Christensen Ridgeline 6.5CM 20”barrel. Weighs 8.4 lbs loaded with sling attached and ready to hunt.
the finish on the third rifle is wild! How’d you do that?
Different types of hunting rifle setups? Tell me about yours!
- Thread starter jzerfoss
- Start date
the finish on the third rifle is wild! How’d you do that?
TurboTrout,
It was that way from the factory. It’s their burnt bronze cerakote Ridgeline with the green and tan stock.
It was that way from the factory. It’s their burnt bronze cerakote Ridgeline with the green and tan stock.
My registered deadly weapons are roughly one pound each. Great for hunting. Got one for backup.
Don’t need it.
Don’t need it.
I’ve bought and sold many guns due to an infatuation with the bolt action rifle, but I always go back to this one. I’ve had several scope/ring combos on this gun, but the current setup is perfect and likely won’t change:
Tikka T3x .243win
McMillan Edge - Sako Hunter
NF SHV 3-10x42 C611
Sportsmatch T084 rings
Montana sling w/ Tikka swivels
This setup does everything very well; carries, points, and hammers...neither an ultralight, nor heavy. The factory barrel isn’t a speed demon, but it puts 2 factory loads and my handload to the same POI at 100yds. I load 90gr Nosler BT with IMR 4831 to 3150fps straight out of the Nosler book.
Last kill was a doe quartering to me in a trot. 80yd neck shot, offhand and slung up. Dead before she hit the ground.
Tikka T3x .243win
McMillan Edge - Sako Hunter
NF SHV 3-10x42 C611
Sportsmatch T084 rings
Montana sling w/ Tikka swivels
This setup does everything very well; carries, points, and hammers...neither an ultralight, nor heavy. The factory barrel isn’t a speed demon, but it puts 2 factory loads and my handload to the same POI at 100yds. I load 90gr Nosler BT with IMR 4831 to 3150fps straight out of the Nosler book.
Last kill was a doe quartering to me in a trot. 80yd neck shot, offhand and slung up. Dead before she hit the ground.
My grandpa had a sporterized 1903 originally built in 1918. He gave it to my dad, who later gave it to me. It's probably killed over 100 deer.
It'll put 5 168 berger hunting bullets into a group you can cover with a quarter at 100 yards. Good enough.
I wouldn't consider using anything else.
One day I'll give it to one of my sons.
It'll put 5 168 berger hunting bullets into a group you can cover with a quarter at 100 yards. Good enough.
I wouldn't consider using anything else.
One day I'll give it to one of my sons.
So ground hogs and small game. Anschutz 17hmr with a burris XTR on top.
deer hunting Ohio. Tc encore 45-70.
long range Colorado Seekins ph2 with an Eotech vudoo on it. 300 prc.
deer hunting Ohio. Tc encore 45-70.
long range Colorado Seekins ph2 with an Eotech vudoo on it. 300 prc.
Federal claims 3050 on the box, I’m guessing I’m in the 2750ish range.
Ammo is too hard to come by right now to get a solid read. I’m using the factory 95gr Berger Hybrid Hunter load from Federal.
Its zeroed and shoots good enough for me. Young barrel anyway, it has less than 100 rounds on it.
6.5PRC with factory 143gr ELDX Precision Hunter.
Curtis Axiom short action
Proof 24" 1:7.5" & Area419 Sidewinder
AG Comp Chalk Branch, Hawkins bottom metal, Wyatt box
NF NX8, 4-32 Tremor 3
4.5kg (just shy of 10lb)
Curtis Axiom short action
Proof 24" 1:7.5" & Area419 Sidewinder
AG Comp Chalk Branch, Hawkins bottom metal, Wyatt box
NF NX8, 4-32 Tremor 3
4.5kg (just shy of 10lb)
Just started a new hunting rifle build...
Defiance Anti-X
AG Composites Alpine Hunter
Proof Carbon or Bartlein Carbon MOD400BB (still debating)
Hawkins Precision Hunter BDM
Hawkins Precision Hunter Magazines
Trigger Tech Trigger
PVA Ultralight Jet Blast
Should weigh around 6.6lbs when finished.
Defiance Anti-X
AG Composites Alpine Hunter
Proof Carbon or Bartlein Carbon MOD400BB (still debating)
Hawkins Precision Hunter BDM
Hawkins Precision Hunter Magazines
Trigger Tech Trigger
PVA Ultralight Jet Blast
Should weigh around 6.6lbs when finished.
