[tedtf]

Looking at adding a 7mm-08 for whitetail deer. I want something light for a woods rifle. Trying to decide between the Browning BLR and Tikka T3. Not sure if I will like the lever or bolt action. I own a lot of bolt actions already.

 

[mattsbox99]

There is nothing "light" about the BLR or the T3. If I was in the market for lightweight, it would be a Ruger Hawkeye Compact or Ultralight, or my new No. 1A, even with its 22" barrel, its still much shorter and lighter than a 18" barrelled bolt gun.

http://ruger.com/products/no1LightSporter/models.html

http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeUltraLight/models.html

http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeCompact/models.html

http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeLaminateCompact/models.html

 

[bentrod]

Looking at adding a 7mm-08 for whitetail deer. I want something light for a woods rifle. Trying to decide between the Browning BLR and Tikka T3. Not sure if I will like the lever or bolt action. I own a lot of bolt actions already.

The BLR in 7mm-08 isn't exactly light, but it sure is handy.

 

[BKeith]

The Tikka T3 Lite weighs a little over six pounds. It's light enough that you are going to feel the recoil, especially with that hard piece of plastic they stick on the back to look like a recoil pad. If you want one that's very smooth and very accurate, I would go with the Tikka. A few months ago I was going to buy my granddaughter the 7mm-08 but no one had one so I got her the 243. They are built well where the quality counts and kinda cheap every where else. With reloads I've developed for hers, it will shoot 1/2" groups all day long @ 100yds.

 

[2Bits]

Model 70 Winchester in the feather weight version!

 

[broom_jm]

Excellent choice of cartridge and if I had to choose between the two, I'd get the Tikka, for sure. The BLR is a fine gun but it's relatively heavy. Personally, I'd lean toward a Marlin XS7 if you're on a budget or as 2Bits said, a M70 FWT.

 

[Bird Dog II]

I sure can't argue with a Model 70 FW if you can find one right. I tell you this though, I recently bought one of these in .308 and it is one great handling firearm:
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=106969

With the Hogue stock and 20" barrel, it is just a sweet gun to carry and shoot. You don't lose much zip at all with a 20" barrel. It sure does point nice though. Mine is very accurate. The soft exterior Hogue stock will make you "never want to go back".

 

[hillestadj]

There is nothing "light" about the BLR or the T3.

I'd get the Tikka, for sure. The BLR is a fine gun but it's relatively heavy. quote]

What would you guys consider light? A BLR chambered in 7-08 weighs 6 1/2 lbs, I dont know many full grown men who'd consider that much of a burden. The Ruger Compacts weigh in at about 6 1/4 lbs, guess I cant see 1/4 lb making or breaking a rifle for me.

I'd suggest the BLR of the two guns listed by the OP. I've got one in .308 and its more than capable out to 100 yards with open sights. Real handy in the woods as well with its 20" barrel. The BLR with its short lever throw can be cycled quite a bit faster than a bolt too if another shot is needed.

 

[fremont]

Model 70 Winchester in the feather weight version!

+1 for sure

 

[OneShotKill]

Have to agree about the current Winchester Model Featherweight. My Dad and I have one each in 7mm 08 in this model and we're both very happy. The link below is about them.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=65983

 

[TMan]

Looking at adding a 7mm-08 for whitetail deer. I want something light for a woods rifle.

I'm on my third 7-08, and have owned a rifle in that caliber for about twenty years. My current version is a M700 Mtn rifle, and I like it the best of all.

If light/handy is your main goal, I suspect it would be very tough to beat a Remington M7. If just plain light is the main goal, I'd seriously consider a Kimber. My own preference is a balance of lighter, and versatile, and I think the difference between Oneshot's M70 FW and my Mtn Rifle would be a matter of which looked prettier to you.

But the 7-08 is a great performer, and delivers a balance of power, accuracy, and shootability that is very hard to match with anything but a 7 X 57.

 

[Davers]

Looking at adding a 7mm-08 for whitetail deer. I want something light for a woods rifle. Trying to decide between the Browning BLR and Tikka T3. Not sure if I will like the lever or bolt action. I own a lot of bolt actions already.

If you're looking for a good lightweight 7 mm-08 I STRONGLY suggest you look at the Browning A-bolts or their other rifles chambered in 7mm-08.

 

[Davers]

There is nothing "light" about the BLR or the T3. If I was in the market for lightweight, it would be a Ruger Hawkeye Compact or Ultralight, or my new No. 1A, even with its 22" barrel, its still much shorter and lighter than a 18" barrelled bolt gun.


http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeUltraLight/models.html

BAD CHOICE!! I currently have one of those Ruger Ultra Lights in .308 and it is a very poor shooter, due to it's whimpy light barrel. The 7 mm-8 in a regular Ruger Model 77, with some weight to it, would be fine (I Think)

 

[Water-Man]

Tikka T3 is a great rifle. Very accurate, 2-4 lb. trigger out of the box and probably the smoothest action on the market. If you don't consider a 6.5 lb rifle light enough you've got to be a girlie-man!

 

[Rubberduck]

Go for the Model 70 Lightweight or the Remington Model 7.

