Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles best light weight rifle?

been a while since I have been in the market but some goals are being met and extra funds are becoming available so What are some good choices on light weight short action hunting rifles? Use to own Kimber montana's and they are nice. Had a colt/nula hybrid which was OK, but long action. Always thought a NULA would be fun but on the other hand a OOB remingth sent to hill country rifles would be just as accurate but a fraction of the cost. Any other ideas on how to spend my $$?

I chased lightweights for 40 years trying different stuff. If you really want a rifle at 6 lbs scoped Kimbers are a bargain for the money. I have one.

But I've concluded a finished weight including optics closer to 7 lbs is a better compromise. Pick a rifle of your liking, put it in an Edge stock with aluminum bottom metal and you're there.

I went that route with my Winchester EW in 308. It is 7 1/4 lb scoped and close enough. A Remington would likely come in a hair under 7 lbs.

The "best light weight rifle" is whatever you have in your hands when the best opportunity on the animal of a lifetime presents itself.

Aside from that, a Kimber 84M MT with Lilja's Modified 84M barrel contour (.617" @ 22") chambered to the cartridge of your choice would be my top pick.

That's about as good as it gets IMO. You'll be dollars ahead of about anything else, and have an essentially "perfect" lightweight.

I have only owned the Montana and I'm more than happy with it.

But if I was going to spend big bucks I'd look at Rifle Inc. They seem to know how to put one together.



Dave

Tikka T-3

Weatherby MK V ULW 5 3/4 LBS for my 30-06

I second the Weatherby

Kimber Montana 84M.

Agreed

lubbockdave,

To me, no matter what the weight, a rifle needs to function flawlessly when working the bolt from the shoulder after dry firing. Recently I went to Sportsman a couple times and tried several rifles. The only one that was smooth as silk both times was the Tikka T3. Next was the Sako and Browings. But they are all heavier than the Weatherby. The Weatherby Mark V six lug has a medium length action; a la .30-06. If I didn't have the Mark V I would buy a Tikka.

I used a Kimber .308 this year. After firing at a deer I jacked another cartridge in, only to have it jam. By the time I got the jam cleared and another in the chamber the deer dropped. Still, that is not acceptable. I won't be using that rifle again.

You know you could try to fix the feeding problem, right?

My Kimber Montana 7-08 has not had any feeding problems. I've killed 5 deer with it, 3 of which had follow up shots.

I killed 2 at one time and fired 5 rounds. I had only loaded 4 rounds and reloaded in the middle with 2 shot deer trying to get away.Even under that stress,I had no malfunctions.

I have heard of Kimbers having feeding issues but I've heard that about nearly every rifle out there.I don't think it is such an issue as to prevent the purchase if you are interested in one.


I am not a terrible shot. Sometimes I hunt in such a way as to shoot jumped or driven deer at very close ranges. It's a little different from sniping one while laying across a pack.

Lightweight rifles are a pretty personal thing & choice & then the question always is, how light is light enough for me.

If I were buying a new rifle today, w/o a doubt, it would be a Kimber.

But I have 4 other rifles that all meet the (my) criteria close enough that I don't need another one.

The lightest that I have is an original Rem 700 Ti in 7-08, that, after some bedding work, is a legitimate <1" rifle & it weighs right at 6.5 lb, scoped.

The other 3 are all long actions; an older Rem 700 MR that has been re-stocked & cerrokoted in 280 Rem & it weighs exactly 7 lb, scoped; a Rem Custom Shop 700 KS & a win M-70 FWT that is bone stock.

The M-70 is the heaviest of the lot, & with a Leupold 2x7 scope. it's close to 7.5 lb.

I like light, but really all but the M-70 are light enough, at least for me, & even then, the M-70 is really light enough for practical use.

MM

I had one of these for years. I loved the ergonomics but I could never get it to shoot well. Well enough, sure, for 100 yard shots on elk in the Oregon Cascade Range, but when I started hunting on the Eastern side of the state my shot selection stretched dramatically. The Weatherby went down the road and I bought a Tikka. I wish I had done it sooner.




