I turn 65 in a couple of weeks and my sweet wife wants to get me something special. (Usually we keep birthdays fairly inexpensive.). I mentioned a new hunting rifle and said I already had $700 from selling one rifle and that I had a couple of others that I was thinking of selling to cover the cost. She was thrilled with the idea (she loves venison).
My current go-to deer rifle is a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Heck, it is my only real hunting rifle. ( I have an old bubba’d Swede that is a project gun to make a hunting rifle.). I am not recoil sensitive but want something my boys or her could shoot. I also have a retirement dream of doing some elk, antelope and black bear hunting. The longest shot I ever see myself taking is 350 yards and really I like seeing how close I can get but an elk is too much meat to let walk so once I am within 250 yards I will probably take the shot if I get a clean broadside.
I initially thought Kimber Hunter or a Ruger American but I want something a little nicer. I was thinking a Tikka lite Hunter, a Weatherby Vanguard, preferably a Meateater model, or a Browning Hunter. Caliber I am thinking 6.5 Creedmoor. If I am reading the Hornady charts right, that would get my max 350 yards for an elk. In my mind, I wanted to keep the rifle cost no more than a $1,000.
So, tonight we went to a local dealer. I liked the Tikka and the Browning. The Tikka was available in 6.5 CM. The Browning was 270. They have Weatherby but not the model I wanted; the extra weight was noticeable.
A young salesman suggested a Christensen Mesa. Ouch, $1,300 before tax. BUT, at 6.5 lbs it is light, is obviously better machined and assembled, looks great in black and tungsten, has a better butt pad and trigger and comes with a muzzle break. It is also the only one made in the USA. I really like it. My wife likes it. I am seriously thinking about it.
The total cost will be about $400 more than I had planned. I am going to sell my old Swede and a PMR 30 so there is another $500 leaving $1;200 for the regular budget or selling another gun or two.
But I am not familiar with Christensen at all. What I found tonight on the internet was positive.
Any thoughts on the Christensen and my caliber choice filling the goal of a good light, low recoil rifle with the ability to take an elk at 250 yards, maybe 350. ( My thought is if it will take the elk then the deer, black bear and antelope are very easily doable.).
Thank you for helping me celebrate my 65th birthday and reposition my gun inventory.
My current go-to deer rifle is a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Heck, it is my only real hunting rifle. ( I have an old bubba’d Swede that is a project gun to make a hunting rifle.). I am not recoil sensitive but want something my boys or her could shoot. I also have a retirement dream of doing some elk, antelope and black bear hunting. The longest shot I ever see myself taking is 350 yards and really I like seeing how close I can get but an elk is too much meat to let walk so once I am within 250 yards I will probably take the shot if I get a clean broadside.
I initially thought Kimber Hunter or a Ruger American but I want something a little nicer. I was thinking a Tikka lite Hunter, a Weatherby Vanguard, preferably a Meateater model, or a Browning Hunter. Caliber I am thinking 6.5 Creedmoor. If I am reading the Hornady charts right, that would get my max 350 yards for an elk. In my mind, I wanted to keep the rifle cost no more than a $1,000.
So, tonight we went to a local dealer. I liked the Tikka and the Browning. The Tikka was available in 6.5 CM. The Browning was 270. They have Weatherby but not the model I wanted; the extra weight was noticeable.
A young salesman suggested a Christensen Mesa. Ouch, $1,300 before tax. BUT, at 6.5 lbs it is light, is obviously better machined and assembled, looks great in black and tungsten, has a better butt pad and trigger and comes with a muzzle break. It is also the only one made in the USA. I really like it. My wife likes it. I am seriously thinking about it.
The total cost will be about $400 more than I had planned. I am going to sell my old Swede and a PMR 30 so there is another $500 leaving $1;200 for the regular budget or selling another gun or two.
But I am not familiar with Christensen at all. What I found tonight on the internet was positive.
Any thoughts on the Christensen and my caliber choice filling the goal of a good light, low recoil rifle with the ability to take an elk at 250 yards, maybe 350. ( My thought is if it will take the elk then the deer, black bear and antelope are very easily doable.).
Thank you for helping me celebrate my 65th birthday and reposition my gun inventory.