I'm turning 40 this year, and I want a custom rifle built. I already have the builder picked.
To get this I will have to sell 2 rifles, and take my wife's gift to me to get the custom.
I will sell a Kimber Hunter .280ai that I recently picked up (5lbs, 4oz).
I will sell a Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight .300wby that i recently picked up as well (6lbs, 14oz).
I want a somewhat light rifle built, 6ish lbs. I will likely put a NF SHV 3-10 on it, maybe a 4-16 huskemaw.
This will be an all around hunting rifle, but really I need a mountain rifle. I bought the Kimber recently because I am tired of lugging around my 9-1/2 pound 7mmRM in the mountains. Hence the 6ish pound wish.
I have a 7mmRM, and a 338RUM, both remington 700s, both shooters....both pretty heavy. For the smaller critters i have a 6.5creed tikka.
This will be my deer/elk mountain rifle. 7mm or .30 cal.
Initially I am thinking something that starts with a 3. Something light will replace the kimber, and a .30mag of some sort to replace the weatherby.
But which??? 300win, 300wby, 300 prc, 30nosler, wsm, saum, etc. etc...
I handload so once i get components (one day maybe they'll be available again) I'll be set, no need for a lot of factory ammo.
I know a short action will be lighter, but I'm not building this to count ounces, I just want a generally lightweight gun, I do not have a specific ounce number in mind. I've also considered another 7RM since I already have components, but with a faster barrel so I can shoot the 178gr absolute hammers or other longer, heavier bullets that my current 9.25" barrel can't. My current 7RM is a **** dbm from the factory so further customizing it is really a pain.
With the cost of customs I really will only have 1. Anyone else been through this struggle? Part of me says keep what I have and get another factory rifle like a tikka 300win and have a new faster barrel put on it for a lot less money than a full custom. The other part says' i've been dreaming about a really nice rifle for a long time and i should just do it....
any ideas? I'm struggling here