Nice Rifles for Mountain Looking

Being an avid sheep and mountain goat hunter right here in Alaska, I’ve seen the great, dangerous, and ugly in mountain rifles. A mountain hunter wants a rifle that’s fairly mild, reliable, correct, and impervious to dangerous climate. Each rifle has its benefits and downsides. Some rifles are tremendous mild, however they’re normally tougher to shoot precisely as a result of they’re much less steady and have elevated recoil. Many nice taking pictures rifles are simply too heavy to fairly pack up the mountain. In my expertise, a rifle that weighs about seven kilos or much less and nonetheless permits a hunter to persistently shoot 1 ½ MOA teams is enough for many mountain looking. Not each rifle is up for the job, however listed below are 10 that I’d not hesitate to tackle a once-in-a-lifetime mountain hunt. These choices have been made with sheep, goats, and high-country mule deer, and elk in thoughts, however they’re able to killing any sport you can find within the mountains.

This yr, Springfield launched the 2020 Redline rifle, a scalloped out, slimmed down model of their standard 2020 Waypoint. The Redline is constructed on the 2020 motion, which is an optimized Remington M700 clone that contains a sliding-claw extractor, Triggertech set off, and tool-free bolt takedown. The Redline is obtainable in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, and has a carbon-sleeved, fluted stainless barrel. It’s optimized to be used with a light-weight suppressor by coming in 16- and 20-inch barrel lengths. The Grayboe Trekker inventory gives good ergonomics that make the rifle straightforward to shoot with out extra weight. The entire rifle weighs about 6.5 kilos.

I received ahold of the Redline with a 20-inch barrel chambered for six.5 Creedmoor simply earlier than my annual Dall sheep hunt in Alaska this yr. Attempting some present handloads, I rapidly discovered one which simply glad Springfield’s .75-M.O.A. accuracy assure. It’s an important rifle to pack via sheep nation, and you’ll learn a extra detailed, full assessment right here. Value: $2190

Weatherby made a advantageous mountain rifle with their Mark V Backcountry Ti in 2020, and so they’ve made some good updates to the platform in 2022, within the type of the Mark V Backcountry 2.0. The two.0 is on the market in a number of totally different configurations and might be ordered in several colours straight from Weatherby, however the major variables to select from are the receiver and barrel materials. You possibly can select between metal and titanium receivers, and metal or carbon-wrapped barrels. We received to completely check the Backcountry 2.0 Ti Carbon at our 2022 gun check, and located it to be correct and succesful.

We might simply fulfill Weatherby’s 1 M.O.A. accuracy assure and it was in step with quite a lot of ammunition. The rifle we examined had a 24-inch barrel and tipped the scales at solely 5 kilos, 2 ounces. The inventory design is like that of the primary Mark V Backcountry rifles, however the unique 3D-printed recoil pad has been improved. The Backcountry 2.0 Ti Carbon is an costly rifle, but it surely’s a strong performer. MSRP: $3,850

Kimber has an important status for its mountain rifles, and the corporate has set a manufacturing rifle customary with their Mountain Ascent. Nonetheless, that’s change into a tough rifle to come back by, and it won’t be the perfect Kimber mountain rifle for the discerning shopper. Weighing solely about 10 ounces greater than the Mountain Ascent, Kimber’s newer Hunter Professional Desolve Blak is available in at 5 kilos, 7 ounces, and is lower than half the worth. It could even be discovered at some retailers for lower than $1,000. I examined the Hunter Professional Desolve Blak in .308 Win. together with a number of different mid-priced looking rifles and it stood out from the group. Accuracy with five-shot teams out of the skinny barrel weren’t stellar, however they weren’t dangerous. Three-shot teams simply glad Kimber’s 1-M.O.A. assure with a number of sorts of ammo. It options Kimber’s 84M controlled-feed motion and a flush-fitting removable journal. The rifle is mild, useful, and has a great set off. Bang-for-the-buck, it’s the most effective manufacturing mountain rifles you may get. MSRP: $1,006

Winchester’s budget-friendly XPR has been in the marketplace for a number of years. It received’t win any magnificence contests, and definitely doesn’t fall into the ultralight class (it weighs round 7 kilos). Nonetheless, it’s a pure utilitarian workhorse, and supplied in a slough of cartridge choices. It’s a rifle that usually wouldn’t stand out in a crowd, however the XPR has at all times carried out for me and you’ll’t beat the worth tag. Though it’s not a specialised mountain rifle, together with the XPR is a nod to the notion that any rifle you’re prepared to hold up the mountain is a mountain rifle.

