What is the ultimate mountain rifle and caliber
- Thread starter H&Hhunter
- Start date
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
If I'm correct that the Rem700Ti has the longest barrel (22"), that would be my choice.
I have one in 7mm08. From what I know of the cartridge from the ballistics charts, I think it would suffice. In the relatively short barrel, I'd choose the .308 over the '06.
Art
I have one in 7mm08. From what I know of the cartridge from the ballistics charts, I think it would suffice. In the relatively short barrel, I'd choose the .308 over the '06.
Art
They all work, I like the looks of the Featherweight so I'll go with that.
Oddly. I know several serious Stone Sheep hunters and not one carries a 'mountain rifle'. They all shoot full sized rifles, usually in a flat shooting cartridge. I know of two 7mm STW's, 1 264win, 300 H&H, 300Wby, 338win. There's lots of uneducated grizzlies in Stone country.
When your panting hard and the mountain wind is bucking you, or your just plain excited, the ultra lightweight is just a little harder to steady.
Oddly. I know several serious Stone Sheep hunters and not one carries a 'mountain rifle'. They all shoot full sized rifles, usually in a flat shooting cartridge. I know of two 7mm STW's, 1 264win, 300 H&H, 300Wby, 338win. There's lots of uneducated grizzlies in Stone country.
When your panting hard and the mountain wind is bucking you, or your just plain excited, the ultra lightweight is just a little harder to steady.
Preacherman
New member
Steyr Scout rifle in .308 Winchester.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Preacherman, your idea ain't bad, but the 700Ti is 6-1/4 pounds fully dressed, if that's a factor.
Howsomever, I've covered a good bit of country in the 4,000 to 6,000 elevation range with my 9.5 pound rig. I'll admit that a couple of miles of heavy brush and timber at 10,500 seemed a bit of a chore, even at age 50.
Art
Howsomever, I've covered a good bit of country in the 4,000 to 6,000 elevation range with my 9.5 pound rig. I'll admit that a couple of miles of heavy brush and timber at 10,500 seemed a bit of a chore, even at age 50.
Art
Biathlonman
New member
Right now I would have to say my custom built 96 Mauser tipping the scales at about 7.5 fully loaded. In 6.5x55 of course.
Of course I am toying with the idea of a Contender Carbine in .338 JDJ. Package could be done right around 6 lbs and still put up some impressive knock down power.
Of course I am toying with the idea of a Contender Carbine in .338 JDJ. Package could be done right around 6 lbs and still put up some impressive knock down power.
Mannlicher
New member
Maybe not everyone's choice, but my Custom Mauser in 7 X 57Ackley Improved, with lightweight Synthetic stock fills the bill for me. Weight is about 7 pounds with Compact Leupold scope and 4 rounds in the magazine.
Had some of these same thoughts, about a month ago. Sitting on the edge of a saddle, right at timberline (11000+). Decided that my kit and rifle needed a little lightening. (decided that the JohnDog needed a little "lightening" too 
)
So I've got a good workout program going, and when I meet my goal next spring one of those Remington 700 Ti in .270 will probably show up in the safe. I figured that shaving 3 pounds of weight off the rifle was kinda dumb, when i'm carrying around 15-20 pounds of spare tire. And .270 Win - it's the ultimate sheep/mountain caliber! (I guess I read too many O'Connor stories in my mis-spent youth).
JohnDog
)So I've got a good workout program going, and when I meet my goal next spring one of those Remington 700 Ti in .270 will probably show up in the safe. I figured that shaving 3 pounds of weight off the rifle was kinda dumb, when i'm carrying around 15-20 pounds of spare tire. And .270 Win - it's the ultimate sheep/mountain caliber! (I guess I read too many O'Connor stories in my mis-spent youth).
JohnDog
Cowdogpete
New member
I'll second the vote for 84M in .308.
Great gun!
Great gun!
Glock4ever
New member
I voted for the Remington but...
what about the SAKO FINNLIGHT? It is definitely an excellent little rifle and it is really light... Really accurate too. Top it off with a nice German scope or Leupold and that would be a really nice setup.
what about the SAKO FINNLIGHT? It is definitely an excellent little rifle and it is really light... Really accurate too. Top it off with a nice German scope or Leupold and that would be a really nice setup.
