OilyPablo
Member
Have you looked at the Savage Lightweight Hunter? I have one in .308. I will warn you, this rifle is really light. Featherweight light. And therefore it's not a sit a bench and shoot, and expect 0.5" groups at 200 yards.
A light, short, bolt carbine... the quest...
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Float Pilot
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GREY GHOST
It is all shot placement.
The biggest brown bear I ever killed was with a 7x57mm Mauser.
I have also nailed one with a 30-30, a 54 cal round ball from a muzzle loader and a compound bow.
BUT, I wounded one with a 458 Win mag in the guts and tracked him all day.
Usually Brown Bears leave me alone. They might follow me around and try to steal my moose meat or fish, but they seldom become aggressive.
Just visualize what will happen to them if they get snarky and they can pretty much read your mind.
I have almost been stomped to death my moose on many, many occasions. Bears have only caused problems a handful of times.
It is all shot placement.
The biggest brown bear I ever killed was with a 7x57mm Mauser.
I have also nailed one with a 30-30, a 54 cal round ball from a muzzle loader and a compound bow.
BUT, I wounded one with a 458 Win mag in the guts and tracked him all day.
Usually Brown Bears leave me alone. They might follow me around and try to steal my moose meat or fish, but they seldom become aggressive.
Just visualize what will happen to them if they get snarky and they can pretty much read your mind.
I have almost been stomped to death my moose on many, many occasions. Bears have only caused problems a handful of times.
Inebriated
Member
Maybe I missed it, but are you looking to mount an optic or go with irons?
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Float Pilot
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I used to be pretty hot stuff with iron sights, but I noticed that I had to use my 29 inch barreled Swede Mauser at the last couple Mauser Matches so I could focus on the front sight. I can see far, just not close anymore.
Things in my eyeballs do not move as well as they used to .... So I am probably stuck using a medium power scope.
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ECVMatt
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This one would also be high on my list:
http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-557-carbine-30-06-walnut-stock-fixed-magazine-iron-sights/
http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-557-carbine-30-06-walnut-stock-fixed-magazine-iron-sights/
jamesinalaska
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Older Ruger 77 in .308
Ruger M77 in .308 with the tang safety (older) has always worked for me.
I too am more concerned about being stomped by moose than attacked by a bear. Every bear I've encountered either wandered off or ran off after I waved my arms. I know this sounds unbelievable, but I think bears are afraid of healthy, adult moose too.
Ruger M77 in .308 with the tang safety (older) has always worked for me.
I too am more concerned about being stomped by moose than attacked by a bear. Every bear I've encountered either wandered off or ran off after I waved my arms. I know this sounds unbelievable, but I think bears are afraid of healthy, adult moose too.
Inebriated
Member
Duly noted, Float Pilot, and I see where I missed it in big blue letters in OP 
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The Savage Lightweight Hunter, as mentioned, would probably be one of your better options for staying in your specs out of the box. 6lbs, they say, for the '06, 40" OAL... add 10oz or so for the ammo and a sling, and a nice lightweight 2-7x or 1-4x scope should put you just a couple ounces over 7lbs.
And per jmr40's mentioning of the Savage Hog Hunter .338 WM, I do actually own that rifle, and it's a ton of fun, but it's already slightly over your length and weight requirements with just irons... Loaded, with a sling and a scope, you're nearing 8.5-9 pounds.
Personally, I've really enjoyed my little Axis that I mentioned earlier as a knock-around rifle. I wanted something similar to what you're looking for (and aside from having a red dot instead of a scope, it does actually fall within your requirements)... short, good power, lightweight, and I got the Axis for next to nothing, so I used it. Can hardly tell it's on my back.
. The Savage Lightweight Hunter, as mentioned, would probably be one of your better options for staying in your specs out of the box. 6lbs, they say, for the '06, 40" OAL... add 10oz or so for the ammo and a sling, and a nice lightweight 2-7x or 1-4x scope should put you just a couple ounces over 7lbs.
