Lefty lightweight deer / elk gun

[Rickmt]

Looking to get my grown son a new lightweight mountain rifle for a Christmas gift. I want to spend less than 3k. Right now in left hand I see Christensen ridgeline fft for 2500 and tikka t3 lite at 900.
I will probably get a leupold vari x 3-10 duplex fire dot with CDS dial to top it off.
I have the ridgeline in a 6.5 prc and it shoots / functions great!
Any suggestions? I know he wants a lightweight rifle. Thanks !

 

[BourbonTrail]

The new Weatherbys show promise. They come in at like 5lbs for the lightweight models. I have an old MarkV, and I think the action and trigger are slick as glass. The new ones shoot sub-MOA, and come in some other than Weatherby calibers.

 

[mdwest]

Take a look at the Kimber Adirondak..

CRF.. 3 position safety.. super lightweight (4lbs 13 oz).. in a variety of elk appropriate calibers (7mm-08, 308, etc).. synthetic stock and stainless action/bbl..

Ive got one in 308 with a Swaro Z3 3-10x42... That combo is in my opinion just about the perfect mountain/deer rifle.. compact, lightweight, weather resistant.. rifle, scope, rings, mounts, sling, etc.. out the door was under your $3K budget..

 

[mdwest]

Take a look at the Kimber Adirondak..

CRF.. 3 position safety.. super lightweight (4lbs 13 oz).. in a variety of elk appropriate calibers (7mm-08, 308, etc).. synthetic stock and stainless action/bbl..

Ive got one in 308 with a Swaro Z3 3-10x42... That combo is in my opinion just about the perfect mountain/deer rifle.. compact, lightweight, weather resistant.. rifle, scope, rings, mounts, sling, etc.. out the door was under your $3K budget..

I just realized I missed that you were looking for a lefty...

I dont believe the Kimber Adirondack was ever made in a left hand version..

sorry about that!

 

[Rickmt]

I just realized I missed that you were looking for a lefty...

I dont believe the Kimber Adirondack was ever made in a left hand version..

sorry about that!

I wish it was ! Some of our friends have Kimbers. And they shoot well.

 

[gbflyer]

I’m a lefty. I’ve built and bought. Tikka T3X is really hard to beat. If you want really light, it’s gonna be a build that will break your budget.

 

[sgt_zim]

The one thing you have to realize about Tikka T3X in 308 - they come with an 11 twist. That will stabilize most 180 gr bullets. IDK if you reload or not, but that's a skosh slow for some of the Hammer bullets.

T3X Superlite in 308 comes in at 6.2#.

T3X Hunter (I have one of these in LH 6.5x55) comes in at 6.6#.

Lightweight LH rifles are slim pickings. Savage has quite a selection, don't know if any of them are any lighter than the Tikkas, tho. My Tikka (and all my Savages) are tack-drivers.

My one real gripe about 7mm-08 is almost all of the factory ammo is 140 gr. Hunters are enamored of the high MV - usually 2800 - 2900 fps. If you reload, or know somebody who does, 160 gr is about ideal for 7mm-08.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I have several Left Hand Rifles from Custom, Semi-Custom, and off the shelf. I like SAKO & Tikka. They shoot great right out of the box. I still think 7MM REM MAG is a great round with a wide range of hunting use…

 

[Ridgewalker]

Tikkas are hard to beat. My granddaughter has done well with hers in 7mm-08. I had one in 300 WM that was a tack driver.

 

[Tra3]

R8 with a left hand bolt. That will be above the budget. But, next year you can get him a .375 barrel way below budget. And a .22LR etc.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Ruger has quite a sufficiently varied selection.

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www.ruger.com

I really like the Left Handed Hawkeye Hunter in .300 Winchester Magnum. Ideal caliber for elk.

 

[HankBuck]

I have several Left Hand Rifles from Custom, Semi-Custom, and off the shelf. I like SAKO & Tikka. They shoot great right out of the box. I still think 7MM REM MAG is a great round with a wide range of hunting use…

View attachment 563063

As a “Lefty” and also owner of Tikka - they are a good accurate rifles especially for the money....they are also “light”. If the focus is on “Light” and ELK then I would use the .308 - plenty of power, good bullet selections and 180 gr would be a good proven choice. I understand many like the 7Mag but Light rifles and Magnums go together like bacon & ice cream...

 

[Connor Baumgarten]

Ruger 270 is really light

 

[Nkawu]

+1 for the Ruger Hawkeye. My .308 is lightweight and compact.

 

[Rickmt]

Well thank you everybody for your advice and suggestions. I have purchased a tikka t3x super lite in 7mm rem mag. Gun is right on 6 lbs. I added lightweight Talley mounts and a Limbsaver recoil pad. Topping the gun with a Leupold vari x 3hd 3-10x40 with CDS dial and fire dot reticle. Scope adds about one pound. Gun should be about 7 1/2 lbs all in . Ammo will be Barnes tsx 160 grain at about 2950 fps.
Gun was $1049 at Cabelas in Billings Mt in stainless and camo stock. Scope was $629 on sale and I had $ 140 in Cabelas points. Limbsaver pad was $50 and mounts were about $70.
All in I have approx 1650 in the rig.
I hope he likes it!

 

[Flewis]

Looking to get my grown son a new lightweight mountain rifle for a Christmas gift. I want to spend less than 3k. Right now in left hand I see Christensen ridgeline fft for 2500r and tikka t3 lite at 900.
I will probably get a leupold vari x 3-10 duplex fire dot with CDS dial to top it off.
I have the ridgeline in a 6.5 prc and it shoots / functions great!
Any suggestions? I know he wants a lightweight rifle. Thanks !

I have both, the tikka super lite is the lighter of the 2(have 3) and is more accurate and less picky about ammo. The Christensen is better looking. I have 8 tikkas, the three super lites are 300wm.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I think you made the right decision with the Tikka.

For the perimeters you specified. I would have said Savage 110 Ultralite or the Tikka.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Well thank you everybody for your advice and suggestions. I have purchased a tikka t3x super lite in 7mm rem mag. Gun is right on 6 lbs. I added lightweight Talley mounts and a Limbsaver recoil pad. Topping the gun with a Leupold vari x 3hd 3-10x40 with CDS dial and fire dot reticle. Scope adds about one pound. Gun should be about 7 1/2 lbs all in . Ammo will be Barnes tsx 160 grain at about 2950 fps.
Gun was $1049 at Cabelas in Billings Mt in stainless and camo stock. Scope was $629 on sale and I had $ 140 in Cabelas points. Limbsaver pad was $50 and mounts were about $70.
All in I have approx 1650 in the rig.
I hope he likes it!

You did good. I would love that set up as a gift! I had a couple of my rifle barrels threaded for suppressors, including one of my 7 REM MAG’s. He can always add a brake if recoil becomes an issue. My Browning 7RM wears a synthetic stock, is not particularly heavy, and the recoil doesn’t bother me…

Good Scope choice and Barnes TSX is my go to ammo!

I’ve killed more North American animals including Deer, Pigs, and Elk and more African Plains game with my 7MM REM MAG than any of my other calibers…

Nice rig you put together. Good hunting to you both!

 

[Rickmt]

I have both, the tikka super lite is the lighter of the 2(have 3) and is more accurate and less picky about ammo. The Christensen is better looking. I have 8 tikkas, the three super lites are 300wm.

That is Tikka love!

 

[Altitude sickness]

My Tikka takes exception that the Christian arms is better looking. I doubt it could shoot any better.