Light Stalking rifle

Mauser 308

Guys, a friend of mine is looking for a light stalking rifle. He has used my Mauser and finds it too heavy (especially with bi-pod and T8 fitted), he is mainly stalking woodland and hunts with rifle at the ready as he puts it. He seems set on 243 or 25-06, both of which are excellent. Kick does not bother him, and he is not into targets. Any advise on a light stalking set up. He has up to €2,500 budget for rifle, mod etc, he has a scope he is happy with.

Tackleberrywho

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Guys, a friend of mine is looking for a light stalking rifle. He has used my Mauser and finds it too heavy (especially with bi-pod and T8 fitted), he is mainly stalking woodland and hunts with rifle at the ready as he puts it. He seems set on 243 or 25-06, both of which are excellent. Kick does not bother him, and he is not into targets. Any advise on a light stalking set up. He has up to €2,500 budget for rifle, mod etc, he has a scope he is happy with.

Sako 75 finlite

It wasn't me!

Zeiss Conquest for a nice light scope that won't break the bank. Tikka T3 is hard to beat for light weight and good construction. I will say, if you're not using a mod, don't go for the .25 as the absolute longest barrel I can find commercially available is 24" and I'd want a bit more than that to keep the noise civilised. 24" wouldn't be too bad for noise but shorter is awful.

deerhunter1

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Guys, a friend of mine is looking for a light stalking rifle. He has used my Mauser and finds it too heavy (especially with bi-pod and T8 fitted), he is mainly stalking woodland and hunts with rifle at the ready as he puts it. He seems set on 243 or 25-06, both of which are excellent. Kick does not bother him, and he is not into targets. Any advise on a light stalking set up. He has up to €2,500 budget for rifle, mod etc, he has a scope he is happy with.

STEYR PRO HUNTER;);)

Tackleberrywho

€2500 would also get a seriously pimped rifle;)

zeissman

Sako 85 stainless synthetic. 20 inch threaded barrel version weighs 2.8kg in the short action 243. 308. etc.
Stick on a lightweight roedale or A-tec mod and your set.
I would rather a 308 for woodland stalking though.

steyrprohunter

Id go Steyr prohunter in 20" barrel. Prob cos I use one so Im going to be biased!!! Sako would be nice too, Tikka although a fine gun are very hollow in the stock but thats just my opinion!! The world is your oyster if you have 2500 to spend !!!:D

ejg

For 2500...... maybe have a word to one of our fine rifle builders. They could
build something "just right" for that.
edi

PippaSpaniel

It all depends what type of game he is after fallow,sika or red deer. I have a tikka 243 with a swarvorski scope ideal for sika and the odd red up close. I use 95grain hornady sst on the deer and 58 grain on foxes. My friend has a blaser 25 06 and it will take down any species of deer in Ireland. The 25 06 would be a good all rounder. I find the 243 great but u would want to be necking sika with it. I suppose its up to your friend and what type of hunting he is into. With his budget he will get a good set up best of luck with it!!!!

virminhunter

I'd go with what ejg said, with that money you could go custom and get exactly what you want, I personally went with a tikka because with the difference in price between tikka and sako I can put an aftermarket stock of my choice on the tikka plus all tikka's have a long action and with a .308 bolt face on a .243 or .25-06 it makes it easier to change caliber in the future eg .270win, 30-06, .308, 7mm08 if I should choose to do so, just some food for thought:)

Tackleberrywho

If I had €2500
I would not be spending it on a rifle

But if I did, that would buy a Remmy action, Truflite barrel & PSE Stock with a Roedale mod and still have the price of a Bipod and still have change for a few pints on a rainy Sunday Afternoon!!!!!

In what ever calibre you wanted, in what ever twist you wanted and in what ever weight you wanted yet still being seriously accurate!

Traumadoc

http://www.steyrarms.com/products/hunting-rifles/classic-light/

dwighet

Heres a pic of my lightweight deer rifle.
Its a rem trued action,sheilen 24" very thin barrel,mcmillan ultalight hunters edge stock,timney trigger,zeiss conqeuest scope and burris mounts...

