For Timber hunting in adverse conditions, you can't beat a BLR81 in .308Win.
I used one since 1987 configured as follows except I used Redfield 5 star 4X32.
Top it with a nice WA 4X40 scope, butler creek covers for the rain and snow, and an Uncle Mikes hammer extension, to lay your big gloved thumb on during those frosty morning stalks. Handled like a carbine Marlin or 94 Winchester, and flattens them where they stand usually when right bullet is employed in the .308Win.
You can sit with it, in your ground blind or tree stand, and consider everything in a whitetail, fair game out to 275-300 as well. Just get used to the usually heavy trigger for the long range work. I hold my fingers outside the lever on longer range/ bench work, it adds to controlling the heavy trigger pull typically on these carbines.
If you have any other questions on the BLR for your list of nrrds, PM me, I'd be happy to share all types of stories on it.
