Spec out your ultimate high country big game rifle- Photo added

[JLDavid]

Re: Spec out your ultimate high country big game rifle

Photo added of the 6.5-06AI I carried on the scouting trip. 11.25 pounds ready to hunt. Thanks again for all the input. A lot of information to consider before starting my next rifle.

David

 

[alf]

Mine in it's previous garb. I don't have a current pic with the Classic stock or Mark IV.

 

[JLDavid]

Sweet rifle alf.

 

[L.Sherm]

IMHO this comes down to personal preference, I have had both and prefer the heavier rifle because i can hold it steadier and feel I can shoot it better. If your outta shape and think a few lbs less rifle is the answer your kidding yourself. If you can shoot a lightweight rifle confidently then more power to you.

 

[alf]

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I'm young and in shape and I live in the mountains. Carrying a 12lb rifle to the top of a mountain will SUCK! Your carrying more than just a rifle as well.

 

[alf]

 

[JLDavid]

Nice rams alf. Did you kill both of them with your 7mm-08? I have a long action in hand for my "sheep" rifle and have considered running a 7mm-08AI, 7mm Mauser AI or a 280 AI. So many cartridges will fit and work wonderfully it is hard to decide. I don't think I can go wrong with any of them.

zfastmalibu,
What is the ballpark weight of the rifles you carry into the high country? Do you prefer short barreled or long barreled rigs and what are they chambered in? Thanks.

David

 

[bobinpa]

Alf, Those are both good rams. You're very fortunate to even go on 2 hunts like that let alone score on 2 rams like that. Well done!

 

[alf]

Nice rams alf. Did you kill both of them with your 7mm-08?

No, the Dall was shot with a regular 700 sporter bedded in a McMillan KS stock, with a 3x9 compact on top, chambered in 30-06, shot with 180 Barnes TSX.

The Stone was shot with a 700 Titanium, in 30-06 as well, but with a 180 Accubond, and a 2.5-8 Leupold on top.

I sold the first gun when I bought the Ti, and sold the Ti when I built the 7-08.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Alf,
Nice sheep.

If your building a sheep rifle you need to cut all the weight you can. Not just out of the rifle. Everything in your pack.. and YOU. I worked out for 10 months before my sheep hunt. Never been in better shape. I carried a pack up the mountain behind work EVERY day. Started with 50 pounds and worked up to 100. With a 50# pack I could literally walk all day. I started packing out sheep at 9am. Carried sheep until 2:30AM the next day. Do YOU really want to add another 5-6# of weight in just your rifle. You will know the difference at the end of the day.

We're not trying to shoot the sheep in the eye 5 times in a row @600. Just put on in the boiler room @600. You do not need a varmint/br rifle to do it.

Aaron

 

[JLDavid]

Make sense Aaron. Nice ram and your hard work and commitment paid off. What was your rifle chambered in? Thanks for the info.

David

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Mine is chambered in 6.5-284. If I had it to do over it'd be a 6.5x47L

Aaron

 

[wapiti25]

The Colt Light Rifle would be a good place to start. The Colt is a nice light action and stock not too expensive. My 7mm Rem Mag Colt weight is 6.5 # with out scope. I built a Rem 700 Ti long action in 7mm mag and ready to shoot w/sling is 8# and hold less than moa @600, has killed deer, antelope and moose. Watch the scope weight's as Night Force 5.5-22 weight's 30 oz, my Leoupld 4.5-14 is 15 oz. My leopould is not as good as the Night Force but is ok to 600 to 700 yds. My Krieger barrel is heavier than planed but I went with what Krieger recommended for a long range hunter. I do not like short actions as they have a short magazine to deal with, I seat my 168's just out of the case in the neck. Long range bullets are heavy and LONG.

 

[alf]

I do not like short actions as they have a short magazine to deal with, I seat my 168's just out of the case in the neck. Long range bullets are heavy and LONG.

My 7-08 is milled out for a Wyatts magazine box.

I load to an OAL of 2.9XX touching the lands with a 168 VLD, and run them at 2800......

 

[nzshooter]

For my hunting down here in New Zealand, I chose to go with the 6.5mm SAUM.

So I had it built on a brand new Remington 700 short action that was previously a 270 wsm. It is fitted with a Defensive Edge custom bolt release and Watts extended magazine , with PT&G Oberndorf bottom metal. Barrel is a 1:8 twist Criterion that finishes at 24 inches and fluted, custom contour similar to the Remington 700 SPS.

Stock was originally going to be a Hitech Specialties, but I couldn't resist a McMillan Remington 700 Mountain Rifle stock in their McWoody finish, so that is what it will be bedded into.

All metal work is currently being Cerakoted in black (just did a 2 hour round trip to drop the barrelled action off to the guy who does the Cerakote, will be back to me in 4 days). Then it along with the stock goes off for bedding later in the week, should be back following week all complete.

Then all that remains to be done is to fit the Talley rings and the Bushnell Elite 3500 scope and start load development.

 

[Cold Bore]

I am in the process of building myself a "sheep" rifle for use on big game in some high steep terrian.

**Here is the 6.5-06AI I recently finished for my hunting rifle. It weighs in at 11.25 pounds ready to hunt, not a lightweight for sure.

I put a medium Palma barrel in it finished at 29 7/8" ...

A "SHEEP" rifle, that weighs 11 1/4 pounds, and has a 30" medium Palma barrel???

Just by changing a few components, I could save about 2 pounds easily.

So why didn't you?

You asked for advice, and then pretty much ignored *everything* suggested about building a "sheep rifle".

(Yes, I realize this thread is a couple years old, but was just bumped up again today).

 

[JLDavid]

That is not a sheep rifle I built. That is a hunting rifle I had previously built myself. I have not ignored anyone's advise as far as a sheep rifle is concerned. I haven't started it yet.

 

[Cold Bore]

Even a "regular" hunting rifle, with a 30" barrel and over 11 pounds?

 

[Stormbringer]

I purchased a Colt Light Rifle several years ago. It came with Talley light weight rings which I lapped. 24" barrel in 7MM Remington Magnum. Bedded the stock, custom painted it and mounted a Sightron 4.5x14x42. Works great and was very inexpensive. I did contract New Ultra Light Arms and got a replacement trigger guard, firirng pin and spring.

Weight loaded is 7.75lbs with sling and shoot right at MOA and sometimes a little better. Took this Muley in Utah a few years ago at 490 yards with a 139 SST and RL22.