"Mountain Rifle"...yeah I know...been done before

[Alaskan22]

Alright, got a goat tag. An excuse to buy a gun.

Caliber is gonna be .300WSM

Have a chance for a kimber montana...but a little worried about some of the reviews I've seen on it. Some are great, but a few too many bad ones.

NULA rifles is on the list.

Christiensenarms is on the list.

I've had people recommed Rim Country Rifles...but can't find much on them when searching. Also Hills Country rifles...but again, nothing that made me say "I want that".

This is NOT going to be a rifle that iwll be used when I'm on a 4 wheeler or whatever. This is a "packing" gun. One i'll be carrying.

Anyways, any other suggestions??? Manufactureres??

(yes, I wanted the Tikka...but this is "the gun" that I want built. Even though I think a Tikka would be a great gun.)

Optics already picked out: Swarovski 4-12x 50

Opinions welcome!! Need them quick though as waiting times mean I need to make the purchase in the real near future.

Right now NULA is in the lead.

Oh, and I want a thumbhole stock (which Currently NULA doesn't do....but Christensen arms does.)

 

[Thebear_78]

Get ahold of steve at alaskan custom firearms, he makes a great ultra light rifle. He makes a sub 5 lb scoped model 7, a short action remington might be a touch heavier but probalby not by much. A lighter scope will help you keep the weight down too.

Alaskan Custom Firearms
(907)349-4867

 

[bobblehead]

Sounds like fun.

I've always wondered why we don't see superlight mountain rifles in single shot?

You'll lose a little weight if you downgrade on your optics. Go with a 3-9x40 instead of the 4-12x50. It's all I've ever used and never been wanting in magnification and light gathering capability. Obviously you'll get a little better of both with a bigger scope, but in my opinion, it's not worth the extra size and weight up here.

 

[The Kid]

I've got a short action Remington WSM action sitting on my bench just waiting to be turned into your thumbhole flyweight. ID say if you were to place your order here soon I could get it built in time for goats. Thumbhole stock will add some weight but not enough to worry about. Give us a call or stop in, WWG 7100homer dr.
If you don't have to have the thumbhole, I've got one already built sitting on the shelf in a nice McMillan Edge, chambered for 300wsm.

 

[mtnclimber]

Ive had a .308 win kimber montana for the past 5 years and have ditched all my other rifles for the most part. I dont have one complaint about it other than the barrels temp after about 6 shots. But hopefully you wont have to take that many . And i dont think ill ever buy another gun thats not a kimber. Leupold ultralight 3x9 and that gun are my dream rifle.

 

[Hunt&FishAK]

let me ask one question.....why a 300wsm?

 

[hodgeman]

Consider a Nosler 48 in .300WSM. Mine is under 7.5 lbs slung and loaded; ready to hunt with a Leupold fixed 6x. 3/4 MOA out of the box with Nosler ammo. I believe the newer models are coming with a heavier barrel contour though so some checking might be in order. No thumbhole so that might be a showstopper.

You'll really like the .300WSM... 180gr. bullets at 3000fps in a short action- what's not to love?

The big Swaro scope you describe will add some real weight...you might want to consider something lighter- I personally like the fixed powers on packing rifles.

 

[270ti]

It all depends on how much you want to spend. Kimber Montana would be the cheapest route to get a quality WSM, that comes in at around 7lbs, all up. Don't let the internet spook you on the Montanas. You never know what those guys are doing wrong to not get those guns to shoot. I bought a Kimber Montana in 7wsm, and it shot 1/2" groups with factory ammo, as my dies hadn't arrived yet. Did better with my handloads.

 

[Alaskan22]

let me ask one question.....why a 300wsm?

Cause I already have a 7mm, and the wife likes to see that I don't have the caliber that "I need" for the next hunt.

You'll lose a little weight if you downgrade on your optics. Go with a 3-9x40 instead of the 4-12x50. It's all I've ever used and never been wanting in magnification and light gathering capability. Obviously you'll get a little better of both with a bigger scope, but in my opinion, it's not worth the extra size and weight up here.

My scope is 14oz. A Luepy Light weight, at less magnification is 10 oz. And a V-2 is 12 oz. So...i'm losing at most 4 oz and gaining LOTS of magnification, and light... I'll leave that extra candy bar at camp instead.

I've got a short action Remington WSM action sitting on my bench just waiting to be turned into your thumbhole flyweight. ID say if you were to place your order here soon I could get it built in time for goats. Thumbhole stock will add some weight but not enough to worry about. Give us a call or stop in, WWG 7100homer dr.
If you don't have to have the thumbhole, I've got one already built sitting on the shelf in a nice McMillan Edge, chambered for 300wsm.

I arrive into Anchorage (From Nome) on Thurs. I'll stop by and we can talk.

 

[akarrows]

Savage make a .300 wsm in a model 16 FHSS that is under 7 lbs and they are a great shooting gun and will not break the bank withaa fully adjustable trigger. I have one in a 22-250 and is is light and a tack driver. Stainless Synthetic also.

 

[Vek]

A 50mm objective bell on a mountain rifle scope is a big target for offending rocks to bang into. Yikes. I got a 36mm bell on my leupold fixed 6 and it creeps me out for being big. Lose the Hubble - it is not necessary. Put that money into something else and get a fixed 4x (9 oz) or 6x (10 oz) leupold. I'd like to hear one good reason to use something more than 4x on a white big game animal, out to any responsible range.

