Since you have a healthy budget of $1,700 "out the door" which includes rifle, scope, rings and sling I'd suggest a Kimber Montana that only weighs 5lb 7oz. Add a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm with a Boone & Crockett reticle that weights less than 13 oz and you'll have a really good lightweight package for elk hunting. I prefer Zeiss scopes to Leupold, but the scope I mentioned is a nice scope for the money. I can see why people like the Winchester Extreme Weather rifles since they certainly look good at first glance. I had two of them but they're heavy, they exhibited poor machining, the bolts weren't smooth on closing and they didn't shoot particularly well so I sold both. I have four Kimbers with no plans to part with them. Another rifle company to look at is Sako. They make some very nice rifles with very smooth actions along with other desirable features.
Looking for a 30 06
- Thread starter mrbladedude
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If your going on a guided hunt, some outfitters will not allow the 30-06 . They spent too many waisted hours looking for animals never retrieved. Can't speak to your state for I have never hunted it. Some may limit your shot distance . Too many better cal. and recoil systems to limit yourself to less than 300 yard shots. These can be loaded down to lesser loads too. Just my thoughts ,
salt&battery
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if an outfitter told me that I would never use him. no matter what caliber rifle used a bad hit on an elk size animal and it will be hard to find. are you saying an elk shot in the vitals with an 06 cannot be found?
BrocLuno
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Uh huh, yeah sure ... If an 06 won't do it in North America, you need to go back to shooting school...
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mrbladedude
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Leaning towards a Winchester Model 70. How are the new 2016 models?
And how does the Winchester Super Grade conpare to Remington 700's top model? Which model is Remingtons best?
And how does the Winchester Super Grade conpare to Remington 700's top model? Which model is Remingtons best?
cdb1
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I'm calling 100% BS too. I know several people who hunt elk with a 7mm-08 and their guides have never said anything like that. I've been elk hunting once, in 1984, in New Mexico. Won it in a raffle. I took my .270 because it was the only centerfire rifle I had. The outfitter had me shoot to make sure it was sighted in and said I was good to go. When I asked him if the cartridge was too light he said no, that he also used a .270 and that's exactly what he carried.
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cdb1
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That's why there are so many rifle models out there. Call me a sissy but I have no desire to shoot a 30-06 in a rifle that light. And I will not use a muzzle break. Not saying there's anything wrong with it because there isn't. Just not for me.
eastbank
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for me a light rifle makes a lot of sense when you may be hiking 4-5 miles or more hunting your animals and may end up shooting only 2-3 rounds. i used a cz 550 in .375 H&H mag in africa and found it very heavy after several miles. in my avatare is a cape buffalo i shot with a MS in 9.3x62 i barrowed off of my PH and it was a joy to carry and got the job done. when still hunting or mobile(4x4-truck) a heavier rifle is not to much of a burden. eastbank.
salt&battery
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being a sissy has nothing to do with it. trying to site the rifle in and getting pounded brings on flinching and fear of touching one off I don't care who you are. I do not see a need for such a lite rifle in 30-06 some do
Gtscotty
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Which outfitters won't allow the use of .30-06 for elk?
salt&battery
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did you ever use a sling to carry your rifle? they have slings where the rifle hangs horizontal by your waist. with a properly made backpack I know girls that hiked over 2000 miles on the appalachian trail with 25 lbs in their backpack
cdb1
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I'm actually don't consider myself a sissy. I've had three shoulder operations though and if you saw my right shoulder would understand why I'm never going to own a lightweight rifle. I don't own a ton of rifles(2 rimfires and 7 centerfires and all the centerfires are on the heavy side. About five years ago I even went from a .270 to a 6.5x55 and now wonder why I didn't make the switch years ago. Only thing in Texas I wouldn't use the Swede on is Nilgai. I've shot several and used a 30-06 on two and a .270 on the other. I'm fortunate to have a friend who has Nilgai on his ranch in south Texas.
salt&battery
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I do not consider anyone that does not like to be punished by a rifles recoil a sissy lol. it is hard to be a good shot with a real light rifle.. how come your Swede with its long bullets no good on Nilgai? have you tried the 160 grain bullets
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Blacksmoke
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For my 2 cents, the best .30-06 I owned was the oldest. A1943 Remington '03-A3, "sporterized" but with the original mil-spec sights. There was something about that old peep sight which worked well for me and I was pretty good with it. I have owned lever action, slide action, autoloading and other bolt action -06s and liked the older timer best of all.
This is the modern day, along with salt and battery's suggestion, the monolith bullets are equalizing the playing field, but regardless, that Swede has been killing moose for generations!
I think you might be surprised by how "soft shooting" the Kimber Montana rifles are. A good stock design can make a huge difference and the stock on the Kimber Montana/Mountain Ascent/Subalpine/Adirondack rifles is basically a high end custom stock made of carbon fiber and fiberglass that does an amazing job of reducing felt recoil. I've shot some wood stocked rifles in .30-06 Sprg weighing 2 to 3 pounds more than the Kimber and they were unpleasant to shoot. I've shot many, many rounds through Kimbers off benches without much problem at all. That stock is something special, and adding a Beartooth comb raising kit allows just about anyone to get a really good fit.
salt&battery
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never shot one. would like to try it. I know the hardest kicking 06 I shoot was the 03-A3 springfield series. I shot the MI Garand right after that and it was like an AR 223. it weighed enough but must have had a horrible stock design.
