Woods rifle

[turkeyhunter729]

Looking at getting a new rifle. I hunt in the Appalachian mountains so looking for a shorter light rifle. Was looking at the new Ruger Hawkeye Hunter in 308 or a Model Seven. Didn’t know if anyone knew of other rifles comparable that may be a good choice too? Rifles like these seem to be getting harder to find so just wondering if I was missing others.


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[howl]

Nothing really handles like the Model Seven with a light barrel. If you're not going to shoot a whole lot, BLRs can quick, too.

 

[robtattoo]

What's your budget?
The Model 7 is really tough to beat. If you're trying not to spend much a Walmart 700adl youth model in .308 will give you change from $500 ($100 less if you get one on sale in the spring...) & every one I've shot has been incredibly accurate. The youth version comes with a 20" rather than 22" barrel & they handle like a dream with a small, light, low power scope.

 

[turkeyhunter729]

What's your budget?
The Model 7 is really tough to beat. If you're trying not to spend much a Walmart 700adl youth model in .308 will give you change from $500 ($100 less if you get one on sale in the spring...) & every one I've shot has been incredibly accurate. The youth version comes with a 20" rather than 22" barrel & they handle like a dream with a small, light, low power scope.

Was looking at 1300-1500 with glass and everything. I shoot either a fixed power or extremely low power scope so really only leaves leupold. Problem I’m having is I can’t find any Model Seven around me. Assuming I’ll just have to order from a dealer


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[robtattoo]

Ruger GSR would be a really good option too, at that price range.

 

[ctfxd3]

Big fan of the Remington 760 Gamemaster for a woods rifle (pump action 30.06), but I'm also coming from the Northeast so I cant speak on how well its suited for the Appalachian Mountains.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I have had mixed luck with 3 Remington rifles and a couple of 870s I have bought in the last 5-10 years. Don’t think I would buy another.

For that price range, I would throw tikka into the mix. A t3x lite in 308 or 6.5 is a heck of a fun. Whitaker’s and locked and loaded sell the stainless versions for ~$600 or so on occasions and sportsman’s warehouse has them cheap. Get a 5 round mag if you want to fling some lead. Top it with a Leupold 1-8, 2-10 or 3-9 in a DNZ mount and you have a heck of a rifle well within your budget.

I have 2 tikkas including a 6.5 cm set up similar to what I have described above and they are just friggin lasers.

 

[terp91]

Looking at getting a new rifle. I hunt in the Appalachian mountains so looking for a shorter light rifle. Was looking at the new Ruger Hawkeye Hunter in 308 or a Model Seven. Didn’t know if anyone knew of other rifles comparable that may be a good choice too? Rifles like these seem to be getting harder to find so just wondering if I was missing others.


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Have you had a chance to see one of the new Rugers in person? Its barrel profile looks funky online but the photos may exaggerate it. The Kimber Hunter fits what you're looking for as well if you don't mind the polymer stock.

What sort of ranges are you looking at? I use a 30-30 for most deer hunting in MD on the shore in mostly dense pines. Longest shot on the property is about 150yds so it works fine. With rings and FX-II the setup was less than $700, easily within your budget.

 

[Brendan]

Kimber Adirondack. 6# Scoped, 18" Barrel. Available in 6.5 CM, 7mm-08, and 308.

 

[turkeyhunter729]

Have you had a chance to see one of the new Rugers in person? Its barrel profile looks funky online but the photos may exaggerate it. The Kimber Hunter fits what you're looking for as well if you don't mind the polymer stock.

What sort of ranges are you looking at? I use a 30-30 for most deer hunting in MD on the shore in mostly dense pines. Longest shot on the property is about 150yds so it works fine. With rings and FX-II the setup was less than $700, easily within your budget.

200 yards tops. Heck most probably under 100


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[N2TRKYS]

I’ve only bought 2 new Model Seven SS rifles, 4 870s, and 1 11/87 in the last couple of years, but none of them have given me an ounce of trouble.
I’d buy again without hesitation.

 

[terp91]

Kimber Adirondack. 6# Scoped, 18" Barrel. Available in 6.5 CM, 7mm-08, and 308.

Thought these went for around $1400, doesn't leave much for a scope with his budget.

200 yards tops. Heck most probably under 100


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If black bears are on your list at all a 35rem, 338fed, or 358win may be a better fit than 308 since you don't need long range performance.

 

[Brendan]

Thought these went for around $1400, doesn't leave much for a scope with his budget.

He didn't put a budget in his initial post... And, $1400 new, less for one used.

But, if you're looking for a short and light woods rifle for shorter ranges, these are pretty tough to beat....

Loaded Weight:

 

[TauPhi111]

I hunt the PA mountains a lot too. Do you want a new rifle, or a new to you rifle? If you can find a Savage 99 with a shorter barrel (20 in) they are great Appalachian mountain rifles. Short, light, handle well and have fast follow up shots. If you are looking for a bolt gun specifically, most companies now make an 18-20 inch barreled version of guns that will suit you well

 

[robtattoo]

Nkay...I'm going to do that thing I just started a 9-page thread over.

In your budget (which it is) and to suit your hunting (which I do, southern Appalachians of TN) I built a custom gun. I picked up a Wal-Mart sale model 700ADL in .243. Immediately fired it off to J.E.S. reboring to have it gouged out to .358 win & once it came back, added a used ($300) Brown's stock & a vortex 2-8 scope. I think I'm into it for about a grand.....ish. It's a tack driver, I can take it west for elk, it'll drop ANYTHING that lives in TN, it's light, nimble & I love it.

 

[Trial153]

Find an m77 mark 2, ultra light, 20inch barrel in 257 roberts, 120 grain partitions.
Leupold 1.75x6 with heavy duplex.

 

[turkeyhunter729]

Big fan of the Remington 760 Gamemaster for a woods rifle (pump action 30.06), but I'm also coming from the Northeast so I cant speak on how well its suited for the Appalachian Mountains.

I’ve never been north East but friends around here said it’s similar just steeper around here and not very much snow. I’m in the northwestern most part of South Carolina and hunt here and North Carolina. Only 45 min from the southern portion of Pisgah


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[JasonNicely34]

Howdy yall

 

[longbarrel]

In 1965, the ultimate was the Remington 600 in .350 mag. Nothing has beat it until Melvin Forbes brought out his Ultra Light Arms rifles.

 

[16Bore]

There’s some compact Tikkas around and the youth RAR’s are good on the cheap. I like shorter barreled rifles in general.