Ruger No. 1, 7x57. About 8 lbs with fixed 4x scope, give or take.
I got that same rifle in 270win. Kicks like a mule but only one shot. Now it’s a safe queen. It’s too pretty.
Now I hunt with a rifle that costs like twice as much but for some reason I don’t mind banging it around.
Attachments
Yeah it only goes hunting on nice days. The walnut has some nice figure under the ammo sleeve. It’s a joy to handle and I find the old 7x57 cartridge to be about perfect for whitetails. But lately I’ve been using my TBAC for hunting so the No. 1 doesn’t see as much use. It’s still my favorite hunting rifle to carry, and the one that most likely won’t ever get sold. Something about a single shot just appeals to me.
Proof Tac 2 338, about 14 pounds in that setup. Usually hunt without the can which makes it more like 12.5.
I have 2 I hunt with one with glass is 9 pounds 8 oz and the other is 10 pounds 10 oz.
both are Remington 700 long actions with leupold mark 4’s the heavier one is a 5r mil spec 300 win mag with a 24” barrel. Mostly whitetail hunting for these guys. If your trying to set up a match with hunting rifles I would think a 10 pound limit is good.
My play toy gun is around 15 pounds, and I do have a unlimited heavy BR gun that is 42 pounds with glass.
both are Remington 700 long actions with leupold mark 4’s the heavier one is a 5r mil spec 300 win mag with a 24” barrel. Mostly whitetail hunting for these guys. If your trying to set up a match with hunting rifles I would think a 10 pound limit is good.
My play toy gun is around 15 pounds, and I do have a unlimited heavy BR gun that is 42 pounds with glass.
Tell me more about the top rifle! I'm contemplating doing something similar
Trued 700 in 6.5-06 AI
SWFA 3-9 in Talleys
Rem mag contour dupe Benchmark 26”
Manners EH2 with chassis
Shaved AI mag
MT sling
My truck gun
Tikka T3 in 6 Comp Match
Fluted Bart Rem varmint 24”?
MCS-T Ultra Light w/ CDI BM and 5
Mountain Tac rail and Aad rings
3-12 LRHS and a MS-1 sling
My chief hunting rifle:
Trued 700 PTG one piece bolt 6.5 SAUM
Bart #3 25”?
Gamescout APA BM and 5 rd mag
3-12 LRHS in Hawkins hybrids
MT sling
Newest addition:
Surgeon 6.5 CM
Fluted #4? Bart 17 1/2”
McMillan HTG w/ Surgeon DBM and AICS 5 rd mag
MT sling
Scope and rings aren’t staying just on there to see how it shoots.
My varmint rifle:
Bighorn TL3 in 6 Comp Match
Bart Heavy Palma 26”
Manners T6A elite w/ PTG DBM and 10 rd mag
Vortex AMG in ARC rings
Defiance front bridge and MS-4 sling
SWFA 3-9 in Talleys
Rem mag contour dupe Benchmark 26”
Manners EH2 with chassis
Shaved AI mag
MT sling
My truck gun
Tikka T3 in 6 Comp Match
Fluted Bart Rem varmint 24”?
MCS-T Ultra Light w/ CDI BM and 5
Mountain Tac rail and Aad rings
3-12 LRHS and a MS-1 sling
My chief hunting rifle:
Trued 700 PTG one piece bolt 6.5 SAUM
Bart #3 25”?
Gamescout APA BM and 5 rd mag
3-12 LRHS in Hawkins hybrids
MT sling
Newest addition:
Surgeon 6.5 CM
Fluted #4? Bart 17 1/2”
McMillan HTG w/ Surgeon DBM and AICS 5 rd mag
MT sling
Scope and rings aren’t staying just on there to see how it shoots.
My varmint rifle:
Bighorn TL3 in 6 Comp Match
Bart Heavy Palma 26”
Manners T6A elite w/ PTG DBM and 10 rd mag
Vortex AMG in ARC rings
Defiance front bridge and MS-4 sling
Last edited:
For pretty much everything you run into in the West: Browning BLR in 308 with a Leupold 2-7x and a sling. Not sure I'd want the same setup if I was somewhere muddier or regularly colder since the action has the potential to fully lock up, but it's fairly light, carries well, and points like a dream. It's no good for shooting groups since the barrel is so thin, but it's fine for followup shots. The DBM is a nice touch as well.
