I bought a 700 LSS Mountain to hunt and plink...haven't got a chance to take it hunting, but love to "sight it in" at the range. Fun rifle to shoot, great looking, lightweight...reviews i read show that mountain rifles have too thin of barrels that heat too easily and are not that accurate, and are bad choices for just benching. But I happen to like it and want to perhaps get a bipod an d see how accurate I can get it ...whadya think? Keep it, or sell it for a full-size with a thicker barrel?
Mountain rifle...keep or not?
- Thread starter mr00jimbo
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
If the rifle shoots well, and if the recoil from a light weight rifle doesn't disturb you, why would you worry about "reviews" to the contrary. Sounds like it works for you, and that is the bottom line.
Heat is the issue for the barrel. Just shoot slower and take more time between shots to let the barrel cool. If the rifle is accurate with 2-3 shots, then keep it and shoot slower. Also, for practice, use a lighter bullet and faster powders such as 4064 and 150's. With faster powders and lighter bullets, you require less of the powder, therefor, you generate less heat.
My main hunting rifle is a Rem 700 Stainless Synthetic Mountain Rifle in .30-06. I would not trade it for the world.
The first three shots of my hunting load with a 168 TSX at a chronographed 3,000+ fps will cut a solid 1/2 m.o.a. off the bench, time and time again. After three shots, the thin barrel heats up and the subsequent shots walk a bit. Big deal. I don't use this rifle for match shooting (I use my Palma and F-Class rifles for that purpose.) For a big game hunting rifle, if you can get consistent accuracy like this for the first three shots, that's all you'll need, and you should be able to shoot animals WAY out there if you have to.
By the way, I have a VersaPod and sometimes mount it on my Remington. It's quickly detachable and doesn't add too much weight or radically alter the balance of the rifle with a sling. Last year I mounted it when we hiked into the back country for a couple of hours and got a Muley buck from 300 yards. I wouldn't hesitate to use it similarly again. The country we were hunting is quite open and rested longer shots are to be expected.
Mr00jimbo, I'd make sure the bedding was good on your rifle and work up a load, probably starting with 165 or 168-grain bullets. I found my Mountain Rifle to be startlingly accurate... for the first three shots. If you are shooting at the range, just let the rifle cool for 20 minutes and go again. It's no big deal if you have other rifles with you at the range.
The first three shots of my hunting load with a 168 TSX at a chronographed 3,000+ fps will cut a solid 1/2 m.o.a. off the bench, time and time again. After three shots, the thin barrel heats up and the subsequent shots walk a bit. Big deal. I don't use this rifle for match shooting (I use my Palma and F-Class rifles for that purpose.) For a big game hunting rifle, if you can get consistent accuracy like this for the first three shots, that's all you'll need, and you should be able to shoot animals WAY out there if you have to.
By the way, I have a VersaPod and sometimes mount it on my Remington. It's quickly detachable and doesn't add too much weight or radically alter the balance of the rifle with a sling. Last year I mounted it when we hiked into the back country for a couple of hours and got a Muley buck from 300 yards. I wouldn't hesitate to use it similarly again. The country we were hunting is quite open and rested longer shots are to be expected.
Mr00jimbo, I'd make sure the bedding was good on your rifle and work up a load, probably starting with 165 or 168-grain bullets. I found my Mountain Rifle to be startlingly accurate... for the first three shots. If you are shooting at the range, just let the rifle cool for 20 minutes and go again. It's no big deal if you have other rifles with you at the range.
The most accurate rifle I've ever owned was a LSS in 260 rem, it would routinely shoot .5-.75 inch groups at 200 yards with handloads. I stupidly sold it to a friend I loaned it too.
If the gun is a shooter, I wouldn't do anything with it.
If the gun is a shooter, I wouldn't do anything with it.
Quite a number of years ago, I bought a 700 Mountain Rifle in 7x57. It has served me well, and just loves that 140 Accubond at right around 2900. Usually shoots right around ¾moa, consistently, but the 4th shot will alway show a tendency to wander up and right a bit. I wouldn't get rid of this rifle. It's too nice to pack and shoot, and the deer, moose and elk will vouch for it's effectiveness. Regards, Eagleye
Everyone seems to fall into the "it must have a heavy barrel to shoot well" pit sometime in thier shooting lives, and it's just not true. A pencil thin carbine barrel may (or may not) out shoot a 2" diameter bull barreled varmint/presicion gun, it just won't do it repeatedly in a short time frame. If the rifle shoots well, hang on to it, it's a blessing. - dan
