Compact/lightweight deer rifles

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jakeway

jakeway

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Hendersonville, TN, USA
I've had a new itch lately: compact short action deer rifle. .260 Rem (limited rifles avail in it) or second choice 7-08. Wondering if anyone has hands-on experience with any of these rifles and care to comment:

Ruger M77 Compact or Frontier

Remington Model 7

Browning A Bolt Micro hunter

Winchester M70 Classic Compact

Remington Mountain Rifle
 
I have a Browning A-bolt Micro chambered in 308. It's an awesome rifle. I have abused it by dropping it off of a rocky cliff hog hunting to keep from falling and it sustained some damage. It still shoots the same as the first day I bought it. It is one of my favorites when hunting mountainous terrain such as Catoosa. Another interesting observation I made is when I'm at the range shooting, it doesn't matter how many times I shoot it or how hot the barrel gets from shooting, the POI is the same. None of my other rifles can do this.
 
Model70Man said:
I have a Browning A-bolt Micro chambered in 308. It's an awesome rifle...
Click to expand...

Is it noticeably lighter than the standard A Bolt? According to the specs on the Browning site, it's only about 6-8 ounces lighter. I already have an A Bolt Hunter in .270, so I think I might want something more different. Still, if I put a compact scope like a 2-7X32, or even a fixed power 4X32 on it, the total weight difference would be between 3/4 and a pound.

I'm interested to hear from the Ruger Compact crowd; how do you like that short, short 16.5" barrel? Muzzle blast or lost velocity issues?
 
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muddyboots said:
I got a model 7 7mm/08 that my wife took away from me. LOL. I also got a TC encore with a 20 inch 7mm/08 barrel. Ive killed numerous deer with both. I wouldnt trade either one of them for another gun.
Click to expand...

Is that TC the single-shot rifle w/ the breech-break opening? I hear that's a pretty sweet one. Supposedly, they've designed their own round now made specifically for that gun. I don't know what it is off the top of my head, but it supposedly has the flat trajectory of a .270 with the punch of a .30-06
 
Muddy Creek said:
muddyboots said:
I got a model 7 7mm/08 that my wife took away from me. LOL. I also got a TC encore with a 20 inch 7mm/08 barrel. Ive killed numerous deer with both. I wouldnt trade either one of them for another gun.
Click to expand...

Is that TC the single-shot rifle w/ the breech-break opening? I hear that's a pretty sweet one. Supposedly, they've designed their own round now made specifically for that gun. I don't know what it is off the top of my head, but it supposedly has the flat trajectory of a .270 with the punch of a .30-06
Click to expand...

Yes it is the breech opening gun. Its not the special caliber though. The 7mm/08 is just a .308 case necked down to take a 7mm bullet. It is a great shooting gun. Very light and compact.
 
What is the new T/C load? I saw it on Guns & Ammo TV one day, and they were pretty smitten with it.
 
DSCN0430.jpg



7-08 model 7
 
You didnt list the Kimber on your list, but it is the lightest factory gun available. Mine weighs 5lb 13 ounces with a Leupy 2-7 and rings.
 
The ruger compact is the lightest out of the guns you listed but the 16" barrel kills velocity which isnt really a bad thing but if you are like me and hunt west tn alot every year, you want somethin with a decent length barrel so you can keep the higher velocities for the longer shots.
 
Nothing but good things to say about the m700 mountain rifle. Shop around for a late '90's pre j-lock model.

That being said, I bought a used 700 titanium with the j-lock last year. Replaced the bolt shroud and first 5 shot group for load workup ended up right at .5" at 100 yards. That gun is around 5 1/4 lbs naked.
 
I would seriously take a look a the Stevens 7-08. Weighs only 6.5 pounds and you know how accurate Savage rifles are. It would be a very light and accurate carrying rifle.
 
I have one of the Mtn Guide rifles and its pretty sweet. On the cheap you come out just a few ounces lighter than a Rem 700 Titanium. Will post a pic of it when my stock comes back in from getting painted. Gonna have the Leupold that sits on it sent off for an M1 elevation turret, so far its a great little rifle.
 

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