Recoil is virtually nothing with my 6.5X47. I would think a Creed or 260 would not be much different. As long as elk are not hunted often, I to would go with a 6.5. If elk are hunted just keep shots closer. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot deer sized game out to 500 yds with the X47. Ring steel with my RBROS 6.5X47 out to 910 yds with no problem. It is heavy though at 15 lbs with optics. Recoil on that one is almost like shooting a pellet gun. Don't even go off target when shooting at 100 yds.
Recommend Me A Lightweight Rifle
- Thread starter timberelk
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I just assumed the factory threaded the barrel for a brake after it was bored so if that was the case, there would be little or no difference on a thin braked factory barrel or an aftermarket procedure on a barrel of similar dimensions.
Tikka is making those SuperLite's for Cabela's and Sportsmans Wearhouse. They're very light but no brake.
Can anyone else comment on the idea of loading 270 or 30-06 ammo at their minimums or slightly above ad to allow the recoil to be as low as a 6.5 loaded hot but it would give me the opportunity to load the 270 or 30-06 hot to take large game at large distances
I've done that and the ammo didn't group as well. Still about an 1" or so which might be good enough for your purpose. Tired it with smaller cartridges with limited success as well. Definitely 90% plus case capacity works the best for accuracy in my limited experience.
Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
When I wanted to practice with a light load for my 7 Rem Mag I called Sierra since I was using their bullets. The guy told me to use IMR3031 from their manual and start reducing the load until there was powder left in the barrel. I went back up one grain when that happened.
It worked fantastically. Since we lived in the country I practiced offhand everyday. I got so good at it was a very bad day when I fired a 2 1/2" group at 100 yards. Usually they were about 2". The bet group I ever fired was 1 1/4". I have no idea what the velocity was because it was before 1979 when I got the Oehler 33.
Another time a friend's kid wanted to go deer hunting. He was sixteen and never fired a gun before. The only rifle I had for him was a 7-.300 Weatherby. I loaded a box of fifteen grains of Unique. That was covered with fiberfill up to the base of a 120 grain bullet. I took the kid to the river that ran through our property and threw a stick out for him to shoot at. When the twenty shots were fired. I took him home. A few days later he came over again. This time we used a 140 grain bullet and did the same thing. He didn't notice the difference. Next time I switched to the 120 grain bullet and a charge of the 3031. By the time deer season came he was firing 175 grainers at 2,700 feet per second. He never noticed from week to week the change.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Christensen Arms Ridgeline 7mm RemMag with the carbon fiber barrel. Get it threaded on the end 5/8x24 and get a good brake installed. It will kick like a .243 Win...No joke.
I've had 2 Browning A-Bolt II 7mmRM's with the BOSS systems on them, and with 160-168 grain bullets, they all kicked like a .243.
The Ridgeline comes factory threaded with a brake already. Greet choice, a little more than the op wanted to spend, but worth it imo. The x bolt hells canyon speed is also an excellent choice, right around $1000, lightweight and shoots great.
middleofnowhere
Well-Known Member
This YouTube video kind of illustrates the possible differences in brakes. This particular rifle is a Kimber Mountain Ascent. The Terminator brake appears to reduce significantly.
Here is a 7mm Remington Magnum compared to a .243
I don't have a lot of experience with brakes, I will say that my 30 Nosler Christensen Ridgeline seems to kick less than my Model 70 in .308 Winchester. Note that this is just how I remember feeling after shooting a box of ammo at the bench.
MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say less but I'd put it comparable with an un-braked sporter weight .243 Win, maybe around a .308 Win/.25-06 Rem level.
After trying my first break on a 338 Norma Magnum and it kicking like my .243, I was blown away! If you want to trade recoil reduction for mega noise, go with a break. Shooterscalculator.com has a recoil calculator that might be helpful.
I'd Like to add that when I did my reduced load workups, I used the same powders as my high end loads. I could see possibly getting better results with a different powder. It seems to me the longer cases like the 30-06 and 270 don't do as well as short fat cases when there is a lower powder charge.
I'd Like to add that when I did my reduced load workups, I used the same powders as my high end loads. I could see possibly getting better results with a different powder. It seems to me the longer cases like the 30-06 and 270 don't do as well as short fat cases when there is a lower powder charge.
Out of the three rifle brands mentioned, and sticking to $1500, I'd go with the Christensen Arms Mesa in 6.5 creed or 7mm-08.
If you are willing to spend $2000, I'd go with the Ridgeline in 6.5x284. If wanting to stick to a short action, then I'd go with a 6.5 creed.
If you are willing to spend $2000, I'd go with the Ridgeline in 6.5x284. If wanting to stick to a short action, then I'd go with a 6.5 creed.
middleofnowhere
Well-Known Member
I'm a huge fan of Christensen as I spent months dwelling on a new rifle before I actually pulled the "trigger". The Trigger Tech Trigger, carbon stock, muzzle brake, etc. Christensen just makes a heck of a nice rifle that is affordable. The Ridgeline is just plain nice to carry and shoulder.
Before I ordered my Ridgeline I built this matrix to help evaluate rifles. Obviously I was interested in, and only evaluated, .308 caliber magnums.
I didn't know about the Barret Fieldcraft at the time I created this chart or it would be in there too.
https://barrett.net/firearms/fieldcraft/
I have very little actual experience with rifles so I wanted to make the best choice the first time.
Before I ordered my Ridgeline I built this matrix to help evaluate rifles. Obviously I was interested in, and only evaluated, .308 caliber magnums.
I didn't know about the Barret Fieldcraft at the time I created this chart or it would be in there too.
https://barrett.net/firearms/fieldcraft/
I have very little actual experience with rifles so I wanted to make the best choice the first time.
