I'm looking to get a new hunting rifle, one that is a bit nicer than the 7mm mag I used throughout my younger adult years. I'm interested in a quality gun that balances :

• precision & accuracy
• durability
• lighter weight
• longer-range capability

Usage would be big game hunting in western states as well as classic white tail hunting in Texas, and anything in between. My budget is ~$4k for now. I'd likely want a brake or suppressor to help with recoil.

I'm sure this is a very open-ended question, but are there semi-custom options I should start with that would fit the bill?

For your budget you can probably get close to a nice custom build. I just picked one up that I had built, a .222 Remington. Mack Brother's action, Bartlein barrel, AG Composite stock. I put about $3,600 in it, not including the scope. It doesn't have a suppressor though.

Check out Seekins Precision.

The guys on the Vortex Nation podcast do a LOT of western hunting and talk about it endlessly. If you have a long commute and listen to podcast i highly recommend them. They know real world cartridge performance better than anyone else I have read or listened to. Of course they hunt with high end Vortex scopes but use every cartridge known to man.

If you want something super light you can haul through the mountains and don't mind a carbine style look- look into a Q Fix in 308 with a 3-15 vortex PST gen2, or a Leupold VX5 HD.

If you want a more traditional look and save on weight a Kimber Mountain Ascent or Bergara Mountain would all be really nice rifles.

As far as calibers...I took my first elk with a 300wm and a lot of people want as much firepower as they can bring but IMO the 308 stays in the 1500+ lbs energy category within 300 yards. So you'll have to ask yourself if you're willing to train and want to take longer shots than that. But I dont think you can go wrong with 30-06, 308, 300wm, 7mm mag. As long as you put in the time and shoot out and past ranges you're willing to take animal on and work on shooting with alternate positions and with elevated HR you're golden.

The new 7MM backcountry ammo is getting a lot of press for being a breakthrough because of the high case pressure it allows. May want to consider that in your decision for your rifle build

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/3527461

AGeng25 said:

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I'm looking to get a new hunting rifle, one that is a bit nicer than the 7mm mag I used throughout my younger adult years. I'm interested in a quality gun that balances :

• precision & accuracy
• durability
• lighter weight
• longer-range capability

Usage would be big game hunting in western states as well as classic white tail hunting in Texas, and anything in between. My budget is ~$4k for now. I'd likely want a brake or suppressor to help with recoil.

I'm sure this is a very open-ended question, but are there semi-custom options I should start with that would fit the bill?

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That is a wide wide range. What you would use in western hunting may be overkill for whitetail (see 300WM). I would build one for western hunting then use your current 7mag for whitetail, but that is just me. As a western game guide, I love my 6.8 western and 300 win mag. I just built a 308 for my girlfriend and she loves it.

You really don't need a large round for Western hunting. The damage my 6.5-284 with 156 Bergers and 140 ELDMs is at a level I will switch to a 6mm on my next barrel for less meat damage.

Tikka action, barrel and stock of your choice, well designed, FFP, mil scope and then get to practicing. Particular attention should be paid to shooting from seated or kneeling using a pack and/or trekking poles as support, followed by offhand and prone from a pack with your bino harness as a rear rest.

Dry fire practice going from how you would be walking around on a hunt to various shooting positions is very helpful too, and will help mitigate chances of an uncoordinated cluster if you have a limited time to shoot a great animal before it feeds into heavy cover.

Contact info removed

I'd buy a Sako Model 90 with a factory threaded (5/8-24) 20" barrel in 6.5 CM or .243.
Finnlight or whichever flavor looks best to you.
Trijicon or Nightforce scope. Airlock suppressor.

For that price you can get a pretty sweet rig. If you only plan on hunting with it, just get something like a Tikka and some nice glass and it will shoot plenty accurate with the right ammo.

I stopped buying factory rifles a long time ago because I got into shooting long range. When you are making your own ammo and paying attention to all the little details, a factory barrel usually becomes a limiting factor. I would look on Longrangehunting.com and their classified section if you feel comfortable. You can get some amazing rigs for nice discounts. A couple of calibers I would look at would be the 6.5 PRC or .280AI.

I can stand behind 280 AI. Saw one drop an elk from 420yards out.

Also i personally won't shoot or hunt without a suppressor anymore so make sure you keep room for that in your budget.

TX_COWDOC said:

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OP- you've got lots of options on builders and cartridge.

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@COWDOC do you build guns? I can't PM but I'm interested in hearing more…

You bet. Happy to share some insights on your project.
email is good User @ att dot net or google up. Pretty easy to find!

He doesn't just "build guns". He creates great rifles!

Go with a Southpaw build from CowDoc. He and I were classmates, I'll vouch for him. You will not be disappointed.

I would have Jake at Unknown Munitions build be a custom tikka

https://www.unknownmunitions.com/product/tikka-tier-build/

I have a really nice ga precision xtreme hunter in 6.5 saum that I've had forever and hardly shot. If you're interested send me a message I'd be willing to sell.