One specific XPR in 6.5 Creedmoor I personal has seen and survived each climate situation possible, and has killed extra sheep and caribou than local weather change. I’ve had the prospect to shoot numerous XPR’s, and so they’re one of many best-quality budget-friendly rifles you should buy. If you happen to don’t need to shell out money for one of many higher-end rifles, it is a nice choice. MSRP: $549

For mountain hunters with a top-end rifle on their wishlist, the Glacier Ti from Proof Analysis is a powerful contender. Many hunters received’t look past the worth tag, however in the event you’re on the lookout for a very immaculate, high-performance mountain rifle, that is it. Proof Analysis is understood for his or her glorious barrels, however their rifles show unimaginable high quality and a spotlight to element as properly. We examined the Proof Tundra in our 2022 gun check and never solely was it probably the most correct looking rifle we examined, however the becoming and element work was distinctive. The Proof Glacier proved itself to our Editor-In-Chief Alex Robinson, who took the steel-action Glacier to the Yukon this fall and took his first Dall ram with it.

The Glacier Ti could be very comparable, however has a titanium motion, which shaves half a pound from the general weight of the rifle (weights vary from 5 kilos, 5 ounces, to six kilos, 4 ounces). It’s a glossy and easy M700-based rifle with a Proof carbon-wrapped barrel and Proof’s personal carbon fiber inventory. It has a TriggerTech set off, a bedded motion, and comes with a half-M.O.A. three-shot accuracy assure. The Glacier Ti is on the market in quite a lot of chamberings, from 6.5 Creedmoor to .300 PRC (even the brand new 7 PRC). It’s additionally accessible in each left and right-handed configurations and you’ll select from quite a lot of colours and patterns. If you happen to’re saving laborious for a pleasant mountain rifle, this one received’t disappoint. MSRP: $7,499

We first examined the Sako 85 Finnlight in 2009, the place it received Editor’s Selection in our rifle check. The Finnlight is constructed for the mountains. It’s mild, at 5 kilos, 6 ounces in short-action cartridges like .308. It’s constructed with easy, rugged, and exact elements to thrive in even the worst circumstances. The artificial inventory has a pleasant palm swell and cheesy rubber inserts that assist with grip in moist climate. The easy, easy bolt deal with drives a slick and well-fitted motion, stripping rounds from the flush-fitting removable journal. The stainless barrel varies in size by caliber, however they’re all fluted to scale back weight and enhance barrel cooling. The Sako 85 Finnlight is exceptionally correct for a mountain rifle and really able to sub-M.O.A. five-shot group accuracy. Though it’s supplied in a dozen chamberings, these traumatized by the recognition of the 6.5 Creedmoor will rejoice that the Creed isn’t one in every of them. It’s accessible in .260 Rem. and 6.5 x 55 Swede although. MSRP: $1,800

Though many sub-thousand-dollar manufacturing rifles are succesful mountain weapons, hunters typically gravitate towards {custom} or semi-custom rifles—a class which has turned out some very good taking pictures irons lately. As with all class, there’s a value spectrum in semi-custom rifles, and one of many extra inexpensive fashions is the CT Rival from Fierce Firearms. This can be a light-weight rifle that sits in a carbon-fiber inventory with a vertical grip and broad fore finish. It’s a flexible gun that’s mild sufficient for the mountains, however succesful for long-distance taking pictures as properly. The CT Rival is constructed round Fierce’s titanium two-lug M700-type motion and a carbon-wrapped barrel.

It’s accessible both as a manufacturing facility shelf-gun at retailers or a custom-coated and assembled bundle straight from Fierce—optic and all. It has a fluted bolt with a skeletonized deal with, a Bix’n Andy’s adjustable set off, Q.D. sling stud mounts, and the naked rifle (chambered in .300 Win. Magazine.) weighs 6 kilos, 3 ounces. I had the prospect to completely check and assessment a bundle CT Rival chambered in .300 Win. Magazine, and managed to shoot a caribou with it. Though there’s some speak on boards and remark boards of a handful of points with the CT Rival, I can solely choose what I can see and the rifle I’ve is dependable, extraordinarily correct, and an important worth. MSRP $3,000

Browning’s X-Bolt platform is a superb manufacturing mountain looking rifle with a short-throw, easy motion, dependable feeding, accuracy, and all-weather coatings, however the Mountain Professional kicks it up a notch. It’s nonetheless not ultralight, coming in at simply over 6 kilos, however cuts a great quantity of weight from different X-Bolt fashions just like the Hell’s Canyon Pace. Its most notable options are the froth core, true carbon-fiber inventory, and full cerakote end with spiral fluting on the bolt, bolt knob, and barrel. The Mountain Professional additionally contains Browning’s Recoil Hawg side-baffle muzzle brake, and a thread protector in the event you’d somewhat not use it.

