[nikoko199]

really like the model seven, light weight and affordable the only question i got is what is the maximum effective range for a point target?

[JTJ]

IMHO A 2" group at 600 yds is phenomenal and frankly hard to believe from a hunting rifle. 6" would be more believable and still extremely good shooting.
Light weight and good accuracy dont always go together but there are some good guns out there. The Tikka T3 Lite as mentioned earlier is guaranteed 1 MOA for 3 rounds with quality ammo and is available in 270 which is an excellent cartridge. It is also available in 270 and 300 short mags. The T3 Hunter is a little heavier. Shooting Elk at 400yds to 600 yds would seem to require a heavier round like the .300 WM for a clean kill. Some of the new short mags might work but I am not all that familiar with them. A light rifle in a mag is going to have some recoil.

[nikoko199]

as soon as i figure out the cables i will let you know of the 732 yard deer shot my father in law had this past hunting season

[Dillinger]

A 2 inch spread at 600 yards?!? With a hunting rifle?!

I am going to have to call BS there. 6" at 600 is considered Minute of Angle and with a factory gun and good conditions most shooters would be lucky to get that at that distance.

To obtain 2" at 600 yards you would have to have a purpose built weapon, reloaded your ammo and/or be one hell of a great shot.

Attempting to take animals at extreme ranges is unethical in my opinion and runs counter to what most true hunters strive for in their adventures.

JD

[therewolf]

IF all you are hauling is 10 lbs. of gear, rifle weight shouldn't be much of an issue. Depending upon your physical conditioning,

overall carry weight should be no more than 20 to 33 % of your overall weight. Purist backpackers try for 15% or less.

First Q: What do you weigh(?) X @ 25%(1/4 of total body weight) Even if you're 150lbs, you have a 30-40 lb. comfortable

haul weight pack ratio, if you're fit, and don't smoke.

What's going to be tricky is actually doing that. How does your hydration system work? How much water will you haul with you?( at @2 lbs per Qt...)

As to ranges and MOA, a little stalking is going to save a world of bad shooting. If you can close 100 or 150 yards nearer than your maximum

distance, the shot not only becomes ethical, but more likely overall.

[stalkingbear]

Check out the Kimber 84M or the Browning X-bolt. Both those rifles offer lightweight (especially the Kimber), and perform with better than average accuracy.

[jpattersonnh]

Hell, My fanny pack for day hunting weighs more then 10 pounds.
Extra 10 rounds of ammo, survival lantern, skinning and gutting knife, AA Mag light, 1st aid stuff, pair of gloves, A couple cans of grapefruit juice 4oz each, Munches, trail mix. Compass, GPS(which I've never used), pen, light sticks, 2 way radio(when I go with a partner), Water 1 qt., Hell, my water is 2 pounds.
Don't forget the extra napkins from dunkins to take care of hygiene. Map.
Never to be forgotten, a side arm. add 3 pounds.

[therewolf]

Still, at 20% of body weight, even at 150LBS(How much do you weigh, OP?),

he claimed to carry 10 Lbs, so that leaves 20lbs for the loaded rifle.

Plenty of leeway there, even for a small guy, even humping thru the mountains.

IF all his gear is 10 LBs, as he claims...

[Txhillbilly]

Well,I would suggest a 25/06 or 7mm-08 if you are mainly planning on hunting pronghorn,whitetail,and muley's.They will also do the job on elk at under 300yrds,over that range,I'd plan on a larger caliber.A 30/06 will do just about anything you want,but in a lite weight rifle,recoil might be an issue.
The Tikka T3 Lite is a great choice for a lite weight rifle,and very accurate out of the box.

[wilber1]

.270, 7mm mag, 30-06 are all fine choices for the game you describe.The 270 is very flat shooting, as is the 7mm mag with more punch. The 30-06 has about a zillion different loads you can buy off the shelf. I do not own one myself, but a guy who hunts the same land I do in Wisconsin has a tikka in 30-06 and it is noticably lighter than both my Remington 270 and Savage 7mm mag.

p.s. Before someone slams the 270 as too small for elk, yes, many believe it is a bit light. I would rank it as a minimum for an adult male to use for elk. I have known youth and women who have filled their tags with a 243.