My Gal From SoCal

[Qrachel]

Hello To All:

Posted this last nite but didn't create a new thread, sorry . . . Dahhh, I'm blond but really much smarter than that, no really I am, really . . . . . . . . . lightbulb

I'm a relatively new shooter (again); started to shooting again after 30 years last year in Jan. I have acquired several great pistols and a rifle; my fav's are an SS Kobra Carry and a really nice LWRC 223/5.56 with an 18" fluted barrel - haven't shot the AR a lot yet but really do like plinkin away at the 8" plates from 100-600+ yards. The 100 yd silhouettes are easy, the 4's, 5's, and 6's not so much, but it doesn't cost a fortune to put a couple hundred rounds down range. One of my shooting friends, an ex-Marine sniper, can bang the 5s and 6s all day long. The AR-15 is just too fun to shoot! Of course, there's nothing in my book sweeter than a great Ed Brown pistol like the SS KC - love that 45ACP.

I'm a SoCal gal and live here in LA because I like it here.

I'm going to do a week deer/elk hunt this Nov in Montana and am considering a combo range rifle and hunting rifle (270, the 7s, WSMs and 308s are where my head is at). Want it to weigh in around 8ish lbs. w/ 9lbs totally max, including my Nightforce 3.5-15x56 included (31 oz). I've talked to Len and I'm faced with $700-2,000 for a production gun or $4,500-5,000 for a custom. $$$ not a terribly big issue but value is . . . any thoughts those of you who have been in this nexus of $$$, wants, and value would be appreciated.

So, hi to you all and I'm happy and honored to be here,

Rachel
Grande Torina

And don't forget to stay off the darned grass!

 

[HARPERC]

And don't forget to stay off the darned grass!

I was going to greet humor with humor, but cracked my head on the ice this morning, and was afraid it sounded better in my head than what was likely to come out.
I know, from socal LA you're thinking how did he get his head in the glass. If you're hunting Montana in November you'll understand better after that.
A lot of wife/daughter/friend questions here. More female input should be helpful.
One factor in deciding which way to go is your access to a quality gunsmith. A turn key set up has it's merits, especially one with an accuracy guarantee. My experience with female shooters is the general rule of 1/3 less upper body strength (average man to average woman) is correct a fair amount of the time. Take the time make it fit, and life is better.
A quick look at Len's rifles, and 8.5lbs is about the bottom. 2lbs Nightforce and rings, with sling, and perhaps bipod your 9lbs goes fast. Places to shave weight-barrel length, action length, LOP stock cut to your shorter arms. The 308 family of cartridges work well for me in such systems.
I had a 6mm Remington built many years ago, a 600 Remington action, 20" Shilen barrel (taper?), Brown Precision Kevlar stock 12.75" LOP, 2.5-8x Leupold with tall target turret, Picattiny/Weaver base, Leupold rings, cheap nylon sling. I just weighed it and 7.7lbs is where it sits. A lot of first deer and antelope have been taken with it. Small changes up and down to be debated, but there it is. That Leupold is 19 ounces. OOPs went back and looked that Leupold is 11.4 ounces
Welcome!

 

[Qrachel]

I was going to greet humor with humor, but cracked my head on the ice this morning, and was afraid it sounded better in my head than what was likely to come out.
I know, from socal LA you're thinking how did he get his head in the glass. If you're hunting Montana in November you'll understand better after that.
A lot of wife/daughter/friend questions here. More female input should be helpful.
One factor in deciding which way to go is your access to a quality gunsmith. A turn key set up has it's merits, especially one with an accuracy guarantee. My experience with female shooters is the general rule of 1/3 less upper body strength (average man to average woman) is correct a fair amount of the time. Take the time make it fit, and life is better.
A quick look at Len's rifles, and 8.5lbs is about the bottom. 2lbs Nightforce and rings, with sling, and perhaps bipod your 9lbs goes fast. Places to shave weight-barrel length, action length, LOP stock cut to your shorter arms. The 308 family of cartridges work well for me in such systems.
I had a 6mm Remington built many years ago, a 600 Remington action, 20" Shilen barrel (taper?), Brown Precision Kevlar stock 12.75" LOP, 2.5-8x Leupold with tall target turret, Picattiny/Weaver base, Leupold rings, cheap nylon sling. I just weighed it and 7.7lbs is where it sits. A lot of first deer and antelope have been taken with it. Small changes up and down to be debated, but there it is. That Leupold is 19 ounces. OOPs went back and looked that Leupold is 11.4 ounces
Welcome!

Thank You Harper: Very nice note and thank you for the taking time to write it. Must be the season for head injuries; Thr I tried to walk through a huge, 15' high, plate glass window - left a great face plant mark on the window; my pride still aches a little.

Regarding the weight - I'm thinking 9lbs is tight. Oh well, I guess I'll just to gurl-up!

Take care,

R

 

[HARPERC]

Spent a few minutes looking at spec's. Most companies have weights listed, sometimes "lightweight" is about as meaningful as "organically grown". Google Weatherby, and look at their "Ultralight" is available in 270 at 5.75 lbs.. In a compact "Girls hunt too" and a "Whitetail Bones" with adjustable stocks (LOP) at 6.5 lbs. Other calibers as well.

They have a couple of action types, and accuracy guarantees. The classifieds on this site usually hold some ideas.

One thing to keep in mind is delivery times. November is not that far away in gun building time. Some stocks and barrels can be 6 months to a year out once ordered. So one of Len's, a commercial offering, or used custom, are realistically your choices for this year if you wish to practice much.

Any good retailers in your neck of the woods to handle a few? At least initially pick one with lot's of product, some shops, like car dealers push what's on the lot. Flip side is at times the firearms section at large sporting goods is sometimes staffed by folks less than fluent in firearms.

 

[westcliffe01]

Maybe a different tack than suggested thus far:

Savage 116FCSS 6.5X284NOR ACS DBM
See: Savage 116FCSS 6.5X284NOR ACS DBM $668.00 SHIPS FREE
Weight 6.9lb according to Savage.

It is a Savage long action with a synthetic stock, accustock bedding block cast into the stock (full length aluminum bedding plate that goes from the pistol grip to the front of the fore-end). 6.5x284 Norma is an excellent long distance round. If you want to target shoot with it, you will want to reload, since factory ammo loaded with high BC bullets will be expensive. The barrel will also not last forever, but with a Savage, you can screw on a $340 replacement match barrel from Shilen, Criterion or a few other names and have a brand new rifle for very little labor cost and you could actually do it yourself with a bit of help.

Barrel and action are stainless steel.

Not sure how you picked out your scope ? There are not many hunting situations that need a scope with a 56mm objective, especially when they are low magnification like 3.5x15 ? I have a 3-12x42 and I have used it a lot in hunting coyotes in the morning twilight and thought it was fine. I have some 4x16x50 Viper PST scopes that I am comfortable using at 16x under similar conditions (pre-dawn). I'm 6'4" and frankly would hate for my scopes to get any bulkier than what I already own... I suggest you look through a few scopes like the Vortex 4-16x44 HS-T and the 4-16x50 PST under suitable "field" conditions to see if they don't fit your needs. Nightforce no doubt makes more compact scopes too.

You still have to figure in the scope bases and rings + load the magazine to get the all up weight.

You certainly could get a smith to add a good side port muzzle break to the barrel so you can spot your own shots.

Even if you add the cost for swapping out the factory barrel and immediately screwing on a match barrel, you would be close to $1000 (not taking into account that you would get money for a factory stainless barrel).