2000$ budget
- Thread starter StevenG
- Start date
AR15meister
CGN Regular
what do you plan to hunt with it and in what conditions?
LongBomber
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fernie, bc
For 2k all in I would either find a nice older sako in 7mm mag and find a used vx3 3.5-10, or if wanting to go the new route a tikka t3 and the same scope. Be tight to make it in under 2k new taxes in but pretty close.
A truly hard to beat combination for sure .
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
Assuming rifle + optics for $2k, This.
I have replaced all my VX3's with Vortex Razor LH's, I like the reticles and the eyepieces a lot better. The 3-15x42 is a great scope. I feel the 30-06 starts running out of gas at 500, unless you are handloading 200+gr bullets, and Tikka isn't the best action for this (limited by magazine length).
If you can stretch the budget to $3k+ for both, browning hells canyon and a Leupold VX-5hd 3-15x44 or Bushnell LRHS/LRTS is a great combo. 7mm RM will carry the energy a bit farther.
Winchester M70 extreme weather - 300Win mag. Probably the best choice if you want to shoot factory ammo. The EW's are a bit chunkier due to the heavy B&C stock. I wouldn't want a 300 WM any lighter than this ...if I wanted one at all. Handloaded, this is the way to go if you even want to THINK about game at 1k and beyond. I used to think about that, I don't anymore.
The hell canyon, I don't like the stock but Id like to try the one with McMillan stock
If you're hunting in national parks, you may want to set some cash aside for bail. I'll suggest a lightly used Sako finnlight in either 7-08 or 7 rem mag, depending on how far you want to shoot and how well you handle recoil. Should set you back 1800.
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
The Game Scout is a great stock.
Hehe.
You may find the fixed parallax limiting - adjustable parallax is an important feature to me, especially when it comes to reading wind.
Not sure which turret you have, but the ballistic turret (BT) limits travel to one revolution, which can be... Limiting
Weatherby Fan
CGN Regular
- Location
- Maple Ridge,BC,Canada
I would Find an used stainless Kimber Montana, Winchester 70 CRF, Tikka or Sako A7 in your desired action length/bolt face and order a Benchmark barrel ($600) and have a rifle built in your desired caliber,
I picked up an used Sako A7 SS 7mm rem Mag for $800(shipped), #3 contour HawkHill barrel for $400 and had it chambered in 6.5 PRC, trigger lightened and barrel bead blasted to match the action, total cost for trigger job/barrel install $440, so for $1640.00 I have a crazy accurate 6.5 PRC,
if your not in a rush for a rifle shop around for a deal on an used donor rifle and barrel
Im a big fan of used Kimber Montanas for a lightweight build as they are an all stainless action, have a excellent adjustable trigger, a Kevlar Carbon Fibre stock, add a good barrel and you have a full custom rifle, I just picked up a Kimber Montana 8400 300 WSM donor $1050.00, used but new Benchmark Barrel $550, depending what I have the Gunsmith do to it (cost) Im going to build a lightweight 6.5 PRC, if I just had the barrel chambered and installed, bedded and trigger lightened I will be at $2100.00 slightly over your budget but doable !
If no patience for the above route buy a Tikka T3i SS ($1100.00), Sako A7 SS ($1350.00) or Winchester 70 Extreme Weather ($1400-1600) in your desired caliber, mount your scope on it and your good to go.
I picked up an used Sako A7 SS 7mm rem Mag for $800(shipped), #3 contour HawkHill barrel for $400 and had it chambered in 6.5 PRC, trigger lightened and barrel bead blasted to match the action, total cost for trigger job/barrel install $440, so for $1640.00 I have a crazy accurate 6.5 PRC,
if your not in a rush for a rifle shop around for a deal on an used donor rifle and barrel
Im a big fan of used Kimber Montanas for a lightweight build as they are an all stainless action, have a excellent adjustable trigger, a Kevlar Carbon Fibre stock, add a good barrel and you have a full custom rifle, I just picked up a Kimber Montana 8400 300 WSM donor $1050.00, used but new Benchmark Barrel $550, depending what I have the Gunsmith do to it (cost) Im going to build a lightweight 6.5 PRC, if I just had the barrel chambered and installed, bedded and trigger lightened I will be at $2100.00 slightly over your budget but doable !
If no patience for the above route buy a Tikka T3i SS ($1100.00), Sako A7 SS ($1350.00) or Winchester 70 Extreme Weather ($1400-1600) in your desired caliber, mount your scope on it and your good to go.
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AR15meister
CGN Regular
then this is easy.
Christensen Arms. Buy this below or try and find a used Ridgeline in 28 Nosler/7mm/300 Win Mag.
https://store.prophetriver.com/chri...urnt-bronze-cerakote-24-1-9-mfg-801-01009-00/
Christensen is making the best mountain rifles under 3k in the world right now in my opinion. Light, accurate and reliable/well made.
Get Prophet River to make you an elevation/ballistic turret for your Z3 if they can that is mapped to the load you choose to shoot in the gun.
I have a Ridgeline in 26 Nosler with a Z5 Swarovski with a custom turret mapped to the nosler 142gr accubond LR and I have carried it on 2 Asian mountain hunts and killed 3 big game animals at 136 yard, 490 yards and 644 yards. All one shot kills. It is light, accurate and reliable and half the cost (and weight ) of a gun werks.
I will be carrying it in October on an outfitter Bighorn sheep/ mountain goat combo hunt in BC. great gun.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I would buy a new Ridgeline and fit 'er with a Nikon glass. Spend a tad over budget. Pity they don't chamber these beauties in 6.5 Swede. Nice rifles fer sure.
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Christensen. never thought about this one
Quick read some reviews online few said not impressed with the accuracy considering the price
But the look is very nice
Guess that Mesa with GREEN W/BLACK & TAN WEBBING/BURNT BRONZE CERAKOTE color would be a good fit with my Bushnell LRTS FDE color
Quick read some reviews online few said not impressed with the accuracy considering the price
But the look is very nice
Guess that Mesa with GREEN W/BLACK & TAN WEBBING/BURNT BRONZE CERAKOTE color would be a good fit with my Bushnell LRTS FDE color
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
One of these in .450 Bushmaster would be nice in the thick stuff.
