Matt-LSI
Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2015
- Messages
- 143
Newbie..mountain rifle
- Thread starter BrokenWing
- Start date
BrokenWing
New member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2015
- Messages
- 57
Haha. Matt, just to be clear, you also support me using my old beast in the mountains? 
Matt-LSI
Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2015
- Messages
- 143
Haha. Matt, just to be clear, you also support me using my old beast in the mountains?
i dont discriminate, but should the need for a new lightweight rifle arise, we have the answer.
dcopas78
Well-known member
I have a Kimber Mountain Ascent (.300 WSM) on order. I'm getting ready to order a Savage 111 (probably in .270) in the next month or so. I will probably also try out a Howa Alpine as well because that extra weight (of a normal rifle) is a killer. And I like things that go boom
I have a Remington Model 7 FS in 7mm-08. I bought it in the later 80's and they aren't made anymore. It weighs 5 1/4 pounds out of the box. Fitted with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8 and Leupold rings, complete with sling and 5 rounds, it weighs in at 6 1/2 pounds. 18.5" barrel. And it shoots better than it should for being so light. It can shoot under 1.5" with most ammo I've tried. This model is likely the very first lightweight rifle, a decade or more before they became somewhat popular!
Every now & then one appears on Gunbroker. While I've hunted with the one in 7mm-08, I also bought one 10 or more years later in 308. This gun is in mint condition and now has a Zeiss Terra 3-9 on it after I replaced the Leupold VX3 1.5-5 on it. I didn't care for the 5x being the high power was all, but I regret parting with it now. The good thing is that a great friend bought it and I know that he'll be killin' stuff with it!
Another option I own, for a bit more reach, is a Remington Model 7 in 7mm SAUM. I found a fiberglass stock on ebay that was glass bedded. I painted the stock with a stone paint from Lowes that is gray with flecks of white & black. Its rough and looks good, although my technique wasn't perfect. The gun has a Leupold 3.5-10 VX3 on it; soon to be replaced with a Leupold VX3i with CDS in 3.5-10. It shoots Fereral Permiums loaded with 160 grain Partitions very well. It even accounted for a bull moose in Newfoundland this past October!
I have other mountain rifle options as well, however, mostly they roam NYS Adirondacks in pursuit of whitetail bucks. My Western hunts for elk usually involve my Matthews compound!
Every now & then one appears on Gunbroker. While I've hunted with the one in 7mm-08, I also bought one 10 or more years later in 308. This gun is in mint condition and now has a Zeiss Terra 3-9 on it after I replaced the Leupold VX3 1.5-5 on it. I didn't care for the 5x being the high power was all, but I regret parting with it now. The good thing is that a great friend bought it and I know that he'll be killin' stuff with it!
Another option I own, for a bit more reach, is a Remington Model 7 in 7mm SAUM. I found a fiberglass stock on ebay that was glass bedded. I painted the stock with a stone paint from Lowes that is gray with flecks of white & black. Its rough and looks good, although my technique wasn't perfect. The gun has a Leupold 3.5-10 VX3 on it; soon to be replaced with a Leupold VX3i with CDS in 3.5-10. It shoots Fereral Permiums loaded with 160 grain Partitions very well. It even accounted for a bull moose in Newfoundland this past October!
I have other mountain rifle options as well, however, mostly they roam NYS Adirondacks in pursuit of whitetail bucks. My Western hunts for elk usually involve my Matthews compound!
Last edited:
Josh Kuntz
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2013
- Messages
- 184
I have a Kimber Mountain Ascent in .270 and a Leupold 2.5x8 scope and a paracord sling. With ammo it is right about 6.5 lbs. I really like the setup. It has killed a nice muley buck and a mountain goat. I have a friend with the Kimber Adirondack in .308 (4lbs 13oz) bare bones and he loves it.
As others have said, only go with a lighter weight setup if you still can shoot it well.
Also, if you are even 10 lbs overweight or not in strong shape for hiking, you would be way better off to work on your fitness and not worry about the extra weight of a heavy rifle.
Good luck with your MT tags!
As others have said, only go with a lighter weight setup if you still can shoot it well.
Also, if you are even 10 lbs overweight or not in strong shape for hiking, you would be way better off to work on your fitness and not worry about the extra weight of a heavy rifle.
Good luck with your MT tags!
HighDesertSage
Well-known member
I really like my Tikka T3 Lite for mountain/backcountry hunts. I carry a browning x bolt w/ a 26" barrel for all my "truck hunts".
Bambistew
Well-known member
I've been pretty happy with the Kimber MT in 308 I picked up 4 years ago. Haven't hunted with much else since. It shoots as well as I can. Thinking about unloading a few from the closet and picking up a couple more Kimbers.
noharleyyet
Well-known member
They do carry well......
BrokenWing
New member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2015
- Messages
- 57
Thanks!
I weighed gun/scope and its in at 10 lbs. Kimber 300 win mag with Nikon prostaff 5 3.5-14 x50.
I think the loss of 10# off of me would actually hinder getting up the mountain, not help. I'm in decent shape and am not a big guy. Always working on the fitness but certainly have started hitting the hills. I'm in appalachia, so finding decent hills to run/hike hard up isn't hard.
Maybe I'll find a reason to dive in on one of these mountain specific guns. Lots of good options out there as everyone has demonstrated.
Blacktailbc
Well-known member
I would check out the browning x bolt also. They are light, and tend to shoot really well.
belly-deep
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,459
If you do get a lighter gun, be sure not to screw it up with a big scope. 3-9X40 is plenty. No need for 50mm objectives in the mountains.
belly-deep
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,459
84M's are about as addictive as crack. Once you carry one for a while, it is hard to stop.
d-bone20917
Member
I picked up a Tikka T3 Superlite last weekend in 300 WM. 5lbs 14oz for the bare rifle. It took me awhile to decide between that and the Kimber Montana in 300 WSM, but in the end I couldn't justify the additional expense for the Kimber based on the hit or miss reviews I was reading. I liked the feel of the 84M and 84L Kimbers a lot more then I liked the feel of the 8400's.
