Hey Guys,

Every year a buddy of mine and I backpack into the high saddles of the Trinity Alps. I want to get a light rifle in 7mm-08 to carry.

What light weight rifle do you recommend for accuracy for under $800 and what would be a good scope for under $350?

Thanks,

Geoff

One of the lightweight Remington Mountain rifles might work along with the ultra-light Ruger or Savage. Just depends on which rifle maker you like. Leupold makes several dandy lightweight scopes though they might be a little higher than the $350 range.

I don't back pack anymore, but I like my Model 700 Mountain rifle in 280 Remington topped with a Simmons compact 2.8 to 10 AETEC scope. The whole thing comes in around 7 pounds loaded ready to go. I bought my rifle used for around $550 last year with a 3 by 9 Weaver Classic. The Simmon's AETEC was $160 and the Leupold bases and rings were already on the rifle. The Weaver went on one of the coyote guns though it would have worked great left on the 280. I just like the AETEC better.

Ya, the mountain rifle is a dandy! What's the going rate of a Kimber Montana? They are nice and light. As for scope, I really like the 3-10 Weaver Grand Slam....great optics and comes in lighter than the Nikon Monarch.

Jim

I just went through this process and ended up staying with my BLR in 7-08. The Remington 700 LSS is a little over $800 ($859 locally) but I think it is far and above your best choice. I would put a Leupold 2x7 on it. The Kimber will cost you $300 more. Savage is far less as is a Tikka and either would be fine, but I would suggest the LSS.

I can highly recommend a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. I have one of the older ones with the 18.5" barrel. You would save a little weight if you could find one of the olders ones with the short barrel, as the new guns have either 20" or 22" barrels. Using a Leupold VX-II 3-9x50mm the gun is around 7.5 pounds. I'm using the 120 grain Barnes Triple Shock X-bullet in the rifle, and am very satisfied with the combo.

Chris

I just got rid of a Model 84 classic in 7mm-08, fine little guns, but having reloaded for 2 different calibers, the 7mm-08 and a .270 WSM. Montana, I can tell you that these Kimbers are very sensitive when it comes to reloads.I ended up shooting factory core-lokts for huning, and I hate to shoot factory rounds when hunting season is here. I'd go with the 700 LLS in 7mm-08 before I bought another Kimber............

Lucky,

What exactely do you dislike about the Kimber. Did it not shoot well with both factory and hand loads?

Thanks,

Geoff

I'll second the Remington Model 7. Also take a look the Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter. My brother has that one in 308 Win and it's a really nice rifle, both in looks and shooting. Ruger also makes a smaller version or their MkII's. The BLR's are nice too...I have one in 358 Win and it's a great shooter.

i've got a 7/08 15'' bbl t/c/encore that with a fixed 2x scope will hit a popcan at 100 yds evertime if i do my part. talk about light and easily packable, not a bad option, even an encore or contender with a shorter/lighter rifle length bbl would be my choice if i couldn't come up with a rem 7 in the cartridge that i wanted. i really have a hankering for a rem. 7 in 250 savage these days, probably will have to build one but it would be more effective than either of the popular 6's and plently for anything less than elk, not to mention classy.

Savage is far less as is a Tikka and either would be fine, but I would suggest the LSS.

Holy Cow! I totally forgot about the Tikka T3 Lite! Now that is an economical and really light shooter.

Jim

Just recieved my daughters new barrel for her Encore, 7mm-08 with a muzzle tamer brake from Fox Ridge Outfitters, cut to 23.5" long, put the new Talley lite weight 1 pc. base and rings combination, realtree camo stock, topped off with a Leupold 2.5x8x36. I think she's pretty well hooked up now..........

lucky13, sounds to me like your daughter is the lucky one, that is a rifle and cartridge combination that she can use the rest of her life and never be undergunned nor overpowered. perfect. what do you suppose that rig weighs? i've got 3 daughters all of whom are petite (oldest one is 16, 5'0'' and 105lbs) i don't anticipate the other two being much different.
i've got a 7/08 in a 15'' encore bbl and love it. i figure i'll get them a 6.5X55 or 7/08 carbine length bbl. i wish i could get one of them on the contender frame, but i don't think they're available. mabey a 23'' bbl with fluting will keep the weight down.

