Sheep hunting Rifles

Dogleg said:
. If I talk myself into doing that again I'd probably take a newly aquired Kimber Montana in 270 WSM and pump the stock full of helium, look for a lighter hunting knife, cut the labels out of my clothes, take the wrappers off my chocolate bars and make sure the hunt involves horses.
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I hear that Dogleg and have gone nearly to those extremes to get weight down for sheep and goat hunts. Years back when I did it every year my sheep partner and I had it down to 35 lbs each for a 5 day backpack sheep hunt and this included rifle.
 
Longwalker said:
Agree completely with this post. Excellent sheep rifles are light, accurate and reasonably flat shooting. If you want a 300 mag, they certainly work, but I would consider something like a 25-06, .270 win, 6.5 swede, 7mm08, 7x57, .280, 7x64, .308 or 30-06. A 22" barrel is long enough in these chamberings without severe muzzle blast or lost performance potential and a rifle a pound or two under "standard" weight will not punish you with recoil.
Of your rifle choices, I like the Sako and the Kimber.
The only sheep I have ever shot was with a .308. So that's a grand experience of one. Doesn't mean much, but I do have a fair bit of experience lugging rifles and shooting stuff the size of sheep in wide open spaces. Just my thoughts.
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Very good post. In all my miles, horizontal and vertical, in BC mountains, I never felt undergunned with either a 270 or 30-06.
I was mountain hunting in BC when the entire northern, wilderness area, was laced with trappers and prospectors who lived full time, all seasons, in cabins in the bush. These men were the true bushmen and certainly authorities on wild animals in the bush. The first old trapper/prospector I ever talked to about it, said if you are going out to hunt grizzly bear, you should have at least a 303 British.
 
Any accurate sub 6.5 pound rifle with a composite stock and stainless barrel that will launch a heavy for calibre projectile in the 6.5-7mm range at 2800-3000 fps makes a great sheep rifle. My pet is a 270WSM RMR but lots of good choices out there. If I were buying off the shelf I'd likely choose the Sako A7 in 270WSM but the Kimber is definitely worth a look too. Nothing wrong with a Tikka T3 either.
 
Dogleg said:
My mountain hunting is limited, but I do have most of the rifles on your list. I took a Montana rifle co .300 win on a goat, bou, moose hunt is grizzly country last year and that worked out alright meaning I didnt die. If I talk myself into doing that again I'd probably take a newly aquired Kimber Montana in 270 WSM and pump the stock full of helium, look for a lighter hunting knife, cut the labels out of my clothes, take the wrappers off my chocolate bars and make sure the hunt involves horses.
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Being young and cocky the first time I went on a sheep hunt, I toted a 30" barrel 11 pound rifle. Next hunt I carred a 6 lb rifle. I don't care who you are, once you climb a few hills that look tough, you soon discover your guide is not only twice as fit as you are, you should listen carefully to him, and to those that have been there before. I don't think there is a sheep hunter that hasn't dreamed of being picked up by a helicopter....lol

I ended up with a Model 7 Stainless Synthetic in 7mm08 for sheep hunting, and to be honest if I could find a slingshot that could kill sheep @ 200 yards, I wouldn't even bring a rifle...lol. I am way to out of shape now for a proper sheep hunt, even with horses.
 
Be bear smart...but don't worry about needing a rifle that will stop a charging a grizzly. When I am making miles in sheep country the rifle is usally strapped onto the pack anyways. I do keep pepper spray on my waist belt though. Bring a rifle that is a comfortable weight in any chambering you would hunt deer/elk/moose with.
 
When did bears become a huge deal. A light weight stainless rifle that is accurate is all that's needed. Caliber choice doesn't really matter, I've seen then put to sleep with 270s up to a 9.3x64 with most rams taken with 300wsm/300win.

I'd rather use what ever I'm packing to shoot a bear than toss rocks at a bear.
 
I use the 300 wsm in a custom titanium rem 700 and I do feel a bit better using a 30 cal rather than something smaller for the times when you're working your way up past the tree line. It weighs 5lbs 15 ounces (bare rifle) and I find that's about as light as I'd like to have in a 300 wsm. For the money though I think the tikka t3 is a good buy and it's only 4 ounces heavier than mine. The sako finlight is a nice light rifle too, I have loaded for three different model 85's in 300 wsm and they all shot right at MOA or a little better.

I've never fired wby ul but I would tend to think the skinny barrel may not lend itself to great accuracy.

To be honest though you can lose more weight in your gear and your belly than you can in a rifle so if I was starting all over I would go with a T3 in the flavour of your choice and spend the money saved in really good boots, a mystery ranch bag, target practice and a Swarovski spotting scope. The Swarovski spotter is heavy but worth it.
 