P

What I've noticed with the ULW's is a tendency to shoot much better with smaller holes inside the barrel. I had a .240 for a while that was VERY accurate, but a buddy had a .338-06 that I don't believe ever shot a group under 2".

If I had the dough and the time, I'd spring for a NULA. A Montana is more in line with my pockey-book.

For Eastern whitetails, where a shorter barrel would be okay (in my opinion), a Howa Alpine is an excellent choice when equipped with the regular floorplate.

A Tikka T3 Super Lite is damn hard to beat when you look at weight/accuracy/price.

I have versions of both (ULA and a Hill Country built on a titanium action). The choice largely depends on preference in feel. The ULA is much more svelte in my hands, even though both are similar in finished weight. Accuracy is largely a moot point between the two. My Ti isn't built on a Remington action, for what that's worth. I have a pile of Remington Ti's that I also really like. The custom rifles are not any more capable in the field than the factory Ti's, but that's not really the point. If it were me, I'd go NULA and never look back. You're already leaning in that direction and I highly doubt you'll be disappointed in one of Melvin's rifles. They also hold value a lot better, if that matters.

How much does a NULA cost and how much does the Tikka T3 cost? I know the Tikka comes in under $700. If you loose 1/4 value you loose a couple hundred. If you enjoyed the rifle you don't loose anything. Chalk it up to rent. If you loose a 1/4 on the NULA, how much is that?

If you're approaching this from a cost standpoint, the NULA and a host of others will lose. I didn't get the impression that was the OP's decision criteria, but perhaps I was off base.

Ya think? 7mm-08.











This one is 140 Partitions at 100 yards.







P

Weatherby ULW. I.ve had a few and they all shot well. I had MD's 240, great gun, 2 280's both shot sub moa and a 338-06(SBGM) tha shot sub moa with 180's and 210's, never tried heavier. The Weatherby stock fits me very well, and probably a big reason I am partial to them, and the guns balance and handle great IMO

I've owned both a T3 and a colt/NULA hybrid. I prefer the CLR/NULA but love the T3 for its value. I haven't tried out a Montana yet but it's on my list.

Find an early serial number Forbes.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


This. In spades.

are all the tikka long actions?

Yes



P

What these guys said.

I just bought the wife a T3X Superlite in 7mm-08 - it's 5-15 bare and 7-3 with a 2x12 VX-6. It's also a shooter. Very nice rifle for the $

Around ten years ago, I picked up a 700 mt rifle in 270 for $250. I replaced the synthetic stock with a laminate from an LSS and put a VX 2 3-9 on it.

The gun shoots under 1" groups with 130 and 150 gr at 100 yds. This fall I did a 3" group at 450 yds with Hornaday American Whitetail ammo.

This is the gun that my 2 sons and I all want to carry for PA woods hunting. I know it's not in the weight range of some of these guns being discussed but its light enough for me. (And a whole lot cheaper):)

Dave, I know where there's a good Kimber Montana in 260. The current owner is a real nice guy and may let it go for just a small profit.

Yes, regardless of caliber, they are all built on long actions and utilize a bolt stop.

How about the Howa Alpine?….I am still waiting to see one to handle but seems like a winner.

My light weight rifle is better than yours.

Ya but mine is bigger!!!

Just realized the new T3x 223 come in 1/8 twist....I was hard charging after a Montana but now I'm stuck on the fence thinking about a compact T3x they come 20" barrel and 12.5" LOP also have a 1" spacer to increase LOP if you want...hard to turn down for the money.

I ran out of give a schit and changed my definition of lightweight to 8#

Stainless?

Go to stores that have rifles for sale and handle all you can find.

Select the one you like best.

Of the new center fire light hunting rifles I like the Kimbers.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles

That is where I am at.