Perfect Rifle?

[dross]

I'm hoping someone out there knows of a rifle that will fit my idea of the perfect rifle. Please don't challenge my assumptions, I'm looking for suggestions that actually fit the list, or come as close as possible.

1. Not a bolt action or single shot
2. Accurate to 1.5 MOA or better
3. Carbine - less than 40 inches OAL, 36 inches or less would be ideal
4. Low recoil
5. Caliber capable - not ideal, but capable - of taking an elk at 300 yards
6. Aesthetically pleasing
7. 7.5 lbs or less with scope

Tough list, I know.

 

[ViperJock]

AR-10? I would think a heavy hunting round in 308 would bring an elk down? I imagine the right 223 ammo would as well but I'd probably go with the 308.

 

[Westside]

"aesthetically pleasing" is two vague can you give examples of guns that are aesthetically pleasing?

 

[Manatee]

A Browning would fit your criteria. Although we've taken elk in Colorado with a .270, I would suggest that is pushing it. 30-06 is probably to the go to caliber for most Colorado hunting.

 

[42769vette]

I'm hoping someone out there knows of a rifle that will fit my idea of the perfect rifle. Please don't challenge my assumptions, I'm looking for suggestions that actually fit the list, or come as close as possible.

1. Not a bolt action or single shot
2. Accurate to 1.5 MOA or better
3. Carbine - less than 40 inches OAL, 36 inches or less would be ideal
4. Low recoil
5. Caliber capable - not ideal, but capable - of taking an elk at 300 yards
6. Aesthetically pleasing
7. 7.5 lbs or less with scope

Tough list, I know.

How set are you on that weight? I think that's going to be the toughest pill to swallow. I think you could build a custom AR 10 in 308/7-08 to fit your bill, but I dont know if you could get it south of 7.5 with scope. I think you would be doing well to get 7.5 without scope and mount.

 

[dross]

"aesthetically pleasing" is two vague can you give examples of guns that are aesthetically pleasing?

I know that's pretty broad, just threw in in there. Probably no way for you guys to help with that too much. For instance, the Browning BLR in 7mm 08 comes pretty close, but I find it to be butt ugly. Oddly, though, I do like the way ARs look. Another one I considered is the Winchester 94 in 307.

 

[sig1473]

How about a Remington 742 Carbine in 30-06? Weighs in @ 6.5lbs. Tough to find one though. Always wanted one.

 

[dross]

How about a Remington 742 Carbine in 30-06? Weighs in @ 6.5lbs. Tough to find one though. Always wanted one.

How's the reliability of that model?

 

[sig1473]

How's the reliability of that model?

I've never really heard a bad thing about the model. They made them up to '80 I believe and were replaced with the 7400 series. I've shot a full-size 742 and it was reliable.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

FN FN49 in 7X57mm

LMT L129

BAR in .30-06 or .338WM

 

[Fordtough25]

An SBR AR15? 300 Blackout would hit harder but 5.56 mm rules.

 

[Rob377]

Maybe an AR in 6.5 Grendel? Seems like it would fit most of those criteria. Being able to be built on a small frame would keep the weight down as compared to an AR10 variant, with the right parts it shouldn't be too hard to get it down to 7.5 with a scope and meet all the other criteria as well.



#5 is the criteria I'm not sure about - I don't know if it would be capable of taking down an Elk at 300yds. Maybe the elk hunters can weigh in on that.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

If you're willing to budge a bit on the weight, the Marlin 1895SBL (.45-70) fits all the rest. Its a fuzz over on the weight, though, probably 3/4 lb depending on scope. Well, I take that back. Its not low recoil.

I don't know what it weighs, but a Savage Model 99 carbine in .243 would probably do everything on your list. If you can find one.

 

[sig1473]

If you're willing to budge a bit on the weight, the Marlin 1895SBL (.45-70) fits all the rest. Its a fuzz over on the weight, though, probably 3/4 lb depending on scope. Well, I take that back. Its not low recoil.

You are not going to get 1.5MOA @ 300yards with a 45-70. No way in Hades. Now at a 100yds that is a different story.

 

[halfmileharry]

How set are you on that weight? I think that's going to be the toughest pill to swallow. I think you could build a custom AR 10 in 308/7-08 to fit your bill, but I dont know if you could get it south of 7.5 with scope. I think you would be doing well to get 7.5 without scope and mount.

The weight will be tough. My Armalite AR10-4 hits right around 9 lbs. In a series 2 military configuration.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

You are not going to get 1.5MOA @ 300yards with a 45-70. No way in Hades. Now at a 100yds that is a different story.

Not sure if you understand how MOA works. A 1.5 MOA rifle/ammo set up is a 1.5 MOA rifle/ammo set up, regardless of the range you are shooting it at.

 

[lucky4034]

Keltec RFB weighs 8.1 without an optic... thats about as low as I can find from the factory without going the SBR 300BLK route.... RFB | Rifles | Kel-tec

with a $200 tax stamp you might be able to build a super lightweight 300BLK SBR that meets all of your criteria... but with a scope its going to be tough at 7.5lbs and 1.5MOA

 

[sig1473]

Not sure if you understand how MOA works. A 1.5 MOA rifle/ammo set up is a 1.5 MOA rifle/ammo set up, regardless of the range you are shooting it at.

No I get it. It would be 4.5 @ 300yds. Still not going to happen. Show me some proof

 

[giovani]

If you can find one.
Savage made a feather weight version of their 99 lever action in 284 win and 308.
The rotary mag will allow you to use any bullet design.

 

[Leo]

My .45-70 Marlin was pretty good at 100, fair at 200 but by 300 that fat flat nosed bullet refused to fly right. Even though the idea of MOA goes through, the factor of the ballistic limitations come in pretty fast when you are shooting a 415 gr lead slug from a 20 inch barrel. My Sharps replica with a 30 in barrel did much better, but it still was not like a 30-06 past 400 yards.

I would consider the 7400 (or the 742 already mentioned) Remington rifle in .3006 as close to your criteria. They are very common with horse mounted hunters in Colorado and Wyoming who actually live there.

The Savage 99 is clearly the ugliest lever gun in my estimation, but that ugliness becomes beauty when you shoot it and nail your target.