And per jmr40's mentioning of the Savage Hog Hunter .338 WM, I do actually own that rifle, and it's a ton of fun, but it's already slightly over your length and weight requirements with just irons... Loaded, with a sling and a scope, you're nearing 8.5-9 pounds.
Personally, I've really enjoyed my little Axis that I mentioned earlier as a knock-around rifle. I wanted something similar to what you're looking for (and aside from having a red dot instead of a scope, it does actually fall within your requirements)... short, good power, lightweight, and I got the Axis for next to nothing, so I used it. Can hardly tell it's on my back.
Couple of points to consider.
You are condemning all lever actions because a couple of a certain model, which you knew nothing about their care, werent working? 94's can wear or chip the cartridge stop on the link. It may be abuse, it may be wear. 86 actions function completely differently. I've had more malfunctions with bolt actions than I have with lever actions. I still think bolt actions are OK.
Theres NO gun too pretty to take out in the rain and mud. 86's look at home out in the muck. They are working tools. After the first few hard rains and dropping it a few times it wont bother you as much. They are at home with the butt jammed down in old snow for a gun holder.
Ed Stevenson uses a Browning 86 carbine (one of many guns he uses). I'm guessing its because he thinks it will work alright.
Im an unabashed enthusiast of 1886's. I had one malfunction. It was made in the 1880's, and the cartridge stop was letting Remington ammo with the extreme bevel (1970's vintage cases) on the rim slip past. I pried it out a little with a screwdriver and it worked fine after that. No telling anything about its history except it was rebuilt and rebored from 40-something to 45-70. It always worked once the cartridge stop was adjusted (or I didnt use that ammo), as have the several original and the two Brownings I've used.
Take your 86 carbine to a good gunsmtih, chop 2 inches off the barrel/mag tube, drill and tap it for a good receiver sight, and put a good sling on it. They make a near perfect carry gun and general purpose shooter. Round balls with 6 grs Unique or Red Dot for grouse and small game, cast or jacketed medium to heavy loads for everything else. You can use up to 500+ gr bullets without seating them deep as is required with Marlins.
My 2c, and worth everything it cost you.
ETA: I like bolts also. My idea for a compact carry bolt gun is a short action Ruger 77 (tang safety) barreled in 35-284 or 375-284. Barrel of 20", decent irons, and a low power scope.
You are condemning all lever actions because a couple of a certain model, which you knew nothing about their care, werent working? 94's can wear or chip the cartridge stop on the link. It may be abuse, it may be wear. 86 actions function completely differently. I've had more malfunctions with bolt actions than I have with lever actions. I still think bolt actions are OK.
Theres NO gun too pretty to take out in the rain and mud.
86's look at home out in the muck. They are working tools. After the first few hard rains and dropping it a few times it wont bother you as much. They are at home with the butt jammed down in old snow for a gun holder.Ed Stevenson uses a Browning 86 carbine (one of many guns he uses). I'm guessing its because he thinks it will work alright.
Im an unabashed enthusiast of 1886's. I had one malfunction. It was made in the 1880's, and the cartridge stop was letting Remington ammo with the extreme bevel (1970's vintage cases) on the rim slip past. I pried it out a little with a screwdriver and it worked fine after that. No telling anything about its history except it was rebuilt and rebored from 40-something to 45-70. It always worked once the cartridge stop was adjusted (or I didnt use that ammo), as have the several original and the two Brownings I've used.
Take your 86 carbine to a good gunsmtih, chop 2 inches off the barrel/mag tube, drill and tap it for a good receiver sight, and put a good sling on it. They make a near perfect carry gun and general purpose shooter. Round balls with 6 grs Unique or Red Dot for grouse and small game, cast or jacketed medium to heavy loads for everything else. You can use up to 500+ gr bullets without seating them deep as is required with Marlins.
My 2c, and worth everything it cost you.
