I have posted about this rifle--and its soon-to-be big brother elsewhere on this site but here is my story: I began backpack hunting at 50 and am now 63--and I can really identify with those who, like me, are starting to feel the pangs of old age. Until about5 years ago, I was happy as a clam, hiking 5-10 miles back of beyond with a 90 pound pack for a 10 day trip. My hunting partner is nearly 20 years younger and has solo climbed McKinley, so I ain't gonna keep up with him anyway! But as the years went by and I hiked in every time with my Browning A-Bolt in 7MM Rem, with Zeiss 3-12 and bipod--11 pounds soaking wet--I woul always end up hiking back to the truck to pick up my spare--a nice little Steyr Professional in .30/06 with 20 inch barrel and Leupold Ultra light scope--8 pounds with 6 cartridges and sling.
Then I decided to get serious:
I had Lex Webernick of Rifles Inc. down here in Texas, build me his lightweight Strata--25 inch ultra light contour Lilja barrel with superbly reworked factory trigger and Swaro 3-12 X 50. Complete with scope, slim muizzle brake, scope covers, sling, and 4 rounds (of .300 Winnie) it tips the scales at 7 pounds 2 ounces. And it shoots factory 180 grain Federal Premium into dime-sized holes.
So now I have the PERFECT mountain rifle. But stupid me--I find this website and get excited all over again--I spent years trying to decide whether to get the Strata or the "Master" series--with 27 inch contour 5 barrel (Teflon finish like the Strata) in .300 Ultra Mag. Oh, and I sprang for the Jewel trigger as well.
So now, when that arrives, I am going to take the 3-12 off the little rifle, mount it on the big one, and replace it with an AV 3-9--bringing total carried weight to exactly 6 pounds 14 ounces--six ounces lighter than my Model 94 Winchester with no scope and full of flat-nosed ammo! And I am going to run down I-35 to San Marcos and have a Jewel trigger mounted on it as well.
So I will end up with a 10 1/2 pound rifle (including Bipod) for the short hikes--or getting out of the truck and setting up to shoot elk or neighborhood dogs
across the canyon, OR, a 7 3/4 pound rifle (again, including Bipod) for the long treks into the back country.
Both rifles will be a dream to shoot--and will outshoot me for sure. Regards.
Russ