New long range elk gun

[amork]

I am looking at getting a larger mid to longer range rifle for elk hunting or if i like it enough probably deer hunting as well. I'm trying to keep it at or under the $2000 mark and have been recently looking at the christiansen arms ridgeline 28 nosler and have been reading mixed reviews about them. Does anyone have something else they would prefer or have thoughts about the quality/accuracy of the Christiansen arms? I've liked them in the store but don't want to buy something I am going to struggle to get to shoot accurately

 

[Jacob Paul]

I am looking at getting a larger mid to longer range rifle for elk hunting or if i like it enough probably deer hunting as well. I'm trying to keep it at or under the $2000 mark and have been recently looking at the christiansen arms ridgeline 28 nosler and have been reading mixed reviews about them. Does anyone have something else they would prefer or have thoughts about the quality/accuracy of the Christiansen arms? I've liked them in the store but don't want to buy something I am going to struggle to get to shoot accurately

In that price range I would take a serious look at the new Seekins Havak PH2. Retail is right at $1,900 ish and they are a lot of gun for the money. Carbon composite stock, Custom Havak action, Spiral fluted 5R threaded barrel, Timney elite hunter trigger and 24 or 26 inch barrel depending on caliber. They come in .308, 28 nosler, 338 win mag, 300 win mag, 300 PRC, 7mm Remington mag, 6mm creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and my new personal favorite 6.5 PRC. Basically every one that I have seen is a tack driver. However, if you aren't satisfied with it, their customer service is the best in the business.

I have also heard mixed reviews about Christensen Arms however most of what I have heard from people that have purchased them recently has been positive. I still don't know if I would pull the trigger on one with the Havak on the table though.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

In that price range I would take a serious look at the new Seekins Havak PH2. Retail is right at $1,900 ish and they are a lot of gun for the money. Carbon composite stock, Custom Havak action, Spiral fluted 5R threaded barrel, Timney elite hunter trigger and 24 or 26 inch barrel depending on caliber. They come in .308, 28 nosler, 338 win mag, 300 win mag, 300 PRC, 7mm Remington mag, 6mm creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and my new personal favorite 6.5 PRC. Basically every one that I have seen is a tack driver. However, if you aren't satisfied with it, their customer service is the best in the business.

I have also heard mixed reviews about Christensen Arms however most of what I have heard from people that have purchased them recently has been positive. I still don't know if I would pull the trigger on one with the Havak on the table though.

i just bought a CA recently and it is awesome. Went back and forth between that and the seekins and a couple others. Settled on the CA in 6.5 prc. Been a tack driver with factory ammo so far.

 

[Jacob Paul]

i just bought a CA recently and it is awesome. Went back and forth between that and the seekins and a couple others. Settled on the CA in 6.5 prc. Been a tack driver with factory ammo so far.

I'm glad you like it. Don't get me wrong, I think that Christensen Arms is a great company. I was considering that and the Havak for a while. I ended up deciding that the Havak better suited my needs. One thing that pushed me towards the Havak was how vocal Glen Seekins was on forums and my Facebook groups. There were a couple people that noted that their rifles weren't shooting like they felt they should. He immediately replied and stated that if they weren't shooting like they wanted them to send it in and he would personally make sure that it shot to the owners liking. If that isn't customer service I don't know what is.

 

[just country]

morning, magnum rem. customized LA action, barrel of choice
chambered in 340wbee. said and done. none better.
scary????
justme gbot tum

 

[L.Sherm]

30 Nosler or 30-28 with 215 scream longrange elk gun with the correct reamer.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I'm glad you like it. Don't get me wrong, I think that Christensen Arms is a great company. I was considering that and the Havak for a while. I ended up deciding that the Havak better suited my needs. One thing that pushed me towards the Havak was how vocal Glen Seekins was on forums and my Facebook groups. There were a couple people that noted that their rifles weren't shooting like they felt they should. He immediately replied and stated that if they weren't shooting like they wanted them to send it in and he would personally make sure that it shot to the owners liking. If that isn't customer service I don't know what is.

I heard they have great customer service - I couldn't get over all the complaints about seekins "rough action".

Another rifle to check out OP is the Bergara Premier Highlander.

