Is the sig cross the best budget backpacking rifle?

[OG-danimal]

Considering a sig cross chambered in 6.5 creed as my backpacking deer hunting rifle. The folding butt stock, semi lightweight design, and short overall length has my attention. But is it worth it? My current set up is a 6.5prc. It's 11.2lbs all set with optic, bipod, ammo, and can. I want something a little lighter and easier on riding on the pack. The longest shot I'd ever take would be 600 yards and I figure hand loads would get me there pretty easily with the sig. Who has one in the 6.5? What does it weigh all set up?
Do you like it? Any other recommendations for lightweight backpacking deer rifles under the $1500 mark would be appreciated as well.
Cheers

 

[HarlowBocker]

The sig cross is light and compact, especially with a light scope. From an 18" barrel, 6.5 Creed loses velocity. A friend has a Cross in 6.5 CM and did not like hunting with it. He was using factory 140gr ammo, I think the muzzle velocity was around 2,500fps. If you shoot heavy bullets at reduced velocity, it does not strike game like lightening, though it can still penetrate and kill. He moved to 28 Nosler with a 24-26" barrel, and he's happy. The Sig Cross was not the rifle for him, but it might work for you. Bullet choice is important, and there are tradeoffs.

Whether you will be happy with 6.5 Creed depends on your expectations and objectives. 6.5 Creed can definitely kill deer, but it may not kill deer with your desired level of authority at long range. I've shot a few deer with a 24" 6.5 Creed out to ~600yds. I've never been surprised or disappointed, but I also don't expect a 6.5 creed to perform like 28 Nosler. You might consider a hotter cartridge if any of my comments are concerning.

 

[marksman1941]

if you're good with the ballistics of a 6.5cm at 600, then the cross is a solid platform. The creed still has plenty of terminal performance at that range, assuming you pick the right bullet and you can read wind well enough to land the shot.

As far as the rifle itself is concerned, they're fantastic. They've become the pick of the litter for a pack rifle on a decent budget, for good reason. I would have no qualms about going that route.

 

[overinfinite]

The sig cross is light and compact, especially with a light scope. From an 18" barrel, 6.5 Creed loses velocity. A friend has a Cross in 6.5 CM and did not like hunting with it. He was using factory 140gr ammo, I think the muzzle velocity was around 2,500fps. If you shoot heavy bullets at reduced velocity, it does not strike game like lightening, though it can still penetrate and kill. He moved to 28 Nosler with a 24-26" barrel, and he's happy. The Sig Cross was not the rifle for him, but it might work for you. Bullet choice is important, and there are tradeoffs.

Whether you will be happy with 6.5 Creed depends on your expectations and objectives. 6.5 Creed can definitely kill deer, but it may not kill deer with your desired level of authority at long range. I've shot a few deer with a 24" 6.5 Creed out to ~600yds. I've never been surprised or disappointed, but I also don't expect a 6.5 creed to perform like 28 Nosler. You might consider a hotter cartridge if any of my comments are concerning.

That is a crazy jump 18" 6.5 CM to a 24" 28 Nosler is wild. The sig cross is neat, but it would be even better with a 6.5PRC or 7SAUM. it would put you back into the velocity of a 22" 6.5CM, if not more.
You can put together a setup for a little more money than a factory cross in whatever flavor cartridge you want.
MDT LSS or XLR Atom chassis, add a folder, 16 or 18" barrel at whatever thickness you want. I helped a buddy with his 308 cross and I hated the folder. it was clunky and rattled slightly. but I have 3 MDT folders and love them. either way, I helped my dad put together a 16" 6CM in a XLR Atom chassis, no folder, lightweight Leupold scope and a brake. the thing is so small and is awesome as a truck gun.

 

[ducky]

What is your current rifle weight, and how much weight do you drop with the Cross rifle? I have nothing against the Sig Cross, I've never shot one only handled in the store. However, there are several ways to get lighter and carry while trekking in without needing a folding stock to reduce OAL.