Preacherman,
I agree with you on the Styer except for one thing. Been there done that and the rifle is fine but the thick reticled scout scope is far from ideal in sheep country. It is severly limiting as far as being able to pick a gray sheep out of of a gray scree field at any kind of range. It would be a great platform with a conventional scope however.
Two years ago I took mine sheep hunting in the guadalupes and after picking out a nice barbary cross canyon with my binos and raninging him at a scosh over 400 yards I was unable to shoot with the scout because I couldn't get a clear sight picture in the lower light against the rock jumbles and shadows. A guy really needs good glass in sheep country! I wound up carrying my .375H&H topped with a 1.75X6.
I am still in search of the perfect sheep/light weight mountain rifle. It should be stainless and synthetic. And it should be light,compact, accurate and flat shooting. I'm really thinking a stainless winchester in .300wsm may just be the ticket after a little customizing and weight reduction. Just by the way I had to send mine back to USRAC because of several defects from the factory. The quality control is really getting dismal on the Model 70 line...Such a shame.
I agree with you on the Styer except for one thing. Been there done that and the rifle is fine but the thick reticled scout scope is far from ideal in sheep country. It is severly limiting as far as being able to pick a gray sheep out of of a gray scree field at any kind of range. It would be a great platform with a conventional scope however.
Two years ago I took mine sheep hunting in the guadalupes and after picking out a nice barbary cross canyon with my binos and raninging him at a scosh over 400 yards I was unable to shoot with the scout because I couldn't get a clear sight picture in the lower light against the rock jumbles and shadows. A guy really needs good glass in sheep country! I wound up carrying my .375H&H topped with a 1.75X6.
I am still in search of the perfect sheep/light weight mountain rifle. It should be stainless and synthetic. And it should be light,compact, accurate and flat shooting. I'm really thinking a stainless winchester in .300wsm may just be the ticket after a little customizing and weight reduction. Just by the way I had to send mine back to USRAC because of several defects from the factory. The quality control is really getting dismal on the Model 70 line...Such a shame.
Anything that you can shoot well, that has a relatively flat trajectory & a decent enough scope/reticle so you can accurately transfix the target.
I'm not all that hip on stainless & synthetic stocks - just never seen the need as a decently free-floated barrel & sealed wood stock isn't going anywhere in my experience. Alaska weather could likely change my mind.
I've used a Rem ADL .243 to take a few deer at fairly long range & think it would probably do quite well for sheep. Same-same for a stock Win 70 .270, although I'd rather carry something a bit lighter.
Using a fairly stock Rem M7 in .308 currently for elk (it does get mountainous at times) & the light weight's a good thing. Could use a bit longer barrel though for the longer shots - the velocity's just not up there with an 18.5" barrel. 21" or could help.
In reality though, if one had a range finder (never even used one) the trajectory issue doesn't become so much of one ....
I'm not all that hip on stainless & synthetic stocks - just never seen the need as a decently free-floated barrel & sealed wood stock isn't going anywhere in my experience. Alaska weather could likely change my mind.
I've used a Rem ADL .243 to take a few deer at fairly long range & think it would probably do quite well for sheep. Same-same for a stock Win 70 .270, although I'd rather carry something a bit lighter.
Using a fairly stock Rem M7 in .308 currently for elk (it does get mountainous at times) & the light weight's a good thing. Could use a bit longer barrel though for the longer shots - the velocity's just not up there with an 18.5" barrel. 21" or could help.
In reality though, if one had a range finder (never even used one) the trajectory issue doesn't become so much of one ....
What becomes a HUGE issue even when the range is known to the inch is WIND. 308 is one that can get blown around quite a bit. A 7mm with a good bullet can cut the drift by a full third at 500 yards, 270 will be a lot better too.
There is good reason sheep rifles are traditionally pretty fast and flat.
There is good reason sheep rifles are traditionally pretty fast and flat.
MeekAndMild
New member
I wonder what the light rifles do when your heartrate goes up to 120 after you've climbed up on the mountain? It would seem something heavier would be worth the bother.