Sheep & goat cartridge and mountain hunting rifle selection

I dont usually weigh my rifles but I will do that just to see..it does feel light....I have a few montanas to compare and it isnt far off. Good question though
 
Omenator said:
I had a Weatherby Mark V 30-06 Deluxe for awhile. It was a nice rifle, but the wood on it was too nice to take and bang around in the bush. I've thought about the ultralight, but they sure do use a slim barrel. Do you find yours walks when you shoot?
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No more than a montana I dont shoot the light rifles much at all they kick like a mule with hot loads.
 
If you wish to be Euro...then the 6.5x68 or if you reload 6.5/06 or. 264WM...but none of these are dramatically different than a. 270w....why not a stainless T/C Encore with 26" barrel in 270w?? They shoot pretty well, they are light and they are surprisingly fast to reload
 
Not that I've done much for sheep or goat hunting yet, but do lots of hiking and here in the Columbia shushwap valley it's all fairly steep country even at the low sides. My go to rifle for a days hike is my 325 wsm in model 70 extreme weather. All stock. Leupold 4.5 -14 on it and shoots 195 grains at about 2900fps. I've never put it to scale but I believe the base weight is 7 lbs before scope and what not. So call it 8.5ish scoped rings bases and the like. I find the weight quite manageable and I am not worried about being able to drop anything.
 
Longwalker said:
I'd probably pick .270, followed by .280, and third choice .270 WSM in a bolt action.
But I'm going to throw you a curve. How about considering something completely different? The Europeans have been making svelte stalking rifles for mountain hunting for generations. Their idea is not a bolt action, it is a single shot break action ( Kipplauf) that can be slipped into a backpack to leave both hands free for climbing, and assembled in seconds when the climb is done. Very precise, accurate, short over all but with a long barrel because of no action parts. They are pricey, but will last several life times. Good ones are made by Merkel, Krieghoff, Blaser, Heym and a few others. They can be chambered in standard rimless cartridges like the .270, or in the functionally superior rimmed cartridges like the 7x65R, equivalent to a hot loaded .280. My brother has a Merkel K1 .270 that weighs under 6 lbs, has a delightful trigger, and is very very accurate. It handles like a dream.
If a Merkel is not in your budget, Wolverine Supplies stocks the Haenel, made in the Merkel factory, as an economical alternative. It does not have fine high grade walnut, and no engravings, but the other features remain. 5.3 lbs, 24"barrel, and under $2000.
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Nice Im really liking those actually.
 
Take a serious look at the montanas, try and see if you can shoot one. I can understand they may not be for everyone but for a light rifle I don't think you can do any better. I was hesitant at first and didn't get one even though it was everything I wanted (bad reviews online) but now I kick myself for not just getting it. I don't want to think about how much $ I would have saved if I had done that rather than trying others and flipping them. Mine is a 7mm08, with a vx3 3.5-10 in Talley LWs. It shoots well, I haven't done much for load testing but mine puts factory Winchester supreme 140gr in 1inch at 100yds. I do find the light rifle a bit tougher to shoot accurately off hand but it's very managable with practice. I would like to try one in 300wsm just out of curiosity...
 
The more I look at it, the more I see it's basically the Kimber Montana or a custom/semi custom rifle. The European single shots are a neat idea, but they really work best with rimmed cartridges and they just aren't popular enough in Canada to be able to find components for. I'd love to take a closer look at one them in 6,5x65R or 7x65R, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Till then I'll keep my eye open for a Kimber Montana in 270 WIN, too bad they added the threaded muzzle this year as I hate muzzle breaks and we're not allowed to protect our hearing here.
 
jk123 said:
Take a serious look at the montanas, try and see if you can shoot one. I can understand they may not be for everyone but for a light rifle I don't think you can do any better. I was hesitant at first and didn't get one even though it was everything I wanted (bad reviews online) but now I kick myself for not just getting it. I don't want to think about how much $ I would have saved if I had done that rather than trying others and flipping them. Mine is a 7mm08, with a vx3 3.5-10 in Talley LWs. It shoots well, I haven't done much for load testing but mine puts factory Winchester supreme 140gr in 1inch at 100yds. I do find the light rifle a bit tougher to shoot accurately off hand but it's very managable with practice. I would like to try one in 300wsm just out of curiosity...
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What bad reviews, the one's about bad accuracy and feeding problems?…….I know, I've heard them all. Thats exactly why I post my targets from my mountain ascent. Next time don't hesitate.
 
Been itching for a Kimber for awhile now.

I've realized it's tough to beat the Montana, Mountain Ascent and Adirondack as a hunting rifle for weight vs quality vs compactness. Cost is where it's easily beat though.

Trying to narrow down between the Mountain Ascent or the Adirondack.... I think. I'm in heavy bush area so Adirondack makes sense. Than again, some of these logging cuts are starting to look like open plains so maybe the Mountain Ascent .....

I prefer shorter barrels and trying to come up with light as possible rig ... but those damn large timber cuts, some pretty big open spaces in the forest these days.

Not trying to hijack thread OP. Just adding to the "saw the Kimber light" post made above.

Guess there's also the option of cutting down Montana barrel and swapping trigger guard to aluminum and saving a fair it of cost over the other two.

Damn first world problem.
 
Another rifle that would be worth having a look at is a remington mountain rifle. I think they are close to 6lbs. They are synthetic and stainless as well. The cost would be close to 1100.
 
pete dobinson said:
Keep an eye on the EE, they do come up occasionally. A Montana 84L in 270. I don't think you could go wrong.
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Yes they do.

In fact, I just sold a MINT Kimber Montana in .25-06 for $1200. It went very quickly, to a CGN'er who wanted it for Sheep/Goat hunting.
Maybe I didn't ask enough for it and, if so, then that's ok. As long as it gets used and brings home the trophy and the meat. :)
 
I think the 257 wby would be a great round. I use a 25/06 and the results leave nothing wanting to improve on for wolf deer coyote and black bear. The wby pushing another couple hundred fps should be just the ticket for longer ranges. I don't hunt the mountains so I've never concerned myself with weight
 
vancouverbc said:
6.5 lbs. Not an ultralight for sure you would be over 7 scoped. About the same as an X bolt in S/A
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6.5 lbs for a long action. If you looks at Remington's website they list the same weight and length for both SA and LA, which is a typo. SA are 6 lbs 4 oz (6.25 lbs). The stock on them is a hefty 32oz. Replace with a wildcat composites and you are down to 5 lbs 6 oz +/- 1.5 oz. Depending on how much of the install of the Wildcat you do yourself, and assuming you sell the B&C take off you are around $1200-$1400 for A 5lbs 6 oz Rifle. That isn't bad, but is getting close to Montana territory in cost. Replace bolt shroud and firing pin with aluminum and machine the bolt and you are at Montana weight for Montana cost, but with a floorplate.
 
cam1936 said:
6.5 lbs for a long action. If you looks at Remington's website they list the same weight and length for both SA and LA, which is a typo. SA are 6 lbs 4 oz (6.25 lbs). The stock on them is a hefty 32oz. Replace with a wildcat composites and you are down to 5 lbs 6 oz +/- 1.5 oz. Depending on how much of the install of the Wildcat you do yourself, and assuming you sell the B&C take off you are around $1200-$1400 for A 5lbs 6 oz Rifle. That isn't bad, but is getting close to Montana territory in cost. Replace bolt shroud and firing pin with aluminum and machine the bolt and you are at Montana weight for Montana cost, but with a floorplate.
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And a 2" shorter barrel.
 
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