Compact rifle opinions

[3006Sprng]

Hi all, looking for some opinions, experience, advice, etc.

I’m looking to find a rifle, that fits a certain criteria.
-lightweight
-compact (adjustable or short LOP)
-bolt action
-barrel length 20” or 22”
-short action

I already have a .308, that’s awesome, looking to go even lighter and more compact.

So far have narrowed it down to the bergara stoke, or tikka compact.

Calibre, looking at 7-08. I hand load, so cartridge is not a concern. Primary use will be white tails and big black bears.

I have no experience with 7-08, so here’s the questions.

-does anyone have experience with the rifles listed above,

-does anyone have any experience with velocity issues with a 7-08 and a 20” tube,

-does anyone have any better ideas than this type of set up.

Thanks.

 

[marksjeep]

We have a ruger compact in 7-08 for kids when they were smaller. Kills elk just fine with 120 barnes. 18" barrel, put it in an adjustable magpul stock. Factory magazines suck but pmags work great with new stock. Just a different option.

 

[TN2shot07]

I don’t have any experience with either of the rifles above but I do have 2 model sevens in 7-08. One has an 18 in barrel, the other is a 20 and I’ve never had an issue with either. One likes 120 ttsx and the other 140 accubonds, deer don’t like either one.

 

[3006Sprng]

We have a ruger compact in 7-08 for kids when they were smaller. Kills elk just fine with 120 barnes. 18" barrel, put it in an adjustable magpul stock. Factory magazines suck but pmags work great with new stock. Just a different option.

I have the same compact in .243, great little rifle. I’m sure if the 18” works good in 08, a 20” will be just fine as well.

 

[3006Sprng]

I don’t have any experience with either of the rifles above but I do have 2 model sevens in 7-08. One has an 18 in barrel, the other is a 20 and I’ve never had an issue with either. One likes 120 ttsx and the other 140 accubonds, deer don’t like either one.

Good to hear, I’m sure I can make a load work without issue for 7-08. Sounds easy to work with.

 

[WinkB]

We have a Browning X-Bolt in 7mm-08, with an 18" barrel will push 120gr class bullets at around 3,000fps. This is in my opinion a nice compact setup especially when sitting in a tree stand or hunting out of a blind. It also shoots the 140 class bullets closer to +2,700 with Lapua brass and Varget.

 

[bonniecutthroat]

I have a 7-08 tikka in tikkas compact stock (20” barrel) and one in the standard tikka stock (22” barrel). I enjoy shooting both, my wife and son prefer the compact stock. I’ve never chrono’d so can’t comment on velocity. Both are sighted in for Barnes ttsx 120 grain and shoot them well- no noticeable difference in precision between either rifle.

 

[MaddH]

Weatherby Vanguard or Camilla would fit the bill

 

[Kauaihunter]

Ruger Gen 2 with 20” barrel, 140gr accubond 2750fps. Handload.

 

[3006Sprng]

Ruger Gen 2 with 20” barrel, 140gr accubond 2750fps. Handload.

The 139/140 class would be the weight of choice for sure.

 

[brockel]

I’m a tikka whore so that’s my vote. If you get bored with the 7mm-08 you can change the barrel out yourself and get a shouldered prefit. If you decide to go up to a magnum bolt face cartridge or even down to a 223 bolt face cartridge simply post a “want to trade” add in the classifieds and odds are someone will want to trade their bolt for yours. Get the proper magazine and you are good to go. Tons of aftermarket parts and IMO the best factory trigger out there. Also one of the smoothest factory actions

 

[Forkyfinder]

Superlite just shot a nice sub moa 6 shot group preppin for speed goats. I dont believe i was patient enough when i did my review between groups.

Im happy with it and its considerably lighter, and cheaper or around the same price as the other options.

 

[3006Sprng]

My other option is to get another savage 110 platform. Adjustable stocks are a plus, but they are not the lightest rifles around.

 

[Kauaihunter]

The 139/140 class would be the weight of choice for sure.

Absolutely flattened a Mouflon Ram this past weekend. We set it up for my friends 13 year old son. Shot was about 180 yards. These sheep aren’t big animals but they are tough. He took an axis doe back in April with it too. Accubond does really well. I’d vote Tikka per your options.

 

[Robert N]

‘06Spring, what do you intend to use it for? What are your goals?

If you come back and say “sheep rifle in XXX’Stan” that’s going to get one answer. “Sheep rifle in the Talkeetna’s” is a different thing altogether.

Or, by the specs? 5# naked rifle, max range 700 yards… ?

Or, just want a compact rifle a new young shooter? In this case, small is good, but also make it weighty to cut recoil…

So, what do you really want it for? What’s the purpose?

 

[3006Sprng]

‘06Spring, what do you intend to use it for? What are your goals?

If you come back and say “sheep rifle in XXX’Stan” that’s going to get one answer. “Sheep rifle in the Talkeetna’s” is a different thing altogether.

Or, by the specs? 5# naked rifle, max range 700 yards… ?

Or, just want a compact rifle a new young shooter? In this case, small is good, but also make it weighty to cut recoil…

So, what do you really want it for? What’s the purpose?

All purpose rifle for me. I hunt thick boreal forest, white tails and black bear primarily. I like shorter LOP, especially because I live in a climate where it gets very cold mid rut, thick jackets. Common shots are in close, 30-100 yards, just my style of hunting. Longest shots are 350ish. I use an 06 already, if I need it for moose, elk, etc. That gun is set up for dialing, longer ranges, etc.

