Looking for a Light weight mountain rifle

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Hello I am looking for a light weight mountain rifle for sheep hunting. Looking for advice. What would you guys recommend? I have been looking at the Remington 700 in a 7mm-08. Trying to get a feel for what is out there without getting to much into the custom market for now(maybe later on).
 
Lightest for the money would be a Kimber Montana which would weight 5lbs 2 oz in 7mm08 and run you $1500. For more than that you could get a Mountain Ascent or a custom which can get you under 5lbs.
 
Hello I am looking for a light weight mountain rifle for sheep hunting. Looking for advice. What would you guys recommend? I have been looking at the Remington 700 in a 7mm-08. Trying to get a feel for what is out there without getting to much into the custom market for now(maybe later on).

What defines lightweight for you?
 
The remington 700 or model 7 can be great base for a ultralight for reasonable money.
Also as mentioned the tikkas are decent, but if you go tikka buy it in 280 or 7mm rem mag as they are all made on a long action so there is no point in buying it in a short action caliber in my opinion.


All this said, there are lots of under 7lb rifles out there if that's your weight goal.
 
The new Sako m85 Carbonlite in 7mm-08 would be sweet !! Be ready to open the wallet.

If not the Sako A7 or Tikka T3 Lite would be other.

Myself, I love my Sako m75 rifles, and if I do another semi-custom, I will do it off a Sako m75, MacMillan Edge stock.
 
Hello I am looking for a light weight mountain rifle for sheep hunting. Looking for advice. What would you guys recommend? I have been looking at the Remington 700 in a 7mm-08. Trying to get a feel for what is out there without getting to much into the custom market for now(maybe later on).

I have a Browning A Bolt Mountain Ti in 270 WSM. It has a Bell and Carlson Duratouch stock in Mossy Oak Break Up camo. It weighed 5lbs 6 ozs out of the box. With a Zeiss scope, steel rings and bases, leather sling and fully loaded it weighs just over 8 lbs. It is heavier than some but the lightest rifle I've got and a pleasure to handle. Outfitted differently, it could probably be lightened up a little more. It shoots very well and I don't find recoil to be an issue. They came in 7mm-08 cal. They were/are spendy but I think well worth the money.

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I've never hunted in the mountain so excuse my ignorance. But from what I see on "tv" lol yes I said it. It's some long range shooting. Is the 1 or 2lbs less weight really worth it? Wouldn't you want a slightly heavier barrel and stock to have a nice accurate rifle? I mean a 8lb scoped gun or a 9lb can't be that much of a difference. I hunt in thick bush and usually don't even sling the gun. I like it in my hands. Just used to bow hunting I guess. I understand you don't want a 20lb f class gun. But anything 10lbs or under should be good no?
 
I've never hunted in the mountain so excuse my ignorance. But from what I see on "tv" lol yes I said it. It's some long range shooting. Is the 1 or 2lbs less weight really worth it? Wouldn't you want a slightly heavier barrel and stock to have a nice accurate rifle? I mean a 8lb scoped gun or a 9lb can't be that much of a difference. I hunt in thick bush and usually don't even sling the gun. I like it in my hands. Just used to bow hunting I guess. I understand you don't want a 20lb f class gun. But anything 10lbs or under should be good no?

Depends on the style of hunting. With day hunts or horseback hunts you can get away with a heavier rifle. With a week + long backpack hunt every single ounce counts. Careful planning and spendy gear can get that pack weight way down and you feel every pound you lug up the hills. You definitely feel the weight a lot more than you do pushing bush.

That being said sacrificing the capability to take a longer shot to save a few ounces is not a good plan. Putting on a 13 oz Leupold vs. A Leupold ultralight is wise as the ultralight really sacrifices optical quality and eye relief. However, you certainly don't need a heavy rifle to have an accurate one.
 
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