most practical mountain rifle?Sako 85 caliber...270 WSM?

[angus-5024]

Hi there everybody. I have been trying to decide on a lightweight rifle with some really defined parameters. I have the Heavy weights covered in .338 RUM and Lapua (though I am a sucker for big .338s), as well as small 5.56 through 6.5's.
I also have a tikka T3 Varmint in 7 Rem mag ( that my land up being traded for a 300 Win), but either way it will go into a chassis of some sort.
The main whole in the cabinet is a fast handling mid sized rifle that I can use for sheep and goats, saving me a bit of weight. Here are my requirements/wants
- Three lug action (no compromise on this, I like the short throw)
-Short to medium action, NO LONG
-preferably factory offered
- detachable mag or hinged floor (no blind mag)
-under 7 lbs (the lighter the better)
-Stainless
-fluted
-fiberglass or carbon fiber stock replacements available
-no muzzle break
- 24" barrel or less
- crf or a hybrid, no push feeds
-locking bolt with the ability to unload with the safety on
-Capable of Grizzly bear deterrence (not hunting them, but I have had run ins)

Its a long list, but I think it would make a sweet rifle. My preference is .284 bullets, but unfortunately there are no short action 7mm's available that I know of other than the 7-08 (too slow). My favorite 7mm chambering is the .284 win, but again no factory offerings. Keep in mind to that I live in Canada and anything firearms related is at least +30%.

So that leaves me with really the x-bolt and the Sako 85. I am not a fan of browning, as I have been around a lot (probably the most common rifle around here) and I have never seen an exceptional shooter.
I love the look and feel of the 85's but they only offer fairly common chambering's. the price is hefty too but I feel that they are probably the best out there other than a full custom (which is still a lot more than even the finnlight).
So, is there anything that can compete with the .270 WSM, Sako 85 finnlight with a McMillan gamescout? I thought of the same rifle in 7-08 and have the barrel reamed to .284 win, but for the extra cost probably not worth it...? .284 is probably a bit small for the true short action anyways...
My other thought was suck it up and go long action and do whatever chambering I want, I just love that short throw in the thick stuff....

The last question is - are there adequate "slick" bullets in .277 nowadays to compete with the 7mm's.

Thanks guys!

 

[midnightmalloy]

A long action doesn't add much to a rifle in terms of weight but allows you to have a much wider range of chamberings. From your specifications you can also look at Fierce firearms. It's a Sako clone action and a lot of options that you are looking for. http://fiercearms.com/products/fury-models/fury-model

 

[Capt RB]

The Browning titainium I looked at yesterday was in 300wsm. Put a Proof carbon on it in a carbon fiber stock done. The Ti action is larger than the standard action creating a stiffer platform without the weight penalty. The barrel change will make it shoot. I've had lightweight and featherweight Winchesters. One of each was sub half minute all 7 would get to 1 inch 3 shot groups fine for normal ranges. Going long would be tough just trying to make them steady enough without the accuracy handicap. My dad had a 5.5# 06 w/scope built on a mauser. It shot into a hole for 3 then would start to walk as it heated up. The rifle kicked straight back as a function of the shape/inlet of the stock. A factory stock won't be so friendly in a lightweight configuration in a shortmag without a break.

 

[Salar600]

I am with MNM, either Sako or Fierce would be a good choice. I am proud to shoot a Canadian rifle!

 

[graywolf]

If you can use a .243, which is certainly a capable deer and goat round, there is an amazing deal on a Sako Carbonlight at Eurooptic. Fluted stainless, carbon fiber stock, on sale for about the price of a Finnlight. I picked one up and put a Swarovski 3-10 on it, weighs about 6.5 lbs total and it shoots sub moa.

 

[Canhunter35]

I was gonna say kimber makes some really light weight rifles, but I believe they're a dual lug Mauser style bolt. The only three lug guns I know are sako 85, sako a7, fierce arms and Ruger american rifles. Sako rifles are nice rifles, I have an a7, good shooting gun, I lightened the trigger to a crisp 1.75lb pull. Has a bell and Carlson stock which is quite light weight.
A friend has a fierce rifle. It's very nice, more of a custom grade rifle over a sako.

