Show me your sheep rig

[outdoorsman12b]

Well it is a new year and my head is already living in August 25. Making some changes to my sheep rig and thought I would ask everyone else to show and shine their rigs. For fun add what you like/don't like about it and if you want how many rams it owns.

My new rig is a Tikka T3X SS in 6.5 CM with a nightforce SHV 3-10. Nightforce pic rail and ultralite rings. Will post pics soon. I like the tikka in general as a lightweight rig. The scope is quite top heavy though for balance in the hands. I wanted 100% reliability which is why I went the SHV route. Owns 0 rams at the moment. Hoping to change that this year.

[Manning74]

Had a tikka t3, .270win. Leuplod Vx 2 3x9x40, One sheep with it , thought it was light until i picked up a Kimber montana in 7mm08 wears the same scope that the tikka had. One sheep for this riffle aswell .

[bitterrootfly]

Sako a7 roughtech pro in .300win mag (use it for high country elk as well) with a vortex viper 4-16 VMR on top, a custom bed job and bell and Carlson stock and a fluted bolt and barrel. Not too heavy, still less than 8 scoped and rock solid at all hunting ranges.

[Redneck 7]

Mines a Remington 700 CDL with a VX-2 3-9x40 dialled our to 300 very accurately with just the duplex reticle. My change is taking off the Leupold 1 piece base and std rings all in silver for a set of Talley lightweights I bought used. Weight isn’t a problem but I like to mess around and tinker, plus I’ve ever used the talleys before.

I was to busy working to go for a goat this year so I’m hoping to get a Ewe next year and maybe even a Goat as well.

[outdoorsman12b]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

Mines a Remington 700 CDL with a VX-2 3-9x40 dialled our to 300 very accurately with just the duplex reticle. My change is taking off the Leupold 1 piece base and std rings all in silver for a set of Talley lightweights I bought used. Weight isn’t a problem but I like to mess around and tinker, plus I’ve ever used the talleys before.

I was to busy working to go for a goat this year so I’m hoping to get a Ewe next year and maybe even a Goat as well.

Your a brave man taking a walnut stock in the sheep hills. Would love to take my x bolt but just to scared. What caliber did you go with Redneck? Just my two cents but I would not go Talley's. I have had nothing but problems with them. Have seen them crack with magnums as well on lighter riflles.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by outdoorsman12b

Your a brave man taking a walnut stock in the sheep hills. Would love to take my x bolt but just to scared. What caliber did you go with Redneck? Just my two cents but I would not go Talley's. I have had nothing but problems with them. Have seen them crack with magnums as well on lighter riflles.

It’s a stainless fluted cdl chambered in 7mm-08. Its a very beautiful gun but I don’t mind taking it into the mountains. One hunt I went up with my friend for his mountain goat. I didn’t think I’d take a rifle up the mountain since he’d have his so I just brought my bear rifle, thumper I call it and left the CDL at home. We decided the night before I should have a rifle as well so thumper went up. Got a few scratched but I didn’t mind.

Thumper is a 9 lb rifle with 4 rounds in the magazine, .308 Remington 700 VTR I fitted into an old walnut stock from another 700. She’s a beautiful rifle and shoots great groups with the 2-7 Leupold rifleman I have on it.

That’s the first I heard of someone say that about talleys. I don’t care to make the CDL a light weight rifle, I do like the silver rings and bases a lot so... maybe I won’t change it, save the rings for another 700.

[Kristopher10]

Here is mine.

Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5CM topped with a VX3i 4.5-14x40 CDS. If memory serves right it’s about 6lbs 10oz with the bipod pictured.




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[Zuludog]

How do you like the Fieldcraft? Have owned a Kimber Montana and if so how does it compare it to a Kimber?

[Kristopher10]

Originally Posted by Zuludog

How do you like the Fieldcraft? Have owned a Kimber Montana and if so how does it compare it to a Kimber?

I love the Fieldcraft. It’s light, it’s comfortable and fits like no other rifle I’ve ever held. Very accurate with factory ammo. Can’t compare it to a Kimber though as I don’t own one and have never shot one.


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[Neut]

Just started this sheep hunting addiction, but I carried a benchmark barreled Kimber ma 6.5x47Lapua this last season. 6lbs 9oz scoped and loaded. Next season it'll be a toss up between that and the Rem 700ti 300saum depending on some load development.

[Redneck 7]

This is my CDL in 7mm-08, my fiancé uses it for big game, this is her 2018 buck.



This is thumper, the VTR I tinkered with, I have cut off the muzzle break as well.





And this rifle is my future everything/ mountain rifle. I was gonna put it in a wildcat composites stock but maybe one day. It’s a 700 SS in .300 SAUM that I bedded into a BDL stock, and free floated the barrel. Shoots factory ammo great, can’t wait to start reloading.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Kristopher10

Here is mine.

Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5CM topped with a VX3i 4.5-14x40 CDS. If memory serves right it’s about 6lbs 10oz with the bipod pictured.




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How do you like the scope? I was looking at a VX-5 with cds and illuminated reticle for my SAUM. I have a VX-3i LRP on my long range and like it a lot, just curious how you like it VX-3i CDS? Very nice rifle by the way, I’m surprised by how light it is.

[Kristopher10]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

How do you like the scope? I was looking at a VX-5 with cds and illuminated reticle for my SAUM. I have a VX-3i LRP on my long range and like it a lot, just curious how you like it VX-3i CDS? Very nice rifle by the way, I’m surprised by how light it is.

I like the scope. To be honest I haven’t really played around with the cds a whole lot but it does seem to work pretty well. Once I get some more time I’ll start hand loading for this rifle and then start playing with the CDS at distance.

The rifle is actually heavier than advertised, it’s about 5 or 6 oz heavier than I expected it to be, but it’s still a dream to carry in the mountains.


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[outdoorsman12b]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

How do you like the scope? I was looking at a VX-5 with cds and illuminated reticle for my SAUM. I have a VX-3i LRP on my long range and like it a lot, just curious how you like it VX-3i CDS? Very nice rifle by the way, I’m surprised by how light it is.

I have had a few CDS Leupold scopes including the vx3i and it has been hit or miss with tracking. The erector issues in Leupold are well documented and you can find quite a bit with some googling. If you want to stay light with a Leupold I would take a look at the Boone and Crockett reticle or have their custom shop make a reticle for your load. If you really want to dial with confidence there are only a few options proven. You will have to up the weight.

Nightforce
SWFA
Busnnell LRHS

Budget option Nikon black FX 1000

[elkhunter11]

I have actually never carried a lightweight rifle while sheep hunting. On every sheep hunt, I carried a 7mmstw that weighed about 9lbs scoped. I typically carry my rifle on a bracket on my pack, so an extra two or three pounds of rifle is no different than an extra two or three pounds in my pack. That being said, when carrying a shotgun over my shoulder hunting upland birds, I much prefer a shotgun weighing around 6lbs or less.

[outdoorsman12b]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I have actually never carried a lightweight rifle while sheep hunting. On every sheep hunt, I carried a 7mmstw that weighed about 9lbs scoped. I typically carry my rifle on a bracket on my pack, so an extra two or three pounds of rifle is no different than an extra two or three pounds in my pack. That being said, when carrying a shotgun over my shoulder hunting upland birds, I much prefer a shotgun weighing around 6lbs or less.

Can you post a pick of this bracket? Right now on my way up the hill in the AM I have my rifle strapped hillside, then swap sides on way down mountain to keep it hillside. I find that it does not burn the down slope side knee as badly when your doing a lot of steep climbing.

[Kristopher10]

Originally Posted by outdoorsman12b

I have had a few CDS Leupold scopes including the vx3i and it has been hit or miss with tracking. The erector issues in Leupold are well documented and you can find quite a bit with some googling. If you want to stay light with a Leupold I would take a look at the Boone and Crockett reticle or have their custom shop make a reticle for your load. If you really want to dial with confidence there are only a few options proven. You will have to up the weight.



Nightforce

SWFA

Busnnell LRHS



Budget option Nikon black FX 1000

I have heard of the erector issues. In my case it was a scope of opportunity, deal I couldn’t say no to so I figured I would try it. If it doesn’t track well it’s a hunting rifle, and I’ll sight it in as I do all my other hunting rifles. If I was looking for a long range scope to dial I would be getting a nightforce.


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[dave99]

Here is my sheep rig that was used for the last 3 seasons:





It has tagged deer, a moose, and a single ewe. No rams though.

It is a Kimber in .280ai with a Swaro z5 sitting on top.





No pictures yet but I have a Sako Finnlight that doesn’t “self-identify” as the 7-08 20” barrel that it is currently sporting. So I’m having K&S convert it to 6.5cm at 24”. If it behaves at the shooting range, it will see some time in the mountains this fall.


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[outdoorsman12b]

Originally Posted by dave99

Here is my sheep rig that was used for the last 3 seasons:





It has tagged deer, a moose, and a single ewe. No rams though.

It is a Kimber in .280ai with a Swaro z5 sitting on top.





No pictures yet but I have a Sako Finnlight that doesn’t “self-identify” as the 7-08 20” barrel that it is currently sporting. So I’m having K&S convert it to 6.5cm at 24”. If it behaves at the shooting range, it will see some time in the mountains this fall.



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Caliber identification is such an issue these days with modern sporters. What type of barrel are you putting on the finnlight?

