New Alpine Rifle Criteria

Been thinking about a new alpine rifle build for a while to hunt sheep, Ibex, goats, tahr, chamois...

Thought I would ask how you decide. What do you feel is the most important thing in buying or building a rifle?

Beyond caliber, what do you consider next?

In my case, I’ve been considering a custom a 7MM REM Mag. 22” threaded Barrel. To use a suppressor.

Some considerations:
Left Hand (For me)
1/2 MOA
Action
Length
Weight
Stock type/style
Barrel (Carbon or Steel)

What does your dream Alpine rifle look like?

Hi
For left hand: either Tikka T3x in short barrel (308 Win) or Bergara Sierra Wilderness in 7 PRC/ RM

Been considering the same. Looking at a Tikka that I’ll put in an upgraded stick with and upgraded recoil lug. Likely in 7 PRC.

What optic are you thinking? I’m leaning to the Swarovski Z5+ 3-18x.

NIGHTHAWK said:

What does your dream Alpine rifle look like?

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I'm a one gun kinda guy so it would be an echols legend in .338 win mag with a 20" threaded barrel and an AB Raptor 8 screwed on the end. Scope gets trickier for me. Probably an SWFA 3-9. Not the lightest thing in the world, but it's my dream setup for my do everything in the world rifle.

If I was doing a dedicated alpine rifle, probably a tikka T3x in 6.5x55, zero gravity 6.5 and a leupold 2.5-8x36. For a dedicated mountain climbing rifle I want light weight and reliability. Such a light rifle in a larger caliber would be tough for me to shoot a lot.

Being a lefty as well, if you're considering an OTC rifle, Tikka and the Browning X-bolt are the best thing going in terms of price (I have the X-bolt in 300 WM for my own mountain backcountry kit,). Tikka would be 7Rem Mag or 28 Nosler.
If you're building, I recommend a Defiance action. They have extremely tight tolerances, high precision built and are proven tack drivers at long distance. Barrels should be carbon wrapped, 22 in and silencer/muzzle brake capable. Triggers are up to you....many high quality manufacturers. Manners, H&S, stocks if going that route; XTR magnesium chassis with folding stock to minimize weight.
If you're looking at a custom rifle build at a good price, look on the Kelbley rifle website. They have decades of building competitive (championship winning) long range and backcountry kits, and offer precision builds to your specs at very reasonable prices. I have one of their builds in the .338 Norma Mag configuration, set in a XLR magnesium chassis with folding stock, costing me 5k, for my Asia hunts. Superb.

Russ16 said:

Been considering the same. Looking at a Tikka that I’ll put in an upgraded stick with and upgraded recoil lug. Likely in 7 PRC.

What optic are you thinking? I’m leaning to the Swarovski Z5+ 3-18x.

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Nightforce ATACR…

For mountain hunting, for me it’s easy for what’s important. Must be rugged as all hell. Must be accurate as it is rugged. Must be lighter than you think possible, which presently the builders and component makers out there have done a wonderful job in shaving weight where possible without sacrificing the first two…but then also need an appropriate scope that doesn’t run amuck with the rifle goals.

I’ve had no less than fifteen custom mountain/sheep rifles from old school makers like NULA, Rifles Inc., Bansner, Gunworks, Proof, and even one from GA Precisoon. Which GAP has made me a bunch of wonderful rifles over the years and still have 6-7 of them, but light they are not, and my intended sheep rifle they built me finished 1.3lbs heavier than they promised. Shot great, but missed the target in a not so unimportant fashion.

Gunworks makes me smile as they have the rifles dialed in to shave weight but then put the biggest, bulkiest, 34mm tubed scope with the busiest reticle imaginable. Both I had, shot superbly, but neither stayed with me long.

As a true gun lover, I’m always looking for a reason for one more or to
Improve on what I’m running and find some kind of logic to talk me into ordering at least one more fo next season. That has largely stopped as I just can’t seem to improve upon the sheep rifle I’ve used the last 8 years, which I’ve taken several Dall and a desert with it, two grizzlies, and anchored two other rams for family.

So my near-perfect mountain rifle looks something like this: McBros Ti action, 6.5 SAUM, bartlein spiral fluted 2b barrel, manners stock. I say near because if I remade this rifle, I’d prefer a blind magazine. Might try the Defiance ti if redoing today. I did have the same maker build me a 7PRC similar to that with a carbon wrapped barrel, don’t love it, but think the 7PRC should be a splendid mountain cartridge that really brings the perfect mix of BC, bullet weight, velocity, unbelted standard length, everything you need for that environment and lightweight build potential. For now, I’ll just keep carrying my ugly kill-stick.