Long range lighter weight Hunter.
7WSM, Proof CF 26 in, Mac Bros EVO Ti, Manners Carbon PRS1, Minox ZP5
5 in SAS Need to weigh it.
And I just removed the scope and added a Leica PRS for more real estate to mount
The PVS30
Crescent Customs 260, Bartlein medium Palma 22in, KRG Bravo, Cronus BTR. SAS can haven’t weighed it.
7WSM, Proof CF 26 in, Mac Bros EVO Ti, Manners Carbon PRS1, Minox ZP5
5 in SAS Need to weigh it.
And I just removed the scope and added a Leica PRS for more real estate to mount
The PVS30
Crescent Customs 260, Bartlein medium Palma 22in, KRG Bravo, Cronus BTR. SAS can haven’t weighed it.
The beast, long range heavy. I hunt with this, but I don’t carry it around a lot.
19 ish lbs, 7WSM with Broughton 26in no 7 profile, Minox ZP5, Manners T5A
Custom OTB Ti can.
19 ish lbs, 7WSM with Broughton 26in no 7 profile, Minox ZP5, Manners T5A
Custom OTB Ti can.
I've not weighed my hunting rifles but I use one of two depending on the area. First is a 338-06 built by Alamo Precision. I use it in timber when I am elk hunting. The second is a 300 WSM with a Hawk Hill barrel on an Impact action. Both are light contour, light weight. I live in the mountains and the game is big, so I feel more comfortable with these than with smaller cartridges.
Deep woods hunting, a 30-30.
Stalking kinda hunts, a lightweight 270
Sit and wait, either a 12ga shotgun, the 270 if I have shooting lanes or 308 if I'm hunting power lines or long, straight logging roads.
Stalking kinda hunts, a lightweight 270
Sit and wait, either a 12ga shotgun, the 270 if I have shooting lanes or 308 if I'm hunting power lines or long, straight logging roads.
18” barrel
Griffin Explorr ex3 (12.5oz)
Atlas Bipod
Leupold Mark 6 3-18 w/ tremor2 reticle
Altogether weighs 10lbs 8oz
Gunwerks LR1000 Ti in 300wm
22” fluted barrel
NF NXS 5.5-22x56
Atlas bipod
Griffin Explorr Ex3
Altogether weighs 11 lbs even.
Both are very manageable to hike with and still are very shootable for range days. Next build might be something ultralight, I think one could get the weight under 7lbs with scope, bipod and the can. But I’m happy with both of these for now.
Last edited:
It's a unmodified 20 inch tikka t3x 6.5 Creedmoor barrelled action dropped into a southfort labs carbon stock. It's one of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned and it's now taken quite a lot of game here in Australia. It weighs 7.4lb as pictured & pushes 147gr Eldm's at 2650fps
At my age, Light AIN’T right. Can’t get a light rifle to steady. Good balance with at least 7 to 8 pounds with scope.
My favorite is my basic Weatherby Vanguard .25-06 with a 24” barrel. However, I really like my customized Ruger 77 in .35 Whelen, plenty of weight in the varmint class barrel profile and plenty of takedown power for anything that walks on this continent.
My favorite is my basic Weatherby Vanguard .25-06 with a 24” barrel. However, I really like my customized Ruger 77 in .35 Whelen, plenty of weight in the varmint class barrel profile and plenty of takedown power for anything that walks on this continent.
Last edited:
My Whelen with scope weights 10.1 and the Weatherby goes 9.2 with a 6.5x20 Leupold. Recently tried a Kimber that was hard pressed to go 5, with a heavy coat of oil on her. Took a loss when I sold it but I simply could not get it to shoot to its potential. However, the very light shooting Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 300 Blackout works ok. One wonders why one does and one does not. Of course the Ranch rifle is good for a 100, I expected the Kimber to work at ranges out to 300 So there may be the answer to my own question.
Remington 700 Action
22" Carbon Six Sendero 1-7" chambered in 6mm Creedmoor
McMillian A3 w/ Edge fill
Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18
Hawkins Precision LR Hybrid Rings
YHM Resonator
Killed an elk, mule deer, and lion this fall with it using 108 Berger Elite Hunters at 2965 fps. Going to switch to the 115 VLDs probably.
