tacticals for hunting?

[X-fan]

There are few constants in the universe, but Jerry's love of Savage and Jamie's love of Remington are as predictable as you will ever find Jerry is a shooting god, so he's safe to listen-to! I've never seen Jamie shoot...

Jerry......Appearently you should start a fan club....You... shooting God you!

Too bad about Jamie....I think he's under the bus!

 

[sunray]

"...Le Barons price..." They tend to buy in bulk. Gobles can't do that. Try and get after-sale service from Le Barons too.
"...tactical type rifles..." There's no such thing as a 'tactical' anything. It's a marketing term.

 

[Bulldog]

this counts I think ...

accounted for 2 of these

 

[Davy Crockett]

Dude. Seriously. This question comes up at least once a week in this forum. I'm sure the last thread hasn't even dropped from the top of this page. This topic has been beat to death many, many times already.

Ok, so here's a question for you guys who constantly ask about hunting with tactical or target rifles. Why is it you guys want to do this? Are you looking to live out your "sniper fantasies" on unsuspecting game? Seriously, I don't see the allure or glamour here.

I did a search on hunting in the precision section and didn't see anything that looked particularly relevant in the first 50 results so rather than read a hundred posts it makes more sense for me to ask the question and for helpful people to take a minute to answer. No offense, but if you're tired of answering the question you don't have to reply.

As for sniping fantasies, I don't have any. It's strictly aesthetics and practicality. I can only afford so many guns and I don't care for wood and chrome. I need a new hunting rifle but I'd like to have something I can take to the range for a little distance shooting when the mood strikes. If I can find something that fills both needs that's a space I can use for something else I want.

 

[pa guns]

Hi

When you set up a target rifle, you go for a heavy barrel. If I'm going to carry it all day, I go for a light(er) barrel in a hunting weapon. I would *not* want to lug my bench rifles very far ...

That's going to be your biggest fundamental decision. I freely admit that a "push back" from the dinner table would lighten things up by more than the difference between the two rifles. After a couple of hours of lugging, it *never* feels that way though.

Bob

 

[Cappy]

I bought my LTR for some of the reasons you mentioned. It is a very accurate rifle that isn't too heavy to carry all day. The .308 is effective on any hoofed game on this continent especially when you have the ability to put the bullet where you want.

In the process of getting a light weight precision rifle built up around a Rem 700 and chambered in .260AI. It will be for the same reasons. I want a very accurate rifle, but it has to be light enough to carry all day. Other than a 24" barrel it will end up looking very similar to the LTR.

 

[frzburn]

I have en 700P LTR too. Yes, heavier than most standard, hunting rifles. But such a nice stick...

To make a simple answer: If it's heavier, get stronger.

 

[pa guns]

Hi

I suppose you could also ask - do you *really* want a 5.x lb hunting rifle?

They are nice for carrying around, and I have buddies who go nuts over them. I certainly have never bought one.

Bob

 

[Leg]

I don't think that their is anything all that heavy about "tactical" rifles. Factory 700P or 10FP rifles are all under 9 lbs, correct? To me that isn't too much. But then again I've had to slog C6's and C9's through the bush for days on end. Now a benchrest rig for hunting, that's a completely different animal.

I say go for it. If your looking for a more compact bush gun than you can get the 20" barrel on a 10FP or buy an LTR or Tactical, or simply cut and crown whatever you end up with. Any of these rigs will still be plenty competitive at the ranges.

Personally, I'd stick with the accutrigger if you go for a Savage. Supposed to be very nice for a factory trigger and if this rig is for both target and hunting than I'd probably stick with a pull of around 3.5 lbs, much safer in the woods.

 

[pa guns]

Hi

Randomly (Ha!!) picking two model 10's:

If you go crazy enough, the 10FPXP-LEA is 11.25 pounds. Trust me when I say it feels *at least* that heavy. The 10FCP McMillan is 10 pounds, and that's a pretty good number for that rifle.

If you then go to a full blown "tactical" scope like the Bushnell 4200 6-24x50 (42-6245T) that adds another 22 ounces. I'd leave the bipod at home, but if you bring it along, add another 10 ounces. Scope bases, mounts, and a sling probably will put on another 4 to 6 ounces.

All that "stuff" gets you up into the > 14 pound range for the big one. You are pretty close to 12 pounds even on the lighter one without the bipod. The only time you will find me with my fully loaded LEA in the field is when Gunga Din is along to carry it for me ....

There are of course a lot of different model 10's ...

Bob

 

[ktg748]

My one and only rifle (not counting my 10/22!!) is a Savage 10FP (pre-accutrigger!) with a Sightron SII 3x12x42 scope and Harris bipod. I just put the tupperware stock back on for hunting this fall, last years deer went down at 425m (missed twice this year - the scope was dialed in to 600m, deer was at 75m!! aargh!! the knob showed zero, but POI was 15 MOA high!!!)
I have a Choate "supersniper" stock for bench/longrange stuff. Fully loaded with the Choate stock was 15.75 lbs. The tupperware stock brings it down to about 11.5 - 12, still heavy but its all relative.... total cost was just under $1000...

