Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Favorite Lightweight Rifle?

Without much thought to it, I have accumulated a number of "lightweight" rifles. After shooting them all, I have come to the conclusion about the best fitting rifle for me.

The guns.

Pre-64 Model 70 FWT in 270 & 243
Model 70 XTR FWT in 7x57 (7mm Mauser)
Rem 700 Carbine in 30-06
Ithaca LSA in 308 Win
Remington 725 in 30-06
Tikka T3 in stainless in 300 Win Mag
Husqvarna Model 4000 (lightweight) in 270
Savage 99F (later featherweight) in 300 Savage, 308, 243 & 358.
Savage 1899 Deluxe in 250-3000
Savage 99G in 30-30 and 300 Savage.
Winchester 64 Deluxe carbine in 30-30

There are no losers in this bunch for sure. I could use them all. However, we all know that special gun when you shoulder it and fire. A gun like this is different and you know it.

For me, the Husqvarna 4000 (mine was made in 1954) is an incredible rifle and currently holds my top title of the lot. It fits me so darn well that I must have shouldered it a 1000 times by now. I just stumbled upon it visiting a local gun shop with another forum member here, say about 4 months ago. The rifle was way in the back of the rack, dusty as all can be. As far as accuracy, it really is unbelievable. Using the same vintage 4x Lyman All American scope with swing over Weaver rings and factory 130 gr ammo, it keeps them at MOA. POI, which is always the trump card with any gun, is superbly consistent. This rifle has tremendous potential.

If you ever get a chance at holding one of these rare rifles, dont pass up the opportunity to check them out. They are very well made rifles upon my close inspection and further on function and accuracy tests. I would love to get one in 7x57 someday. They are pretty rare, but out there.

Despite years of hunting, shooting and firearm learning, it is still nice to be totally surprised about a firearm that you didn't know about before. And it turns out to be awesome in fit and function.

RAS

I currently have three favorite lightweights.

First is a CLR/NULA in 7x57. It fits like a glove and may well be the last to go.

Secondly is a Kimber Montana in .300 WSM. I may not have much use for it in the future, but I have certainly enjoyed owning it for the past 8 years.

Third on the list is a pre-64 Model 70 FWT in 270 Win that would be hard to part with.

Also, I just traded for a Tikka T3 in 308 Win. I have never owned a 308 prior to this and am looking forward to working with it.

donsm70

Good to know. Thanks.

I have three lightweight rifle's.

A Ruger M77 RL Ultra Light in 257 Roberts Ackley Improved.
A Kimber 84M in 257 Roberts.
A Weatherby Ultra Light in 270 Weatherby Magnum.

I had an Ithaca LSA in 308, most uncomfortable and hardest kicking 308 I ever shot! Felt like a 300 win mag to me, made my 30-06s fell like a dream.

My favorites:
1957 vintage Savage 99F in 300 Savage
1923 vintage Savage 99 takedown featherweight in 30/30
Kimber 84M Montana in .308

Cool post RAS. The old lightweight husky is a damn Rodney Dangerfield rifle if ever there was one. I have many lightweight rifles and my favorite is one of my heavy rifles. This is when we are talking about how the rifle fits and functions, which was in the introduction of your thread. I love my pre 64 fwt's, but hunt my old m1917...... . Not because it's a "lightweight", but because it just feels right...

I have about a 1/2 dozen various rifles that are under 6 1/2 lbs scoped, but my favorite is a SS Model 7 20" 7mm-08 in a Brown FS Stock.

I've chased lightweight rifles for the past 15 years and have tried all the 'common' brands. I've not owned a NULA, Colt, or new lightweight Weatherby - but about ever thing else.

I have 4 Kimber Montana's in my safe in various cartridges to cover my needs. I'm sure there are some out there that are equal in ergos for me but the Montana is very close to perfection for me.

Blaser K95

v

That's about as good as it gets.

But for us surfs, a Winchester Featherweight has to do.

Serf is something you are.
Surf is something you do.

I love my old husqvarna right up to the point of pulling the trigger.

