Sheep/Goat rifle

[Depart123]

A MODEL 7 REMINGTON AND A CUSTOM BARREL IN 7MM-08 WOULD MAKE A FINE RIFLE FOR YOUR PURPOSE

^^^^^THIS

 

[AckleymanII]

I think that it's important to reiterate the concept of paying extremely close attention to selecting the components for an ultralight rifle. Rigidity, repeatability and consistency are necessary for these diminutive rifles. Every possible aspect of building and selecting components must be examined and confirmed for being the best in it's class. The builder is a key ingredient here. You, the shooter must be up to the task of controlling and shooting this assembly for accuracy. An ultralight rifle requires more skill (technique) than say rifles in the 9-10 lb. class.

Best of luck with your search!

Great advise!

I have had a small flock of Model 7's, and one Ruger ultra light. Going from a standard Walnut stock 700 in 7/08 to a model 7 in 7/08 proved to be an act of madness. What I did not realize was the amount of time the bullet is still in the barrel while the gun is under recoil, and how we are controlling that recoil for those microseconds is paramount for shot to shot consistency.

So I had model 7's from 223-308 as safe queens. Brother wanted a rifle for his 12 year old. He got his pick of he Model 7's. I felt sorry for the little kid that was about to get his teeth kicked out by that model 7 in 7/08, so I had the local smith put a Gentry muzzle beak on the rifle. My goodness........that rifle shot tiny groups from then on. So, the rest of the Model 7 Got Gentry Muzzle beraks, and now even the 308 shoots tiny groups.

The Gentry muzzle break is known as the "quiet" muzzle break as it throws the sound forward, some.

Every Ultra light I have owned I bought used because the owner was not happy with the accuracy, without a brake, you have to really focus on holding those puppies down!

I think that a Tikka Stainless synthetic in 6.5x 55 would be a whale of a light weight rifle to own. We were shooting a custom 6.5 Sweed with a Brux bbl, 8T, 24" and was getting 3150 out of the 130g Accubond with accuracy, Lapua brass, no extraction issues, R#26 with Fed 215's. With a BC of about .550 this 130g Accubond at 3150, the 6.5 Sweede is a whale of a choice for many, and a custom would be just that much better.

 

[JimT]

I now have enough preference points for the Colorado draw that I better get serious about a rifle for the sheep and goat hunts. Fairly sure I will draw both in the next 4-5 years.

I want a lighter weight rifle for the hunt, less than 8 lbs total..... closer to 7 with glass would be better.

I have decided on a 7-08 for caliber.

Should I start with a Remmy Mountain rifle at 6.5 pounds and work from there or go total custom. The later is my preference from an accuracy perspective, just not on components.
Suggestions?
CW

http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/the-build/

 

[alf]

 

[wapiti25]

Look at the Colt Light Rifle, it is a spin off from the ultralight arms rifle. I own one in 7mm RM, 6.5 lbs, and it shoots good for a factory rifle.

 

[Brians356]

Great advise!

I have had a small flock of Model 7's, and one Ruger ultra light. Going from a standard Walnut stock 700 in 7/08 to a model 7 in 7/08 proved to be an act of madness. What I did not realize was the amount of time the bullet is still in the barrel while the gun is under recoil, and how we are controlling that recoil for those microseconds is paramount for shot to shot consistency.

So I had model 7's from 223-308 as safe queens. Brother wanted a rifle for his 12 year old. He got his pick of he Model 7's. I felt sorry for the little kid that was about to get his teeth kicked out by that model 7 in 7/08, so I had the local smith put a Gentry muzzle beak on the rifle. My goodness........that rifle shot tiny groups from then on. So, the rest of the Model 7 Got Gentry Muzzle beraks, and now even the 308 shoots tiny groups.

The Gentry muzzle break is known as the "quiet" muzzle break as it throws the sound forward, some.

Every Ultra light I have owned I bought used because the owner was not happy with the accuracy, without a brake, you have to really focus on holding those puppies down!

In the latest American Rifleman a 5-lb Barrett Fieldcraft rifle in 308 Win is reviewed. The author, Craig Boddington (no stranger to punishing recoil) mentioned a couple of times how unpleasant it was to shoot off the bench, even with its generous recoil pad.
-

 

[86alaskan]

I'm going to throw in a vote for the Tikka super lightweight. I have owned and still own several T3's and they all shot very well right out of the box. I believe the super light gets you right at 6lbs bare rifle, and with the right scope would be under 7lbs no problem. Also, if the stock doesn't suit you, I know that manner's can make you up a real nice carbon stock and you'd probably save a couple ounces in the process. Like a previous poster noted, I'd go 6.5x55 and let it rock. Then, go swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 with talley lightweight mounts and you'd have one hell of an all around light rifle.

 

[snert]

Find one that Melvin made and get the owner to sell it to ya....good luck!!!