ETA: I like bolts also. My idea for a compact carry bolt gun is a short action Ruger 77 (tang safety) barreled in 35-284 or 375-284. Barrel of 20", decent irons, and a low power scope.
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Float Pilot
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Since I had to drag the push-feed M-70 FWT out for the weighing, I decided to see if she was still sighted close to zero. I have not shot her in a couple years and there was heavy oil in the barrel. So i fired five rounds of Federal Factory ammo through her in rapid succession with no cooling period. Not a super tack driver but OK for factory ammo through a lightweight barrel. You can really see the raise from the warm barrel.
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Gordon
Member
Trust me all you need in your job. The .35 Reminton blows a big hole 24" thru the toughest animal with 200 grain Corelokt factory ammo. Amazing accurate in a bolt gun . Under 7 pounds scoped here. I have had Brown Precision Ultra lights in .308 that are good too but they beat you up like that .350 Mag does. The .35 is friggin perfect on stuff to 200 yards and as big as it gets in USA. Sure I'd rather have a .375 H&H for a big bear , but you said small and light!
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Float Pilot
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That is why I was talking about the 358 Winchester and 338 Federal. Both those are excellent 200 yard cartridges.
When I was a kid my best friend used to bring along his dad's 35 Remington. chambered Marlin levergun on our bear and moose hunts. That rifle was a real slapper. You could really hear the bullet impact against the hide.
When I was a kid my best friend used to bring along his dad's 35 Remington. chambered Marlin levergun on our bear and moose hunts. That rifle was a real slapper. You could really hear the bullet impact against the hide.
Swampman
Old Fart
I voted "Other".
Find yourself an old Remington Model 600 in .350 Remington Magnum and have it Ceracoated.
Less than 6 pounds bare and just a hair over 37 inches long.
It should have reasonably decent power for your application.
They're not much fun to shoot, particularly off a bench, but they're a dream to carry and handle extremely well.
That God awful looking "dog leg" bolt really helps with fast bolt manipulation.
Plus it'd help complete your gun collection, I couldn't help but notice the glaring absence of any rifles with a full length ventilated plastic rib sitting on top of them.
I'm speaking theoretically here since I dont know squat about bears, but it seems to me that a bear protection rifle probably needs to have more power and better penetration than a bear hunting rifle.
When hunting, you generally try to ambush the bear and can hopefully put him down from a safe distance before he even knows you're around.
In the circumstances you describe, it sounds like the bear is ambushing YOU.
As I've already said, my ignorance of bears is truly profound, but I do know I'd prefer having a .350 Remington Magnum over most of the other calibers mentioned if a bear decided to turn me into little brown piles scattered throughout the woods.
The single bear factoid I possess is that bears really DO (this is is THR, insert the word of your choice here) in the woods.
Find yourself an old Remington Model 600 in .350 Remington Magnum and have it Ceracoated.
Less than 6 pounds bare and just a hair over 37 inches long.
It should have reasonably decent power for your application.
They're not much fun to shoot, particularly off a bench, but they're a dream to carry and handle extremely well.
That God awful looking "dog leg" bolt really helps with fast bolt manipulation.
Plus it'd help complete your gun collection, I couldn't help but notice the glaring absence of any rifles with a full length ventilated plastic rib sitting on top of them.
I'm speaking theoretically here since I dont know squat about bears, but it seems to me that a bear protection rifle probably needs to have more power and better penetration than a bear hunting rifle.
When hunting, you generally try to ambush the bear and can hopefully put him down from a safe distance before he even knows you're around.
In the circumstances you describe, it sounds like the bear is ambushing YOU.
As I've already said, my ignorance of bears is truly profound, but I do know I'd prefer having a .350 Remington Magnum over most of the other calibers mentioned if a bear decided to turn me into little brown piles scattered throughout the woods.
