Rifle for my Bighorn Ram or Mountain Goat next year!

[6mm Remington]

Okay guys we had so much fun with the deer, antelope, coyote rifle I'm going to throw another one out there just for fun :!: :mrgreen: I just know since it will be year number 34 in a row for me for moose, sheep, and goat that I'm finally going to draw one, and we are dreaming for the minute anyway that it's for a ram or a billy. What would you choose :?:

Remington Model 700 MTN rifle in 25-06 with a 6x - 36mm Leupold scope on it shooting either the 120 gr. Partition load I have for it right now, or the 110 gr. AccuBond if I can get a load worked up for it, which I most certainly would if I get lucky and draw one of the darn things! :twisted:

If I still had my Remington MTN rifle in the .280 Remington, that would probably get the nod. Either it or the 25-06. I won't be packing my Ruger #1B in 6mm or 30-06 not that either would not do a superb job, just that it might be a lot of rilfe (weight) to pack when it gets extreme with the steep mountains and a pack on one's back. Now out of the rifles you have in your possession, not what you are dreaming of owning one day, what would YOU CHOOSE :?: :mrgreen: How did I do POP stirring up a new debate?

 

[YoteSmoker]

Of the rifles I have in my possesion, the 24" SS 7mm08 TC Encore would be my pick of the litter.

 

[JD338]

Again, I would pick my M700 with a Hart 24" barrel pillar bedded in a LSS stock chambered for the 280 AI. I would load the 140 gr AB at 3200 fps. The scope is a Leupold Vari X III 2.5-8x36mm with M1 dials.

JD338

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

It would be my win mdl 70 in 264 WM shooting a 130g AB at around 3200fps, Leupold vx2, 4-12x with target knobs. Light enough to pack all day in that steep stuff and more then accurate enough and powerful enough to get the job done out there aways.

 

[DrMike]

Sheep will drop to the 25-06, no sweat. Goats, however, can be surprisingly tough. They have a nasty habit of looking about when they are shot to ensure that they choose the steepest terrain to tumble down. Consequently, for goat, I recommend something that will anchor them smartly. The fast sevens will get my nod. It could serve as just the excuse you need to again put a 280 in your safe.

 

[FOTIS]

Only one for me.

My custom painted Remington 700 FS 7mm rem mag. It weighs nothing and has shots several 300 yard groups under 1"!
It is now topped with a 3x9 leupy ultralight ERF model with AO
It was made in 1988 so yes it is a good remmy.

good topic

 

[BK]

One of the older Remington KS Mountain Rifles, a stainless .280. A titanium action might not be bad either.

 

[6mm Remington]

JD338 that sure is a handsome rifle! Same for you POP. Quality arms for sure. They both would work wonderfully! I'm going to get that tag this year! :shock:

 

[Powerstroke]

Nothing that the 25-06 won't handle with a well placed shot.

My go to or pick that I have in the safe at the present time would be yes -
280 Rem Mtn Rifle first choice
.257 Wby Second Choice


JD -
I'll trade ya ??? :grin:

 

[SJB358]

Mine would be my new to me 25-06 with a 4.5x14 with B&C reticle (don't have it yet, but it will get there) or my 270WSM shooting 150gr PT's at 3150! That rifle drills 2" groups at 300 so easily it is silly. That rifle has a 3.5x10 VXIII on it and weighs a little extra, but I wouldn't think it would kill me too much. Seems like the 25-06 with the PT's would really be able to fetch a goat or sheep from just about any angle. I just trust them more to heavier structured game! Scotty

M70 Laminated 270WSM - VXIII 3.5x10-40mm - 150gr PT

M700 CDL

 

[6mm Remington]

Scotty my buddy has that same Model 70 in the 300 WSM with a Zeiss Conquest scope on it. It sure is a nice set-up and shoots great! He shot a real nice Missouri Breaks 6x6 bull a couple years ago with 180 gr. Accubonds. He shot him twice although he was dead on the first one. Both landed in about a 3" circle right behind the shoulder. The one exited and as he was rolling it onto it's back to dress it out, he knelt on the second one. It had just enough to poke through the hide on the off side. I wish I had a photo of the bullet as it performed well and mushroomed nicely.

Good looking guns Scotty.

