Suggestions and opinions...?

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Iron Sighted

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Hi all, I'm planning on buying my first center fire hunting rifle sometime in the next few months(want to have it in time to use it at the range a bunch before fall hunting season starts). I know I'm after a stainless/synthetic deal and thus far I'm liking the Sako 85 Finnlight, I got to handle one in WSS a few weeks back, and I liked it very much(not the price so much but I can deal with it).

Anyone here have any other rifles to suggest in the same or cheaper ballpark?? Some of the Kimber rifles look nice, though I've never handled or seen one in person, so any feedback on them is also appreciated.

I'm thinking of perhaps getting a 7mm mag as I mostly plan on deer hunting, maybe some occasional moose if I get a tag, maybe elk too, who knows? I want something light as well because I'd like to mostly hunt mule deer in the alpine and prefer the idea of hiking and stalking over hunting from a blind.

Anyway, I'm all ears if anyone has any words of wisdom or opinions to express, and feel free to chime in on optics as well(scopes, binos, spotting scopes, I don't have any of these yet either). I want to buy quality gear, but if it can be found at a reasonable price I'd be happy not to have to sell one of my children to afford it.

Thanks fellas.
 
Look at a Thompson Centre Venture. Very reasonably priced and having two in the family (.223 and .270) they seem to be very accurate and well made. Dealers who advertise on this site sell them and I am positive you would be happy with one.

Both have a Redfield scope and again reasonably priced with a great guarantee.
 
Sako's are out of my price range but I'm sure you'll be happy with it. If you need optics I'd suggest maybe spending a little less on your rifle (tikka T3, remington 700 series) and spend more on your optics. In my opinion you'll probably notice a greater difference.
 
If you liked the feel of a Sako, I would suggest a Tikka T3 seeing they come from the same manufacturing family. I've got/had guns from most manufacturers and this a new favorite for the under $800.00 range.

Other suggestions would be a Weatherby Vanguard Back Country (not positive if you can get it in 7mm though), and perhaps the TC Icon. Even though some of the rifles in the $500 range shoot accurate, I don't find many of them comfortable.

If you plan on spot and stalk mule deer or sheep I would definately put a 4-12x scope, or even greater. Some strong advice though, get some decent binos and instead of the spotting scope, put that money on a GPS, you never know when your life could depend on it. I have a set of Garmin Rhinos for my kids, which actually show you were your partners are located, and double as 2 way radios.
 
Good thought on the GPS, I've already got a Garmin 60CSX and I love it. The Tikka is another rifle I've been contemplating and it would allow me more money for optics and has a reputation of being accurate, plus it is light as well.

I'm leaning towards a Zeiss scope after shouldering a friends rifle with a Conquest scope on it, it had great clarity.

Anybody have a good starting price point for quality binos, or recommended models? I was thinking of something in the $600 neighborhood, will that get me something I won't later regret buying?

Again thanks for the replies.
 
I agree with everyone. I would buy a Sako in a heartbeat if I could also afford good optics. Otherwise I would buy a Tikka and spend the money on a really good scope.

I own a Tikka M695 in 7mm mag. For years I hunted with a Simmons 3.5X10X40 scope I bought south for $40.
This year I bought a Savage in 7X57 and mounted a Leupold VXII 3X9X40 as it was in my budget. WELL..the difference is unreal and I don't know what I was thinking all those years hunting with that cheap scope. My wife, who doesn't shoot looked through both the Simmons on the Tikka and Leupold on the Savage and told me that the difference was so extreem that I should go out and buy a Leupold for the Tikka. It now has a VX-3 3.5X10X40 and I am one happy camper with a great wife. :)
 
Sako for sure, as the first preference.

However, a less expensive "compromise" could be the Tikka or a CZ - the later two would be around the similar price range. That saving could be re-invested into a quality scope.

Tikka has some plastic components into its build which is not an issue while the CZ has no plastic.

One may or may not like the Tikka T3 Lite's plastic stock. The somewhat plain (wood) stock on the Tikka T3 Hunter is very acceptable. The CZ is offered in both wood and kevlar although going by memory I don't recall seeing one in 7mm-08 but most of the chamberings are there.

Both are highly accurate rifles and well finished.

EDIT: I now noted that you had actually mentioned 7mm Rem Mag......CZ does offer that.
 
Iron Sighted said:
Good thought on the GPS, I've already got a Garmin 60CSX and I love it. The Tikka is another rifle I've been contemplating and it would allow me more money for optics and has a reputation of being accurate, plus it is light as well.

I'm leaning towards a Zeiss scope after shouldering a friends rifle with a Conquest scope on it, it had great clarity.

Anybody have a good starting price point for quality binos, or recommended models? I was thinking of something in the $600 neighborhood, will that get me something I won't later regret buying?

Again thanks for the replies.
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Sako Finnlight in a 300 WSM would be my choice for lightweight and versatile, topped with either a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 or Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 in Talley Lightweight mounts.

Minox binoculars are great for the price. 10x40 is a good power range for mountain hunting,etc.

My advice is to not even look through the top end binoculars such as Leica/Zeiss/Swarovski, as all others will pale in comparison and you won't be happy until you get a set. :)
 
bearkilr said:
Sako Finnlight in a 300 WSM would be my choice for lightweight and versatile, topped with either a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 or Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 in Talley Lightweight mounts.

Minox binoculars are great for the price. 10x40 is a good power range for mountain hunting,etc.

My advice is to not even look through the top end binoculars such as Leica/Zeiss/Swarovski, as all others will pale in comparison and you won't be happy until you get a set. :)
Click to expand...

Ha, I checked out some prices on those high end binoculars...don't think I'll be able to squeeze the swarovisions in to my budget, they are a little to rich for my blood. I'd like to keep everything all in, between $3500-4000(less is fine too) for the rifle, scope, rings, binoculars, boots, good backpack, and maybe some outerwear. I've got lightweight camping/backpacking gear already, so I'm set there, but i think I'll need a larger, tougher pack.
 
So, has anyone here tried/owned or at least had a good look at a Kimber Montana in person? They look like a nice rifle from what I've seen online but I'd like to hear some first hand info. Also, I know about the great warranty from Leupold(providing it came through Korth in to Canada), does Zeiss offer similar lifetime warranties on their products?
 
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