The single bear factoid I possess is that bears really DO (this is is THR, insert the word of your choice here) in the woods.
if it were me, i would sell a lot of that stuff and spend the proceeds on one GOOD custom gun.
in your case, i'd get
a manners elite stock http://mannersstocks.com/hunting-stocks/ which is going to weigh in the low 20 oz range. their folding stock option would add a couple oz but would make moving around in 2 seater planes a little easier
a short, medium profile bartlein barrel
and whatever caliber and action make you moist. probably a rem700 or clone, or one of the FN knockoffs of the win 70 if you are into CRF.
around here, i'd put a 1-6x variable scope on it, but i don't know what to tell you about alaska.
in your case, i'd get
a manners elite stock http://mannersstocks.com/hunting-stocks/ which is going to weigh in the low 20 oz range. their folding stock option would add a couple oz but would make moving around in 2 seater planes a little easier
a short, medium profile bartlein barrel
and whatever caliber and action make you moist. probably a rem700 or clone, or one of the FN knockoffs of the win 70 if you are into CRF.
around here, i'd put a 1-6x variable scope on it, but i don't know what to tell you about alaska.
cluttonfred
Member
Hmmm, handy length, under 7 lb with sling and scope, stainless, at least .308 and preferably more powerful, no mention of a budget....
How about a Ruger American All-Weather Compact in .308, weighs 6 lb, 36.75" long, costs $595 MRSP? Add a 4x fixed-power or modest variable-power scope (2-7x?) and you'll have a handy rifle good from short range up to about 250 yards or so that you won't mind banging up.
How about a Ruger American All-Weather Compact in .308, weighs 6 lb, 36.75" long, costs $595 MRSP? Add a 4x fixed-power or modest variable-power scope (2-7x?) and you'll have a handy rifle good from short range up to about 250 yards or so that you won't mind banging up.
Gordon
Member
Doing the custom chop down number on that .350 Magnum you allready own would do it. the Manners stock mentioned and cut shorter the barrel but don't turn it down.
fireman 9731
Member
You could always try to find a Siamese Mauser chambered in 45-70 and have the barrel cut down.
Or the CZ chambered in 9.3 would be my next choice. Not something I would want to beat up. But hey, we buy a gun to use it.
Or the CZ chambered in 9.3 would be my next choice. Not something I would want to beat up. But hey, we buy a gun to use it.
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Float Pilot
Member
Gordon, this is why I will not cut the barrel on my current 350 Rem Mag.
I installed a front sight, have a cleaning kit and aux peep sight stored in the butt stock compartment, glass bedded the action and barrel channel, re-crowned the barrel, opened up the magazine well, and did a trigger job in her as well.
I installed a front sight, have a cleaning kit and aux peep sight stored in the butt stock compartment, glass bedded the action and barrel channel, re-crowned the barrel, opened up the magazine well, and did a trigger job in her as well.
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cluttonfred
Member
How do you feel about .375 Ruger? Certainly powerful enough, though perhaps a bit longer and heavier than what you had in mind. You won't be plinking with it, though. ;-)
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...cts_id/78110/Savage+116+ALASKAN+BRUSH+375+RUG
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...cts_id/78110/Savage+116+ALASKAN+BRUSH+375+RUG
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Float Pilot
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As mentioned previously I have a 375 Ruger. Mine is a 1917 Enfield action with a Shaw barrel and a laminated stock... I hollowed out much of the stock and filled the voids with glass micro spheres and epoxy resin. It is pretty light for a 375 Ruger. Just a touch more than 8 pounds with a scope and sling.
The recoil is obnoxious. In fact after 60 rounds of experimental hot loads, the recoil sheared off the scope mount screws. The stock design also nailed me in the cheek bone enough times that I was seeing double in my right eye. The eyeball doc told me to quit goofing around with experimental loads in heavy recoiling rifles.
The recoil is obnoxious. In fact after 60 rounds of experimental hot loads, the recoil sheared off the scope mount screws. The stock design also nailed me in the cheek bone enough times that I was seeing double in my right eye. The eyeball doc told me to quit goofing around with experimental loads in heavy recoiling rifles.
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