Thread: Insight / Discussion RE magnum calibres for mountain rifle

Didn't know my .308 with 168 Amax was so shit at killing animals compared to a 6.5 anything, maybe I 'd better stop doing it.......... good job I've got a wee .243............ hope no one tells it it doesn't work either, fuck I'll have to get a 20mm cannon next!

Reality check : every centre fire .243 up will kill most of our game animals out to 400yds without difficulty. Right projectile, know where to put it, job done.

Have to admit, this whole debate has got me wondering about cartridge options when I've shot out my .243 barrel, 8 twist .243 so I can use the 105 Berger maybe, an 18" .308 with a decent suppressor would do it for me too - Do kinda like the idea of a 25/08 with the 115 Berger or NBT though, then again 338Fed would make a big hole. What to do.......

Know what you mean about magnum rifles. Buzz kindly sold me a 260 carbonlight a year or two back and I recently fitted a 2.4-12x50 Swarovski z5. Fits in low optilocks and has a MOA turret. Using 147 eld ms shot a couple or ruahine reds a month back at 470 yards. Have shot quite a few deer with it now and hard to fault. And light - bit over 7lbs scoped and suppressed.

, hotsoup, for offhand shots, rifle fit makes the biggest difference for me. I custom pad the stock on every rifle that doesn't come up correctly. Look at the target and take a correct stance, then close your eyes bring the rifle up to shoulder and look through the scope. Correctly fitted and you will find yourself looking at the target. Then for an offhand shot you only need look at the target and the rifle comes up correctly. A skimpy narrow fore-end doesnt help a firm grip

A few years ago I thought, I bought the ultimate mountain rifle, a Kimber Assent, custom in .260, scoped 5lbs 3 oz, Leopold ultralight 3x9 and a Manners ultra light stock, nice too carry, a prick to shoot consistently, worse off hand, and the scope sucks in poor light, Back to the featherweight 7x57,
Same with M70 in .264, too heavy, back to the 7x57,
Finnlight in .260, sold to buy the above kimber, poor decision.
.270 M700 mountain rifle, poor balance, back to the 7x57
Finnlight in 7-08 chopped to 18", ok, balance is good, bush rifle, still preferer the M70 in 7x57.
Ruger 77 in .358 win, Fantastic rifle, balance and handling great, perhaps a bit heavy for alpine work.
M700 in 300H&H, great rifle, but heavy, sold for a cooper backcountry in 300 win
I have chopped and changed rifles in Canada, trying to find what works best for me, bigger game here so, my two mains are a
Sako baravian 20" 9.3x62, with a Z5 2x12, 8lbs even.
and cooper back country in 300 win, 7.5 lbs scoped with a Z6,
Just bought a M70 stainless in .308 as i miss having one, with both of my 7x57 in New Zealand,
Any how the point, I am getting at is, a moderate med cal, lets call that 6.5 to 308, on a 45-60gr case capacity, in a well fitting stock, of moderate weight 6.5-7.5lbs 18-22" barrel, smaller scope, 2 or 3 to 9-10 power, is a great place to be for a do all carry rifle, easier to shoot off hand, the either ultra light weight or heavy magnums,
For me I found the M70 Winchester and Finnlight, with a smaller Swarovski scope fit the bill.

Another thought is around strength, the strength to hold the rifle up without moving / shaking while waiting for the shot. As a general rule the best offhand shot hunters I have seen have been great big strong blokes who could grip the rifle like a grizzly bear. I used to have a job that made me very strong in the arms and holding weight up. It certainly helped with holding a rifle. Nothing wrong with doing exercise to improve that ability to hold the arms up, just like a boxer training with heavy gloves.

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Have to admit, this whole debate has got me wondering about cartridge options when I've shot out my .243 barrel, 8 twist .243 so I can use the 105 Berger maybe, an 18" .308 with a decent suppressor would do it for me too - Do kinda like the idea of a 25/08 with the 115 Berger or NBT though, then again 338Fed would make a big hole. What to do.......

358 would make an even bigger hole......

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Another thought is around strength, the strength to hold the rifle up without moving / shaking while waiting for the shot. As a general rule the best offhand shot hunters I have seen have been great big strong blokes who could grip the rifle like a grizzly bear. I used to have a job that made me very strong in the arms and holding weight up. It certainly helped with holding a rifle. Nothing wrong with doing exercise to improve that ability to hold the arms up, just like a boxer training with heavy gloves.

Interesting. This would go against the theory that lighter rifles are harder to shoot off hand? A strong person would perceive the same rifle lighter than a weaker person?
To me it is all about balance and how a rifle comes up.
Close your eyes and bring your rifle to your shoulder. When you open your eyes is the scope in exactly the right place to make a shot?

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Have to admit, this whole debate has got me wondering about cartridge options when I've shot out my .243 barrel, 8 twist .243 so I can use the 105 Berger maybe, an 18" .308 with a decent suppressor would do it for me too - Do kinda like the idea of a 25/08 with the 115 Berger or NBT though, then again 338Fed would make a big hole. What to do.......

Yeah. Know what you mean. Again the problem is which one to take hunting.....

Originally Posted by Shearer

Interesting. This would go against the theory that lighter rifles are harder to shoot off hand? A strong person would perceive the same rifle lighter than a weaker person?
To me it is all about balance and how a rifle comes up.
Close your eyes and bring your rifle to your shoulder. When you open your eyes is the scope in exactly the right place to make a shot?

Did you read my earlier post re rifle fit ? we are on the same page on that. The counter to your point on strength would be that a weak bastard could shoot a light rifle better than a strong person could shoot the same rifle and could hold it still without shaking while waiting for a good shot??

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Did you read my earlier post re rifle fit ? we are on the same page on that. The counter to your point on strength would be that a weak bastard could shoot a light rifle better than a strong person could shoot the same rifle and could hold it still without shaking while waiting for a good shot??

Maybe. I have no idea really.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Another thought is around strength, the strength to hold the rifle up without moving / shaking while waiting for the shot. As a general rule the best offhand shot hunters I have seen have been great big strong blokes who could grip the rifle like a grizzly bear. I used to have a job that made me very strong in the arms and holding weight up. It certainly helped with holding a rifle. Nothing wrong with doing exercise to improve that ability to hold the arms up, just like a boxer training with heavy gloves.

Tbh its more the fact that the 2x scrub bulls i had lined up were enormous and old.. got the shakes/nerves. Combination of that and spiked heart rate can make a challenging standing shot.

Bit late on this but, may be relevant

This is what I think you may find useful
Sako Finnlight in, 6.5x55, 260, 6.5 creed or dare I say 6.5prc, though for someone who fires a shot or two a hunt the PRC will last the rest of your life.
Spend 1k or 2K extra on the stock options eg Finn11 or carbon lite if you like, but to me not necessary.

Your in the mountains, you want a scope that won't fail you, and as your rifle is light, your quarry is say 500 meters max , I'd choose a Schmidt and Bender PM2 P4 Fein and probably the lower mag eg 3-12x50 to keep it light or one of the Night force options, I'd choose good glass over higher magnification.
I have no experience with the higher priced leupolds so cannot comment.

These will give you good options at sensible ranges at a comfortable weight.

Lastly if you wish to extend your range further than you have commented on then the calibres above apart from the PRc aren't an option in my opinion.

Interesting post. I’m in the process of rebarrelling my kimber Montana with a 1-8” chambered in 6cm. Should make a good light mountain rifle. Like @Bill999 I like the wee kimbers as well.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

^ Yeah thought about the Finnlight and slapping a CF stock on it. Good idea. I'd probably stick with Leupold simply from receiving such exceptional warranty service @jakewire