Need A Lightweight Bolt Gun

[Sulaco]

I will be doing some hunting from a climbing tree stand this year and my normal bolt gun is just too heavy and long to be dragging up and down trees in the dark.

I used to own a Remington Model Seven and would own another, but Remington's quality has really gone downhill lately so I am sort of nervous about buying one.

Who else makes an affordable, light and short bolt gun? I prefer a short action like .308 or maybe 7mm-08.

 

[Brian Williams]

Win Compact Classic in 7mm-08
Cost me $299 and $280 for the Leupold compact scope. I got a 3x9, should have gotten the 2x7.
or a Win 94/Marlin 336 in 30/30

with scope, five rounds, and sling like on the Marlin it weighs in at 7.75 lbs

 

[Ol` Joe]

Kimber M84................Mine shoots MOA or better, and they run about 5.75 lbs empty. Great wood or a plastic stock if that`s your thing, full 22" bbl, pillar bedding, adjustable trigger (mine came @3# or so) glassed recoil lug, claw extractor. Great rifle for the money IMO.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/84m.php

 

[Newt]

I own a Remington Model 7. I'd buy another one anyday. I love it. It gets about 90% of my deer hunting time because it's so light and easy to carry. I bought mine in a .260 carbine model, so the bbl. is pretty short.

The other 10%, I use a Tikka T3 Lite. In case you're not familiar with them, they're made by Sako in Finland. I'd for sure buy another one of them. They give any Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Browning or whatever a run for their money... literally. It's the smoothest action I'v ever worked. I really couldn't believe how light it was when I pulled it out of the box. I'd check one of those out if it interests you. It's an excellent buy. They come with studs and scope mounts/rings too IIRC.

 

[ghostrider07]

If you hunt in the woods from a climbing stand, look at the Savage Striker bolt action pistol and the TC Contender. My Striker would shoot 1" @ 100 yds with a 150 Hornady and 47 gr Varget. My favorite Contender caliber is the 7-30 Waters, it will launch a 130 grain Speer FB @ 2400 fps from the 14" barrel. Sling it across your back, and you can climb, drag a deer, anything, and the gun's out of the way.

 

[45crittergitter]

Tikka T3 Lite.

 

[GunGoBoom]

Well, regardless of the type of rifle, and regardless of the type of stand, you're probably better off tying a cord to your rifle sling, and the other end to your belt loop, then pulling it up once you get situated. Might get banged up a little, but safety first... Climbing with a climbing stand is difficult enough without a gun slung over your back. Cept maybe if you go with the handgun idea (striker, encore, etc.).

 

[Colt46]

Try Savage's Sierra

.243, 7mm-08, and .308 I think. 6 lbs and twenty inch tube. Savage has a reputation as a no frills rifle, but they sure do shoot better than most.

 

[two dogs]

I concur with Ol Joe . The kimber 84 in 7-08 is a sweet whitetail rifle and cartridge.

 

[Sulaco]

Thanks for the replies.

ghostrider07, I do pull it up after I get situated. That is what I meant by "dragging it up and down trees in the dark". The rifle I shoot now weighs in at close to 9.5 pounds with scope and all and it has a 26" barrel. I need something smaller.

After looking at a lot of the different rifles, I think I like the idea of the Tikka. I always wanted one of those so I guess this would be a good time to get one.

Thanks guys.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have had good luck with

Ruger light weight M77's and Browning micro's.

Matt

 

[Essex County]

I'll go along with Colt 46 on this one......

A rifle is a tool and a synthetic lw Savage is about as good as it gets for this intended use. Quality scope, set in quality mounts and a good sling. Anything else is just not necessary........Best to You, Essex

 

[Brian Williams]

Where is Art and his titanium Remington

 

[Art Eatman]

Hey, that Rem 700 Ti is so light! ("How light is it?") It's so light I just throw it up high, climb real fast, and catch it when I'm in the stand!

Actually, I've often slung my 26" Weatherby '06 butt-up and across my off-shoulder and climbed into many a tree stand. Plumb out of the way; hands free...

, Art

 

[Sulaco]

Art I think our triple cover canopy here in the Amazon, I mean South Carolina must be why I don't prefer to drag the Weatherby (yes, my beanfield is a Weatherby also) up and down trees.

I ordered this combo yesterday. Range report will soon follow.

Thanks guys.

Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in .308 and a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40 Silver

 

[Newt]

Hey! Nice setup. I have a T3 Lite Stainless/synthetic in .243 with a Nikon Buckmaster 4-12x40. You made an excellent choice.

Be sure to let us know how you do with it.

 

[Sulaco]

I sure will Newt.

How do you like your setup? Did you go with a silver colored scope or black? This will be my 1st silver scope so I am a little apprehensive.

I keep thinking to myself, "I can always camoflauge it or cover it up". Heh.

 

[Newt]

I bought the silver, and I LOVE that whole setup. I am pretty bad about suggesting a T3 to someone who's in limbo about their decision, because I like mine so much. When I bought it, I couldn't believe how smooth the action was, how light it was whe I picked it up outta the box, and I think they guarantee 1MOA, IIRC. BTW, they do come with mounts and rings, which (IMO) makes it an even better buy. Mine weighs in at a little more now that I've added the scope, but it's still an easy gun to carry. I take it out every chance I get, but I kinda baby it because it's my favorite.

 

[Sulaco]

Any pics?

 

[Newt]

Just the bare gun; none of the full rig. I'll take the digi home from work this weekend and take some. I'll try to post 'em up Monday. Until then....

 

[Fumbler]

Add me to the list of Tikka T3 Lite supporters.

I have a T3 Lite and with my Leupold VX-I 3-9x40 the whole setup weighs 7lbs.
Most bolt actions weigh more than that without scope.

If you need something even lighter then go with a Rem 700 Ti...but that still won't be as smooth as a Tikka T3