For a favorite lightweight rifle, I currently have a Kimber Classic Select that was recently rebarreled to a 6.5CM. I like the feel, thin wrist, and handling of this model. I have had a Classic Select in 300WSM, but recoil was sharp and accuracy was not noteworthy. I also currently have a Winchester featherweight in 30-06 with nice wood, and had one in 270. The 30-06 weighs 8lb 4oz scoped.

Weatherby Ultra Light Weight 30-06 5 3/4 lbs BARE
I bought here with
a FX-3 6x42 with #4 reticle
Sako Tecomate 300 WSM 6 7/8 lbs BARE
NEEDS A SCOPE?
My Ruger Hawkeye RSI 30-06 is under 8 lbs with a
FX-II 3x20 Heavy Duplex
My Weatherby Outfitter 270 WBY Mag is supposed to be
a Factory ULW but weight of 7 lbs 6.2 oz with Talley
light weights did not

Tough call. Dakota 76 Alpine in .250-3000, Sako Forester re-barrelled to 6.5 CM, M700 mountain rifle with Pac-nor barrel in 6.5x257AI are the top three.

I've owned several of those old Huskys. They need three things: trigger work because they're Mausers, glass bedding because they tend to kick out of their stocks, and red LocTite on the little screw that holds the ejector in place because it shoots loose pretty easily.

Other than that, they are very hard to beat.


Okie John

Kimber Montana in the 84 action. That being said, I've never owned a NULA.

3rd place would be my 1949 Savage.
Lots of nostalgia points, but when rubber meets the road, it swings, mounts, and shoots like a champ.



2nd place would be this classic. Does not carry the nostalgia points of my pre-64, but in the field, it is a top shelf Featherweight.



1st place would be a ST Finnlight, with this black Recknagel sight version being my favorite. Having run an UL Kimber, light M70 in Edge, and various semi and custom light rifles, none have fit, handled, or worked better than this production Sako has, straight out the box.

Kind of like a M70 FW, they are light but not fly weights. I Have the matched pair of Browning Safari small ring FN actions and pencil barrels. The .308 is easily a sub 1" for 3 @ 100 each and every time. I have a twenty something year old Zeiss 4X on it. The .243 is a 1" gun, with a 3-9 4200 on top.

Two others that are not really heavy. A FN crested .30-06 with a trim English looking stock. Also a Blaser R-93 is not a heavy weight. .270 and 9.3x62 barrels for it.

Then there is my Contender carbine. Neat little package. I have considered a trimmer fore stock and making the butt stock into a skeleton.

I have fond memories if my Savage 99F (s). Some guy wanted them badly.

Best,

Jack

For me it is my Kimber Montana 84 in 308. It is an absolute joy to carry and hasn't let me down.

I have to agree, and +1 for the adirondack and mountain light line if you can afford the extra coin on one.

I have a M70 featherweight compact in .22-250 for my daughter, it's a great little gun too, shoots 1 MOA with winchester 40 round bulk box ammo, but it can't compete on weight with the longer barrelled and full stocked kimbers.

I wish I grabbed one of those Winchester M70 stainless featherweight shot show specials a few years back in .243 seeing the one posted above makes me drool also!

What caliber is that Stainless classic featherweight?

Of the lightweight rifles I have owned the list would look like this from favorite to least favorite.

Nula model 24
Nula model 20 (on order but I imagine will be in this spot when it arrives)
Forbes model 24B
Model 70 Featherweight (not exactly lightweight)
Kimber Montana M84L
Sako 85 Finnlight
Sako A7 (sort of light)
Tikka T3 Lite
Tikka T3 Super Lite

Sako 75 Finninght
Sako L579 243

Both the above were once considered lightweight but no longer in today's standards which to me would be 6 lbs and under without scope.

Forbes 24B
Kimer Montana
I consider both lightweight rifles. Both are very accurate rifles but I shoot the Forbes best,or you might say the Forbes is easier to achieve accuracy with. It might just fit me better since I'm 6'4". It does have a longer LOP and is longer overall.

What is the LOP of the Forbes?

My Sendero's.

Most of those are hardly lightweights by today's standards. For me 8 lbs scoped is a heavy rifle. Lightweights are under 7 lbs scoped.

1999 Winchester 70 Classic Compact 308 WIN.

A real sweetheart, when I can wrestle it away from my son. I do believe he's claimed permanent possession.

Still looking.....

