgg]

Get this and call it a day

Tikka T3x Lite Compact Black 6.5 Creedmoor 20" Barrel 3-Rounds

The Tikka T3x Lite Compact offers incredible performance and accuracy in a lightweight and durable rifle design. It comes chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 20-inch barrel. Features include a synthetic stock, a single-stage trigger, and a 3-round magazine. Find your own Tikka T3X for sale from...

grabagun.com

Everything about it from the barrel, trigger, action, and stock make it worth the extra $200 over the Ruger. It's still short enough and light enough to carry anywhere.

 

[Nateskate11]

I second the Tikka. The quality is just that much better and easily justifies the $200 more.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Ruger Predator,,,,,,in .308.

 

[roosiebull]

tikka or kimber hunter are my 2 suggestions... the savage lightweight storm is another good option, we have one in 6.5 and it's stupid accurate with about any ammo, and it's really light and handy... won't win any beauty contests, but it certainly fits your criteria, and they seem to have very reliable accuracy... they are like tikka in that regard, picky ones are incredibly rare

 

[hereinaz]

Tikka are good and all, but if you aren’t picky, go handle a bunch of them at the gun stores and look at pawn shops. So many are gonna shoot just fine. A buddy picked up a Sauer, not a Sig Sauer, and I was impressed. Manufacturing is such that it is hard to find a bad rifle these days IMO unless you get really picky.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

Tikka actually qualifies as a nice quality rifle. The ruger American is more the workin mans rig but they sure can shoot. A buds 6.5 cm cloverleafs hornady and he’s more than happy. You’ll not go wrong with those two options.

 

[ElkSnort]

Tikka are good and all, but if you aren’t picky, go handle a bunch of them at the gun stores and look at pawn shops. So many are gonna shoot just fine. A buddy picked up a Sauer, not a Sig Sauer, and I was impressed. Manufacturing is such that it is hard to find a bad rifle these days IMO unless you get really picky.

I'm also a big fan of Tikka. I would also suggest a Mauser M18. This is an even more affordable alternative to the Sauer 100 or Tikka and should shoot lights out just like them too! Mausers and Sauers are made in the same factory and I believe use the same barrels... just like Tikkas and Sakos do!

 

[snowymtnwolf]

Savage makes a few diff models. I bought the storm in 6.5 CM and love it a lot. I have the lightweight storm. Almost went Tikka but didn’t.

 

[coreman103]

I've been very happy with the Winchester XPR as a budget rifle.

They're so solidly built—as opposed to those rifles you hold that just feel cheap. Mine has held up to tons of abuse and crazy weather and still holds zero.

Beyond durability, the trigger system is crisp and clean. It's just too easy of a gun to recommend.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Savage Lightweight Storm. Accurate, light, and highly maneuverable in thick vegetation.

Seen online for under $600.