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Lightweight/Compact Bolt Action

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EAGLE View Drop Down
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    Posted: December/21/2012 at 18:21

Looking for a lightweight and compact bolt action rifle in .243 that will shoot MOA or under with factory ammo for the wife.

Youth models don’t fit her well and her LOP is approximately 10.5 -11” so I need an upgradable model.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 

Eagle

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EAGLE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 18:32
Forgot to mention, perfer BB stainless model for all weather use.

PS: Anyone have a Kimber Montana?

Eagle

Edited by EAGLE - December/21/2012 at 18:42
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 19:06
Yes, I have a Kimber Montana, and I think it's a great rifle, but mine is in .325 WSM! In my opinion, I think it has one of, if not the very best synthetic stocks ever offered on an out of the box factory rifle. It has an excellent trigger. The rifle as a whole is very well balanced and handles like a dream. Fit and finish is first rate. My specimen is quite accurate, and I have no problem shooting well under MOA with it. I have no complaints whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I can't think of a finer out of the box all weather, hardcore hunting rifle, without building a custom, but of course opinions vary.

I also have a Kimber 84M Classic Select (blued and wood stock) in .260. If you got a Montana in .243, it would have the same 84M action and barrel profile as my rifle, except in stainless steel rather than blued chrome moly. I initially had difficulty getting this rifle to shoot, but persistence paid off, and now she shoots pretty well - right at or slightly over 1 MOA.

Besides the Kimber, I'd also consider the Rem 700 Alaskan TI, another super light rifle. It's very similar to the now discontinued 700 TI and Mountain TI, except with slightly different stock, and the latter two had barrel fluting. You can still find one of those rifles used every now and then.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jselsor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 19:14
ruger american in 7mm08
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 19:23
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11LH

This is a super accurate/lightweight rifle I have one in .223... love it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote biggreen747 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 19:46
I have a Kimber Montana as well and it's a great rifle. Mine is a 338WM with barrell cut to 23in. i wish i could say it is sub moa but its not. prior to shortening the barrel it hovered around 1 1/2 and now its about 1 moa, which is plenty good for what i hunt with it. However.... With her lop of 10 1/2 - 11 that is probably not te best choice. If you want stainless I would look at a Rem 700 or Savage with accu-trigger as both are readily available in stainless and there are lots of accessories for either. For my wife's 243 I used a marlin xs7 (and its a 1/2moa gun if I can do my part) threw away the tupperware stock and got a thumb hole laminate. Personally I feel the thumb hole is the way to go for smaller shooters as it puts the hand and arm at a more comfortable angle for them and you don't seem to have to shorten the stock as much. We went to a local gunsmith and fit the rifle to her. We ended up only reducing the lop from 13 1/4 to 12 1/2 (measured at the top) but we significantly altered the angle of the stock as well probably reducing the bottom by over an inch. When I brought it home I bedded the action and relived the barrel channel a bit to ensure it was floated. That rifle probably sees more use than any of my other hunting rifles as both my kids love it as well. My son took 2 deer with it this year, his buddy dropped his Rifle and broke the stock so he used it to take a deer as did I, not to mention its my favorite coyote rifle.
We measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, and cut it with a chainsaw.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 19:47
I have a Tikka that I like a lot.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 19:57
I just found a steal at $1699 on a Cooper classic.243. Then get cooper to trim the stock to fit your wife. or have a second stock fitted just for her.

http://www.covecreekoutfitters.com/gun-room/cooper-firearms-model-54-classic-243-win

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/21/2012 at 21:21
did you look at the savage purpose built female rifle??
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11Lady
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peddler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 05:34
Got my wife the new Savage Lady Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor,she loves it and it's a shooter. It loves Hornady Superformance 129 SST's also.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EAGLE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 07:23
My wife mentioned hog hunting so I'm leaning towards a 7-08 for her to deer and hog hunt with.

We will take a look at the Lady Hunter.

Keep it coming all,

Eagle



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bugsNbows Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 07:52
NOT a bolt but how about considering a single shot. I've got a great Winchester 1885 Low Wall in .243 that is accurate, light weight AND a looker. It's a great choice IMO. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EAGLE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 08:48
She has a single shot, Semi-auto (AR 6.8) but she likes my bolt action and wants her own.

Looking at Savages site, the lady hunter looks nice, but not an all weather rifle.


Eagle
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peddler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 09:08
Originally posted by EAGLE EAGLE wrote:

She has a single shot, Semi-auto (AR 6.8) but she likes my bolt action and wants her own.

Looking at Savages site, the lady hunter looks nice, but not an all weather rifle.


Eagle


After we broke her gun in I had it glass bedded.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 10:49
Originally posted by EAGLE EAGLE wrote:

She has a single shot, Semi-auto (AR 6.8) but she likes my bolt action and wants her own.

Looking at Savages site, the lady hunter looks nice, but not an all weather rifle.


Eagle

unless you hunt alaska and or africa exclusively, i dont really buy into the " all weather" selling point. i live and have lived in some tough climates to hunt in and ive never had any issue with a wood stocked rifle. just make sure you take care of them and they will be fine. its a tool man, not a piece of art.Wink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 11:22
A little oil on the steel and some epoxy in the stock... It will stand up to the weather fine! Remember that stainless only stains...less
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EAGLE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 11:53
Good point about maintenance, etc

Any advice on 7-08 ?


Eagle
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 11:57
love it. i bought 2 m700 xcr's for my sons, on a screaming deal. they are versatile and pack enough punch to kill about anything you would need too and the recoil is very manageable and the accuracy can be very very good.
id start out with a 140gr bullet of some sort and about any powder will work in that case.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 12:50
Tikka t3 lite stainless w/composite stock works really great up here in the northern plains were it can blow dust around/rain/snow(commonplace) all in the same day. Some years back a freinds Browning lever action English walnut stock cracked from temp. change.


World record temperature change

Spearfish SD holds the world record for the fastest temperature change. On January 22, 1943 at about 7:30 a.m. MST, the temperature in Spearfish was -4°F (-20°C). The Chinook wind picked up speed rapidly, and two minutes later (7:32 a.m.) the temperature was +45°F (+7°C) above zero. The 49°F (27°C) rise in two minutes set a world record that still holds. By 9:00 a.m., the temperature had risen to 54°F (12°C). Suddenly, the chinook died down and the temperature tumbled back to -4°F (-20°C). The 58°F (32°C) drop took only 27 minutes.






Edited by rustic - December/22/2012 at 12:55
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/22/2012 at 12:57
id be highly suspicious of that, im guessing there was more to it than just the weather...
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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