Big Dan, off hand, I'd say maybe 7 1/2 lbs.? Anyway she's a clone of your daughter, 16 yrs. old, tall, 115-120 lbs. very petite but athletic,( starter 3rd base for the High School softball team ), took the .243 barrel off to step her up to the 7mm-08, and added the muzzle-tamer. Took it to the range the other day, and she loved it ! Matter of fact, I'm envious, it's a great little rig, love the way it shoots, less recoil than the .243 w/o brake, and very accurate, shooting ballistic tips now, but for hunting season, I'll load up the accu-bonds in their place.

Gm42, I'm sorry for not gettin' back to ya, my Kimber 7mm-08 shot the Remington factory stuff much better than any combination I could come up with. ****, when you can't get a rifle to group with Nosler Ballistic Tips, or Accubonds, something is wrong somewhere.......The other day when I took the kids to the range, I brought my BLR in .308 win., just put a Leupold VXIII 1.5x5x20 heavy duplex on it, that thing put 8 shots into a 1.5" group at 100 yards ! That was with 150 gr. ballistic tips over some IMR 4064. Now thats a sweet little rig also, and has alot of knock-down........

Have very early stainless Rem 7 in 7-08 (20" bbl). It only leaves me upon death going to daughter. As I've handloaded for this thing since getting it I'd take it hunting almost anywhere, because if you don't push velocity you can make it MOA or better (mine's typically 1/2" 3 shots). It's topped with an older Leupold 1.75-6x32, the older shorter tube - can't think of a better lightweight or high-country package for the money. It's still a great gun.

You have a good concept going IMO, a premier chosen caliber, just make sure you also put some first-class glass on it. If I was to head back to CO today for elk I probably wouldn't even ask the kid for my 30-06 back, but would just load up a quality 160gr, balancing with the magazine length and keep my shots to reasonable distances.
:)

Hey Guys,

What do you think about getting a Savage 16FCSS in 7mm-08 with a Leupold X-III 2.5 x 8.

What do you think of this Savage Rifle.

Geoff

I'm a Remington fan, but Savage is making some really accurate out of the box rifles. Have you handled one of these yet? If it feels good to you when you shoulder it you probably will like the accuracy they give. As for the Leupold 2.5 to 8 they are one of the brightest scopes on the market and would be a good choice on any hunting rifle.

Weatherby Mark V Ultralight 7-08 24" barrel 5 3/4 lbs. $750
Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm 10.5 oz. $300

I've hunted the Trinity Alps a few times myself. Most hunts I carried a Remington 660 carbine in .308 but Marlin 30-30 knocked down a couple nice bucks, too.

Savage makes a couple carbines that are quite accurate.

Simmons is the parent company of Redfield and Meade Instruments. They make very good scopes for discounted pricing. Even their lowest priced models are sturdy and hold their zero.

Good hunting to you. A Zone is already open.
TR

Gm42, I'm sorry for not gettin' back to ya, my Kimber 7mm-08 shot the Remington factory stuff much better than any combination I could come up with. ****, when you can't get a rifle to group with Nosler Ballistic Tips, or Accubonds, something is wrong somewhere.......The other day when I took the kids to the range, I brought my BLR in .308 win., just put a Leupold VXIII 1.5x5x20 heavy duplex on it, that thing put 8 shots into a 1.5" group at 100 yards ! That was with 150 gr. ballistic tips over some IMR 4064. Now thats a sweet little rig also, and has alot of knock-down........

When you can't get handloads to shoot as well as or better than factory ammo, and you are an experienced handloader, it's time to question your loading equipment. I would check out the dies, specifically. Moot point, since the rifle's gone...