If you built a mountain rifle?

[GEARHEAD]

Hey regarding that burris light weight scope. stay away from it, i got one, specs and weight looked great. i hate it. horrible FOV, bad light gathering.

[mossback91]

model 700 .280 rem. fixed 6 power leupy!!! smoke em!

[Bighorse]

My mountain gun is an old Rem 721 300 H&H with a fixed 4x Leupold vx2.  I got some trigger work done, refinished the stock so it was more durable in wet conditions and handloaded some heat.

My next favorite is my Ruger M77 25-06. That thing is a tank!

Big optics, lights stocks, fancy barrels........well lets just say I don't need em to get the job done right.  Both of my alpine irons have pulled off some ridiculously awesome shots.

Gentlemen.....if you got the money please enjoy your purchases.  For the rest of my hard working or hardly working hunting brethren......please enjoy what you already got.

Whatever you do get yourself to a gym, track, pool or local mountain and get some time on your legs.  Practice your shots and spend your money on transportation and tags.  Get your self a good backpack and some boots.  Get-er-done!

[JackOfAllTrades]

Jackalope, if you're talking about the Burris Timberline 3-9x32, it's a whole 10 ounces heavier than the Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40.  I'll take a lighter brighter scope for the money any day.

Yes, the Leup 3.6-10x50 VX7 is a lot heavier at +9 ounces over the heavier Burris, so you are correct in that scope selection can be a major part of how much a completed mountain rifle ends up weighing. I think there's middle ground for light gathering, magnification, that fits a mountain rifle but there's a lot of room for personal preference. There is room for shaving some weight though.

ActionShooter has a great thing going in that Win70 action as long as the smith knows where to mill off metal that won't weaken the action with a magnum round that develops more than 65,000psi.

I am really surprised that more people don't state or pay attention to fire control in their hunting rifle. Common place in target arms. But if you're going to build your ultimate rifle, then spend the extra required on a trigger job. Most factory triggers suck. One of the reasons I mentioned the Marlin and Savage. Excellent trigger function.

Nothing here about controlled feed or push feed actions. One mention about short action. (usually lighter) Nothing here about blind box magazines, removable clips, or open floor plates.  Personally, I'd like that Marlin or Savage to have a removable clip. The Tikka does. The older Ruger77 has a hinged floorplate. Those Remington owners must be OK with blind box magazines. This does usually lead to a stiffer action and less weight since strength doesn't need to be designed in elsewhere. Nothing here about fluted or jeweled bolts or barrels. Jewed and fluted bolts lead to very smooth function even in adverse weather conditions. Fluting the bolt reduces weight. Lightweight barrel contours (mentioned only once that I see) with fluting also decrease weight. 

With all this lightweight talk, some with magnum calibers, I forgot to mention a prefered recoil system. A light rifle should still be comfortable to shoot. The Pacmeyer decelorator is sweet although it weighs a bit more than the next brand, and the stock/pad on the Marlin XL series is one I have to mention. There are few other factory or aftermarket recoil systems that compare to the Marlin.

-Steve

[Pathfinder101]

Got nothing ground breaking to add that hasn't already been said, but am enjoying the thread and taking notes .  Just posting so I can follow it...

[Jamieb]

I've played with alot of rifles over the years and at one time was realy into light rifles, I even had a 6 LB 300 WBY built that kicked the snot out of me until I sold it. I dont own any heavy kickers that weight less ten 7LB's any more. My current Mt. rifle is a Cabelas Mt rifle in 7mm-08, topped with a leupold VX-II 3x9 in taley LW's. This rifle is a Rem. 700 Mt. rifle in a old style TI stock. Loaded and ready to hunt it weighs a hair over 6 LB's. For everything under elk it shoots 120gr. nosler BT's and for elk I have a load with 120gr. barnes TSX's.

[Jamieb]

Heres a picture of my 7mm-08.

[addicted]

My first choice would be a Sauer 202 .300 WM possibly a Highland @ under 6 lbs. and a Swarovski or Zeiss scope. I like the Swaro glass but the Zeiss reticle is better.
 Second choice Sako Finnlight in .300 WM over 6 lbs. Probably a Zeiss 3.5-10 with Z600 or 800 reticle. I had one in .30-06 and sold it.

those 202's are really popular over here but since Blaser bought them out the prices have climed about 600-700 euros.

If Heym made the SR31 in a synthetic stainless version would probably go for that, but europeans arent big on that. I think the straight bolt would be a cool addition to a well cycling project. i've heard the straight bolt on the Blaser R93 has broken open and wacked people in the face killing them. probably just a rumor but i like the heym more anyways lol.

[sako223]

Yes the 202 is spendy. I have been shooting several Sauer 90's for years. The extra cost is warranted in function. These rifles have the absolute smoothest bolt ever made, operate one once and you will be drooling. They also have removable magazines and near perfect triggers(some have set). Beauty is part of the deal along with well designed stocks that fit, reducing felt recoil.
I regret not buying others while the price was down. I see them available at a few more retailers now offered at the new higher price.

[yorketransport]

How about a NULA Model 20 in 284 Win? With a set of their aluminum rings (2oz per pair) and the 2-7x scope or your choice, it would be perfect in my eyes. The $3000+ price tag is a little rich for my blood though.

Andrew

[Shootmoore]

I thought you ment shooting FROM mountain to mountain not climbing up with one.

The gun caddie is would be a nice addition.

Shootmoore

[rasbo]

I thought you ment shooting FROM mountain to mountain not climbing up with one.

The gun caddie is would be a nice addition.

Shootmoore

wow prone is good

[jackelope]

Jackalope, if you're talking about the Burris Timberline 3-9x32, it's a whole 10 ounces heavier than the Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40.  I'll take a lighter brighter scope for the money any day.

10 ounces(more than half a pound) is a lot when you're talking about something that's gonna top out oat 6-7 pounds +/-.
any thoughts on weight reduction by fluting a barrel? can't be much.
the kimber 84 is a lightweight barrel contoured rifle...i'm thinking about looking into getting the 300 barrel for my encore fluted or just getting a fluted copy of it if the weight savings is enough to justify. it's about 8.5 pounds right now as it sits, which isn't bad but it would be nice if it was lighter.
those that know me and the way i pack often just assume that i have a lead balloon in my pack. they assume that because it would take too long to sort through all the useless crap i have in my pack trying to decide where all the wieight is coming from.

[WDFW-SUX]

I think the most important part of a Mt Rifle is that it shoots straight when it gets to where in needs to go.  Im a big fan of pillar bedding of lightweight rifles.

[Ray]

My opinion would be to buy a Tikka in .308 and just put a scope on it. 4x12x40 Luepold VX II.