Dang, as I read your post I was hoping your first choice was the Model 70 XTR FWT in 7x57 (7mm Mauser)...

I measure 14 1/4 on the Forbes and 13 1/2 on the Montana.

Original 30-06, purchased to make 338-06.

I have a Remington Mountain Rifle in 7-08 that I've further lightened with an ultralight B&C glass stock, an aluminum trigger guard, and a Gre-Tan (PTG) bolt shroud/spring/pin assembly. It's really light. Shoots good too. With a Leup 2.5-8 in Talleys it is, as they say, model-perfect.

Stepping it up a solid notch I have a Kimber Montana in 7 WSM. It sports a 3-10 Nightforce SHV in Talleys. That's not a light scope. Overall though, for a 7-mag the whole package is very light.

Light rifles take discipline to shoot well. I've worked really hard to get to where I can reliably print tiny, sub-MOA groups with the Kimber for instance. As a big bonus, if you put in the work to get good with a featherweight, heavier rifles are a breeze to shoot well!

I have two:

1) An Austrian made "stalking rifle" in 6.5X52R - weighs in at 5.75 lbs.



and 2) a custom Sako L579 action in 250-3000 built by a local western PA gunsmith (Red Riddle) - weighs 6.25 lbs



PennDog

Both are nice but I really like the stalking rifle.

Dang, that Sako looks nice Penn..

Thanks RHClark & Jericho.....as seen in the photos I do more carrying than killing anymore so I appreciate the weight savings....the 250 is better in person this gunsmith did some fine work ahead of his time....the stock is thinned out everywhere - it actually only holds two in the magazine and the barrel is pencil thin and 19.5" long...it handles very well (actually both do).

PennDog

Waiting on my NULA's but right now this is it:

Penndog wins. Those are both beauties

mine nearly identical 'cept it's in a Mcmillan Edge. 6#, 3 oz as pictured.



but my FS is a close second. or maybe most favorite. it's hard to decide....

Skeletor
Ti 3006 6lbs 4oz


Flaming Skeletor
Kampfeld 250AI 6lbs 6oz


A lot Kimber Montana

My light rifle is a 16-1/2" bbl Ruger M77 Compact in .260 Remington. Scope is a Burris fixed power 4x20 Short Mag. Rifle weighs in at around 5-3/4 lbs without scope, which adds about 8 oz. I developed a hunting load using Varget powder and 120 grain Nosler Ballastic Tips. Real whitetail hammer. Short rifle works well inside a blind and in the close timber surrounding me.

ULA 260.

Pics of mine. This is the Kimber from a couple days ago. Note my highly tacticool gear <g>. I've had that black "pad" since the 70's when Dad bought it for me for backpacking.



Another pic:



This is the 7-08 MR. This rifle is the opposite of finicky. It just shoots anything you feed it.

I really need to get one of those hi speed lightweights one day but I think what I have now will work.

The closest I have to that is the T3 SS in 300 WM. It has served pretty well in 3-4 elk hunts. With wapiti down on 2 of them.

My first elk hunt involved a Win 70 Black Shadow. In the mountains, nothing is worse than a heavy gun. It went by the wayside right after that trip.

Kimber Montana in .308 topped with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8.

After carrying a Montana all of my guns, including the Sako 85 Finnlight, seem heavy.

+2

By the posts on this thread, it's obvious everyone defines a "lightweight" differently. For me, a lightweight is sub 7lbs "all up" (scoped, sling, rounds... that's how it's hunted).

Melvin said that 71% of buyers get another NULA within a year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5UjBQk-Rp0

I fit into that 71%, hardest part was convincing the wife I need 2 of them.

I've got a 7mm-08 Forbes rifle that had problems and I couldn't get them to respond. So I called Mr. Forbes just to ask if he would work on it and how much it would cost. To my great surprise he worked on it for nothing and it came back not only with the problem fixed, but more accurate than it was before to boot. The tolerances in the chamber are tighter as that brass shot before I sent it to him has to be resized to work.

If you want a light rifle, get a NULA. The man is first rate all around.

Ruger UL boatpaddle, stainless, in .30-06.

This rifle has done it all for me and I have a ton of confidence when hunting with it.

