Texas
So I’m a Texas whitetail bow hunter who hunts the rockies when I draw a tag. My next tag will be for Colorado Elk. After much consideration & watching all of Jim’s YouTube stuff, I’ve settled on 300 win mag, just let me have this one and move on.
Money
This will probably be one of the last rifles I buy, again, archery. I really want to spend some time putting ammo through the gun and learning how to shoot fairly far out there, at animals. I can spend whatever and while I’m willing to spend 3k or so, I really don’t want to spend money just to spend it. This is something I’ll shoot, hopefully, once every 2-4 years at an animal in the west, so, I would rather put that money elsewhere and spend 2k or less on this gun, the less the better.
Back Country
The units we hunt will require hoofing it, so I need to keep the weight down. I like the Tikka, but, at least once, Jim said it is too light for a 300 wm. I’m in really good shape, but, I’m also 55 years old.
Just Hunt
I’m nerdy enough, but, I just want to kill what I shoot at, I won’t spend a lot of time on the science of all this.
Nothing Fancy
Not trying to impress anyone, again, just trying to hit the target. Not in to name brands.
Take a look at the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest. I think most would agree Bergara’s just shoot. There’s two versions, one with a steel barrel and another with a carbon fiber wrapped barrel. Both come in 300WM.
Bergara all the way! The Crest or the Divide would be my recommendations and both are shooters. My son has the Wilderness HMR in 300 Win Mag and it’s heavy but man does it shoot great. He shot a 5 shot group that measured 0.46” at 100 yards last Wednesday with it.
Also I think shoot barnes 165 helps with recoil vs a 180 or more. My TC pro hunter is 6.75 without scope. I do have a butt stock cartridge holder so that adds some weight. So maybe I am 8.5 or a bit more with scope. It has a limb saver. Recoil is not an issue. Backstop has one for bergara?
I like the Bergara B14 Crest. It’s a solid choice as others have mentioned.
But when I read your message, the gun that seemed to fit your list the best was the Sako S20. I love the thumb hole stock, the balance of a little weight to match a 300 win mag without being too heavy, and the fact that I bet it shoots Sako ammo as well as my Sako 300 win.
Ok I will burn the $3k budget.
Fierce Carbon Rogue in 7PRC $2200.00 Get a Cabela’s or Bass Pro card, If you buy through Monday May 27, 2024 you get 10% off, If you are a veteran or former LEO you get another 5% off (5% on Guns). That makes the rifle $1870.00
Scope with Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50 around $899.00. use Vortex15 at checkout for 15% off, plus 10% off for using the Cabela’s Card, plus 10% for Veteran or former LEO. Yes they Stack yes that is 35% off.
This was an example but at Cabela’s this is what you can do with any gun and any scope.