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Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
#7011562
12/26/17 04:03 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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Made the decision to consolidate my safe and cull some of the rifles I'm ambivilant about.
I am keeping a .22-250 for lighter work, a ruger M77 in .270 for a "deer rifle" and my .257 wby accumark.
My domestic whitetail hunting has evolved to guiding my kids or wife, on the occasions I do go by myself I ambowhunting.
I'm looking to find a rifle they will suit my needs to the western style back country hunting I'm doing more and more. I love a good wood stock but I am hard on my rifles and feel another synthetic stock gun will be the best option for what I'm using it for.
Here is what I'm looking for and why:
Something lighter weight. Not an ultra light per say, but lighter than the 11 lb accumark I've been lugging around. This season it got heavy and after an afternoon of carrying my wife's Camilla up the same mountains I am convinced that maybe an accumark isn't a walking gun after all
Stainless steel/cerakote synthetic stock rifle. My adventures would best up a woodstocked gun. This isn't a heirloom gun it's a tool to make things fall down across a wide range of conditions.
Something in a magnum caliber, unless someone can convince me otherwise. I would like something with a bit more "pop" than my .257 wby mag. As good a caliber as it is, and I love it, after shooting a handful of animals with it I'm not entirely convinced it kills any better than my .270. Looking at a 7mm R.E.M., .300 wsm, .300 win or maybe a .26 nosler/6.5-.300 wby for this chambering.
Now for the rub......I'm left handed and I want a left handed action.
I'm a Weatherby fanatic but the only chamberings they offer in the mark V ultralight are .257, 6.5-.300 & .300 wby. Recoil is concerning me on the last two.
I've looked into Montana rifle company and they offer a nice rifle in a lefty For a reasonable price. Cooper does not have a lefty in the synthetic models from what I can find and Dakota makes one but I can't find any info on them.
If anyone has any other options or avenues I'm all ears.
Basically I'm looking for a gun I can use for elk, mule deer, mountain goat, moose, black bear and sheep.
Budget around the $2k mark or under
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011564
12/26/17 04:08 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,358
bronco71
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With elk, bear and sheep thrown in there I would say 300 WSM
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011571
12/26/17 04:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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$2k ?
Rebarrel a Tikka T-3 lefty into a chambering you want.
Keep the stock. Cut rifled barrel. Gunsmithing. Red Snake bottom metal. Hand load.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: J.G.]
#7011573
12/26/17 04:16 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,358
bronco71
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$2k ?
Rebarrel a Tikka T-3 lefty into a chambering you want.
Keep the stock. Cut rifled barrel. Gunsmithing. Red Snake bottom metal. Hand load. Thread barrel, add muzzle brake, it will tame recoil a lot!
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: bronco71]
#7011576
12/26/17 04:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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$2k ?
Rebarrel a Tikka T-3 lefty into a chambering you want.
Keep the stock. Cut rifled barrel. Gunsmithing. Red Snake bottom metal. Hand load. Thread barrel, add muzzle brake, it will tame recoil a lot! Harrel's Precision muzzle breaks. Slim profiles available for slim barrels.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: J.G.]
#7011577
12/26/17 04:21 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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$2k ?
Rebarrel a Tikka T-3 lefty into a chambering you want.
Keep the stock. Cut rifled barrel. Gunsmithing. Red Snake bottom metal. Hand load. I've seen the T3 and handled them some What would be the benefit to me taking this route.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011581
12/26/17 04:27 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,358
bronco71
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My Sako TRG-S sporting profile with muzzle brake in 30-378 Weatherby Magnum kicks about like my 30-06, but it is not cut back. Very accurate.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011586
12/26/17 04:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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Smith can get rid of the half mile of free-bore. Then you can tune bullet relation to lands, instead of being forced to sticking with mag length, no matter the jump.
The barrel quality, and the machining will far surpass the factory barrel. I can tune a hand load for a factory barrel expecting 3/4 MOA, but with the re-barrel I expect better than 1/2. You decide bullet, then decide twist rate, barrel contour, and finish length.
Run the factory trigger, and the stock DOES NOT need to be bedded. EGW makes one piece pic rails, if you are so inclined.
I'll bet you a steak dinner, if you go this route, and develop a tight hand load, it will be your favorite rig.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011605
12/26/17 04:51 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,124
postoak
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I'm not sure what you mean by a 7mm R.E.M. but if you mean a 7mm Remington Magnum, then that's the way I'd go and with a rifle and scope not to exceed 8 pounds.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011607
12/26/17 04:52 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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I’m a fan of the .300 in either WM or WSM for what you will be hunting with it. I agree with you on the recoil issues once you get into the .300 Wby mags - they are pretty rough in a 7-8 lb rifle. Heck, a .300 Wby Mag is rough as a cob in just about any rifle. And I’m not a recoil wuss.
