Backup rifle suggestions
- Thread starter mistahmojoryan
- Start date
Get the Finnlight 75 and leave the wood blued one at Home !
"Backup" means something different to me.
The backup is what I lend to someone else when their rifle or sights get damaged (or they brought the wrong box of ammo...)
The backup is what I carry when it is foggy, heavy rain or snow and i can only see 20 feet.
I travel with 2 back-ups. One is a 303 SMLE sporter with a 2 1/2 X scope in case my rifle or somoelese's fails.
The other is a short barrled 8mm 98Mauser with a big rear peep and a light gathering red plastic rod theat makes a bright red dot front sight.
Both of these back ups have shot deer and moose in the hands of others.
I don't have more than $100 invested in eaither one of them, but they are accurate and relaible "back ups" that extend my effectivness.
Maybe you should consider a bolt rifle with different sights as a bad weather alternative rifle, too, instead of cloning what you have.
The backup is what I lend to someone else when their rifle or sights get damaged (or they brought the wrong box of ammo...)
The backup is what I carry when it is foggy, heavy rain or snow and i can only see 20 feet.
I travel with 2 back-ups. One is a 303 SMLE sporter with a 2 1/2 X scope in case my rifle or somoelese's fails.
The other is a short barrled 8mm 98Mauser with a big rear peep and a light gathering red plastic rod theat makes a bright red dot front sight.
Both of these back ups have shot deer and moose in the hands of others.
I don't have more than $100 invested in eaither one of them, but they are accurate and relaible "back ups" that extend my effectivness.
Maybe you should consider a bolt rifle with different sights as a bad weather alternative rifle, too, instead of cloning what you have.
My primary rifle is a 300WSM stinaless Mdl 70, topped with a 2.5-8x36 Leupold.
My back up is a Stainless Ruger MK II 7mmRM, topped wiht a 2.5-8x36 Leupold
They are both similar enough and have similar trajectories that they can be substituted without any real problems. This works for me, however, I have lots of rifles...
For you, I'd suggest getting something in a similar rifle, yet smaller cartridge. 7-08, .308, 260 etc. Then you can shoot all day at the range, with less cost and recoil, and still have a capable rifle for back up.
My back up is a Stainless Ruger MK II 7mmRM, topped wiht a 2.5-8x36 Leupold
They are both similar enough and have similar trajectories that they can be substituted without any real problems. This works for me, however, I have lots of rifles...
For you, I'd suggest getting something in a similar rifle, yet smaller cartridge. 7-08, .308, 260 etc. Then you can shoot all day at the range, with less cost and recoil, and still have a capable rifle for back up.
I have a "back up / camp gun" that's designed to be basic, and to work under any circumstance. 30-06 on a Mauser 98 action, miilitary trigger tweaked to be smooth, Bushnell Scopechief 4X scope, Weaver type rings & bases, 19" barrel in a sporterized military stock. At present, no open sights yet, but will fit a set this year. You need a basic, sufficiently powerfull gun with basic sighting options, decent trigger, goes bang every time, in a easy to find caliber. It only fires one load weight, good ol Winchester 180 PP. Reasonably cheap, very effective, not even all that hard on the eyes. Hose it down with Break free once in a while, or wipe with a few drops of whatever is in the crankcase, and off you go.
I always felt the main idea on a back up is that if something goes wrong with your main gun, damage, lose ammo, scope f*cks up, what ever, then you need a good solid basic boom stick to get you through the hunt. Unless you're after big bears, the 06 will answer any question you can come up with. Plus, the KISS principle applies.
Case point, standing in hotel lobby in Saskatoon, hunter up from Nashville for a bear hunt, it's sunday morn, guns showed up, ammo & clothes nowhere to be found, and he's got to hop a charter to camp that afternoon. Only guns he had were both 45-70's. Had I had caught him Saturday, could have found ammo. Sunday, if it ain't in the basic dozen that walmart or Cantire carries, you're SOL. Had he a basic back up, he would have been covered.
This happened last week btw.
I always felt the main idea on a back up is that if something goes wrong with your main gun, damage, lose ammo, scope f*cks up, what ever, then you need a good solid basic boom stick to get you through the hunt. Unless you're after big bears, the 06 will answer any question you can come up with. Plus, the KISS principle applies.
Case point, standing in hotel lobby in Saskatoon, hunter up from Nashville for a bear hunt, it's sunday morn, guns showed up, ammo & clothes nowhere to be found, and he's got to hop a charter to camp that afternoon. Only guns he had were both 45-70's. Had I had caught him Saturday, could have found ammo. Sunday, if it ain't in the basic dozen that walmart or Cantire carries, you're SOL. Had he a basic back up, he would have been covered.
