Thread: Tops Gun Advice

yep, my experience same as @stug's. Recoil on unbraked or non suppressed 7mmRM is very manageable, especially if you're not a 8 stone featherweight. I have had 2 7mm RMs - one 24in bbl in B&C stock the other 26 in bbl in CF stock. Both weighed in at ~9 lbs with scope, rings etc.
Got several light weight "tops 7mms" - 280AI , 284 and SAUM that weigh in at 5.5 - 6 lbs bare rifle. All shot without brake or suppressor for load dev and I've found the recoil manageable. 280AI without brake kicks a bit but its got a super thin recoil pad and always have the option to carry the brake or suppressor if needed on the tops. I could lose some further weight if I went to bolt fluting etc but have not gone that far.

With your current set up you could lose a fair bit of weight by going to a CF stock and not running the suppressor.
As other have stated overall balance also important along with weight and length.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

yep, my experience same as @stug's. Recoil on unbraked or non suppressed 7mmRM is very manageable, especially if you're not a 8 stone featherweight. I have had 2 7mm RMs - one 24in bbl in B&C stock the other 26 in bbl in CF stock. Both weighed in at ~9 lbs with scope, rings etc.
Got several light weight "tops 7mms" - 280AI , 284 and SAUM that weigh in at 5.5 - 6 lbs bare rifle. All shot without brake or suppressor for load dev and I've found the recoil manageable. 280AI without brake kicks a bit but its got a super thin recoil pad and always have the option to carry the brake or suppressor if needed on the tops. I could lose some further weight if I went to bolt fluting etc but have not gone that far.

With your current set up you could lose a fair bit of weight by going to a CF stock and not running the suppressor.
As other have stated overall balance also important along with weight and length.

After taking heaps of advice onboard, and noting weight is the only thing I don't love about my current tops rifle, I am set on a new path that I think will work out well. My rifle is a shooter that weighs too much for me to enjoy shooting it (actually it's the carrying that's the problem) so it is going on a diet...
- Getting the action milled to lighten it up a bit (won't be as light as a tikka action but shouldn't be too much heavier).
- Suppressor is staying at home
- Stug is going to make me a CF stock using his T3 mould and some custom inletting to make the M70 look at home in a new skirt.

Originally Posted by Dorkus

After taking heaps of advice onboard, and noting weight is the only thing I don't love about my current tops rifle, I am set on a new path that I think will work out well. My rifle is a shooter that weighs too much for me to enjoy shooting it (actually it's the carrying that's the problem) so it is going on a diet...
- Getting the action milled to lighten it up a bit (won't be as light as a tikka action but shouldn't be too much heavier).
- Suppressor is staying at home
- Stug is going to make me a CF stock using his T3 mould and some custom inletting to make the M70 look at home in a new skirt.

Sounds like a good option.
As many have said, a 7mmRM doesn't need a brake or suppressor and if your Winchester is a shooter, go for it.
Out of interest what is the barrel length of your mod 70?