Looking for a Mid-Range Stainless Rifle

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Macchina

Macchina

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Most of my hunting occurs in Michigan, I have lever rifles in 44 and 357 and bolt action covered with 357, 7mm-08, and 30-06.

My 30-06 is a beautiful blued walnut Model 70 and my 7mm-08 is a Savage I don't care much about but also blued and wood.

I am looking to get a new stainless rifle for all-weather long range hunting. I'm thinking a larger caliber would be nice to have this rifle cover both foul weather as well as any big game hunting needs that I would want more than a 30-06 for. I don't have any immediate plans for bear or elk hunting but might be a good chance to kill 2 birds with one stone.

I'm thinking about going 1 of 2 directions:

>A mid range bolt action rifle ($600-$800) that gets me around 6 pounds in something like 300 PRC. This would cover many bases for me but would be about $1200 all in after optics and mounts.
>A CVA Scout Takedown in 6.5 Creedmoor. Cheap, stainless and long range capable, though maybe a bit under powered for something like Elk. I like single shots because they are shorter and lighter for what you get. I don't currently own a single shot.
 
6lbs is pretty light. I know Mossberg makes a Patriot in 6.5PRC that's pretty close to 6lbs unloaded. It's not stainless though.
 
Macchina said:
Most of my hunting occurs in Michigan, I have lever rifles in 44 and 357 and bolt action covered with 357, 7mm-08, and 30-06.

My 30-06 is a beautiful blued walnut Model 70 and my 7mm-08 is a Savage I don't care much about but also blued and wood.

I am looking to get a new stainless rifle for all-weather long range hunting. I'm thinking a larger caliber would be nice to have this rifle cover both foul weather as well as any big game hunting needs that I would want more than a 30-06 for. I don't have any immediate plans for bear or elk hunting but might be a good chance to kill 2 birds with one stone.

I'm thinking about going 1 of 2 directions:

>A mid range bolt action rifle ($600-$800) that gets me around 6 pounds in something like 300 PRC. This would cover many bases for me but would be about $1200 all in after optics and mounts.
>A CVA Scout Takedown in 6.5 Creedmoor. Cheap, stainless and long range capable, though maybe a bit under powered for something like Elk. I like single shots because they are shorter and lighter for what you get. I don't currently own a single shot.
Click to expand...
https://beta.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/16973.html is probably what Id be looking at, but the Tikka Stainless would also be a good option.
The CVA Scouts would probably be good as well, I have a couple buddies that hunt with CVA muzzys of similar design and they shoot well.

just thought about it, a .300PRC in a 6lb gun would be....mildly uncomfortable......
 
LoonWulf said:
https://beta.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/16973.html is probably what Id be looking at, but the Tikka Stainless would also be a good option.
The CVA Scouts would probably be good as well, I have a couple buddies that hunt with CVA muzzys of similar design and they shoot well.

just thought about it, a .300PRC in a 6lb gun would be....mildly uncomfortable......
Click to expand...

I agree, but after rings, scope, ammo, and sling I expect the whole kit to be about 7.5 pounds. I wouldn't want a Magnum anything to be 6 pounds wet!
 
This is easy. A SS Tikka will cost you $750, weight is about 6 1/2 lbs. I seriously doubt if you'll find anything more accurate. Leupold scopes tend to be the lightest option. A VX3i 3.5-10X40 is only 12ish ounces and prices run $350-$400. If on a tighter budget the VX-Freedom is closer to $200. Your total weight will be around 7 1/4 to 7 1/2 lbs scoped if you go with lightweight mounts. Some of the steel mounts add almost 1/2 lb to the total package compared to 2-3 oz for something like Talley Lightweights.



Choose | Tikka
tikka_t3x__t3x-lite-stainless__pov__1.png

The 6.5 Creedmoor is the smallest cartridge I'd feel comfortable hunting elk with. I like to keep things simple. You already have 7-08 and 30-06. No reason to complicate things by adding another cartridge. The 7-08 is a solid 400 yard elk cartridge with proper bullets. A 30-06 is a solid 500+ yard elk cartridge. And I'm being conservative, lots of guys would add another 100 yards to that. If you just insist you could move up to one of the 7mm or 30 caliber magnums. If you're good enough to take advantage of it, those cartridges add another 100 yards of effective range over the 7-08 and 30-06. At typical hunting ranges inside of 300 yards no animal will ever notice the difference.