This happened last week btw.
Last edited:
I like what MTM said.
The 375 and 416 are a serious step up in power....I love the 416, but it isn't for everyone...Choose carefully.
I'd definitely go with an identical rifle in function and fit to keep a nice familiar feel. Switching rifle brands is a bad idea in my books.
The 375 and 416 are a serious step up in power....I love the 416, but it isn't for everyone...Choose carefully.
I'd definitely go with an identical rifle in function and fit to keep a nice familiar feel. Switching rifle brands is a bad idea in my books.
Mighty Peace
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Land of the Mighty Peace
Rifles
My suggestion would be any Sako model 75 (I dont like the model 85 stocks)in either: a SS, Hunter Laminate Stainless(Greywolf)
or Finnlight , or a Hunter Stainless would be sweet too in 270 or 270WSM. I personally would lean towards the 270WSM. I love the performance of the 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds on big game.
My first new rifle I bought was in 1998 was a Sako m75SS 300WM. Thought that was the only gun I needed. WRONG!!!
I got bit by the gun bug in 2004 and never looked back. My 300WM is my main rifle. I was waiting for Sako to bring out the Greywolf but it was to be another year (2005) so I bought 2 Tikka T3 LS 270WSM and 3 other rifles. One of the T3's is my wife's and the other is mine. I waited the extra year from 2003-2004 just so I could get the LS from Tikka as I do not like there synthetic stocks as I wanted the 270WSM.
Then just before our first child was born (boy), I bought a mint Sako m75SS 243. Now we just had another boy a few months ago so I just a 2 weeks ago I bought a mint Sako m75 Greywolf 300WSM with Optilok rings and bases and a Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 gunmental grey scope that was @ P&D.
Plus I finally found a new Greywolf in 25-06 (been searching for a few months new or used) in a "IV" action to do a custom rifle in 338-06AI with a new barrel, fluting and powder coated by Corlanes
. I have had a Leupold VX3 in gunmetal grey waiting for a home for close to 2 years now. And its funny how the 300WSM is set up the way I wanted a Greywolf rifle.
LOVE MY SAKOS and it seems you do too!!
My suggestion would be any Sako model 75 (I dont like the model 85 stocks)in either: a SS, Hunter Laminate Stainless(Greywolf)
or Finnlight , or a Hunter Stainless would be sweet too in 270 or 270WSM. I personally would lean towards the 270WSM. I love the performance of the 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds on big game.My first new rifle I bought was in 1998 was a Sako m75SS 300WM. Thought that was the only gun I needed. WRONG!!!
I got bit by the gun bug in 2004 and never looked back. My 300WM is my main rifle. I was waiting for Sako to bring out the Greywolf but it was to be another year (2005) so I bought 2 Tikka T3 LS 270WSM and 3 other rifles. One of the T3's is my wife's and the other is mine. I waited the extra year from 2003-2004 just so I could get the LS from Tikka as I do not like there synthetic stocks as I wanted the 270WSM.
Then just before our first child was born (boy), I bought a mint Sako m75SS 243. Now we just had another boy a few months ago so I just a 2 weeks ago I bought a mint Sako m75 Greywolf 300WSM with Optilok rings and bases and a Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 gunmental grey scope that was @ P&D.
Plus I finally found a new Greywolf in 25-06 (been searching for a few months new or used) in a "IV" action to do a custom rifle in 338-06AI with a new barrel, fluting and powder coated by Corlanes
. I have had a Leupold VX3 in gunmetal grey waiting for a home for close to 2 years now. And its funny how the 300WSM is set up the way I wanted a Greywolf rifle.
LOVE MY SAKOS
and it seems you do too!!Well this thread came back to life in a hurry! Anyway, I'm still looking for my 'backup'. I played w/ a 75 Hunter in 300WSM for a while....awesome rifle but it went down the road. Then a 270 and now I'm trying out a 75 S/S in 6.5 Swedish. Same models but the cartridges keep getting smaller.
I played w/ a 75 Hunter in 300WSM for a while....awesome rifle but it went down the road. Then a 270 and now I'm trying out a 75 S/S in 6.5 Swedish. Same models but the cartridges keep getting smaller. 
Damn, them beasts are heavy!
Nice rigs, but a 9.5 -10 lb gun doesn't interest me. The weight of my 75 Finnlight isn't too bad at 7.5 lbs scoped.They've lightened the 85's up quite a bit, stock dimensions for the most part.
