Best hunting barrel contour, low weight vs accuracy

[Graywolf.260]

I want to build a .260 rem for mountain hunting, typically less than 600 yd shooting. I know there is no one answer, one rifle can't do everything, but it would be great to hear what your experience is in terms of trade offs in terms of weight versus accuracy and maybe specific recommendations. I was thinking about starting with a Sako 85 short action I already have and getting a Bartlein #3 sporter contour, 22-24"' and a light stock like a McMillan game scout with edge fill to keep it well below 9lbs including scope. I've been hunting with a TRG22 .260, that is an awesome rifle but on multiday high mountain outings it's not ideal. Some will say sack up, fair enough but light makes right in the mountains if you are going hard, not talking about strolling in mountain meadows. Flame on.

 

[boone3380]

The Sako action with a #3 should make a great mountain rifle. As far as accuracy you shouldn't lose anything. The lack of weight might make the operator less accurate, but not the rifle. If you reload, some light barrels seem a little more picky on loads than the heavy ones. Your only going to fire one round so barrel heat shouldn't be an issue.

 

[GlockBlock]

The Bartlein #3 threaded onto a Winchester M70 action would be a good choice IMO.

 

[teamvit]

#3 or a fluted 4 depending on your final barrel length choice

 

[Greg Langelius *]

While building a rifle for this application can be an attractive option, there is already a factory rifle that will just about meet your needs. I know from experience, I have one.

It's the Savage Predator Hunter Max 1, and mine comes with the .260 chambering, and a 24" 1:8" fluted medium varmint weight barrel. The package rifle (not that I'm suggesting the package, for one thing, the package options doesn't offer the .260 chambering) weighs in at 9.25lb. I use this configuration to suggest a completed weight with suitable optics. The basic rifle weighs 8.5lb. It has a 4rd D/M.

To my elderly, fast-feebling mind, if anyone can actually have a hunt fail because of an extra pound of weight, the only corollary I can think of is the legendary tale of Princess and the Pea. Take the extra pound, it will help with recoil, and the rifle is no longer a one-off with built-in excuses for a potential buyer to use in putting you over any unnecessary barrels.

 

[hlee]

What is your intended prey? A gun built for varmints is different from a coyote gun is different from a deer/elk gun. A very good day "hunting" prairie dogs generally entails many MANY shots, while a very good season elk hunting generally entails a single shot. For a rifle that will be carried to a prairie dog town and then unleashed upon the unwashed over the course of several hours, a heavy weight barrel with very consistent shot to shot performance/precision is generally preferred. However, for a rifle that will be carried over miles and miles of uneven terrain, then shot one time, a light weight rifle with a predictable cold bore shot is all that is required. The savage predator max was already recommended, and I'll add a rec for another factory rifle. According to my bathroom scale, my Remington mountain rifle (270win) weighs 8.2 lbs with a Leopold 3-9x44 vari Xii scope attached. It will put 5 shots in 1.5 moa every time (100y), and within 1 moa or better with some attention paid to barrel heat. In the mountains where "light is right, and lighter is righter," I'll take this weight-precision ratio. To me, adding any weight to get below 1 moa doesn't make sense on deer and elk sized game. On the other hand, if your quarry are rock chucks, then you may as well man up and carry the weight.

 

[Graywolf.260]

I don't hunt those little critters, just elk and mule deer. I do see the value in a savage predator .260 or rem mountain rifle as a pure hunting rifle. I should have said my back yard is NF with unlimited places to hike and shoot long range targets in the off season. I really like shooting the TRG and the straight drop style of the stock and I'm hoping I can build a sub moa rifle to replace it and still lose a few lbs. I'm not expecting to be able to hammer off 10 fast shots with no change in accuracy like the TRG but that's the trade off. And I already have the 85 action so the project makes sense financially too after selling the TRG (I'm just crying a little).

 

[Greg Langelius *]

In 2002, I got to shoot a stock Savage 10FP with a 24" 1:8".260 barrel on the Whittington Center C/F Silhouette Range.

They have a steel life-sized 'teaser' Buffalo Silhouette set out at 1 Kilometer (signage says 1123yd), with a sighter gong in the kill zone that's (if I remember right...) about a foot in diameter. After a few rounds to get on target, every successive shot rang the gong. The altitude there is about 8000ft ASL.

The 10FP had a Savage Varmint contour, slightly heavier than the Predator's barrel. With an eye to barrel heat management, I believe the Predator could duplicate the achievement.

Greg

 

[jsthntn247]

Check the weight on that #3 contour. I have a 280ai built on a rock #3 and it's heavier than I thought it would be. Should have went with a lighter contour.

 

[Coloradocop]

Personally, I think the Tikka T3 line makes for a great gun for that exact purpose: lightweight and accurate mountain hunting. My Tikka Scout CTR is a great shooter in .308, and the weight isn't as oppressive as many of the guns we see around here on the 'hide (many Tikkas are made even lighter, some much lighter, and they're still pretty darn accurate/repeatable). I've shot P-dogs beyond 700 yards with mine in the past, and would feel comfortable to 600 yards on more important game animals (provided the bullet still had the "muscle" at that distance -- wouldn't probably take an elk shot at that distance with a .308, but a pronghorn or deer might get shot).

 

[longrangefool]

Tikka t3 lite. I shoot a brux barreled (sent it to brux for them to match the contour) t3 lite out to 800 yards with competitive match accuracy. Rifle, b&c stock, rings and leupold mk4 weigh 8.25 lbs.

 

[ranger1183]

A Remington 788 chambered in .260 Remington. Weighs 7 pounds, 6 1/2 ounces. Has a 20 MOA Picatinny rail. It's an awesome shooter. Wickedly accurate and very easy and fast to handle. Mine comes with 4 Magazines, plus Brass, bullets and Dies for $500.00 shipped to your FFL.