If you reload, there are better choices than 300WSM or 308. If you don't, 300WSM ammo is going to be pricy for practice. 308 and 30-06 are the non-handloader's huckleberry, owing to superior ammo selection and price.

I'll have a kimber montana 308 in hand to comment on here in a day or two.

 

[Alaskan22]

A 50mm objective bell on a mountain rifle scope is a big target for offending rocks to bang into. Yikes. I got a 36mm bell on my leupold fixed 6 and it creeps me out for being big. Lose the Hubble - it is not necessary. Put that money into something else and get a fixed 4x (9 oz) or 6x (10 oz) leupold. I'd like to hear one good reason to use something more than 4x on a white big game animal, out to any responsible range.

If you reload, there are better choices than 300WSM or 308. If you don't, 300WSM ammo is going to be pricy for practice. 308 and 30-06 are the non-handloader's huckleberry, owing to superior ammo selection and price.

I'll have a kimber montana 308 in hand to comment on here in a day or two.

Find a tape measure. 10mm isn't that much. Smallest I'd go is 40mm (on my usual Luepy), and with the increased magnification (which I want for my 400 yd gun), I want the extra 10mm.

Reason for anything more than a 4x: because I'll sight it in at 300 yds to group (hopefully) at about 3". Giving me range...which now mandates I be able to see what I'm shooting at. It is unresponsible for me to hold on a little white dot in a 4x scope at 300 yds and "hope it hits".

I don't reload. I have too many other hobbies. Wish I did...maybe when I give up trapping reloading will be my next "shed filler".

Pricey ammo: The gun is gonna be almost $4k. I'm not going to worry about a $50 box of ammo.

I've heard good things about Kimbers, but it seems all of those come from people who "have owned it for over 5 years". Sure wanted one for a long time, but have a bit of concern. Then again, like said earlier, hard to know what those other people were doing to have issues.

 

[Nanook 2010]

22,
I'm a big fan of McMillian Rifles. Here is a link to their "mountain gun" :http://mcmillanusa.com/mcmillan-rifles-custom-prodigy.php. I own the "Tactical Hunter" in 300 win mag and can't see myself buying another rifle (I'm a fan of a little heavier gun) anytime soon. Definitely pricey, but I have absolute confidence in it, To me that is very important....

Before I bought the McMillian, I owned a Kimber "Montana" in 300 win mag, and could not get consistent groups at 100 yards with 3 different types of ammo. Secondly the fit and finish weren't what I expected (I also own a Kimber 45 ACP pistol). Brand new the gun locked up a little loose and had a slight rattle.

Good luck in both your hunts...hunting a new custom rifle sure is fun...

 

[northway]

I am sure you could start with a youth model rifle! I am sure you will be able to keep the size of the rifle about the same length as your daisy red rider! The gunsmith will have to charge you to do the "custom" work to make is small enough to fit you!

 

[AK Ray]

why not buy Stids remington 700 TI? Its not "mountain light", but a good smith can fix that for you.

 

[Alaskan22]

why not buy Stids remington 700 TI? Its not "mountain light", but a good smith can fix that for you.

It's in the mix...

Trying to stay away from the Remingtons though...

 

[AK Troutbum]

I've owned a Montana in .300wsm for about 5 or 6 years now and love it. It shot 1/2 groups right out of the box using cheap factory ammo. I have several large cal. rifles and this one is definitely my favorite. I also know a couple people with Montana's chambered in .325wsm and they seem to really like theirs.

 

[Bighorse]

Yup, that 700 Ti is a good option.

I'm gonna adress a few issues I'm seeing. My go-to alpine rifle is a 25-06 and I have 50mm objective and the reason why I like it is the handle it provides. I have to mount it using higher mounts (more weight) to fit my barrel contour and now have a nice handle with the elevated scope tube. Albeit this is a heavy rifle by all means and I'm not counting oz, yet.

My other rifle is a heavy 300 H&H and I've got a fixed 4x on it. I've banged out 300 yrd shots just fine with a fixed four and felt good about the way it went down. Your still gonna have to compensate for wind and drop using your best guess but it's really not impossible.

I sure am looking forward to a nice light Ackley Improved quarter bore in a light weight rifle for sheep this year, Thanks to the forum member loaning it to me. We've got some good folks online here.

 

[Alaskan22]

I've owned a Montana in .300wsm for about 5 or 6 years now and love it. It shot 1/2 groups right out of the box using cheap factory ammo. I have several large cal. rifles and this one is definitely my favorite. I also know a couple people with Montana's chambered in .325wsm and they seem to really like theirs.

That's just it...everyone who has the "sweet Kimber Montana" follows it up with "owning it for 5 years...or longer". Seems the new ones, are the ones you hear about. Then again...could be operator error on them.

 

[stid2677]

What about one of these?? 7lbs, I have heard a rumor that they can get it done, mine has and still shoots straight even after I stuck the barrel into the ground up to the stock. Send it to McMillian and have it put into a thumb-hole stock and go get your Goat.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?mid=535110&family=001C

http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-stocks-hunting-stock-list.php?subnav=branch2h

Just a thought.

Steve