These rifles are made to take a beating and nonetheless carry out. I’ve spent fairly a little bit of time with X-Bolts, and that is my favourite one but. I took an aoudad with the Mountain Professional in 2021, and I wouldn’t hesitate to deliver it wherever. If I might solely have one rifle for looking the mountains, this is perhaps it. It is available in a number of short-action chamberings (together with 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, and .300 WSM) and it additionally hits heavy on the highest finish with cartridges just like the 28 Nosler, and 300 PRC. MSRP: $2,630

The Tikka T3 sequence of rifles has established a cult-like following of hunters, particularly mountain hunters due to it’s inexpensive value, accuracy, and utter dependability. We discovered the usual T3X to be the perfect mid-priced rifle for the cash in our mid-priced rifles check, and the Superlite is even nicer. The T3X Superlite has the identical reliable options and high quality elements as the opposite T3 fashions. Moreover, it has a extra modular inventory, widened ejection port for single-feeding, fluted stainless barrel, comes chambered in quite a lot of calibers, and weighs proper round 6 kilos naked (relying on chambering). It’s one other no-frills workhorse that may at all times get the job accomplished. MSRP $749

The Cross from Sig Sauer is probably a foreshadowing of what’s to come back: Chassis-style rifles, that are so standard within the precision taking pictures neighborhood will make their approach into mountain looking as properly. Many precision shooters are additionally critical hunters and acknowledge the benefits that type of rifle affords. The Sig Cross is a purpose-built looking/backpacking rifle that appears like a mix of AR and chassis rifle ergonomics, however isn’t really an motion in a chassis. It has extra of an AR-style receiver with ejection port. It contains a totally adjustable comb and size of pull, folding inventory, and is available in at beneath 7 kilos. There was an early recall on this rifle in 2020 for delayed firing, however that was rapidly remedied by Sig. Chamberings are restricted to the .277 Fury, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Win. MSRP: $1,779

Christensen Arms’ Ridgeline has change into a staple for mountain hunters, garnering a status as a really reliable, correct rifle. In 2022, they launched the Ridgeline FFT Titanium, which has a titanium motion and FFT elements. The “FFT” stands for “Flash Solid Know-how,” by which items of carbon fiber are bonded and the completed product appears to be like a bit like O.S.B. plywood. I completely examined a Ridgeline FFT Titanium in .308 Win. and hauled it alongside on a 14-day sheep hunt right here in Alaska. My pattern weighed solely 4 kilos, 14 ounces, which is unimaginable. The inventory is the first FFT element and is foam-filled carbon-fiber with bedding pillars. The journal bottom-place and bolt deal with are additionally FFT carbon parts. The rifle contains a carbon-wrapped barrel and side-baffle muzzle brake. The M700-style bolt is fluted, cerakoted, and has an M16-style extractor. The Ridgeline FFT Titanium is available in 10 totally different chamberings, together with 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 7 PRC, .300 PRC, and extra. It comes with a three-shot sub-M.O.A. assure that mine simply fulfilled. MSRP: $3,400

Savage has lengthy been recognized for producing correct, reliable rifles, however you might by no means actually name them light-weight—till now. What they’ve accomplished with the Mannequin 110 is sensible. There may be numerous extra metal on the usual 110 motion that Savage was in a position to mill off and hole out, in addition to flute the bolt to additional cut back weight. The quick motion is available in at about 5.8 kilos, a giant reduce from the 7.5 kilos of an ordinary 110. Savage then mated it with a PROOF Analysis carbon-fiber wrapped barrel (that are well-renowned for his or her accuracy). Not like pencil-thin all-steel mountain rifle barrels, a carbon-wrapped barrel usually received’t warmth up as quick, and dissipates its warmth quicker, whereas coming in at an analogous weight, which could be very useful for load improvement. It makes use of Savage’s AccuTrigger and AccuFit shares and is being supplied in some quite common quick motion chamberings, just like the .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .300 WSM, but in addition in standard mountain cartridges like .280 A.I. Learn our full assessment of the Mannequin 110 right here. MSRP: $1,500

One other glorious custom-level mountain rifle is the Mountain Shadow from Allterra arms. The Mountain Shadow is on the market on each metal and carbon configurations, and the metal model was examined and reviewed by my colleague, OL taking pictures editorJohn B. Snow. It is available in at slightly below seven kilos, however weight isn’t all the pieces. This glossy rifle has an Allterra carbon-fiber inventory with a reverse comb, and Allterra’s in-house Convergence motion. They’re priced like a craftsman’s rifle as a result of that’s what they’re. The spiral-fluted barrels are assured to ship half-M.O.A. accuracy with three-shot teams utilizing premium ammo, and you’ll select from all kinds of calibers. Base Value: $5,745