Which Direction for New Rifle Build

[brn2hnt]

Looking for some inspiration and/or guidance. I've got a serious gap in my arsenal. I do a fair amount of back country hunting, both backpack hunting and very long trips from a base camp. Ive got several different rifles to choose from, but for one reason or another Im not super stoked about any of them. I hunt blacktail, black bear, mule deer and elk. I've currently have at least one each of 25-06, 270 wsm 300 wm, and 30-06. The problem being that only the two '06 weigh less than 8 lbs and neither has a hash mark or dial-able reticle. I don't think I need a super lightweight rifle, but something under 8 would be great, as the next jump up is the wsm at 8.5 and then the 300's at 9. I've currently got the '06's shooting 180's at 2835 which is a great round, killed bear and mule deer in quick order. But my accuracy/confidence fades quickly past 300 with both these rifles due to the lack of hash marks for an on body hold.

Some options I have stated to investigate:

1. Replace stock on one of the 300's to a Manners (would only shave 8+ oz) and mount a vortex razor hd lh scope. this setup would give me a gun at 8.5ish that with load data I have found should push a 210gr ABLR at enough velocity to give me 2k+ fps & ft/lbs at 650/700 yds.

2. Build a 280 AI off of one of the 30-06's (both Rem 700) Probably same scope as above. Another rifle that could touch 700 yds, but gives up 500 ft/lbs to the 300wm at the same distance.

3. Build a semi custom tikka in either 7mm or 300wm. Replace stock with most likely a manners as well and evaluate trigger and replace as necessary.

4. Really shoot for the moon and either buy or build a 28 nosler of suitable weight.

Thoughts?

 

[dotman]

Not a clue what your current scopes are or weigh but I would invest in a good scope like like a swaro Z3 or Z5 with ballistic turret, put a Mcmillian mountain hunter edge fill stock on your current lightest weight rem 700 in 30-06 and dial it in. I would think you could drop close to 1lb off if it. Or I would take them all apart and start weighing easily replaceable parts like stocks and scopes to see which you can get the most weigh savings with.

Or buy a new rifle and put a swaro Z3 or Z5 on it.

 

[GKPrice]

go to Sportsmans Warehouse and buy a Tikka T3x superlight 30.06 and a Leupold VX3i 3.5 x 10 x 40mm with a WIDE DUPLEX and a set of whatever rail mountable rings you like in MED height - then go home and online to Mountain Tactical and order a Tikka Performance alloy picattiney rail in 0 moa - put the package together and build a 180 load then zero it at 300 yards, when you see elk if it's 400 hold on the back bone line and if it's 500 hold 1/2 the body depth above then enjoy your elk steaks

After chasing my tail with myriad cartridges and rifle combos this has worked quite handily for the past 3 seasons

 

[dirtytough]

I personally would buy a tikka and a good scope and shoot it. Save the money on the stock and add that to your scope fund.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I personally would buy a tikka and a good scope and shoot it. Save the money on the stock and add that to your scope fund.

BINGO.

Randy

 

[CorbLand]

tikka are great guns and hard to argue with their off the shelf performance. I would also look at getting a Kimber rifle. All their options are very lightweight and have great performance. As far as scopes go a Leopold Vx2 or 3i would be a great choice. I would also suggest the CDS. Work up your load and send it to Leupold. They will build custom turrets for your scope that match your current load.

I am working on putting together the money for a Kimber Hunter in 7mm08 with a VX2 CDS. Should weight in around 6 and a third pound and cost right around a grand to get. Hard to argue with that weight for the price.

 

[brn2hnt]

I had actually looked at tikka's but hadn't considered not swapping a stock. Also, who at tikka decided all .308 calibers should be a 1 in 11 twist? Looking at maybe a stock-ish T3 in 300 WM with a 3-10x Swaro Z3. I've got swaro binocs and I absolutely love that glass. After plugging in numbers and using nosler load data, I could get a pretty good load for the Z3 hash marks if I could push the Scirroco around 3100fps. Should be a good backpackable elk rifle that can easily handle deer when called upon as well. Kind of like an '06 but with better trajectory and authority on arrival. But of course an animal can only be killed so dead before its overkill. Plenty to ponder.

 

[brn2hnt]

Probably also worth mentioning I'm looking for a bullet/rifle combo that will leave a blood trail as well. Last two animals I've shot with my recently acquired 06 were dead within 60 yds but the only blood was at the body. Nervous that in some country I hunt 60 yds is too long to go with no blood in the daylight, let alone after last light like my ID deer this year


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tastybearmeat]

Swarovski z3 is a fine scope. I've got the brx reticle in mine. Rock solid and very light. Check cameraland. Mine was less than 800$

 

[Shrek]

I will highly recommend the z3 or z5 with the ballistic turret. A McMillan hunter edge will cut more weight and some talley lightweight scope mounts.