 

[SJB358]

Thanks buddy! That 270WSM is the King of my safe. Between the 270WSM and 35 Whelen, I would be a happy hunter with only those two! Scotty

 

[brianwyo]

A guy has to be ready for those elusive sheep and goat tags. I caught sheep fever in 1999 with my bighorn. I apply in multiple states for both species. I hope draw something before i get too old :roll: I keep a weatherby ultralight/swarovski for the sheep and I agree with DrMike about those tough goats. I have a Sako finnlight/ swarovski for them.

 

[257 Ackley]

Both of these rifles would go with me, depending on whether it was sheep or goat and how far it looked like shots were going to be:

300 WSM Remmy 700 LSS in a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock with a Swaro 3.5 X 10. The bolt has been fluted along with the barrel being cryo'd. Total package weight is 7 lbs 12 oz.

The other is a 7mm-08 custom Sako action, Shilen stainless 23 inch light weight barrel in a Brown kevlar stock with a 3X9 Swaro scope. This weighs 6 lbs 9 oz total.

 

[DrMike]

There are a couple of sweet rifles, Joel. Great glass on them.

 

[SJB358]

Joel, that is one sweet pair of rifles! I can't wait to hear more about that 300WSM. Scotty

 

[R Flowers]

My pick would be the same rifle I chose for the deer/antelope discussion. Model 70 Winchester Super Shadow Camo chambered in 270 WSM and wearing a Leupold 4.5x14x40LR scope with Boone and Crockett reticle.

Of course if I could get away with it I might borrow my dad's Ultralight Arms chambered 284 Winchester and wearing a Swarovski 3x10 power scope. It would be way lighter to pack around.

 

[6mm Remington]

Nice rifles, I especially like the 300 WSM!

 

[bob_dobalina]

Sheep will drop to the 25-06, no sweat. Goats, however, can be surprisingly tough. They have a nasty habit of looking about when they are shot to ensure that they choose the steepest terrain to tumble down. Consequently, for goat, I recommend something that will anchor them smartly. The fast sevens will get my nod. It could serve as just the excuse you need to again put a 280 in your safe.

i have to agree here. from experience, i can say goats are very tough animals and i would probably go caliber-heavy. I don't have experience and with sheep, but i would probably go with 25 for sheep with a 120gr Partition. i hope it is a decision you have to make next year!

 

[Guy Miner]

Drawing the tag for either of those animals is incredibly tough - someone else mentioned it earlier, and I just hope I'm still young enough & fit enough to handle a sheep or goat hunt if I finally get drawn. One of my smarter moves was to start putting my youngest son in for goat, ram & moose tags a few years ago. I hope by the time he's in his late 20's or early 30's he'll have enough points to be drawn. Of course if a guy has lots of money, a sheep or goat hunt can be purchased. I don't. :grin:

Sheep & goats often seem to be up there in some pretty tough country, so rifle weight and hunter conditioning are likely key. I'd think - not having any goat or sheep hunting experience! From my existing rifles, I'd grab my .25-06 Rem 700 with the 6x (42mm obj) Leupold. Load is the 115 Nosler Partition at a bit over 3100 fps. Shooting pretty good, a 300 yard shot should pose no problem. Dropped a Wyoming mule deer at 400 yards with it a couple of years ago.

My other "mountain" type rifle is an ancient .30-06 in a B&C stock, with the barrel bobbed to 21" and topped with a 6x (36mm obj) Leupold. The ol' thing shoots surprisingly well, and I have no problem with it out at 300 yards. Funky old rifle, but I like it and can't imagine it having any trouble dealing with goat or sheep. Here's my son practicing with it prior to our September bear hunt.

The .300 WSM Model 70 is mighty fine for longish range shooting, but it's a real porker. I've taken it into the mountains, but it's not my favorite rifle for hard hiking in rough terrain. Still, it is a seriously accurate shooter...

My friend Aaron nailed his really nice bighorn this year with a Tikka .300 WSM, using a single 150 gr Hornady SST bullet as I recall. He did an incredible amount of pre-hunt scouting, and got himself in excellent physical condition prior to the hunt as well. The rifle, like most Tikka rifles, shot very well for him from the beginning. Not an expensive rifle, it really delivers the accuracy. Pretty light and handy too. For him, the pre-hunt scouting and conditioning were key, the rifle & bullet did their job as expected.

Guy