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5x55 Swede

I'm developing loads for this right now. The more I shoot it, the more I like it. Once load development is complete, it will be put up until my son is ready for it....likely several more years. Lucky little dude!!!!

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .270 WSM

Certainly not a true lightweigt with it's sporter weight barrel, but it shoots great groups and is a pleasure to hunt with.

I only have 2 that I consider Lightweights. And both are Kimber Montana's in 325 WSM. I really like this rifle and cartridge combination.

I've got two types that fight for the right to own my heart:

1) Remington Model Sevens in Brown KS and FS stocks
2) Remington 700 Mountain in Brown standard stock

3) Win 70 Featherweight in Brown standard stock in 30-06


When something just HAS to die, #3 wins every time, even though my fickle heart always likes to dance with the first 2.

I'm also one of the 71%. Killed my best mule deer with my NULA .270 win this last fall...it's my favorite.

Tikka T3 Lite 7mm Remington Magnum, 270 Winchester, 243, 223.

Remington 600 6mm 243 222

This is my sheep rifle. A Remington 700 Mountain SS 7mm08, I took off the 34 oz B&C and bought a Wildcat Composites blank, had a gunsmith inlet, bed and paint it. Stock finished at 19.8 oz with recoil pad.

Rifle is 5 lbs 7 oz bare and 6 lbs 3 oz scoped.

The Wildcat Composites is a superb stock. Several ounces lighter than a McEdge and higher quality than one too.

I really love my Kimber 84M Classic Select in 257 Rob:

Being a wood lover, I like the Kimber Classic Select's best too.

I can't make up my mind between my Classic Select AAA 84M 308 and my Classic Select Stainless 280AI.

They both just handle so well.

M7 18" 308 Brown Pounder Kevlar
M7 CDL 20" 350mag. Hi Tech
Custom 98 Mauser 20" 8x57 Custom Shadow cheek piece Schnabel fore arm Black Walnut
Taconic 98 Titanium Mauser 22" 308
Kimber Hunter 22" 308
M94 Nickel saddle ring 30 WCF
M700 CDL 24" 35 Whelen, Factory Walnut
M660 20" 308
They all get used. Mostly the 8mm and little M7.

Forbes 20B , currently in Melvin's hands getting changed to 284 Win.

Ruger Mod 77 RSI, .308, full length stock. 20" barrel? I forget. My oldest son has it now. Great little light gun.

Let us know how that goes. Bought a 7-08 because I couldn't find a 280- then a 280 came along. Now I have both, what to do???

I just sold both my Rem Mountain Guides because the Forbes stock shoulders so well and they shoot so nice.

1. ULA/NULA have a rimfire, muzzleloader, a 22ppc lightweight and a 22-250 bench gun. His stock design just fits me.
2. Any Kimber Montana. All of mine have needed tweaking but once again handy dandy
3. Original 700Ti in 7-08 and a 30-06. Just as handy dandy.
4. Sako Vixen.
5. The original Weatherby varmintmaster.
6. Colt Light Rifle comes in 6 only because they are still in milk jugs. That will be remedied.
7. A vanguard ultra light that I put in a McMillan edge stock. 300 win mag. That's the gun you give to your most annoying "friend".

Ti 30/06 bedded into a Brown, aluminum trigger guard, fluted steel firing pin j-lock removed, Talley LW's and a VX2 2-7. right around 6lbs

great pic of a beautiful buck and rifle!

My out-of-the-box favorite is a Tikka T-3 Lite I bought a 30.06 and was so impressed with it I bought a .270 also. they both hold zero very well and have very smooth operating bolt. Looks like there are a lot of nice weapons out there. I like the pics of the Kimber's. I don't know what price range they are in, but I only paid $650 bucks for each of my Tikka's.

I don't care for superlight rifles as I am on blood thinners and old. My favorite light rifle is my 1991 vintage Remington Model Seven in 7mm-08 with 18-1/2" barrel. It has been somewhat customized with the addition of a laminate stock (from Remington on a closeout sale), Rifle Basix trigger, sight holes filled and the works satin blued. It weighs 7 lbs. on the button with a Leupold Compact 4x scope and will shoot well under 1 MOA with its favorite load or Remington factory ammo. It is light, handy, and accurate. Recoil is not bad thanks to a soft recoil pad which came on the laminate stock. I can shoot it offhand and hit an 8" steel plate at 100 yards consistently. If there is a better eastern woods rifle, I can't imagine what it would be.

