Need Lightweight Recommendation

[DonnaCam]

My daughter (16) and I hunt together and have been sharing a Remington 7600 30-06 that I inherited. We got her a Tikka T3 Lite .270 for her 16th birthday this year. Now, I am looking to replace the 30-06 with something lighter to carry because we hike in a lot. I mostly hunt antelope, and don't think I would shooting over 400 yards. I spot and stalk, and my longest shot has been 360 yds. I hunt elk but not as much, and usually cows for the freezer, not bulls. Usually those shots would be less than 200 yds. I'm getting older, and don't enjoy toting a heavy for me (middle aged female) rifle.

I have been looking at the Tikka T3 Lite, and wavering between a 25-06 and a 7mag. I have also been considering a used Winchester Mod 70 featherweight, but those seem to be hard to come by. I am just beginning to handload, so I am pretty flexible. So what I am looking for is a super light reasonably priced rifle. I have a friend who handloads, and he swears by his 25-06 because of the good ballistic coefficient and muzzle velocity. The 7-08 is also an option, but just doesn't sound very exciting to me for some reason...

I can't spend over $700 on the rifle, so I am a bit limited. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. From a hunting momma.

 

[rscott5028]

260 Remington has a far better bullet selection than either 27 or 25 cal if you're going to handload.

The ballistics are excellent and recoil is mild for a lightweight rifle.

It will easily take Elk at those ranges and it will take Antelope far beyond what you've stated.

-- richard

 

[DonnaCam]

Thanks. If I cannot find a .260 around in a Win. Model 70 or a Remington 700 Mtn Rifle, what difference would it make to go 7-08? When I first started looking for a different caliber, I was attracted to the 6.5x55, but I never see those available. Tikka does not import them to the US. As far as the .260, I guess I had not considered it because they are not very common either.

 

[rscott5028]

Thanks. If I cannot find a .260 around in a Win. Model 70 or a Remington 700 Mtn Rifle, what difference would it make to go 7-08? When I first started looking for a different caliber, I was attracted to the 6.5x55, but I never see those available. Tikka does not import them to the US. As far as the .260, I guess I had not considered it because they are not very common either.

260 Rem can be run in a short action while 6.5x55 is long action. ..though I admit that I don't know if you can run the 140's near the lands and still feed from the magazine.

Remington produces (or did) 260 in the Model 7 which is a fairly light/compact rifle.

Savage produces a number of models in 260 Rem.

7-08 is a good choice as well. But, I would give 260 the edge.

-- richard

 

[liltank]

Are you opposed to Savage? They offer 260, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x284, and 300WSM. You know, the .308 isn't a bad choice for these options either. If you are only shooting to 400yds, a good 180grn bullet will do the trick. Even if you go with a short barrel, the .308 in a 180-190 grain bullet will do all you need. Now that you are getting into hand loading, it will shine over most factory loads.

With that said, a 6.5x284 will smoke them all with hand loads and 140grain hunting grade bullet. Berger, Hornady, Sierra, and Barnes all have good offerings. The Berger and Hornady would be my picks. Though with proper loading the 270WSM is going to rock any animal you shoot at out to 800+ yards. So to clarify, the 6.5x284, 308, 300WSM, and 270WSM would be my picks. Of those I would narrow down to 308Win, and 270WSM. I really enjoy shooting the .308.

Now if you want a really light rifle, I will suggest the Savage Arms Light weight hunter.
Its offered in the .308, 260, 6.5 Creedmore, and 6.5x284. Don't pay attention to the suggested retail. You can find them much cheaper than what they have listed.
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11LH

 

[rscott5028]

I don't know the subtle differences on all the Savages. I just saw a Savage 11FCNS in 260 Rem on gunbroker for ~$535 new. They show it to be 6.5lbs.

I'm a 6.5x284 fan. But now that Lapua makes 260 brass, I don't think it would make you a noticable difference.

308 and 7-08 are good. But, I would rather shoot a 130-140gr bullet with higher BC/SD from a lightweight rifle.

-- richard

 

[T3-OleMan]

DonnaCam,
I carried a used Win mod.70 F/Wt .270 from 1964 till 2008 when I retired it for a Tikka T-3 SS Lite in 338WM No brake-LimbSaver pad added. I am 70 now and need to shed weight to climb that Mt. each year & would recommend any T-3 SS Lite, even the .243 that I found at a Pawn shop over a new Rem 700 (yuck) like I purchased just to get a local youth mod. for me and the GD some day.

Win mod.70 F/Wt and T-3 SS Lite are a 10X in my book. Good luck.

 

[DonnaCam]

I looked at the Savage 6.5x284, but with that fluted long barrel it was just too end heavy for me. Sweet gun though...
I had looked at Savages when buying my daughter's Tikka, but they just didn't feel right to me. But I did not handle a lightweight model. I surely do appreciate everyone's input as my dear husband is not a rifle guy - he just is a shoo-gun fellow and could care less about what caliber rifle I should buy!

 

[liltank]

I looked at the Savage 6.5x284, but with that fluted long barrel it was just too end heavy for me. Sweet gun though...
I had looked at Savages when buying my daughter's Tikka, but they just didn't feel right to me. But I did not handle a lightweight model. I surely do appreciate everyone's input as my dear husband is not a rifle guy - he just is a shoo-gun fellow and could care less about what caliber rifle I should buy!

Your family makes me jealous. My wife questions every purchase when it comes to my shooting habit!

 

[DonnaCam]

He is a keeper (32 years +), but it has it downsides too! As in have you ever tried to get help at a gun counter when you are a silver haired woman all alone??? They just look at you real funny and don't quite know what to do! But I have to work hard to justify purchases (as in hide them) as well! He must love me - he gave me a RCBS reloading kit for Christmas.

 

[DonnaCam]

That Savage 11 lightweight hunter looks pretty good...now, hmmm, .260, 6.5x284 or 6.5 Creedmoor??? And gotta find a really good price too. .260 weighs only 5.5 lbs!

 

[rscott5028]

That Savage 11 lightweight hunter looks pretty good...now, hmmm, .260, 6.5x284 or 6.5 Creedmoor??? And gotta find a really good price too. .260 weighs only 5.5 lbs!

I would start with Lapua brass. So, 6.5 Creedmore is out.

The 6.5x284 normally has a slight edge ballistically. But, that will be marginal at best unless you have a longer barrel.

I would go with the 260 and not even blink.

-- richard

 

[DonnaCam]

Thanks, Richard. I kind of get the feeling you like the .260. I think I do too since it is a short action. I really appreciate your willingness to share your opinion. Now, just gotta make some room in the gun cabinet, which is always painful!

 

[nateisw]

I hunt with a Savage 116 in 7mm rem mag and I really like it. It's pretty much the same as the 110 but in stainless steel. It has the accu-trigger, but not the accu-stock. Got a pretty good price while it was on sale at a large Sporting goods store. If you just don't like the looks or feel of the Savages, you might not like it, but for the price it's tough to beat. Mine came with a Simmons scope that held zero and had pretty clear glass. I ended up replacing the scope and mounts for higher quality glass and Talley mounts, but it wasn't really necessary.