 

[Tastybearmeat]

In my Remmy 700 06 I use 180 gr tsx over a max load of 4064. 48 gr I think? have to check. Not sure how fast it's moving but fast enough for sure. Hit em in the right spot it's real messy and over real quick.

 

[GKPrice]

Probably also worth mentioning I'm looking for a bullet/rifle combo that will leave a blood trail as well. Last two animals I've shot with my recently acquired 06 were dead within 60 yds but the only blood was at the body. Nervous that in some country I hunt 60 yds is too long to go with no blood in the daylight, let alone after last light like my ID deer this year


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

a "through and through" shot is not guaranteed no matter what you're hitting them WITH, bullet placement is everything - a hit on the point of the shoulder will more assuredly plant the animal RT but still no guarantee - Heart/Lung hit can "usually" mean a "death dash" of how far is anyone's guess - With elk I plan on hitting the shoulder and if it's inside 300 yards, high on the shoulder which ends the incident quickly, all this with an '06 launched 180 Accubond

 

[dotman]

I had actually looked at tikka's but hadn't considered not swapping a stock. Also, who at tikka decided all .308 calibers should be a 1 in 11 twist? Looking at maybe a stock-ish T3 in 300 WM with a 3-10x Swaro Z3. I've got swaro binocs and I absolutely love that glass. After plugging in numbers and using nosler load data, I could get a pretty good load for the Z3 hash marks if I could push the Scirroco around 3100fps. Should be a good backpackable elk rifle that can easily handle deer when called upon as well. Kind of like an '06 but with better trajectory and authority on arrival. But of course an animal can only be killed so dead before its overkill. Plenty to ponder.

I would skip the hash marks and get the ballistic turret on the Z3, love mine.

Also don't forget about the swaro sale, the Z5 is in it and for the sale price I would get the Z5 with ballistic turret for an oz or more weight over the Z3.

 

[brn2hnt]

a "through and through" shot is not guaranteed no matter what you're hitting them WITH, bullet placement is everything - a hit on the point of the shoulder will more assuredly plant the animal RT but still no guarantee - Heart/Lung hit can "usually" mean a "death dash" of how far is anyone's guess - With elk I plan on hitting the shoulder and if it's inside 300 yards, high on the shoulder which ends the incident quickly, all this with an '06 launched 180 Accubond

Totally agree. One animal this year was a black bear, those are notorious for being light bleeders. Shot was over halfway up chest cavity which only makes it worse, but still double lunged. ID deer was the one that really shook my confidence. Last 10 min of light shot a buck through the triangle. Broke the onside leg at the joint between shoulder blade and main leg bone. exit was right behind off shoulder. Mule kicked and everything. Heart was destroyed and both lungs hit, deer made it all of 40-50 yds, but there was less than a dessert plate sized pool of blood at the body and nothing between there and the shot location. In the dark I was unable to locate him due to not being able to keep track of my position in the PJ country I shot him in. Both animals were shot with 180 NP's doing 2835 out of a Remmy 700 Mtn Rifle. I think at the very least I want to get enough confidence in whatever setup I go with to feel comfortable shooting a high shoulder shot when its getting close to last light.

 

[Whisky]

I like your option 1 the best. Cheap, and quick and easy.

That said I'll be doing option 3 in the next half year or so I think.....
T3X 300wm
Barrel cut to 22" and threaded for suppressor
Bedded into Manners stock
Optics most likely Swaro Z5
Thunder Beast Ultra 7 screwed on the end

 

[brn2hnt]

Swarovski z3 is a fine scope. I've got the brx reticle in mine. Rock solid and very light. Check cameraland. Mine was less than 800$

Did you have a code? I've looked both at Camera NY and Outdoorsmans and Outdoorsmans was actually cheaper. Only $20 or so but would love to support them over Cameraland.

 

[16Bore]

Go light, go Kimber.

 

[elkguide]

Kimber is my go to light carry rifle.

 

[16Bore]

I went down the "cut this, restock that, retube this, work up this bullet and that" rabbit hole and it ain't for me. Hats off to the fella with the time and patience to monkey with it all. I shoulda gone Kimber a long time ago.

Live and learn.

 

[Tastybearmeat]

I bought the demo model. Just like new