I will be hunting near the Upper Ruby Drainage in MT for a week mid-November this year on 50,000 acres of private land. I've been on a 4 month search for a rifle I would be happy with. The matter boiled down to a 308, 30-06, 300 WSM, 7mm WSM, and a 280 AI - I really think I'd like to try a custom 280 AI; we'll see. But the more I looked and read the more I began to feel I wasn't ready to sink $3-5K into a custom rifle, because I just didn't know what it would be like hunting in MT in mid- to late-season.
Since I'm getting back into the hunting game and I'm a mature gal, I want to get a sense of what I'm capable of too. I'm in good health and fit. Sooo, I've talked to Len twice (Thank you Len; it helped) and several other folks in the biz of creating fine custom rifles. (It's worth noting that I started shooting pistols well over a year ago and I finally knew I wanted a great 45 ACP and now have a E.B. Kobra Carry plus a super tuned S&W 5" 629 Classic . . . but it took a year of shooting to get there). Anyway, I've also got to spend a bit on a sensible kit and boots plus other important 'stuff' a lady hunter just has gotta have
Long story shorter, I went low cost with a 30-06 Tikka T3 (great trigger btw and an inexpensive way to get into the game) and plan to immediately revisit the custom rifle decision in December as a nice Xmas present for . . . well, me of course!!! That will give me a really great custom rifle and a nice -06 backup. I also got a great buy on a Nightforce 3.5-15 x 56 scope over the past holidays, and it's just mounted on the -06, which gets to the range for the 1st time sometime in the next few weeks depending upon my schedule. I'll probably re-scope the -06 with a Nightforce NXS 2.5-15 x 42 and that ought to be a pretty cool -06 to grab and go.
So, I continue to haunt these and other realms for the next 8-9 months. There's some really great stuff here, and the feedback is awesome - thanks to all the folks like you!!!! Keep on keepin on I just love reading all the great posts.
Rachel
Since I'm getting back into the hunting game and I'm a mature gal, I want to get a sense of what I'm capable of too. I'm in good health and fit. Sooo, I've talked to Len twice (Thank you Len; it helped) and several other folks in the biz of creating fine custom rifles. (It's worth noting that I started shooting pistols well over a year ago and I finally knew I wanted a great 45 ACP and now have a E.B. Kobra Carry plus a super tuned S&W 5" 629 Classic . . . but it took a year of shooting to get there). Anyway, I've also got to spend a bit on a sensible kit and boots plus other important 'stuff' a lady hunter just has gotta have
Long story shorter, I went low cost with a 30-06 Tikka T3 (great trigger btw and an inexpensive way to get into the game) and plan to immediately revisit the custom rifle decision in December as a nice Xmas present for . . . well, me of course!!! That will give me a really great custom rifle and a nice -06 backup. I also got a great buy on a Nightforce 3.5-15 x 56 scope over the past holidays, and it's just mounted on the -06, which gets to the range for the 1st time sometime in the next few weeks depending upon my schedule. I'll probably re-scope the -06 with a Nightforce NXS 2.5-15 x 42 and that ought to be a pretty cool -06 to grab and go.
So, I continue to haunt these and other realms for the next 8-9 months. There's some really great stuff here, and the feedback is awesome - thanks to all the folks like you!!!! Keep on keepin on
I just love reading all the great posts.Rachel