My problem is I’m not up on what’s offered in a left handed rifle and what is not. It’s a shame those are your only choices in the Wby you like. Quick searches make it clear to me that several of my candidates are not offered in a LH rifle. Looks like the choices are Tikka, Ruger, Browning, Savage, Remington, Thompson Center.
Tikka T3 is always a good option. My BIL loves his LH Tikka T3 .300 WSM. If I were a lefty I’m pretty sure that’s the rifle I would have. I’ve heard good things about the MRC rifles but have no experience with them. I’m personally not a fan of the others. I wish I were more help.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: J.G.]
#7011609
12/26/17 04:55 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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Smith can get rid of the half mile of free-bore. Then you can tune bullet relation to lands, instead of being forced to sticking with mag length, no matter the jump.
The barrel quality, and the machining will far surpass the factory barrel. I can tune a hand load for a factory barrel expecting 3/4 MOA, but with the re-barrel I expect better than 1/2. You decide bullet, then decide twist rate, barrel contour, and finish length.
Run the factory trigger, and the stock DOES NOT need to be bedded. EGW makes one piece pic rails, if you are so inclined.
I'll bet you a steak dinner, if you go this route, and develop a tight hand load, it will be your favorite rig. How would one start this process? I'm partial to the model 70 action that Montana uses
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011620
12/26/17 05:19 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,448
aggiehunter03
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Sako Finnlight in caliber of your choosing. Assuming they offer ghey handed version though.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011662
12/26/17 11:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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Smith can get rid of the half mile of free-bore. Then you can tune bullet relation to lands, instead of being forced to sticking with mag length, no matter the jump.
The barrel quality, and the machining will far surpass the factory barrel. I can tune a hand load for a factory barrel expecting 3/4 MOA, but with the re-barrel I expect better than 1/2. You decide bullet, then decide twist rate, barrel contour, and finish length.
Run the factory trigger, and the stock DOES NOT need to be bedded. EGW makes one piece pic rails, if you are so inclined.
I'll bet you a steak dinner, if you go this route, and develop a tight hand load, it will be your favorite rig. How would one start this process? I'm partial to the model 70 action that Montana uses Do you know what bullet you want to run? Do you know how fast you want it to go? Those are steps 1 and 2, build the rifle around the bullet. Once those are known then pick the appropriate twist rate. Decide how much meat you want the barrel to have. www.bugholes.com has plenty of barrels to choose from. And Greg has the manufacturers contour charts listed. Can a LH mod 70 actions be found?
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011663
12/26/17 11:34 AM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,306
DLALLDER
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My MRC 300WM in SS/wood is heavy to me but that may be/is due to old age. At 72 lots of my guns have gotten heavy.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011667
12/26/17 11:49 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,173
scottfromdallas
THF Trophy Hunter
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Based on your criteria, I would look at a Nosler 48 in some of the Magnum or Nosler chamberings. https://www.nosler.com/m48-liberty-rifle/Edit- Only the custom is available for a lefty and it's musher higher than $2,000.
Last edited by scottfromdallas; 12/26/17 12:09 PM.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011675
12/26/17 12:06 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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Made the decision to consolidate my safe and cull some of the rifles I'm ambivilant about.
I am keeping a .22-250 for lighter work, a ruger M77 in .270 for a "deer rifle" and my .257 wby accumark.
My domestic whitetail hunting has evolved to guiding my kids or wife, on the occasions I do go by myself I ambowhunting.
I'm looking to find a rifle they will suit my needs to the western style back country hunting I'm doing more and more. I love a good wood stock but I am hard on my rifles and feel another synthetic stock gun will be the best option for what I'm using it for.
Here is what I'm looking for and why:
Something lighter weight. Not an ultra light per say, but lighter than the 11 lb accumark I've been lugging around. This season it got heavy and after an afternoon of carrying my wife's Camilla up the same mountains I am convinced that maybe an accumark isn't a walking gun after all
Stainless steel/cerakote synthetic stock rifle. My adventures would best up a woodstocked gun. This isn't a heirloom gun it's a tool to make things fall down across a wide range of conditions.
Something in a magnum caliber, unless someone can convince me otherwise. I would like something with a bit more "pop" than my .257 wby mag. As good a caliber as it is, and I love it, after shooting a handful of animals with it I'm not entirely convinced it kills any better than my .270. Looking at a 7mm R.E.M., .300 wsm, .300 win or maybe a .26 nosler/6.5-.300 wby for this chambering.
