js8588
Member
So, I've gotten it into my head that I need a knockabout, lightweight rifle that can theoretically do everything from Pennsylvania deer woods work to that "some day" mountain ram hunt.
In doing my research, the Barrett Fieldcraft seemed about right. 6.5x55 (a favorite pet of mine...), 24 inch barrel, stainless all the way around, carbon fiber stock, & sub 6lbs(!) unscoped.
Then I found out the barrel isn't free floated.
Maybe that doesn't matter, & yes, I could always float the barrel etc, but if I'm already paying $1500+ for the rifle from the factory, it should be pretty much as I want it without fear of voiding a warranty.
Fair enough.
I moved on to looking at the Weatherby Mk V Altitude. A bit pricier than the Barrett, but I don't mind saving my pennies & buying quality. Buy once, cry once. 308 win, 22 inch tube, stainless + cerakoted, again a carbon fiber stock, and sub 6lbs. Excellent...
Damnit, the Weatherby also isn't free floated.
Enter the Sako 85 Carbon Light. 308 again, 20 inch barrel (getting a little short for my preference, but I know 308 will do just fine out of a 20), free floated, stainless action/barrel, carbon fiber stock with a soft-touch finish...holy crap, $2800? Well, okay...it'll do everything I wan...wait...the "soft touch" finish apparently wears off easily? Nope. Not on a nearly $3k rifle. Pass.
Gentlemen, I'm out of ideas. Granted, this isn't a gun I need tomorrow (or even this year), but you know how it is...when you decide there's something you need for your gun safe...
I put it to you, does a rifle within these parameters exist?
6.5x55 or 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24 inch barrel (1:8 twist) or 308 with a 22 inch barrel (1:10 twist...yeah, this rules out the Winchester M70 extreme weather, I thought of that too).
Stainless &/or nitride finished barrel & action (cerakote purely optional).
Single stage trigger.
Free floated barrel.
Synthetic stock of at least Bell and Carlson quality OR a laminated wood stock.
6 3/4ths lbs in weight or less.
Under $3k in price.
The closest I see currently on the market is the Browning X-bolt Eclipse Hunter. 24 inch stainless free floated barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor, but the action is "just" blued. I can almost live with that given the price point, but is there a "better" option?
In doing my research, the Barrett Fieldcraft seemed about right. 6.5x55 (a favorite pet of mine...), 24 inch barrel, stainless all the way around, carbon fiber stock, & sub 6lbs(!) unscoped.
Then I found out the barrel isn't free floated.
Maybe that doesn't matter, & yes, I could always float the barrel etc, but if I'm already paying $1500+ for the rifle from the factory, it should be pretty much as I want it without fear of voiding a warranty.
Fair enough.
I moved on to looking at the Weatherby Mk V Altitude. A bit pricier than the Barrett, but I don't mind saving my pennies & buying quality. Buy once, cry once. 308 win, 22 inch tube, stainless + cerakoted, again a carbon fiber stock, and sub 6lbs. Excellent...
Damnit, the Weatherby also isn't free floated.
Enter the Sako 85 Carbon Light. 308 again, 20 inch barrel (getting a little short for my preference, but I know 308 will do just fine out of a 20), free floated, stainless action/barrel, carbon fiber stock with a soft-touch finish...holy crap, $2800? Well, okay...it'll do everything I wan...wait...the "soft touch" finish apparently wears off easily? Nope. Not on a nearly $3k rifle. Pass.
Gentlemen, I'm out of ideas. Granted, this isn't a gun I need tomorrow (or even this year), but you know how it is...when you decide there's something you need for your gun safe...
I put it to you, does a rifle within these parameters exist?
6.5x55 or 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24 inch barrel (1:8 twist) or 308 with a 22 inch barrel (1:10 twist...yeah, this rules out the Winchester M70 extreme weather, I thought of that too).
Stainless &/or nitride finished barrel & action (cerakote purely optional).
Single stage trigger.
Free floated barrel.
Synthetic stock of at least Bell and Carlson quality OR a laminated wood stock.
6 3/4ths lbs in weight or less.
Under $3k in price.
The closest I see currently on the market is the Browning X-bolt Eclipse Hunter. 24 inch stainless free floated barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor, but the action is "just" blued. I can almost live with that given the price point, but is there a "better" option?