[JoshT]

First year sheep hunter so nothing fancy and no intentions to upgrade it anytime soon but it works none the less! Used it on my BC mountain goat this past September. Savage 111 in 3006 with a Bushnell elite. 8lbs 3oz with 10rounds.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by JoshT

First year sheep hunter so nothing fancy and no intentions to upgrade it anytime soon but it works none the less! Used it on my BC mountain goat this past September. Savage 111 in 3006 with a Bushnell elite. 8lbs 3oz with 10rounds.

Nothing wrong with that, what works works honestly. You don’t need the lightest rig on the mountain. Just need a rifle you’re used to and very comfortable shooting, don’t have to be long shots either. By the time you hiked up and scouted the second day, you’ve lost the weight that people spend thousands on trying to take off their rifle.

[outdoorsman12b]

Originally Posted by JoshT

First year sheep hunter so nothing fancy and no intentions to upgrade it anytime soon but it works none the less! Used it on my BC mountain goat this past September. Savage 111 in 3006 with a Bushnell elite. 8lbs 3oz with 10rounds.

That's a good setup Josh. Have you been out in the real wet stuff yet with blued though? I baby my rifles and still get rust forming when raining every day. A buddy had stainless and did not even look at his rifle and the thing was fine. It made a believer out of me in stainless.

Just to clarify not implying you should change your setup at all.

[JohnB]

.

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by outdoorsman12b

That's a good setup Josh. Have you been out in the real wet stuff yet with blued though? I baby my rifles and still get rust forming when raining every day. A buddy had stainless and did not even look at his rifle and the thing was fine. It made a believer out of me in stainless.



Just to clarify not implying you should change your setup at all.

I’ve mentioned this many times before but never had anyone admit to listening. Get a tuf cloth, wipe your gear with it, forget about rust... use the gear, continue to forget about rust. It’s so hard, to remember that your gear isn’t going to rust. Forget oil and whatever else you use now to prevent rust. Buy one of these for about $10



Wipe it on whatever you DONT WANT TO RUST and go about your life. Since I started using it I’ve never seen a spot of rust on anything. I did however decide to put a patina on a m4 steel knife blade that I had wiped down.

Here’s a m4 blade someone else used that developed a patina (like they all do)



Usually they develop said patina from sweat or cutting anything acidic. The steel is also very prone to rust.

I bought one and wiped it with my cloth when I got it. Used it for a year and the blade still looked new. Decided to put a patina on it. Took the blade out of the knife and sprayed it with brakleen thinking I could remove the tuf cloth residue. Put it in vinegar for three days. It should of developed a patina overnight. Three days later this is what I had.




I then jammed it in an orange for a couple days, came out clean as a whistle. Put it in mustard for a couple days, nada. Washed it off, wiped it down again and decided not only was it not going to develop any patina but also wasn’t going to rust.

There are plenty of tests of this product on YouTube. Check them out. Here’s one specifically on a blued rifle barrel.

https://youtu.be/i8cLTwaIXys



They’re cheap, last a long time and a couple hundred ml of the liquid is available and cheap too. It’s better then rust isn’t it?


Or just avoid wet weather, use oil on your gear and try and buy stainless whenever possible. Up to you.


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[dave99]

Originally Posted by outdoorsman12b

Caliber identification is such an issue these days with modern sporters. What type of barrel are you putting on the finnlight?

Haha. Things are just so much more complicated than they used to be!

I was thinking to keep the contour the same as the current Finnlight barrel. It’s a custom barrel built by KS Arms in Edmonton.


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[bdub]

Ol faithfull and the last sheep I shot with it. 300 wtby barreled and stocked by Ralph Martini when he was in Ft St John still. Use it on everything including sheep, its the only rifle I really hunt with despite having a couple othets. 8lbs total. Topped with an old straight 6x Zeiss scope. Using 180 nosler partitions, 80 gr rl 22.


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[outdoorsman12b]

Originally Posted by bdub

Ol faithfull and the last sheep I shot with it. 300 wtby barreled and stocked by Ralph Martini when he was in Ft St John still. Use it on everything including sheep, its the only rifle I really hunt with despite having a couple othets. 8lbs total. Topped with an old straight 6x Zeiss scope. Using 180 nosler partitions, 80 gr rl 22.


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Nice ram and rig. How is the recoil on that 300? At 8lbs I am guessing fairly stout. My buddy wants to setup a 300 WBY but is holding off because it seams like it may be unpleasant to shoot.

[bdub]

Originally Posted by outdoorsman12b

Nice ram and rig. How is the recoil on that 300? At 8lbs I am guessing fairly stout. My buddy wants to setup a 300 WBY but is holding off because it seams like it may be unpleasant to shoot.

Thanks.

It does kick but replacing the stock with something that fit and a good recoil pad made a world of difference.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by bdub

Thanks.

It does kick but replacing the stock with something that fit and a good recoil pad made a world of difference.

I had a vanguard backcountry in a 300 wby
Most ignorant rifle I’ve ever shot
I’d take a 378 wby over that thing

[fish_e_o]