Russ16 said:

Been considering the same. Looking at a Tikka that I’ll put in an upgraded stick with and upgraded recoil lug. Likely in 7 PRC.

What optic are you thinking? I’m leaning to the Swarovski Z5+ 3-18x.

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Nightforce ATACR is what I have. Little heavy. Likely a NF NX8

Looked at this as a baseline:


The Extreme Summit custom rifle build is one of our slimmer, more traditional style rifle builds that we offer. If your goal is to stick with a Remington style, traditional build with a slim forend, this build is for you. Built around the well known McMillan Hunter stock, it features a sloped Remington style grip along with a Monte Carlo style comb and cheek. Similar to our Ascent, this configuration is great for staying slim and getting your rifle in and out of slim cases like horse scabbards on backcountry hunts. The Extreme Summit is fully customizable from barrel type, stock colors, cerakote colors, and more.

• 5.7 lbs – 6.5 lbs. Weight depends on barrel type and length​

• Built on NEW MOA Extreme Action – Steel or Titanium Action options available​

• Carbon or Steel barrel options​

• McMillan Game Stalker Carbon Stock.​

• Includes Load Development and a rifle that will shoot a minimum of 1/2 MOA leaving our shop.​

6.5 prc tikka,

They are so light you will be able to get away with the extra weight of a NF scope.

If still need lighter optic, Trijicon credo is a smidge lighter.

You need a scope that can handle a tumble if you miss a step on the mountain.

Many good ideas here. 7PRC, 20" barrel, synthetic stock and I would go with the lightest scope of those you like best. Maybe a Swaro, Zeiss or Leupold for me. Cheers

Also, I forgot, I would consider a chassis stock, maybe even a folding. I have not really explored these yet. Shot a few and liked em. I know there are just more and more options for these as time goes on. They should be front and center when considering a stock for mountain rifle imo. Cheers

Throwback said:

Many good ideas here. 7PRC, 20" barrel, synthetic stock and I would go with the lightest scope of those you like best. Maybe a Swaro, Zeiss or Leupold for me. Cheers

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This is what Ty at MOA rifles is suggesting in terms of caliber and barrel length. Especially with a suppressor…

I really like my Allterra. They make great rifles. I have the Allterra-X and it’s deceptively light. A carbon barrel would be even better. It’s certainly more accurate than I am.

My go to hunting rifle is a 7PRC with a 20" barrel that I shoot suppressed. Its not a mountain rifle specifically but I use it for just about everything and love it. It's a Tikka T3 that Hill County Rifles did their "accurized" package to. Id seriously consider it. The 7PRC should take down anything in N. America, save a brown bear, the ballistics of it with a high BC a lot of people love for mountain type hunting - windy, longer, etc... Cheers

Go carbon. Hands down. For an alpine lefty build, this is where you save the weight that allows you to carry that suppressor.

Weight is fairly high on the list. I went with a seekins element, an nxs 2-10 on top, and ultra 5 titanium suppressor. I chose 6.5prc for caliber, short action which saves weight and has plenty of performance. It's already taken 2 bull elk without issue. Ready to hunt it's under 8lbs. Now that the weatherby capra is available, I may look into one of those for a mountain gun.

Legion said:

Go carbon. Hands down. For an alpine lefty build, this is where you save the weight that allows you to carry that suppressor.

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Not really. A pencil steel barrel will generally be lighter, especially fluted like most of them are these days. Compare to weights on say Proof research's website.

Once I’ve decided on the chambering, for me alpine rifle should weigh light enough for me to carry extended distances, and heavy enough to tolerate recoil. Your mileage may vary, I’m 28 and move grand pianos solo for a living, so my carry weight is probably different than yours.

I also like stocks that are ergonomic for shooting at steep upward angles. That, for me, means a really high buttstock, and a negative comb.

Stolen pic but this shape


Also needs to be able to shoot from a sticks or tripod, so either have a forend shape that sits nicely in sticks, or a pic rail on the forend to attach to a tripod. I prefer sticks for light weight, but again ymmv

I like a more forward weight balance than some, helps steady my aim for any longer shot opportunities, so I’ll cut weight in the stock fill, and have a slightly heavier barrel profile than someone else’s gun of the same weight class.

I prefer internal box mags, absolutely no DBM.

Mannlicher Schönauer 6.5x54.

The difficulty is that you are a sinister. Oh well!