Compact rifle opinions

[Dougfirtree]

Exactly, lighter and smaller is better in most situations. Your rifle there is exactly what I’m looking to build. Leaning heavy on the tikka. Have you chrono’d that rifle with the 20” tube?

No, not yet. It was shooting 140 gr E-tips at about 2785 before the chop. I'm guessing I'll have lost 50 fps, or so, but we'll see..

For reference, mine is a stock T3x Lite Stainless, with a chopped barrel, Stocky's carbon fiber stock, High Desert bottom metal replacement and upgraded action screws. I'm pretty happy with it, though I don't love the sound the stock makes when it rubs against branches, etc.

 

[X13]

I had my Rem 700 7mm-08 bedded, cut at 18”, and threaded for a suppressor. Shot it for the first time yesterday and got 2710fps as an average with 140gr Sierra Game Kings and a healthy amount of 4064.

 

[De765]

I love short rifles, with a suppressor. My main rifle is a 18” 30/06 rem 700 been worked over by a local guy with a #4 McGowen barrel. I used to load 212 amax and hunt to 300 yards with it, mostly deer and black bear. I have a couple 16” 308, 2 20” 6.5 Creed rifles that I use a lot for deer. My only short non suppressed rifle is a 16.5” .243 m77 compact all weather with a fx2 6x that is awesome with 80gr Coppers, it is my bad weather deer rifle. I use a 77/44 for pig stalking and a 77/357 at bow ranges with regular success.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I’ll give my vote to the Howa super-lite.

BUT, their stocks really suck and so does the action. The action seems to me the easiest thing to fix with tightening up a few tolerances. The bolt rattles like a maraca on its way into battery….its sloppy.

The carbon fiber stock paint peels off pretty much out of the box.

On the wood stock model 20% of the clear coat has come off of the gun.

But, after all of that complaining, the gun does shoot pretty well and it is the lightest factory offering for the price point. I just wish they didn’t look like shit after such light usage…..

 

[Mallardsx2]

 

[3006Sprng]

anyone on here own both a 7mm08 and .308?

 

[Bonasababy]

Be aware the stoke has a very short LOP. The fixed mag one i picked up was nice I thought. The clip sticks out on the clip version which to me makes one hand carry awkward.

Also be aware that if you need to shoot fast offhand light rifles can be a challenge to shoot accurately.

The 7mm-08- like the 308 its based on...does not need long barrels to get decent velocity...but be aware many factory load advertised velocities come from a 24" barrel.

I like short light rifles for stalking and hunting in trees.

But not fond of much in new guns.

I have a remington model 7, a remington mountain rifle, and a ruger ultralight with short barrels.

The model 7 is synthetic stainless and with the light rings and compact scope I have on it is a dream to carry, very light.

Also one of my most accurate guns, with old federal nosler partitions. Takes more effort to shoot without a good rest though. My mountain rifle and the Ruger RL arent as light but are easier to shoot offhand.

Remington actions are favored by many custom builders so dont buy the notion they are crap. But I would stick with ones from the 80s or 90s or older.

The winchester featherweight was made in 7mm-08 and I think they still make them in a 20" compact version. I think the non compact version was a 22". Really nice lines and IMO a nice all around choice. Like remington though I'd stick with 90s and older.

 

[3006Sprng]

I ended up coming across a new gen 1 ruger american in 7mm-08 for a very good price. I’ll cut 1” off of the stock and re-fit a limbsaver pad for the compact version to it. I have done this before and it works extremely well.

Guess I’ll be a tikka the next time I buy a new rifle lol.

 

[Bonasababy]

These are very nice

Remington Model Seven Lightweight SS in 7mm-08 Rem. for sale

Remington Model Seven Lightweight SS in 7mm-08 Rem. for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[hillbillyfab]

I might be in the minority here, but I prefer our rifles in the 16.5”-18” lengths. No more,no less for our hunting shooting needs. That length works well no matter if we’re in a tree stand on a field’s edge or if it’s throwed across a sand bag sitting in one of our shooting houses.

 

[3006Sprng]

I might be in the minority here, but I prefer our rifles in the 16.5”-18” lengths. No more,no less for our hunting shooting needs. That length works well no matter if we’re in a tree stand on a field’s edge or if it’s throwed across a sand bag sitting in one of our shooting houses.

I have an 18” 243 compact for my wife. Awesome rifle. Muzzle velocity isn’t great with heavier bullets.

 

[hillbillyfab]

I have an 18” 243 compact for my wife. Awesome rifle. Muzzle velocity isn’t great with heavier bullets.

That’s my next project, a 16.5” to 18” bolt in .243 flavor. I just haven’t ran across the right one to cut down yet.