tall order

[jdb]

I am thinking of putting togeather a new hunting rifle for next year. I hva been waffleing back and forth with this for sometime. I would like a bolt action rifle with a synthetic stock, that weighs about 7.5 lbs but wont kick my teeth loose but will confidently kill elk to 400 yards and wont cost me a fortune. tall order huh!!?? any suggestions?

[MHWASH]

Ruger .270, 280, .06, 7Mag. Reason I say Ruger is I have 2. 22-250 and 7 mag. I put them away after a day of hunting in the rain and snow and they have yet to show any rust.

[Thefisherman83]

Tikka T3

[dbllunger]

700 Titanium or fully milled/lightened action/bolt, bedded factory plastic stock, 26", #1 contour Lilja cut at 26", Magna Brake, 338RUM, 250gr Partition at +P++++ pressure, Talley Aluminum bases/rings, Leupold 4.5x14.  Absolute death machine on anything in the world.  I've got a few elk notched on my 300RUM, and I'm not a brake guy for hunting rifles.  But this is my latest dream rifle.  After my last custom I was not sold on them, but you can't get a special option type gun unless you build it. 

For a stocker it would be a Browning synthetic A-Bolt in 300WSM shooting 180 wide open plus.

[Mookie]

Not really a tall order.
Savage 116 Weather Warrior 7 lb
Remington 700 SPS 7 5/8 lb
Remington 700 SPS Alaskan TI 6 1/4 lb

Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 12.0 oz

I have found that the 300 really does not kick all that bad when combined with a decent butt pad, about the same as a 30-06 with a hard rubber pad.

[Wacenturion]

Browning A Bolt .325 WSM

[Bofire]

Tikka .280 3.5X10X40 VXIII Leupy. Piece of cake order., very lite, super trigger, very accurate, low recoil, long life barrel, gives up about 2 inches at 500 yards in trajectory  to the much ballyhooed "7 rem mag", but uses 25% less powder.
You sure as hell do not need any kind of "magnum".

[yorketransport]

Here's the easy way to do it:

Stevens 200 in 308 - $300\
Bushnell 3200 2-7x - $170
That should put you right about 7.5-8#. You could stop here, but what fun is that?

If you want something different, sell the 308 barrel, and screw on a 338 Federal or 358 Win barrel for $130.

I'm working on a similar rifle right now. I'm using a Savage 16 (stainless) and hope to screw on an 18.5" 358 Win barrel. But like many others, I have 10 projects started and none of them finished.

Andrew

[JackOfAllTrades]

OMG! Another, 'What should I build' question.

Your criteria is so lacking.

-Do you need to 'build' a rifle or are you looking to buy something off the shelf that'll get the job done?
-Are you good enough to shoot out to 400yds for a kill shot?
-Do you hand load?
-Is the 7 1/2 pound weight 'including optics'?
-Blue or stainless finish?
-Almost seems like you're recoil shy. A lighter rifle, magnum cartridge might not be your best option. Are you looking for a wildcat cartridge or a venerable classic?
-What budget are you trying to stay within?

That said...

Savage 116 weather warrior with accutrigger. Glass/pillar bed the action. Pacmeyer Decelorator recoil system. Your chioce of optics. Pull the barrel off and have it reamed for 30-06Ackly Improved.
 
Shoot the snot out of it.

You could probably do the same with a Marlin XL7 series and save half a pound.

Spend more money on a Browning, or build a Mauser action with a Schillen barrel, but it'll weigh more.

-Steve

[demontang]

I look at a 338fed. There are a lot of companies that make light rifles. weatherby,tikka, howa, savage , ect

[huntnphool]

OMG! Another, 'What should I build' question. Your criteria is so lacking.
-Do you need to 'build' a rifle or are you looking to buy something off the shelf that'll get the job done?
-Are you good enough to shoot out to 400yds for a kill shot?
-Do you hand load?
-Is the 7 1/2 pound weight 'including optics'?
-Blue or stainless finish?
-Almost seems like you're recoil shy. A lighter rifle, magnum cartridge might not be your best option. Are you looking for a wildcat cartridge or a venerable classic?
-What budget are you trying to stay within?

What a Killjoy Steve, just answer the damn question

[JackOfAllTrades]

It's funny though..  

Someone asks 'What should I build', and often, others jump in what what they have or what's their dream rifle.

338Fed.. Best thing since sliced bread? uh, NO.  Anything marked WSM?  Uh, NO. Anything marked RUM? Uh, NO.

He wants to keep weight down, but also keep recoil down. Then he's limited to lesser cartridges too.

400yds for Elk? If he wasn't recoil sensative, weak in the arms and is a seasoned reloader I'd say .338STA or .358Norma on a custom Mauser action with a Schillen or other quality fluted stainless barrel!

If he's poor, stick with my first suggestions. If he's more wealthy, go to a Browning in SS or a Howa action.

just answer the damn question

Too many damn options still!  

-Steve

[huntnphool]

[boneaddict]

I'd go buy a Remington 700 30-06 and glass bed the barrel.  Then take all that time I saved, and go look for bucks on the Firing Center

[Straight Shooter]

A .308 or .338 Fed as a 400 yard elk rifle?!... definitely wouldn't be my first choices.  If on a budget, my choice would be a Stevens 200 in .300 Win Mag and a good 4-12 scope.  You can use recoil managements loads for deer and move up to the standard ammo for long-range work.