 

[Mulligan]

I finished building my ultimate mountain rifle this summer. It is a blue printed Rem. SA 700 with a number 5 contour 3rd time chambered Krieger barrel chambered for the 7 SAUM 24" long.
The HS Precision stock with the full length bedding block only adds 28 ounces to the package. Like Kenny I also shoot XTC and use a military sling as well.
I have used the 243 twice on sheep with no problem, but have been told that Goats are a much tougher animal.
My initial load is 63.5 H 4831SC with 150 gr ballistics tips that I used on a just completed Mule deer hunt in Montana, velocity is 3020 fps and it will ave. 1/2 MOA for 3 shots measured center to center.
Steve Bair

Just curious, why a R

In the latest American Rifleman a 5-lb Barrett Fieldcraft rifle in 308 Win is reviewed. The author, Craig Boddington (no stranger to punishing recoil) mentioned a couple of times how unpleasant it was to shoot off the bench, even with its generous recoil pad.
-

my wife has a Ruger compact in .243.... it's not present at all to shoot. I have a .338 with a defensive edge brake with more table manners!
CW

Edit
Just realized part of my comments were missing???
@6fatrat , why an RSAUM? Wouldn't a .284 or 7-08 do nearly as well with less recoil from a shorter barrel typical of a Mountain rifle?
CW

 

[6fatrat]

All of my prone rifles are based on the REM 700 action.
I know its very popular on this site for many experts to bash them, but I have yet to meet any of these people at a mid range or long range match.
Steve Bair

 

[Mulligan]

All of my prone rifles are based on the REM 700 action.
I know its very popular on this site for many experts to bash them, but I have yet to meet any of these people at a mid range or long range match.
Steve Bair

I love my 700's!
Never had a complaint about a Remmy 700
CW

 

[saunaking]

Built a 7-08 in 1989 using a Sako AII action, Brown Precision kevlar stock, 22" Shilen air gauged barrel (#1 contour) and a Swaro 3-9 scope. Total package is 6.7 lbs. This was built for hunting in the mountains of Montana and BC. You can carry it all day without getting tired or winded (even an old flat-lander), and it puts the bullet where you aim. The thin contour doesn't allow for many shots before it heats up, but it puts the first 3 under an inch at 100 yards. This caliber will handle game as large as elk with the right hunting bullets. I have gone to Swift for all my hunting bullets with this caliber.

 

[PMA3]

I now have enough preference points for the Colorado draw that I better get serious about a rifle for the sheep and goat hunts. Fairly sure I will draw both in the next 4-5 years.

I want a lighter weight rifle for the hunt, less than 8 lbs total..... closer to 7 with glass would be better.

I have decided on a 7-08 for caliber.

Should I start with a Remmy Mountain rifle at 6.5 pounds and work from there or go total custom. The later is my preference from an accuracy perspective, just not on components.
Suggestions?
CW

Sent you a PM on a custom .284 that weighs 6 lbs. TOTAL with a Swaro scope and shoots in the .7's for 3 shots @ 100 yds.

 

[Mulligan]

@tom

Tom, didn't you build a 6.5 SLR recently in a light weight rifle?
Reccommdations?
CW

 

[Mulligan]

Clay,

I rebarreled to a number 2 fluted, and had Alex chamber a no turn creedmore instead. Rifle ready to carry is 6lb 5.3 ounces. Spotting my own impacts is so so at that weight, and pushing 147's at 2860, I have to be set up perfectly. Filling the lapua cases with rl 16 with 43 grains and shooting about 20 in the lands, it will handle 44 at 2920 but is too heavily compressed. I've shot a few three shot groups at 1000 and it's been between 5-7 inches each time, with the first two about 3 inches. My third has registered a tad faster and dropped to be the lowest impact of the group each time consistently. 6.5 of some sort is what I'd recommend for anything under 7 pounds, even at that as I said earlier, I have to be on it to see what happens. Will be working with heavier and lighter bullets next year also. Curious to what it can do with 155's, as I'm not pressured out, but just out of room. I'd like to stick with rl 16 as our testing in the slr showed it to be dead nuts stable, even below zero with small rifle primers.


Tom

Why a creedmore over an SLR?

 

[Dans40X]

XP-100R's w/ Leupold 2.5-8X EER have worked/harvested many a 4 legged animals from wolves to moose for me in the last 30+ years.

The 350 RemMag in an XP-100R is a thumper but it also anchors moose like they got struck by lightning!!

 

[Mulligan]

Thats really impressive accuracy from such a light package. Even with all that extra lock time it has (.300" pin fall) I have never found these light rifles to shoot any worse than heavy ones. Just a little tougher to get tuned because of the light barrels heating so quickly. I will be putting together a 7 saum soon that will be pretty lightish (no ti or carbon) I will post load data on it. Borden will have a 100% TI action out eventually. I should be testing the first one, but theres no rush on that project. I will probably build a 28 Nosler on it and of course post all of my opinions on that action. No doubt it will easily be the best ti on the market. The Ti actions with proof barrels are so light and balance so differently its really hard to describe how they feel. Cost starts to really go up too. If I was to do a sheep rifle for my self it would be a edge fill mcmillan hunter, rem sporter contour barrel 24", short action of choice in a 6.5 saum.

You are not the first here to suggest a 6.5 over a 7mm.
Out of a 22-24" barrel what will a saum get you over a 260AI?
CW

Edit
That a sheep or goat would care about?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A lot, but we are just talking wind drift. Both have plenty of energy to kill well. I think the last 6.5 saum I did for a sheep rifle is running 140s at 3080 in 24" I think he had a mid 3100 node as well but liked the accuracy at this node. The 260ai will most likely have trouble getting past the 2900s. I got this pic from him this year.

 

[Mulligan]

A lot, but we are just talking wind drift. Both have plenty of energy to kill well. I think the last 6.5 saum I did for a sheep rifle is running 140s at 3080 in 24" I think he had a mid 3100 node as well but liked the accuracy at this node. The 260ai will most likely have trouble getting past the 2900s. I got this pic from him this year.View attachment 1025476

Assume a long action is needed?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

No, I have a 6.5 saum setup for a 140 at 2.950 (wyatts box)