 

[aspenbugle]

Do you have a price range requirement? (Sorry if I missed that)

 

[angus-5024]

I shouldn't go over $2500 CDN

 

[aspenbugle]

Well that looks like around $2000 us. As long as that doesn't have to go down 30% more you are right in the semi custom/everything custom but the action category. If you could go that way, you could pick basically any chambering you wanted, have a better, match grade barrel, high end stock, blueprinted action...basically everything better than the factory options shown...except most actions like Remington would be 2 lug. Don't know the ups/downs of a sako rebarrel/accurize.

Just thought I'd toss that out. You'd get a better, more accurate gun that way and as I said, pick basically any chambering, barrel length, contour, twist, etc...that suits your fancy

 

[GSP814]

I have a Sako Tecomate in 270 WSM, rifle shoots just about any bullet good. I killed an elk last year with 2 150 grain Nosler Partitions at 300 yards.

 

[Sykes]

Cooper 92 backcountry. Little over your budget but it's an excellent rifle

 

[Playtimefun]

Here are a couple of options for you...

weatherby ultralight in 280 rem and get it chambered to 280 AI with a trigger job (mine is at 2.6 lbs). With 150 barnes TTSX bullets or 145 Barnes LRX you can get very close to 7 rem mag performance with excellent accuracy of 0.7 inch groups, but i havent done a lot of load development yet for it. Shot a cow elk at 425 yards with this setup with Accubonds (gun really likes these).

browning mountain ti in 7 mm WSM, 300 WSM or 325 WSM. i have a 325 and a friend has the 7 mm. Not phenomenal accuracy out of them but to be honest friend doesnt reload and he is getting around 1" groups but factory loadings (I cant remember with what - i think Federal) while i havent fired more than a box through mine but it has sure anchored 2 moose on different occasions. Shooting Accubonds in this one amd although i am not as big a fan of them (as they seem to disintegrate) it isnt the bullets fault. First cow moose was 35 yards and second was about 65-70. Both times though the bullets petalled back and broke off so only the bases were left.

both rifles absolutely carry like a dream. carry all day and you dont even know and both are right at 6.6 to 6.75 lbs scoped. the mountainTi has the rubberized coating that at first i wasnt real keen on. Now i must admit i really like it.

i also have a kimber montanna in 300 wsm. nice and light and easy to carry with good accuracy. i havent done any load development for it as i happened to buy some federal bullets when i first got the gun and it likes shooting them. And its on only gone out and gotten a couple of mule deer atrelatively short range (under 100 yards).

i havent picked up a kimber andriondak (doubt i spelt that right) but one of those in 280 AI would be the cats ***.

i just bought a Sako Finnlight in 7 rem mag at Wholesales as they are going out of business and am pretty sure that i have convinced myself to rechamber it in 28 Nosler. I have heard various things about the finnlight accuracy which i am not sure if i believe yet... only because my other Sako in 300 RUM is an absolute tack driver. just put a 4-16 Vortex HST on it so the whole package is a bit heavier, but i havent weighed it yet.

i also got a rem titantium action and did up a 7 mm WSM that was supposed to be a lightweight package but turned out more towards the heavier side with an aluminum bedded B&C stock. But it is accurate and with the Vortex PST scope on it... it sure is not the guns fault if you miss it. This one LOVES Barnes 150 TTSX bullets.

Skip the 6.5x284 for a mountain gun. the performance isnt really there. BUT... the wife got her moose this year with her Savage Lightweight Hunter in that cartridge.The moose only went about 15 yards after being hit but then I do a lot of moose hunting and they are big babies!!

I love the 284 Win but mine are in winchester and savage lever actions. great deer guns and I love them (especially the 99). Anything past 300 yards and you are really pushing it.

Tim
Saskatoon

 

[Jpterry]

Sako Finnlight in 260 Rem would be my choice. Short action and plenty of ummpphhh.

 

[Jpterry]

just saw grizz deterence...based on that...300wsm Sako Finnlight. But Sakos are slower twist in their 300wsm and mine doesn't like anything above 165gr