Model 70: http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535109

Model 7: http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-seven/model-seven-cdl.aspx

 

[Jakeway]

BAD CHOICE!! I currently have one of those Ruger Ultra Lights in .308 and it is a very poor shooter, due to it's whimpy light barrel. The 7 mm-8 in a regular Ruger Model 77, with some weight to it, would be fine (I Think)

The Compact is a good choice, though, for woods. It's barrel is thin but not "whimpy" because it is so short. I have two and they both shoot MOA if I do my part. It's overall length is about like a Ruger 10/22. You can carry it all day in the thick woods or up in a treestand.

I'd also take some time and see if you can find a Winchester Classic Compact in 7mm-08.

 

[Davers]

The Compact is a good choice, though, for woods. It's barrel is thin but not "whimpy" because it is so short. I have two and they both shoot MOA if I do my part. It's overall length is about like a Ruger 10/22. You can carry it all day in the thick woods or up in a treestand.

Is your Ruger Compacts chambered in .308 or even .30-06?? IMO, Ruger made a HUGE mistake in designing the Ultra Lights by having such light & "whimpy" barrels that whip around when fired in calibers of .308 or greater. Not sure how their Ultra Light shoot accurately in .223 or even your 7 mm-08 as the barrel would be a bit thicker at the muzzle end unlike a .30 caliber which would be thinner. I'd say that an Ultra Light in .243 would be the best choice in Ruger's light rifles or a caliber that has light recoil & less whipping of the barrel.

 

[broom_jm]

Davers, you keep mentioning a barrel that whips around a lot, and I've got to be honest, I cannot begin to imagine what you mean. The way you're describing it, I have this image of a piece of boiled spaghetti attached to a gun stock. Does it wave around like an 8' section of 1/2" PVC pipe when you shoot, or something?

How bad are the groups you are/were getting with your Ruger Compact? I'm not sure I'd want a 308 or '06 in an extremely lightweight gun anyway, but if it's designed for shots of 100 yards or so, even 3" groups would be just fine. Was your gun even worse than that?

 

[Davers]

Davers, you keep mentioning a barrel that whips around a lot, and I've got to be honest, I cannot begin to imagine what you mean. The way you're describing it, I have this image of a piece of boiled spaghetti attached to a gun stock. Does it wave around like an 8' section of 1/2" PVC pipe when you shoot, or something?

How bad are the groups you are/were getting with your Ruger Compact? I'm not sure I'd want a 308 or '06 in an extremely lightweight gun anyway, but if it's designed for shots of 100 yards or so, even 3" groups would be just fine. Was your gun even worse than that?

Jason, Yes the barrel on my Ruger Ultra Light (Not a Compact) is in .308 and yes I am certain the barrel whip around so much when fired with regular loads, due to it's light whimpy barrel. I bought this rifle last Spring and it grouped poorly from the "Get-go" producing 6" groups with factory 150 gr. loads of three different brands of ammo, and even my hand loads which shoot well in my Browning A-Bolt. Had a Timney trigger installed but this didn't produce any positive improvements. I removed the stock and was going to check the bedding and noticed a hair line crack running from the front end to about 4" down the forearm inside the barrel channel. I sent the rifle back to Ruger and they replaced the stock but also installed their LC6 trigger removing my Timney trigger so now this Timney trigger is just sitting in my drawer. I left the Ruger, as is, by not removing anything but it still shot very poorly. I then tried lighter .300 Savage loads which grouped better around 4" @ 100 yards. I am of the opinion that Ruger should have just taken their standard weight 22" sporter and shortened it to 20" as it would have been a stiffer barrel and not subjected to vibrations. I haven't shot it in for around a couple of weeks so it is just sitting around. I am thinking of trading it in for another rifle someday soon.

 

[Jakeway]

Is your Ruger Compacts chambered in .308 or even .30-06?? IMO, Ruger made a HUGE mistake in designing the Ultra Lights by having such light & "whimpy" barrels that whip around when fired in calibers of .308 or greater. Not sure how their Ultra Light shoot accurately in .223 or even your 7 mm-08 as the barrel would be a bit thicker at the muzzle end unlike a .30 caliber which would be thinner. I'd say that an Ultra Light in .243 would be the best choice in Ruger's light rifles or a caliber that has light recoil & less whipping of the barrel.

MIne are 243 and 260. I would think the 260 would be closer to the 7mm-08 than the .308 would be, since their ballistics are so similar. If you want a heavier barrel in a Ruger Cpompact, get a Frontier. They are identical to the Compact, except a heavier barrel countour and a forward-mounting scout scope setup.

I didn't mean to disagree with you on your Ultralight, since I have no experience with them. But I know that the original post you replied to mentioned the Compact as well as the Ultralight, and your post may have been misunderstood to include the Compact in the "whimpy barrel" category.

If you have any archery experience, you'll know that when you cut 4" off an arrow, it gets considerably stiffer.

If you want to improve the accuracy of your Ultralight, take it to a competent gunsmith and have them cut it back to 18 or 20 inches and give it a good crown. If it still shoots poorly, it will be from a problem unrelated to the thinness of the barrel.