 

[Jud96]

Are you against having a semi custom rifle built? You could buy a Remington 700 action for $350, a decent synthetic aluminum bedded stock $300, high quality match grade barrel $350, bottom metal $150, and a good trigger $150. Then pay a gunsmith to fit and chamber the barrel to the action and true the action up for around $500-600. You could do all of this for under $2000. Then you would have a top tier barrel from Bartlein, Krieger, Brux, etc., a solid aluminum bedded stock, a crisp trigger, and a trued up Remington action with all of the critical machine work done by a professional not an assembly line worker. You could even use any leftover money to pay the smith to skim bed the rifle to make the stock and barreled action match up perfectly. This is the route I would go. I see too many problems with the off the shelf "custom" rifles to trust them much more than a Savage or Remington factory rifle.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Are you against having a semi custom rifle built? You could buy a Remington 700 action for $350, a decent synthetic aluminum bedded stock $300, high quality match grade barrel $350, bottom metal $150, and a good trigger $150. Then pay a gunsmith to fit and chamber the barrel to the action and true the action up for around $500-600. You could do all of this for under $2000. Then you would have a top tier barrel from Bartlein, Krieger, Brux, etc., a solid aluminum bedded stock, a crisp trigger, and a trued up Remington action with all of the critical machine work done by a professional not an assembly line worker. You could even use any leftover money to pay the smith to skim bed the rifle to make the stock and barreled action match up perfectly. This is the route I would go. I see too many problems with the off the shelf "custom" rifles to trust them much more than a Savage or Remington factory rifle.

here is the only downside to a custom - if you decide you want to sell it in a year, you are going to take a massive hit. Customs don't have the best resale value. If you decide to sell the seekins or the CA, you might lose 10-15%, but nothing like the custom market.

 

[Jud96]

here is the only downside to a custom - if you decide you want to sell it in a year, you are going to take a massive hit. Customs don't have the best resale value. If you decide to sell the seekins or the CA, you might lose 10-15%, but nothing like the custom market.

I personally don't care about resale. I like to buy/build rifles that work and shoot like they should. Accurate rifles stay in my safe and inaccurate ones get a new barrel. I see where you're coming from, but I guess that doesn't apply to all of us.

 

[gillettehunter]

You take your chances, to a degree, with whatever you buy. I'd suggest perhaps reconsidering your caliber choice. Not that it won't do what you want it to do. Its just that over the last few months I've read a few threads about how "picky" that caliber can be to get the accuracy out it that you want. Just a thought. Some calibers are very easy to reload for and others not so much. YMMV
Bruce

 

[WildBillG]

Here is some thing I never thought I would say but have you looked at the Browning Hells Canyon Long range rifles. I hae been working with one in 300 WM for a friend and it realy shoots. They come with a faster twist barrel to stablize heavy bullets. The one I am working with put 3 212 ELDX Hornady bullets into a .326 inch group at 100yds. They would well under your budget price to give you room for a scope or other goodies you may want.

 

[amork]

Here is some thing I never thought I would say but have you looked at the Browning Hells Canyon Long range rifles. I hae been working with one in 300 WM for a friend and it realy shoots. They come with a faster twist barrel to stablize heavy bullets. The one I am working with put 3 212 ELDX Hornady bullets into a .326 inch group at 100yds. They would well under your budget price to give you room for a scope or other goodies you may want.

So I actually went to scheels today and looked at the hells canyon in a 300 win mag today and honestly I like that just about as much as the christiansen arms. I have talked to a few people I know as well who have been steering me clear of the CA due to some problems they have been hearing about which heard a little about as well. I am going back to think about this for a little bit now to see where I go from all everyones help here. If i go with the browning though I won't be getting it in 28 though. Scheels couldn't have them until mid 2020

 

[amork]

You take your chances, to a degree, with whatever you buy. I'd suggest perhaps reconsidering your caliber choice. Not that it won't do what you want it to do. Its just that over the last few months I've read a few threads about how "picky" that caliber can be to get the accuracy out it that you want. Just a thought. Some calibers are very easy to reload for and others not so much. YMMV
Bruce

I am already reconsidering my caliber choice. I thought I wanted to try the cool thing out there but can't justify it with all the 300 win mag reloading supplies i have. The 300 has done everything I have every asked it to do so I think I will just end up staying there.