I've owned lots of rifles over the years in lots of cartridges. Several variants of 300 and 7mm mag, 338/06, 35 Whelen, 45-70, and 280. But I keep coming back to the basics. I've sold them all and primarily use 308 now for pretty much everything. It is a ballistic twin to your 7-08. In fact on paper the 7-08 has a slight edge. I did keep my 30-06 but rarely use it anymore and have bought a 6.5 CM. I do like the 6.5 cartridge, but like my 308 rifles better so for now they get carried more when I go hunting.

I took a long honest look at my shooting skills and decided that I simply didn't have the skills or inclination to start shooting at game beyond 300ish yards. It didn't make sense for me to keep rifles that had the capability to do it at double that range.
 
jmr40 said:
This is easy. A SS Tikka will cost you $750, weight is about 6 1/2 lbs. I seriously doubt if you'll find anything more accurate. Leupold scopes tend to be the lightest option. A VX3i 3.5-10X40 is only 12ish ounces and prices run $350-$400. If on a tighter budget the VX-Freedom is closer to $200. Your total weight will be around 7 1/4 to 7 1/2 lbs scoped if you go with lightweight mounts. Some of the steel mounts add almost 1/2 lb to the total package compared to 2-3 oz for something like Talley Lightweights.



Choose | Tikka
View attachment 957535

The 6.5 Creedmoor is the smallest cartridge I'd feel comfortable hunting elk with. I like to keep things simple. You already have 7-08 and 30-06. No reason to complicate things by adding another cartridge. The 7-08 is a solid 400 yard elk cartridge with proper bullets. A 30-06 is a solid 500+ yard elk cartridge. And I'm being conservative, lots of guys would add another 100 yards to that. If you just insist you could move up to one of the 7mm or 30 caliber magnums. If you're good enough to take advantage of it, those cartridges add another 100 yards of effective range over the 7-08 and 30-06. At typical hunting ranges inside of 300 yards no animal will ever notice the difference.

I've owned lots of rifles over the years in lots of cartridges. Several variants of 300 and 7mm mag, 338/06, 35 Whelen, 45-70, and 280. But I keep coming back to the basics. I've sold them all and primarily use 308 now for pretty much everything. It is a ballistic twin to your 7-08. In fact on paper the 7-08 has a slight edge. I did keep my 30-06 but rarely use it anymore and have bought a 6.5 CM. I do like the 6.5 cartridge, but like my 308 rifles better so for now they get carried more when I go hunting.

I took a long honest look at my shooting skills and decided that I simply didn't have the skills or inclination to start shooting at game beyond 300ish yards. It didn't make sense for me to keep rifles that had the capability to do it at double that range.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the great write-up!
I am like you and keep my shots under 400 yards. My farthest shot ever was a Mule Deer at 390 yards with my 7mm-08. I had practiced for 400 before that trip and brought a dope chart. I also took a pronghorn at 320 yards.

Beyond 400 yards, wind becomes a huge factor for deer sized game and I don't trust a first shot anymore.

Those Weatherby Mark Vs are awesome but will above my budget. Tikka always seems to get recommended for a lightweight rifle, I'll look more into them...
 
jmr40 said:
This is easy. A SS Tikka will cost you $750, weight is about 6 1/2 lbs. I seriously doubt if you'll find anything more accurate. Leupold scopes tend to be the lightest option. A VX3i 3.5-10X40 is only 12ish ounces and prices run $350-$400. If on a tighter budget the VX-Freedom is closer to $200. Your total weight will be around 7 1/4 to 7 1/2 lbs scoped if you go with lightweight mounts. Some of the steel mounts add almost 1/2 lb to the total package compared to 2-3 oz for something like Talley Lightweights.



Choose | Tikka
View attachment 957535

The 6.5 Creedmoor is the smallest cartridge I'd feel comfortable hunting elk with. I like to keep things simple. You already have 7-08 and 30-06. No reason to complicate things by adding another cartridge. The 7-08 is a solid 400 yard elk cartridge with proper bullets. A 30-06 is a solid 500+ yard elk cartridge. And I'm being conservative, lots of guys would add another 100 yards to that. If you just insist you could move up to one of the 7mm or 30 caliber magnums. If you're good enough to take advantage of it, those cartridges add another 100 yards of effective range over the 7-08 and 30-06. At typical hunting ranges inside of 300 yards no animal will ever notice the difference.