Total weight is 7.5 pound..
Can carry it all day in one hand not a bother...

The terrain I stalk at in Kerry is very steep and the less weight I have on my "aging back" the better...It aint getting any easier:(

[IMG][/img]

It wasn't me!

That rifle of dwighet's is a joy. Something like that is perfect as a do it all gun. I can testify to his stalking ground as well and if I were down there, something like that is practically mandatory. Even my Sako hunter felt heavy after that day.

foxer3640

Hi there. was in patrick Carleys yesterday and he had a used tikka t3. i think its in .243. its relly light and almost new. might be worth a call.

FISMA

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Guys, a friend of mine is looking for a light stalking rifle. He has used my Mauser and finds it too heavy (especially with bi-pod and T8 fitted), he is mainly stalking woodland and hunts with rifle at the ready as he puts it. He seems set on 243 or 25-06, both of which are excellent. Kick does not bother him, and he is not into targets. Any advise on a light stalking set up. He has up to €2,500 budget for rifle, mod etc, he has a scope he is happy with.

Mauser,
You should remind him that light implies less metal. Personally, I do not like the word light being associated with rifles. Whenever I place my cheek near a receiver, I want to rest assured that the engineers did not try to figure out the minimum amount of metal necessary for a safe firearm. Neither do I want to be the one that figures out their error.

Is your Mauser a K98? If so, I love them, however, they are a bit longer than most rifles today which is what your friend might not like. However, being a war gun she needed to be, especially when bayonet is deployed.

Has he tried a basic Remington 700? How about a BDL with 22" barrel. Hardly heavy and nicely balanced.

poulo6.5

dwighet wrote: »

Heres a pic of my lightweight deer rifle.
Its a rem trued action,sheilen 24" very thin barrel,mcmillan ultalight hunters edge stock,timney trigger,zeiss conqeuest scope and burris mounts...

Total weight is 7.5 pound..
Can carry it all day in one hand not a bother...

The terrain I stalk at in Kerry is very steep and the less weight I have on my "aging back" the better...It aint getting any easier:(

[IMG][/img]

funny looking sika;) nice rifle though

dwighet

poulo6.5 wrote: »

funny looking sika;) nice rifle though

Theres loads of em at you new shoot in kerry...Keep your eye out you might see a few..

Mauser 308

FISMA wrote: »

Mauser,
You should remind him that light implies less metal. Personally, I do not like the word light being associated with rifles. Whenever I place my cheek near a receiver, I want to rest assured that the engineers did not try to figure out the minimum amount of metal necessary for a safe firearm. Neither do I want to be the one that figures out their error.

Is your Mauser a K98? If so, I love them, however, they are a bit longer than most rifles today which is what your friend might not like. However, being a war gun she needed to be, especially when bayonet is deployed.

Has he tried a basic Remington 700? How about a BDL with 22" barrel. Hardly heavy and nicely balanced.

Hi FISMA, my Mauser is the M03, 21". It is a great solid gun and the weight does not bother me so much. Though with a bi pod and T8 fittet it is rather top heavy. He was looking at a winchester at the weekend and quite liked it but again add a T8 and bipod to any gun and it will get heavy. There has been a lot of good suggestions which I will pass on to him this evening , a nice balanced rifle with a light mod/ or no mod - and no bi-pod seems to be the way to go. Thanks for all the feedback.

Mauser 308

ejg wrote: »

For 2500...... maybe have a word to one of our fine rifle builders. They could
build something "just right" for that.
edi

Guys can you recomend anyone around the Westmeath general area to build one to his liking?

It wasn't me!

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Guys can you recomend anyone around the Westmeath general area to build one to his liking?

Fergal Whyte's in Athlone. Really nice guy. Not had any work done by him but had a few chats and he's a seriously dedicated guy.

Mauser 308

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Fergal Whyte's in Athlone. Really nice guy. Not had any work done by him but had a few chats and he's a seriously dedicated guy.

Guys anyone have Fregal's contact details.

Tackleberrywho

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Guys anyone have Fregal's contact details.

www.irelandcustomrifle.com but he is on Summer Holidays at the mo!