Any recommendations for a sheep hunting gun?

EJG said:
I love it, the FFP Meta is like a mini PMII. Proper turrets huge field of view. The Magnification is just right for our hunting. So far we used 3-12x50 Zenith , 4-16x50 PMII, 3-20x50PMII for the main hunting rifles. The Meta falls in that bracket. We also got a new 6-36 with low turrets that I just fell in love with at an Exhibition.
The Meta we mounted for testing on a Strasser RS700 hunting rifle, with the 6-36 I don't know yet but am just getting a 300wsm built.

The Meta I ordered has a single turn turret to keep it simple and clock wise turn that I am used to. Once we have zeroed the rifle and did some tests I will write about it a little.


edi
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I'm looking forward to your write up. It seems like a great scope. I haven't seen any negatives mentioned online aside from the price.
 
lastwest said:
I'm shopping around for a new rifle which I would like to setup for long range shooting (700 to 1000 yards) and to be light enough to take sheep hunting.

Any suggestions on both the model and a caliber that would be suitable?
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With lightweight rifles, dont go too big on the cartridge. For a sheep rifle I wouldn't go bigger than a 6.5 prc. Anything bigger and it becomes difficult to practice with the gun for more than a handful of rounds. Personally I shoot a 6 creed. Used to shoot a 7 saum but switched after guiding a guy and his wife where he shot a caribou (165 yards), moose (76 yards) and grizzly (330 yards) with a 6.5 creedmoor. I was very impressed with the wound channel from the 143 eld-x in all 3 animals. Ive also guided a few guys shooting 6 and 25 creeds for moose.

If you go the factory route you could just rebarrel a tikka or a kimber montana. Benchmark makes some incredibly accurate thin profile barrels. Having the 3 position safety is nice when bushwhacking through alders and both actions tend not to be as prone to binding and problems with getting dirty as 700 clones (ive got 2 defiance actions and a falkor and they've both had more problems in the field than any of my tikkas or kimbers). Id stay away from Fierce, one friend had his Fierce show up with no rifling cut in the barrel.

For optics, SWFA's 3-9x42 is just under 20 oz and super solid. Other options would be nightforce nxs 2.5-10 (sfp), trijicon credo 2.5-10x36, trijicon tenmile 3-18x44 or maybe one of the new nightforce nx6's. Having worked for an outfitter sponsored by Leupold, and using the guide program to get a deal on a vx3, vx5 and mark 5, I'd avoid them. All 3 of mine wouldn't hold zero and ended up going back on warranty. They check a lot of boxes (weight, nice glass) and have a good warranty but that doesn't help if youre 20 km out and your scope is having issues.
 
I’ve done it twice. First was a kimber Montana in 6.5 creed with a vx3, to bolt handle at 6.2 lb and after that I had Mike at KS arms build me a 284 win on his lightweight action with a wildcat stock and vx5 at 6.6 lbs.

The kimber was great but I wanted a bit more cartridge in grizzly country so I had the 284 built to match my hunting partners rifle.
 
I have packed the following for bighorns
54cal cap and ball
25-06
338rum
375rum
35whelen
358norma
270bee
257bee
375h&h
Now i use a 338rpm
Find a gun you like to shoot, but dont care about bruising up
Saddle scabbards backpacks and rocks beat up your guns in sheep country
Remember you are going to feel every ounce so get the lightest one you can shoot well.
Shoot a good bullet and don’t worry so much about calibre
 
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