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Husqvarna barreled action, 270 Winchester, in a Brown Precision Pound'r stock, Leupold 2-7X28.






Just a bit less than seven pounds with sling and five in the magazine. Still enough for everything you will find in the mountains, and a pretty easy carry.... even for an old guy!

Ted
 
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I'm with Boomer = 375RUM... :redface:

My 21" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM is my BC back country do everything rifle/cartridge combo loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps I would not hesitate to shoot out to 500 yards which is my self imposed max hunting distance with my VX3 4.5-14X40mm B&C reticle scope mounted I am zeroed 1" high @ 200 yards with the second B&C reticle down I am dead on @ 500 yards this combo when I do my part properly gives me 4 1/2" 500 yard 3 shot groups.

When I am in camp or packing game out I pop off the scope and install my XS Sights tall Weaver backup ghost ring sight gives me cloverleaf 3 shot 50 yard groups with my 350gr TSX @ 2450fps loads and if a big game animal pops out that I want to take I would not hesitate to shoot out to 250 yards with the ghost ring sights.
 
I also have a HS PHL 300wsm, did a lot of thinking on it, and decided on this because, it is very accurate and very light, and short action, put a 2-12 scope and near mounts on it, with sling weighs a hair under 8 lbs with clip in. While at the range using 180 gr, I swear the felt recoil was much lower than my heavier ruger 30-06, while pushing the pills faster, and was right in there with my buddies 270. I don't go with the "you must have a canon for bears club" The 300 wsm is an awesome, all around caliber. If you look around the HS can be found here and there, at a decent price for a high end firearm. You can't be carrying many guns, so take one that can handle any situation, and 30 cal has been proven to do that, time and time again. Will even work on Yotes.
 
I am also using a 300 wsm for mountain hunting in bear country. Im shooting 180 Accubonds (.507 BC) @ 3000 fps, with a Swaro 3.5 x 18 x 44 BRX
Its flat shooting and has a lot of stopping power. I would pick the Sako of the listed guns, have it bedded and add a side vent brake, turn the trigger down to 2.5 pounds, that would be a wicked sheep gun.

i wish I went that way, but I ordered 5K custom, to save 8 oz, that I should have very soon,(I hope) and the more I think about it, thats a lot of cash for a mountain rifle. with the nicks n bumps that happen in the mountains,
 
Sheep are not hard to kill at all. A hit almost anywhere will do it.

This Husqvarna 30-06 shoots plenty flat enough to take them way past three hundred yards,



and will handle the biggest bear that walks! Just ask Phil Shoemaker.

Not as light as the 270 Pound'r, but still an easy carry.






Might be putting this one on the EE. Trying to decide between it and the 270.

My point is that you can still get an accurate easy to carry, mountain rifle without breaking your bank account. Actually, the Marlin X series rifles make up into quite a good outfit.... 7 1/2 pounds with a Leupold 4X on board produced this group.



One time. :) However, it will consistently shoot close to three-quarter inch groups with that load.

Ted
 
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Tikka T3 Lite ss are light rifles, accurate and won't break the bank. You mention a 300 WSM and I think that would be a good calibre for both sheep and ok for big bears. I load a 165 grain TSX in my 300 WSM and use that as an all-round type load. I think weight should be your biggest concern -- in the mountains, an ounce counts!
 
Ltbull01 said:
Tikka T3 Lite ss are light rifles, accurate and won't break the bank. You mention a 300 WSM and I think that would be a good calibre for both sheep and ok for big bears. I load a 165 grain TSX in my 300 WSM and use that as an all-round type load. I think weight should be your biggest concern -- in the mountains, an ounce counts!
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The Tikka T3 fitted with a McMillan Edge stock may well be the perfect factory sheep rifle.
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I have hiked in stone sheep mountains with an 11 pound m700 in 7 rem mag. That wasn't horrible, but it sure wasn't fun either. I have a kimber Montana in 338 win mag that has come with me looking for sheep, I'm thinking of selling it but it shoots 210 grain bullets nicely. More specifically for mountain hunting I bought a model 70 extreme weather in 7 rem mag to replace the heavy m700 that I sold. I think the 7 rem mag is suited just right for sheep in my eyes. I load developed 168 berger vld's zeroed at 2" above @ 100 yards and have 150 grain ttsx if I'm feeling a little uneasy about bears. The ttsx hit 1" above @ 100 yards. I have never had a problem with grizzly but had to shoot a small black bear that wouldn't leave after I bear sprayed him twice. If your going with a guide then protection is his job, yours is to have a good time.
 
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