Compact rifle

[wild willy]

Any full sized hunters use a compact or shorter LOP rifle in the winter when wearing heavy clothing?I've been thinking about buying a compact or cutting a stock.When bundled up in a tree stand a normal LOP can be awkward

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've got several shorter carbine style rifles. But I don't need to cut the stock on them to make them work in the winter as I've got a naturally long LOP.

 

[desidog]

Take a look at the Swiss K-31; they have a fairly short stock for just this reason.

 

[Art Eatman]

The big if: Dedicated deer rifle?

Me, I'd cut the stock for a righteous fit for "all bundled up". Then, for use when not padded, I'd use one of these slip-on pads to extend the stock length to a proper fit.

Aesthetics vs. deer meat? I choose deer meat.

 

[eastbank]

a remington 700 sps youth rifle may be good, i bought a 7mm-08 lefthand as i wanted a lefthanded 700 short action and at the time it was the only way to get one. i put a limbsaver slip on pad and it works well. eastbank.

 

[Armored farmer]

Yes, I love short rifles.
I envy you guys that can use centerfire rifles to deer hunt. In Illinois we are stuck with Shotguns or muzzleloaders for deer hunting.
I fitted two H&R slug guns with ATI M4 style collapsible stocks. They are nice and compact when collapsed for carry on the ATVs or slung on your back. I can shorten them a notch or two for my 12yo son.

 

[kanook]

In Illinois I choose to be stuck with Shotguns or muzzleloaders for deer hunting.

Deer Hunting
Legal Firearms
Shotguns, loaded with slugs only, of not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3 consecutive slugs; or
Single or double barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least sixteen inches in length; or
Centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches.
Legal Ammunition
For shotguns and muzzleloading firearms, the minimum size of the projectile shall be .44 caliber. A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or a part of the projectile.
For handguns, a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding 1.4 inches, or a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger, both of which must be available as a factory load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Note: There is no case length limit for straight-walled cartridges.

 

[3212]

I have a compact Ruger (16.5 inch barrel).Fits my grandsons.I put a limbsaver on it to increase LOP for deerhunting.Took 2 doe with it.

 

[ar24095]

I have a Ruger compact in 7mm08 and love it. Its not a long range rig by any means but it is a great tree stand companion.

 

[Armored farmer]

Quote:
In Illinois I choose to be stuck with Shotguns or muzzleloaders for deer hunting.

I guess this is directed at me.
I hunt with my handguns quite often too, but didn't mention it because this is a compact rifle thread.

 

[Ibmikey]

You cannot get much shorter than my AAC 300 Blackout Handy Rifle with a 3x scope, it is short with a 16" barrel but will get the job done. I killed seven Texas hogs with it last trip, one shot each and the biggest was 350#. Second is a AR with 12.5" barrel, 300 Blackout, takes paperwork and waiting but really short and good for a couple of hundred yards.

 

[critter]

I have a Ruger compact in .308. Very pleased with it.

 

[T.R.]

Remington's first bolt action carbines were the models 600 and 660. These are handy to carry and very accurate, too.

TR

 

[Chuck R.]

The two compact rifles i have are both REM MOD 7s, one in .260 and the other in .350 REM, both have the full size stocks though, and 20" barrels.

I can see cutting or shortening a stock on a rifle you'd use for still hunting or stalking because you may have to take snap shots. For a stand or blind, I've generally had notice enough to "make" the rifle fit regardless of clothing.

Chuck

 

[41 Mag]

I have a Ruger compact in .308. Very pleased with it.

Absolutely, me too ^^^^ along with several friends and family members included...

 

[Tophernj]

I have a Winchester Featherweight Compact in .308 that I love. No luck with it, but I love the rifle. I use it at the range as well. A lot of fun with soft loads.

C

 

[MCgunner]

Winter? Heavy clothing?

I do have a shotgun for duck hunting on which I can pull off the slip on limb saver and I'm not shooting a 13" length of pull. I find fit in a shotgun a lot more important than an inch in LOP on a rifle. And, it's often cold in late duck season down here, cold enough for a coat, anyway.

Oh, yeah, compact rifles.....my stainless M Seven is my go to rifle. It's stock LOP, though. Mostly, I hunt from a box blind anymore and have time to get iin position for a shot.

 

[stiab]

Here's my .30-06 carbine, now sports a 2x7 Redfield. Only a few of these were made...

 

[Water-Man]

CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39.

 

[brainwake]

I use a T/C contender in 30-30 with a 16 inch barrel.

It is not my main deer rifle, but when the hunting days start to wear on me, I switch to my lightweight compact rifle.

 

[chucknbach]

My elk gun is a Tikka lite 7RM. They have a short lop to ditch some stock to make the light weight. Works out good for me when wearing the heavy jacket. If I shoot with light cloths on I slip a limbsaver recoil pad on.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I'm six foot and have normal to slightly long arms. For my long arms without heavy clothing I prefer a 12.75" lop. I've tried 12" lop and though I can certainly use it, it feels just a wee bit short. My favorite hunting rifles have about 16.5" barrels on them as well.

 

[loose noose]

I do like my Ruger .44Mag Carbine for heavy woods hunting in the UP when I've seen it -20 below and I'm really bundled up.

 

[MCgunner]

Not really a need in South Texas. I do have long arms, though, too.

 

[d2wing]

My new deer rifle is a Tikka T3 compact in 7-08. I used an AR carbine as well as several others over the years. I used to use a 742 with a shortened stock but I decided I wanted something lighter and smaller. I much prefer rifle stocks to AR pistol grips for hunting. Especially on a portable tree stand.