 

[Davy Crockett]

Thanks again for all the comments guys, this info is top notch

 

[Bulldog]

I weighed my Tikka Tactical in the above pics and it was 13.5 lbs.

308 win
5 shot mag
Sako muzzle break
EGW 25 moa picatinny rail
TPS rings
USO anti cant
Leupold mark 4 LR PR 4.5 x 14
Harris bipod
M24 sling

In and out of the boat and over hills and mountains, i never felt held up by the rifle. That said it weighs a lot more than my Savage 99 in 308!!

 

[2bad4u2]

I weighed my Tikka Tactical in the above pics and it was 13.5 lbs.

308 win
5 shot mag
Sako muzzle break
EGW 25 moa picatinny rail
TPS rings
USO anti cant
Leupold mark 4 LR PR 4.5 x 14
Harris bipod
M24 sling

In and out of the boat and over hills and mountains, i never felt held up by the rifle. That said it weighs a lot more than my Savage 99 in 308!!

I know we're all "manly men" here who pride ourselves with our ability to withstand great hardship and consider such matters as rifle weight as purely trivial. However, all bullsheet aside, lugging around a 13-15 pound rifle that is cumbersome to carry, even the best of times, is not a practical situation for the average man.

I don't think the practice is as common as this thread would suggest.

 

[eltorro]

I know we're all "manly men" here who pride ourselves with our ability to withstand great hardship and consider such matters as rifle weight as purely trivial. However, all bullsheet aside, lugging around a 13-15 pound rifle that is cumbersome to carry, even the best of times, is not a practical situation for the average man.

I don't think the practice is as common as this thread would suggest.

I use to take pride in my hauling of a very heavy rifle in the woods. Not anymore.
I use to think that if the WWII soldiers carried those M98s a;; the way to Russia and then ran back with them, one must not complain about the heft of a 10FP, for it is essentially similar in weight....

As I got older and I wanted to hone my hunting skills, not the shooting ones, at the same time with the increased density of hunters in the easy-accessible places... I started looking for lighter rifles and smaller scopes. The result was an increased area coverage, less tendency to stay put.... I'd say it was an improvement.

 

[Jamie]

There are few constants in the universe, but Jerry's love of Savage and Jamie's love of Remington are as predictable as you will ever find Jerry is a shooting god, so he's safe to listen-to! I've never seen Jamie shoot...

For a hunting rig, I agree a Savage is an excellent choice, as is a Remington... but for guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy out of the box, I'd buy a Tikka T-3. (and have on several occasions)

I shoot good....

I hunt with the LTR lots great little gun

 

[Hungry]

I like my .223 M700 LTR Wannabe (tiriaq and I screwed a .223 LTR takeoff barrel on my SPS) for all my earthpig adventures. True enough that I don't walk through the bushes with this little varmint gitter, but the short fat barrel is kommando looking enough for my self esteem

I'm not a blued and walnut stock kinda guy, so it's the tactical practical look for yours truly.

 

[Leg]

I know we're all "manly men" here who pride ourselves with our ability to withstand great hardship and consider such matters as rifle weight as purely trivial. However, all bullsheet aside, lugging around a 13-15 pound rifle that is cumbersome to carry, even the best of times, is not a practical situation for the average man.

I don't think the practice is as common as this thread would suggest.

Who said this was common practice?

What we have here is a guy who wants to buy one rifle for two purposes. He is simply asking if this is a viable option. Yes it is. Would he be better off with a hunting rifle for hunting? Probably, but then he wouldn't have a decent rifle for long range competition. Is a tactical heavier/harder to carry in the bush? Sure, but it's not that difficult, especially if you go with a 20" barrel. Those rifles seem to weigh about 8.5 lbs, plus scope and mount you're probably right around 10-11 lbs, give or take. Not that heavy at all.

Cumbersome? A 20" barrelled tactical is nice and short, great for the bush.

Is this for everyone? Probably not, but it's certainly a good option for someone who doesn't mind a little extra weight and doesn't have the cash to spend on two different rigs.

 

[2bad4u2]

Cumbersome? A 20" barrelled tactical is nice and short, great for the bush.

Agreed. A 20" barrel would be fine for the bush. However, most of the rifles discussed here are upwards to 24"-26" in length. Compact? Hardly.

Is this for everyone? Probably not, but it's certainly a good option for someone who doesn't mind a little extra weight and doesn't have the cash to spend on two different rigs.

Very true. A 700 LTR in .308 Win. would be the best compromise considering all criteria.

 

[dpopl8r]

I built this .308 "tactical" from an old BDL in .243. It shoots amazingly well, so much so that I want to hunt with it. Except the stock is way too much for hunting....

So I decided to bed the .308 barreled action to the original BDL stock. Now this I can take hunting, and will ! And the bonus of 2 guns for the price of one....