I've owned lots of rifles over the years in lots of cartridges. Several variants of 300 and 7mm mag, 338/06, 35 Whelen, 45-70, and 280. But I keep coming back to the basics. I've sold them all and primarily use 308 now for pretty much everything. It is a ballistic twin to your 7-08. In fact on paper the 7-08 has a slight edge. I did keep my 30-06 but rarely use it anymore and have bought a 6.5 CM. I do like the 6.5 cartridge, but like my 308 rifles better so for now they get carried more when I go hunting.

I took a long honest look at my shooting skills and decided that I simply didn't have the skills or inclination to start shooting at game beyond 300ish yards. It didn't make sense for me to keep rifles that had the capability to do it at double that range.
Click to expand...

I really like my Tikka and wish it was Stainless. The only thing about using a Tikka is that you have to be sure to push the magazine in until it clicks both front and rear.
JP
 
I second a Tikka I own one and I know that out of the box with factory ammo are sub moa and moa shooters depending on shooters. My tikka t3 lite shoots 165 grainers at 200 yards sub moa. If there is a con it is the 1/11 twist. It may stabilize heavier bullets but in my rifle it groups them about 1.6 inches at 200 yards. Same thing with the `150 grainers.
 
The Weatherby Vanguards come recommended in your budget. I have no idea about weight. They do not come in 300 PRC as far as I know.
You could get 300 Win Mag or 300 Weatherby Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, etc all would work for anything in NA.

-Jeff
 
Bartojc said:
The Weatherby Vanguards come recommended in your budget. I have no idea about weight. They do not come in 300 PRC as far as I know.
You could get 300 Win Mag or 300 Weatherby Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, etc all would work for anything in NA.

-Jeff
Click to expand...
The Vanguards don't (that I remember), but the Howa 1500s they are sister rifles to do.
The 1500/Vanguards are fairly heavy rifles with flat bottom actions, decent triggers and locking bolts.
The long actions are full length h&h. So IMO for the BIG magnums they are a pretty slick option.
 
Last edited:
Macchina said:
Thanks for the great write-up!
I am like you and keep my shots under 400 yards. My farthest shot ever was a Mule Deer at 390 yards with my 7mm-08. I had practiced for 400 before that trip and brought a dope chart. I also took a pronghorn at 320 yards.

Beyond 400 yards, wind becomes a huge factor for deer sized game and I don't trust a first shot anymore.

Those Weatherby Mark Vs are awesome but will above my budget. Tikka always seems to get recommended for a lightweight rifle, I'll look more into them...
Click to expand...
Curious, what's the prc gonna do that your .30-06 can't? If staying under 400 yds and potential for bigger critters, and the .30-06 isn't comforting you enough, 7rm bucks the wind better, and .375 (either one) handles REALLY big critters handily. If this is just scratching an itch, then nvm, go prc!
 
The Weatherby Vanguard is a good option. Not cataloged in 300 PRC , but is in 300 Weatherby Mag, 300 Win Mag, 7 Rem Mag, & 30-06.
Have fun with your search!

Safe Shooting!!!
 
I recently acquired a Remington 700 ss mountain rifle in 6.5 creedmoor and it is light but it is incredibly accurate as well. Have several factory loads and my hand loads shooting in one hole groups. I ended up picking up a 2nd one and got rid of my 2 Kimber Montana rifles which were very nice as well. First 4 shot group on paper at 100 yards with Federal fusion 140gr
 

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My teen granddaughter used my Tikka and scored a nice doe with it, but before she did, my grandson met her in the woods and when they talked, she stuck the muzzle in the dirt and rested her arms on the rifle butt. She was corrected and they cleaned the mud out of the bore. Otherwise, the barrel may have ended up a few inches shorter. She was a good shot in the Air Force and qualified top in her platoon.
 
WisBorn said:
The Weatherby Vanguard is a good option. Not cataloged in 300 PRC , but is in 300 Weatherby Mag, 300 Win Mag, 7 Rem Mag, & 30-06.
Have fun with your search!

Safe Shooting!!!
Click to expand...

While I agree with you that I can do any North American hunting with a 30-06 I wonder if I am adding another rifle because I want a stainless all-weather rifle if I should take this opportunity to get a more capable long range cartridge as well...
 
Macchina said:
While I agree with you that I can do any North American hunting with a 30-06 I wonder if I am adding another rifle because I want a stainless all-weather rifle if I should take this opportunity to get a more capable long range cartridge as well...
Click to expand...
They have a stainless steel option and the 300 mag choice would be a great rifle.

My Mark V is in 7rm and I love it.
 
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