I basically want a small light weight gun, can pack anywhere, works good in a treestand at 50 yards or shooting across a clearing out to 400 max. I have no experience with the 708, I load for 308 and 3006. I figured 708 seems like a nice shootable cartridge, easy to load for, and can be fit nicely into a smaller platform.

My wife could graduate to it at some point, she will use the .243 for now.

 

[Horse]

Tikka vote. Has a magazine and some have threaded muzzle is suppressed is option. Mag is easier for younger shooters. 7mm 08 is good round with 120-140 bullets.

 

[Robert N]

All purpose rifle for me. I hunt thick boreal forest, white tails and black bear primarily. I like shorter LOP, especially because I live in a climate where it gets very cold mid rut, thick jackets. Common shots are in close, 30-100 yards, just my style of hunting. Longest shots are 350ish. I use an 06 already, if I need it for moose, elk, etc. That gun is set up for dialing, longer ranges, etc.

I basically want a small light weight gun, can pack anywhere, works good in a treestand at 50 yards or shooting across a clearing out to 400 max. I have no experience with the 708, I load for 308 and 3006. I figured 708 seems like a nice shootable cartridge, easy to load for, and can be fit nicely into a smaller platform.

My wife could graduate to it at some point, she will use the .243 for now.

Great answer. Just know, lighter rifles make for more recoil. My wife’s rifle is a stock-shortened Merkel K3 in 7x57r with 140 gr. Bullets at 2750 fps. Pretty much identical to a 7-08. Recoil is very brisk in that rifle - it’s 6# 6oz total, topped with a VX6 1-6x. Light weight also means more felt recoil, something to consider.

Question - why wouldn’t you just use your .308 and buy a smaller stock for it, and load it with 130gr. Mono metals? That would be more than good enough to 400 yards. Heck, probably a lot farther too.

My current rifle (*well, for the day…I have several to play with) is a Christensen Ridgeline Carbon that started with a 24” barrel. Now, it wears a 16.5” barrel and a silencer…By the absolute metrics, that rifle with a hand loaded 165gr. Bullet at 2550 will get to 1050 yards before going subsonic. Hunting wise, I’d not hesitate to use it on deer to 500.

The stock though might be a bit long for your wife…but cheap second stocks for a Rem 700 Short action can be found under $300…load it with those 130 bullets and call it a good day.

Now, if you just want to put another rifle in the safe, heck yeah. Can’t say I haven’t done it before…or that I’m probably gonna do it again.

In the end, there’s just not enough difference between the .308 and 7-08, properly loaded, to measure.

Having said that, I do own 4 different 7mm’s…so…yeah. Not gonna cast stones from this house.

 

[3006Sprng]

Great answer. Just know, lighter rifles make for more recoil. My wife’s rifle is a stock-shortened Merkel K3 in 7x57r with 140 gr. Bullets at 2750 fps. Pretty much identical to a 7-08. Recoil is very brisk in that rifle - it’s 6# 6oz total, topped with a VX6 1-6x. Light weight also means more felt recoil, something to consider.

Question - why wouldn’t you just use your .308 and buy a smaller stock for it, and load it with 130gr. Mono metals? That would be more than good enough to 400 yards. Heck, probably a lot farther too.

My current rifle (*well, for the day…I have several to play with) is a Christensen Ridgeline Carbon that started with a 24” barrel. Now, it wears a 16.5” barrel and a silencer…By the absolute metrics, that rifle with a hand loaded 165gr. Bullet at 2550 will get to 1050 yards before going subsonic. Hunting wise, I’d not hesitate to use it on deer to 500.

The stock though might be a bit long for your wife…but cheap second stocks for a Rem 700 Short action can be found under $300…load it with those 130 bullets and call it a good day.

Now, if you just want to put another rifle in the safe, heck yeah. Can’t say I haven’t done it before…or that I’m probably gonna do it again.

In the end, there’s just not enough difference between the .308 and 7-08, properly loaded, to measure.

Having said that, I do own 4 different 7mm’s…so…yeah. Not gonna cast stones from this house.

My 308 is technically what I’m trying to do with this idea I’m dreaming up. The 308 is a gen 1 Ruger American, I cut 1” off of the stock, refitted a youth recoil pad. 22” barrel I get around 2750 out of 165 grain loads. The gun is an absolute brush buster, and by that I mean I have used it as a machete to get through willows. It isn’t pretty, but it shoots well. That 308 is so reliable it’s boring. First world problems.

I figured the 708 with 140 class bullets might be slightly more pleasant to shoot. I don’t own the calibre though, so I can’t actually speak to that. Technically I don’t need the 7mm, but I’m a handloader, and I do enjoy playing with ballistics. I figured at least a midrange quality 7mm08 might be a decent platform to develop loads for and play around with.

 

[Robert N]

My 308 is technically what I’m trying to do with this idea I’m dreaming up. The 308 is a gen 1 Ruger American, I cut 1” off of the stock, refitted a youth recoil pad. 22” barrel I get around 2750 out of 165 grain loads. The gun is an absolute brush buster, and by that I mean I have used it as a machete to get through willows. It isn’t pretty, but it shoots well. That 308 is so reliable it’s boring. First world problems.

I figured the 708 with 140 class bullets might be slightly more pleasant to shoot. I don’t own the calibre though, so I can’t actually speak to that. Technically I don’t need the 7mm, but I’m a handloader, and I do enjoy playing with ballistics. I figured at least a midrange quality 7mm08 might be a decent platform to develop loads for and play around with.

Oh for sure. I highly recommend and endorse buying a rifle for the experience.

Go for it.