.308 Mountain Rifle - Your Thoughts

[REMINGTON JIM]

Get a lightweight 280ai. Mine is 6lbs 2oz scoped and shoots .25" groups

that’s smaller then the bullet diameter RJ

[Weatherby Fan]

that’s smaller then the bullet diameter RJ

[WhiteTailAB]

I had a howa alpine in 308, definitely regret selling that one. I know of an alpine in 65cm sitting in a rack for sale but haven't bought it yet

[Squire]

I’ll add another nod to the Kimber Montana in a short action like the .308, 7mm-08 or 6.5 cm. A great combination of lightweight and accuracy. I had a long action Montana in 280 AI and although it was very accurate I found it pretty whippy with my hand loads spitting out 140 Accubonds over 3000 fps. So much so that I had to learn to shoot it at the range with a good consistent grip on the forestock.
I sold that rifle and got another in .308 second hand which I had GEF convert to 6.5 cm with a Benchmark barrel trimmed to 22”. Much easier to keep the muzzle quiet pushing 130 Accubonds to 2820 fps with hand loads. I have a bit of room to possibly push it over 2900 fps but I’m at a good accuracy node at 2820 so not much to gain when it’s already plenty of medicine out to 400 yards for deer or goats.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I’ll add another nod to the Kimber Montana in a short action like the .308, 7mm-08 or 6.5 cm. A great combination of lightweight and accuracy. I had a long action Montana in 280 AI and although it was very accurate I found it pretty whippy with my hand loads spitting out 140 Accubonds over 3000 fps. So much so that I had to learn to shoot it at the range with a good consistent grip on the forestock.
I sold that rifle and got another in .308 second hand which I had GEF convert to 6.5 cm with a Benchmark barrel trimmed to 22”. Much easier to keep the muzzle quiet pushing 130 Accubonds to 2820 fps with hand loads. I have a bit of room to possibly push it over 2900 fps but I’m at a good accuracy node at 2820 so not much to gain when it’s already plenty of medicine out to 400 yards for deer or goats.

SO ! WHAT Are you saying there - Too much recoil or ? If so Yes the LW 280 AI s are a hand Full for Sure over a 6.5 - 308 ! RJ

[Squire]

SO ! WHAT Are you saying there - Too much recoil or ? If so Yes the LW 280 AI s are a hand Full for Sure over a 6.5 - 308 ! RJ

Just making the observation that the super lightweight Kimber Montana is probably better suited to the short action, lighter recoil calibres. That’s more of a personal preference than a knock on the long actions as my 280 AI was sub-MOA and a pleasure to carry.

It was a big improvement over the T3 in 300 WSM that I had prior. That rifle was the one that made me rethink the lightweight and high velocity combination. Of course any of these options would be nicer to shoot with a muzzle brake.

[REMINGTON JIM]

The lighter they are and with potent cartridges the more are RECOIL is generated . That said is why I went with a 6.5 CM in my ULTRA LIGHT rifle instead of a 7-08 or 284 or 308 etc . RJ

[jlirot]

I am following this thread with interest. I have been considering buying a 'light mountain rifle'. And, it would have to be something in a mild recoiling caliber because I'm a recoil puss. Shooting 12 ga slugs in my youth ruined me and I get twitchy with hard hitting rifles. I'm better, but still have a huge aversion to big recoil. I like the idea of 6.5 CM or 7mm PRC in a lightweight package. I'd probably go with 6.5 because it seems that ammo should always be available - I don't reload. I don't want to derail the thread. Just saying that I appreciate all the great input.

[REMINGTON JIM]

I am following this thread with interest. I have been considering buying a 'light mountain rifle'. And, it would have to be something in a mild recoiling caliber because I'm a recoil puss. Shooting 12 ga slugs in my youth ruined me and I get twitchy with hard hitting rifles. I'm better, but still have a huge aversion to big recoil. I like the idea of 6.5 CM or 7mm PRC in a lightweight package. I'd probably go with 6.5 because it seems that ammo should always be available - I don't reload. I don't want to derail the thread. Just saying that I appreciate all the great input.

There’s a BIG DIFFERENCE ! in recoil between a 6.5 CM and a 7 PRC ! Even the smaller 6.5 PRC is bunch more then a 6.5 CM in the same or close weight rifle .
Jlirot you do RELIZE Don’t you a 7 PRC is just like a 7 REM Mag without a belt ! A LOT ! more cartridge then a CM is .
get yourself a 6.5 CM or a 7-08 REM ! JMO RJ

I have most cartridges “ 6.5 Grendel 6.5 CM. 260 REM 6.5x55 SWEDE 6.5 PRC 7-08 REM 280 REM 280 AI 7 PRC 7 REM Mag 7 STW 7-300 WBEE “ SO JMO. You need a 6.5 CM or 7-08 REM in a light weight . If you go up in weight the 6.5 PRC or 7 PRC are both GREAT cartridges . Again JMO RJ

[MRP]

With a good range finder and a matching scope 308 will do it all. Have a 16.5" 308 with a Leopold mill dot scope, shooting by the numbers gets me out to 410yds at 9x with a 150gr bullet probably 500 if I went with a 130/125gr and moved out to a 225yd zero. But it's a m77 laminate at 7.25lb scoped not light for 308 but a change of stocks would fix that. Puts the recoil at about 20lbs, as apposed to my 300wsm at 30+lbs %(#$&@.