Recomends for a pack gun?

[Colville]

Though I won't get it done this year, I will soon begin hunting on pack in trips. In this case, Western states high cascades backpack trips, not mule or horse pack in's.  5 or more miles to make a base camp, so weight matters.

I have a Ruger ultra light 270. It sure weighs nothing, but it kicks like a mule. Its barrel is so thin that you have to let it rest at length after every shot at the range in the summer. I like the weight but I'm not thrilled with the gun. I've seen folks talk about feather weight M70's and Colt light rifles and others. I think for this kind of gun I'm inclined to get a composite stock.

I have a Browning Medallion 06 with Boss. I won this gun otherwise I wouldn't have sought out the muzzle break on an 06. However it is a fantastically accurate gun on factory loads. It's about a pound heavier than the ruger but manageable to pack. I was looking at Browning’s WSM offerings. The country I’ll be hunting in will offer lots of open spaces and long shooting opportunities for large mule deer. I'm intrigued with the 7MM WSM? Do you give up much in the muzzle break IE defeating the purpose of the 7MM?  They do make a BOSS system that is conventional recoil, no muzzle break as an option.   What's the opinion on the value of the BOSS system in general? Lot's of Tikka and Savage fan's hear. Am I paying too much for the Browning? I'm '5 "9 and find the short stock and fit of the browning nice as well.

Anyhow, I'm open to suggestion on both brand and caliber.

Colville

[Lagavulin]

I'd just bring your Browning. I know what you mean from the recoil of a light weight. Had a Rem 700 Mtn rifle in 30/06...Hit harder than my 7mm Tikka. I'd rather have a rifle that weighed a pound or two more that I really enjoyed shooting than something lighter that wont matter when your carrying 75 lbs of meat on your back anyway!
That being said, I'm still interested in a Mtn rifle again too   , although I would now choose a 7mm/08 once again in the Rem 700 stainless laminate. Even if you shoot out your magazine, your barrel will survive. Its not like being on the range all day.  :gun4:

[Rusty]

You can't go wrong the Browning in 30 06 with CR.  Brownings are great firearms, and ususally very accurate.  I had a Winchester 300 WM with BOSS, and it was very accurate.  The BOSS helped when I benched it to check out loads.  Also the 30-06 is so versatile, you can't go wrong.

[chk]

How about a Ruger Compact. You can get one in 7mm-08 or .308. They are light and compact and you can get them in blued/walnut or stainless/laminated. Dave

[jcsabolt2]

Colville,

If you are happy with the performance of the 270 Win round just make a slight modification to it to reduce the recoil.  A guy I spoke to once told me about a mercury tube that shotgunners put in their butt stocks to reduce recoil by slightly increasing it's weight.

Another option would be to try a muzzle brake from BP-TEC called the Venturi Comp.  It guarantees no increase in muzzle blast and muzzle flip is near zero!  Actually, after talking to them they can actually make the blast force the barrel to go negative.  It also can be customized to your pet load.  The have mini movies you can download of rifles, pistols, even a 50 BMG in action before and after the brake is installed.  The full auto guns are amazing to say the least!

http://www.bp-tec.com

[freddogs]

I saw a couple Kimbeer rifles at the sports shop last winter. They were sure light weight in 308 and 7mm08.They were asking about $650. I think Kimbers are good shooting rfles. I don't know anyone who has one. :gun4:

[johnnyappleseed]

I've got a Remington mtn. rifle in 270 that used to kick like a mule. I put a decellerator pad on it and I can shoot it all day long in short sleeves. It solved my recoil problem.

[todbartell]

Keep in mind you're packing this rifle a hell of a lot more than you're shooting them.  Barrel heating isn't a problem for hunting at all, only at the range on summer afternoons.  I'd stick to the Ultralight 270.

[Colville]

Thanks for the input folks. I think I'll start with a new recoil pad on that .270 and see how that affects my feelings about it. I don't have terrible recoil anticipation. I shoot my 7 mag with similar recoil with better accuracy. I'll start off with a new recoil pad before looking into porting or a  muzzle break. The .270 I can carry all damn day and never care.

When hunting whitetails in dense areas I don't have much concern with the rifle. However the larger the grouops at 100 and the problem only gets worse on out and this kind of hunting I'll begin doing will place a premium on down range skill. If I can't get the .270 into the comfort zone I'll just have to cary the extra weight for the right accuracy. I'm sure if money were no object I'd get plenty of suggestions for $1000 out of the box rifles weighing 5.5 lbs. And all I have to do is get a divorce and I can have them. Hmmm, then again after child support... nope better work on that .270.

Johnny, do you have a brand that you would recommend for a recoil pad?

Colville

[sport240]

I'll throw this one in for kicks.....

Winchetser Model 94 in 30-30 Win.  How sweet it is......a little hard to stretch it's legs, but what a pack-carrier....

Sport240

[boneguru]

it is kind of a bastard stepchild but wow the potential, centerfire caliber over/ shotgun caliber under. gives you great option for hunting using so much available ammo. carry several types of shotgun shells and your centerfire of choice, somewhat limited on the more powerful CF but still a great range with good weight due to a synthetic stock, Raymond