West Virginia ridge rifle picks

L

Lightbuzzer

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Sep 24, 2025
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I hunt West Virginia ridgelines a lot, so I want something light, balanced, and deadly accurate. I usually reach for a .30-06 or 6.5 Creedmoor in a light bolt gun with a compact optic, it is easy to carry uphill and plenty of bang for 200 yards but I am open to more suggestions
 
You can grab a light 30/06 or 6.5 Creedmoor, threaded suppressor, 3 to 9x40 optic, comfy sling and a quick zero, you will climb easier and stop game at 200 yards
 
I run a trusty 30/06 with simple glass and hand loads. It is heavy but forgiving and you will trust it on steep ridgelines when shots matter.
 
Go super light 6.5 with a carbon stock, short barre and compact 2 to 10 optic. You will thank yourself on long uphill carries
 
Jeff Michel said:
For hunting hills, I use a Remington Model 7 in .308. With scope it's just at 7 pounds.
Click to expand...
The Remington Model 7 in .308 seems good but does the short barrel mess with bullet speed and stopping power enough to matter at 200 yards?
 
No, you or the deer/bear won’t know the difference. Mine is sighted dead on at 200 yards, exactly the distance to one of my feeders. I’ll use that technique to harvest does. 150 grain soft point and a book load of IMR 4895. Keeps my neighbors in venison.
 
I like a light .308 as you can load heavy or light. I like a 200 yard zero with 150 interlocks loaded to around 2800 fps in the .308. But myself I seem to keep going back to my 94 Winchester in 30-30 with a Williams ghost ring aperture sight for where I hunt here in WV as 99 % of the time the deer is shot well under 50 yards.
 

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