The lightest weight rifle you can probably put together for backpacking would be a Howa Supelite 20" 6.5 Creedmoor. Instead of carrying it in a scabbard on your pack put in a Kifaru Universal Gun Bearer and have it readily accessible. With the butt of the stock lower than your hip, the suppressor is right at my shoulder with 18-20" barrels and doesn't extend past the top of my head.

I have the Superlite in .308 Win and with a NF 3-10X42 SHV in Warne Mountain Tech rings, and using an Omega 300 direct thread suppressor it weighs 7 lbs 0.8 oz. It weighs about 7 oz heavier with a Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 4-20X50. It's almost 4 lbs 11 oz for the bare rifle.

Now, I'm not saying I'm capable of shooting 600 yds on deer with this rifle. 3-400 is probably the max I could shoot this .308 on game with confidence. Even with the Omega the recoil is quite fast and sharp, and I don't enjoy shooting anything above 168 grains. The 6.5 Creedmoor should be more pleasant to shoot.

 

[ripnbst]

If folding stock isn't a requirement take a strong look on gunbroker for Bergara Mountain 2.0 rifles. They are very light and in the Bergara Premier line, incredibly smooth actions that feed well. A buddy bought one in 300PRC and I expected it to be painful to shoot. It was not bad at all as I helped him zero it.

In 6.5CM you should be able to shoot that pretty well I would think.

 

[med358-boise]

Folding stocks have a very high CDI factor aka Chicks Dig It - meaning it looks cool, but do you really need it or said another way - how much difference is there in hiking with it given if it is one of the scabbards it is really just sticking up in the air during the trek part of your hunt.

If I was looking for a light weight budget rifle, Ruger American Gen II with a Leupold Freedom in 4-12 with a Sightron S1 with a 20 MOA reticle.

 

[overinfinite]

Folding stocks have a very high CDI factor aka Chicks Dig It - meaning it looks cool, but do you really need it or said another way - how much difference is there in hiking with it given if it is one of the scabbards it is really just sticking up in the air during the trek part of your hunt.

If I was looking for a light weight budget rifle, Ruger American Gen II with a Leupold Freedom in 4-12 with a Sightron S1 with a 20 MOA reticle.

There is quite a difference where I hunt. For years I carried rifles with brakes and suppressors in scabbards and managed with stocks. But when I bought a folder, every gun after that with a barrel 20"+ got a folder. No more ducking or crawling, whacking snow limbs, banging muzzle on door jams... all my rifles sit maybe 2-3" above my head now.

 

[med358-boise]

There is quite a difference where I hunt. For years I carried rifles with brakes and suppressors in scabbards and managed with stocks. But when I bought a folder, every gun after that with a barrel 20"+ got a folder. No more ducking or crawling, whacking snow limbs, banging muzzle on door jams... all my rifles sit maybe 2-3" above my head now.

No doubt there is a difference, the question that everyone has to answer for themselves is how much is it for where and how they hunt and is the money worth it. For example, for many people a scabbard is viewed as a must but the rifle does stick-up above their head; for me I feel scabbards are a pain so I put a small drawer pull knob on my packs shoulder strap and hook my sling over it and my sling never slips off he shoulder. If I am going thru lower hanging branches I just unsling, hold the rifle and duck (if necessary for my head) and then re-sling. That works for me, may not work for others.

The OP referenced budget, many folks will consider starting over $1200 doesn't equal budget.

 

[overinfinite]

The OP referenced budget, many folks will consider starting over $1200 doesn't equal budget.

OP is asking about the sig cross... $1,600 bare rifle. So maybe we're talking about different budgets. Chassis rifle with a folder.
I am giving him examples of very simular rifles with different chamberings becaus the cross only has 3.
You can put together a howa barreled action, savage with a prefit or even a second hand rem 700 to do exactly whatever he wants.