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Hunting and Fishing Rifle, Shotgun, Handgun, Archery, Blackpowder Saltwater and Fresh Water |
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#1
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Lightweight hunting rifle recommendations
Looking for a lightweight hunting rifle. I’ve looked at quite a few and am leaning toward a Sako a finnlight or finnlight 2, which weigh ~6.5lbs. Any other light weight offerings any of you might have experience with. Something from Sauer? Browning hell’s canyon speed?
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#2
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#3
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Tikka T3 Lite. My .243 shoots good loads into a half inch and my .300 Win Mag shoots sub-inch at 100 yards. The .300 could probably do better but it jumps and thumps off the bench, even after adding a pre-fit Limbsaver recoil pad but I never notice the kick while hunting and I killed my biggest mule deer with it.
Tikka is owned by Sako and they share the same barrels. The bedding is so tight in the synthetic stock that I have to thump the barrel near the forend to get it loose. Good triggers out of the box. I have never heard of one being a lousy shooter. |
#6
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+1 on the Tikka T-3 Lite. I have 3 of them and all are great. The only thing I did was to put Direct Replacement Limbsaver recoil pad on them
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A 30cal will reach out and touch them. A 50cal will kick their butt. NRA Life Member, NRA certified RSO & Basic Pistol Instructor, Hunter, shooter, reloader SCI, Manteca Sportsmen Club, Coalinga Rifle Club, Escalon Sportsmans Club, Waterford Sportsman Club & NAHA Member, Madison Society member |
#7
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Rem model 7 is what I use, not sure of the weight but it’s lighter than the rest of my rifles. I don’t even notice the extra pound or two to be honest. Hit the gym a little and carry whatever you like 💪🏽
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#8
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The sako stock is definitely nicer, but otherwise very similar to the t3x lite. The browning hells canyon is very nice, mostly it’s down to your preference. All are similar weights and all are highly regarded for accuracy. If you wanted to go even lighter, the kimber mountain ascent is the lightest out the box pretty much, but I don’t know how much range time I’d personally want to put in with a sub 5lb hunting rifle. If I were going for something exotic I might consider a blaser r8, just because they seem neat.
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#11
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What type of hunting? A week long backpack hunt in the Sierras, guided pig hunt on the coast, casual deer hunting, Elk in the Rockies, Elephant in Zimbabwe, seals in Greenland ?
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Frank One rifle, one planet, Holland's 375 Life Member NRA, CRPA and SAF |
#12
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Whatchya gonna do with it?? . |
#13
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Just about any 308 or 06 will do all that probably not legal for the elephant?
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#14
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I was originally looking at a Sako Grey Wolf because I’d like something in stainless steel. Beautiful rifle, but since it weighs as much as my Bergara and Sako AV, I figured maybe something a little lighter would be in order, especially if the SO ever joins me on a hunt, which she is staring to warm up to. |
#15
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I've taken most of my game with a Winchester 670 in .30-06 and some of those hunts have included a fair bit of walking. The weight of the rifle has never been an issue for me and I am not any athlete by any stretch of the imagination.
I bought two Tikka T3 lites for smaller game and have been pleased with the way they shoot. |
#16
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Kimber Mountain Ascent in either 308 or 30-06. Comes in at 4lbs, 13oz.
https://www.kimberamerica.com/mounta...-subalpine-281 |
#17
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I’ve handled a few Tikka’s and may go that route. I don’t like the fact that they use a plastic/delrin bottom “metal” and I don’t like that they are all long actions and use a bolt stop to restrict bolt travel to accommodate shorter cartridges. It’s probably not that big of a deal, but I just need to read a little bit more about it. That said, they have a tremendous amount of aftermarket support, so I can at least swap out the bottom metal. If I end up going with a long action, it will definitely be on my list.
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#18
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#19
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I found it a pleasure to shoot for being so light. He has the muzzle brake on it, so that 6.5 is a puppy. . |
#20
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It took about 200 rounds before the thing began to shoot well. Prior to that, it was a 2 or 3 inch grouping rifle at 100 yards. Almost miraculously, after that many rounds, it began to shoot very well with the same loads that were terrible previously with no changes in loading, cleaning, bedding, etc. I get half inch groups with good loads now. I am happy with it now, and just necksize and use that brass only in this rifle as the cases are too large to chamber in any other rifle I have tried. |
#22
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I'm very happy with my Tikka T3X in 7mm-08. Lite, but not too light and easy to carry all day. Likewise, I'm a huge fan of the Browning XBolt. Slightly heavier than the Tikka, but still light enough to carry all day.
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#25
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In the last 5 years, all of my US deer sized hunting has been done with Ruger No. 1 single shot rifles. The non-varmint barrel weight rifles in the .26 - .30 calibers are around 6-7 Lbs. In spite of the coolness factor of a good looking falling block action with real wood there is a confidence factor that you have to consider since a lot of people have issues hunting with single shot rifles. If I didn't already own three Ruger single shots in .270, 7mm and 30-40 Krag, I'd buy the Lipsky's special edition, stainless Ruger No. 1 in 257 Bob.
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Frank One rifle, one planet, Holland's 375 Life Member NRA, CRPA and SAF |
#26
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I took last year’s buck with a Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5 CM. The rifle with a 3.5-10x42 scope and Talley lightweights weighs in at 6lbs 8.25 oz. Barrett has shifted production to fill Government contracts but plans to pick up production of the Fieldcraft once they catch up.
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When the battle drum beats, it is too late to sharpen your sword." Sir Winston Churchill |
#27
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There is Tikka lite and SL which is supper lite and it has fluted barrel.
I have 3 tikkas. 2 lites in 223 and 06 and one SL in 6.5. They all use the same barrel and I think the 06 with 22 weighs the same as the 6.5 SL with 24”. You just can’t go wrong with tikka for the $. Check this article out https://www.fieldandstream.com/12-li...HbhQ4U2gZSH6G4
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All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well. |
#29
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#34
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IMHO, Tikka is a cheaply produced rifle. Gritty action and all.
Browning X bolts are real nice (Hells Canyon is one I have) or a Christensen Ridgeline which has a carbon fiber barrel. But they’re $2000. |
#35
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#36
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I like my Tikka T3 in 7mm-08. It's light and I like that when we go hiking carrying our rifles...
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...while the buffoon in the White House prances around celebrating butt sex. |
#37
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I have a Tikka light in 270 Winchester with a Razor HD. I have fired it very few times, but I frequently take friends pig hunting with me who I let borrow it. They constantly praise its weight and accuracy, and take large hogs with it. When witnessing this I often question why I paid so much for my go to rifle and scope.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#38
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https://www.hellscanyonarmory.com/
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Don't feed the cannibals. |
#39
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#40
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Yes, but because they're single shot you can load the bullets as long as you like.
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Frank One rifle, one planet, Holland's 375 Life Member NRA, CRPA and SAF |
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