I gotta tell ya, since starting dialysis, things have gotten heavier. You'd think that cleaning your blood would make you feel stronger. NO IT DOES NOT. I'd have a problem hauling a backpack and rifle on my shoulder like I did just 2-3 years ago.
Sucks to get old!!!
What’s the set up weigh?
How do you like the a3 for a hunting rig? How does it feel for free hand shots?
It’s right around 10.5 with the suppressor and bipod. I really like the A3 but I try to avoid offhand shots if I can. I carry a couple ski sticks screwed together so I can make a tall bipod if I need to. For me the vertical grip takes too much of the stability to make an offhand shot.
For big stuff:
Seekins Precision Havak Element in 300 PRC. 7.2 pounds with optic mounted. I just ordered a MBM Ti brake as well, should shave off another ounce there.
For little stuff:
V Seven 2055 LiAl upper and handguard, RCA Titanium BCG w/ Radian Raptor handle. Barrel is a white oak 16 inch, 1-7 in SPR profile with a Walker Defense NERO556 brake on the end. Waiting on a 2055 lower to pop up for sale someplace so I don't have a final wait, but I am anticipating around 6-7lbs with optics, bipod, light, and grip.
Seekins Precision Havak Element in 300 PRC. 7.2 pounds with optic mounted. I just ordered a MBM Ti brake as well, should shave off another ounce there.
For little stuff:
V Seven 2055 LiAl upper and handguard, RCA Titanium BCG w/ Radian Raptor handle. Barrel is a white oak 16 inch, 1-7 in SPR profile with a Walker Defense NERO556 brake on the end. Waiting on a 2055 lower to pop up for sale someplace so I don't have a final wait, but I am anticipating around 6-7lbs with optics, bipod, light, and grip.
Last edited:
Okay thank you.
I’m trying to put a list of components together for a dedicated mid range hunting rifle. I’d like the weight to come into 7-10lbs range. Mostly supported shots but need to prepare for off hand or standing shots in the terrain I hunt
You're going to absolutely love it. The build quality is just impeccable. Can't beat their warranty / satisfaction guarantee either. Two of the three guys at my LGS are on the hunt for Element's now after seeing mine when it came in today
. What glass are you choosing between?
ATACR 4-16x42, Mark 5 HD, Razor AMG, and maybe the NX8 but I need to look through one.You're going to absolutely love it. The build quality is just impeccable. Can't beat their warranty / satisfaction guarantee either. Two of the three guys at my LGS are on the hunt for Element's now after seeing mine when it came in today
What glass are you choosing between?
Yeah I don't really think you could go wrong with any of those three lol. Boils down to preference in that arena. I am, admittedly, a Leupold fan boy.
That being said, I am also now pretty big on the whole "one gun" or "one optic" for everything approach. I would probably grab the NX8 out of that lot. Going to cover anything from a shot out of a blind or stand in thick woods all the way up to the shots we are likely willing to take while hunting. To me, these optics offered in, say, the 2-12 range are just perfect for a do all hunting optic.
I’m not much help because I whore myself around all of my rifles no matter how heavy or light they are. I figure if I own it I’m killing with it.
newest addition is this Browning HCS 6.5CM with 3-9 Super Chicken in Warne rings and mounts. I went steel bases because they are thinner and keep the scope lower to the bore. It just feels right. I let my wife fondle it and she really liked it so I guess I’m on the hook for another.
Usually I carry a M7 260Rem with a 2-7 Nikon Monarch. Wife uses a twin of it but with a Loopy 3-9. Here’s hers from this year, blind in the background. He was shaggy and a stinky bastard. Damn hippy.
newest addition is this Browning HCS 6.5CM with 3-9 Super Chicken in Warne rings and mounts. I went steel bases because they are thinner and keep the scope lower to the bore. It just feels right. I let my wife fondle it and she really liked it so I guess I’m on the hook for another.
Usually I carry a M7 260Rem with a 2-7 Nikon Monarch. Wife uses a twin of it but with a Loopy 3-9. Here’s hers from this year, blind in the background. He was shaggy and a stinky bastard. Damn hippy.
My current favorite, I have many guns but get hooked on a few every now and then: R700 308, H&S precision stock, RHR floorplate. Nothing cool or exciting. Over kill but does the job.
Shiloh Sharps 1874 in 50 2 1/2. 715gr bullet at a rather sedate 1400fps. Weight is right at 12#.
Similar threads