Now for the rub......I'm left handed and I want a left handed action.
I'm a Weatherby fanatic but the only chamberings they offer in the mark V ultralight are .257, 6.5-.300 & .300 wby. Recoil is concerning me on the last two.
I've looked into Montana rifle company and they offer a nice rifle in a lefty For a reasonable price. Cooper does not have a lefty in the synthetic models from what I can find and Dakota makes one but I can't find any info on them.
If anyone has any other options or avenues I'm all ears.
Basically I'm looking for a gun I can use for elk, mule deer, mountain goat, moose, black bear and sheep.
Budget around the $2k mark or under Were it me I'd go with the 300 Weatherby. 150-165 grain Nosler Partitions and you got your whole list covered.
Last edited by HWY_MAN; 12/26/17 12:13 PM.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: scottfromdallas]
#7011693
12/26/17 12:49 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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Buddy of mine that hunted with me earlier this year has a Hells Canyon in 26 Nosler. I like everything about this rifle except for the twist rate of 1-8. I would prefer it in a 1-10 giving me a little more variety in bullets. 3500 fps and a 125 grain Partition would be a sweet combo. I'd take a serious look at the 100 grain partition also.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011700
12/26/17 01:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
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I don't see why 1:8 would preclude the use of lighter bullets
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011706
12/26/17 01:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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No way I would handicap any 6.5mm with a 1:10.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: scottfromdallas]
#7011724
12/26/17 01:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,563
patriot07
Extreme Tracker
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Not a huge Browning fan, but that's a nice rifle!
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: J.G.]
#7011727
12/26/17 01:53 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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No way I would handicap any 6.5mm with a 1:10. That doesn't surprise me at all, I clearly explained that I prefer lighter faster bullets in the 6.5 thus making the 1-10 a more user friendly twist for my applications. I'm not out to push the heaviest bullet I can find or bang steel at 1000 yards, I have no interest in that. I hunt and damn near every shot I fire is at a critter within the 400 yard are closer range and usually have very few seconds to get the shot off. Elevation and windage are not a concern with the fast movers I shoot until I get out around 500 yards and beyond. Pushing a 140 grain round at 3200-3300 fps second is boring when I can push 150 grain at 3500 from my Weatherby. I'm watching the same thing happen to the 26 that happen to the 264 and we seen how that ended. The insistence on shooting and loading factory ammo only in the 140 grain range killed the 264, the 7-Mag just walked off and left it. At least they gave the 264 a 1-9. Didn't you say up thread to find a bullet and build your rifle around it? Would you shoot 100 grain and 125 grain bullets from a 26 with a 1-8 and expect good results at the far end of it's velocity capabilities with that bullet?
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#7011737
12/26/17 02:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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Didn't you say up thread to find a bullet and build your rifle around it? Would you shoot 100 grain and 125 grain bullets from a 26 with a 1-8 and expect good results at the far end of it's velocity capabilities with that bullet? I wouldn't shoot a 100 or 125 gr 6.5mm in the first place. With all the powder charge available from a 26 Nosler, a 147 gr, is what I would load it with, it can do more. My 7 Rem Mag is loaded with 180's on a 1:8.5. Once the barrel is done (I'm almost halfway there) it will be rebarreled for 7-300, with a 1:8, and shoot a 195 gr Berger EOL, that can do more than the combo I have now. I still find it funny, those that think I never shoot animals. Hogs and coyotes are a weekly occurrence. The last three weeks I've made kills from 20 yards to 750 yards on both animals. 750 yards was no problem for the 180's. I don't want to say "well, it was out of range".
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: J.G.]
#7011748
12/26/17 02:15 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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I wouldn't shoot a 100 or 125 gr 6.5mm in the first place. So there ya go, that's all you needed to say. I specifically said I like 100's and 125's so I'll ask again. Would you shoot 100 grain and 125 grain bullets from a 26 with a 1-8 and expect good results at the far end of it's velocity capabilities with that bullet? Let me rephrase that. Would you recommend a 1-8 twist for someone shooting 100 and 125 grain bullets in the 3500 fps range for a 26?
Last edited by HWY_MAN; 12/26/17 02:18 PM.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Help me decided on the last hunting rifle I may ever purchase
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7011766
12/26/17 02:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,160
J.G.
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I would not recommend that twist, for that bullet, at that velocity. Good chance it would spin the jacket off. But it won't do that at the far end of its' path, it is going to do it before it made it 100 yards. The mid-air "poof", is a sight to see.
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