Wisco
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I recently bought a Winchester M70 Alaskan. It's really a great rifle. My only complaint is that it is made/assembled in Portugal of USA parts. That said, I also have a pre-64 Winchester in 30-06 that isn't nearly as nice in fit and finish after 60 years and doesn't shoot even half as well.
If not being made in America doesn't bother you, I'd suggest one . Heck, I'd even sell you mine with the Skinner peep sight installed. Not being made in the US is a dealbreaker for me, and the place I ordered from guaranteed me this was made by FN in South Carolina.
Here it is
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cdb1
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Double post.
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cdb1
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Didn't know it is the modern day.
I load 130 grain Berger Hunting VLD's. My 6.5x55 is a CZ 550 American. On my land I have whitetail, my BIL has whitetail and Axis. I'm not going to load two different bullets for the same rifle. I don't twist turrets but would have to if I used a 160 grain bullet and a 130 grain. Don't have BDC reticles either. Have German #4's and Duplex. I prefer a 130 grain bullet for hunting deer and would want a tougher bullet for Nilgai. The 30-06 was used when I was hunting Nilgai. The .270 was used when I was deer hunting and the Nilgai was a target of opportunity. I feel a 30-06 is better for Nilgai than a Swede.
My BIL has several Kimbers. Too light so too much recoil for me. And I don't do muzzle brakes which come standard on some Kimbers. I also have two Beartooth Comb Raising Kits, one on a Marlin 336 and one on a SA-459 Turkey. They will improve cheek weld as stated but I've not noticed a reduction in recoil with them. I also won't use the Beartooth for wingshooting because they affect cast. I have a Maxus that I needed to raise the comb more than the shims allowed and have an Isis comb raiser on it because it doesn't affect cast. It can be seen on the shotgun in the far left of the picture. YMMV.
I load 130 grain Berger Hunting VLD's. My 6.5x55 is a CZ 550 American. On my land I have whitetail, my BIL has whitetail and Axis. I'm not going to load two different bullets for the same rifle. I don't twist turrets but would have to if I used a 160 grain bullet and a 130 grain. Don't have BDC reticles either. Have German #4's and Duplex. I prefer a 130 grain bullet for hunting deer and would want a tougher bullet for Nilgai. The 30-06 was used when I was hunting Nilgai. The .270 was used when I was deer hunting and the Nilgai was a target of opportunity. I feel a 30-06 is better for Nilgai than a Swede.
My BIL has several Kimbers. Too light so too much recoil for me. And I don't do muzzle brakes which come standard on some Kimbers. I also have two Beartooth Comb Raising Kits, one on a Marlin 336 and one on a SA-459 Turkey. They will improve cheek weld as stated but I've not noticed a reduction in recoil with them. I also won't use the Beartooth for wingshooting because they affect cast. I have a Maxus that I needed to raise the comb more than the shims allowed and have an Isis comb raiser on it because it doesn't affect cast. It can be seen on the shotgun in the far left of the picture. YMMV.
eastbank
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i use a caldwell lead sled to sight my rifles in as i want to check my rifle and loads, use what you want. but at 73 for me its a 6 3/4-7 1/2 pound rifle scoped and i have slings on them. at those weights i can go all day, not as fast as i could 30-40 years ago, but i can keep up. recoil have never been a problem for me while shooting at game. eastbank.
Well, throwing a 120 copper solid, or 130 accubond could be a compromise worth investigating, I'm not trying to tell you you're doing it wrong, just saying that there are options available that weren't always so.Didn't know it is the modern day.
I load 130 grain Berger Hunting VLD's. My 6.5x55 is a CZ 550 American. On my land I have whitetail, my BIL has whitetail and Axis. I'm not going to load two different bullets for the same rifle. I don't twist turrets but would have to if I used a 160 grain bullet and a 130 grain. Don't have BDC reticles either. Have German #4's and Duplex. I prefer a 130 grain bullet for hunting deer and would want a tougher bullet for Nilgai. The 30-06 was used when I was hunting Nilgai. The .270 was used when I was deer hunting and the Nilgai was a target of opportunity. I feel a 30-06 is better for Nilgai than a Swede.
My BIL has several Kimbers. Too light so too much recoil for me. And I don't do muzzle brakes which come standard on some Kimbers. I also have two Beartooth Comb Raising Kits, one on a Marlin 336 and one on a SA-459 Turkey. They will improve cheek weld as stated but I've not noticed a reduction in recoil with them. I also won't use the Beartooth for wingshooting because they affect cast. I have a Maxus that I needed to raise the comb more than the shims allowed and have an Isis comb raiser on it because it doesn't affect cast. It can be seen on the shotgun in the far left of the picture. YMMV.
salt&battery
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yes I know all that but I have fired many bolt 30-06's that did not kick like the springfields. I don't think gas has anything to do with recoil it is compressing the return spring that absorbs some of the recoil
salt&battery
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you never seem to feel recoil when firing at game lol. did you ever have a stock crack in a lead sled? I would think it puts a big strain on the stock. you are doing good at 73
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