After trying MTs and other lightweights that went 5.75-6.5lbs scoped, I realized I did not shoot them as well... or at least not enough practice time to master them. So 7lbs flat is my new minimum... where this one sits:



SS Fwt 270, Brown Prec. (ADL), 6x36

Curious, which scope ?

Know what you mean about the stock, rifle just feels right and holds so well for a 6lb all up gun. I did get the stock shortened early on because LOP was a tee bit long.

You shoot it yet?

I think I regret selling you that rifle!

Not yet. It's bedded and ready to rock, so hopefully this week!

This thread reminds me of the one time that I got to handle and shoot a ULA rifle. It was chambered in .338 G&A and it's the only time I saw stars (during the day) when shooting a rifle. It went to Africa with the owner who described it a laser beam that caused plains game to "wobble and shiver" before they dropped dead.

I have four centerfire Kimber rifles but only the 84M Montana is truly lightweight. I gave that rifle to my girlfriend to replace the 12lb+ 6.5x47mm Lapua rifle she was hunting with and she loves it so I suppose I'm down to three Kimber rifles now ... all 8400 models. The Montana is chambered in .308 Win and has a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm scope with the RZ600 reticle. It has an Adirondack bolt handle and MA extractor. I worked up a 165gr TTSX load for it (see target below) that my gf used to take a whitetail in November of last year. It's a great shooting, easy carrying rifle that I only get to look at these days!

For me, lightweight depends upon the round said rifle is chambered. My three favorites all empty and slingless:

A hair over 6# Kimber 270 Win.



A sub-7 1/4# M700 338-06.



A 7 3/4# M70 375 H&H.

VXII 2-7x33mm LRD w/ flip-up aluminas.

Another real light weight I'm loving is my High Tech Spec-stocked mini Mauser 223:



Haven't weighed it, but it's significantly lighter than my Kimber.

Similar scope too... Leupold Rifleman 2-7x33mm plex.

Remington SS Mountain Guide 7mm-08 - For Sale

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11844946/Re:_***Remington_SS_Mountain_G#Post11844946

My current favorite:

Early Gen. 700 Ti in .308 Win. Great for toting around and handy when using climbing stands. It loves 150 grain Barnes TSX, 130's not so much.

I told you if you keep flashing that around it was going to have a cousin. Sending one of my Forbes stocks off today to be coated. So there!!

Post pics when you do. I got a new stock to put on the one above that needs the same treatment.

My stock just came in the 31st, so about a month turnaround. It's actually fairly subtle, the flash brings it out a little brighter than it is.

Forbes 308 Kryptek Typhon with "HydroGrip" coating by NW Hydroprint.

My only lightweight rifle right now is a kimber montana in 308 with a Swarovski z3.

Pretty much everything else I have is not something I'd consider lightweight. I really only backpack hunt once or twice a year but do quite a bit of moose and caribou hunting which isn't really mountainous, more rolling and swampy it's usually a hip boots, frame pack affair rather her than a light weight mountain climbing affair.

Alaska lanche
How long is that barrel?
Is that your 338-06?

I dig that rifle TDN.

Sweet rifles all the way around.. Makes me itchy...

Got bit HARD by the ultralight rifle bug during my last deployment to Iraq....


Colt CLR in 6.5-06AI with Mullerworks Win FW tube, slabbed action, MPI stock and 1.75-6 Leupold - 5lb 14oz

Rem M7 SS in 6.4-284 with fluted Shilen #3, slabbed action, MPI stock and 2.5-8 Leupold - 6lb 7oz

M700 in 300H&H with fluted Lilja #2, slabbed action, MPI stock and Leupold 2.5-8 - 6lb 8oz

M700 in 7 STW with fluted Rock #3, slabbed action, Mcmillan Edge and Leupold 3.5-10 - 6lb 15oz

M70 in 375HH with fluted factory barrel, slabbed action, MPI stock and 1-4x20 Leupold - 7lb 2oz


Have a 30-284 in the mail headed my way from from Extreme RifleWorks built on a Pierce TI action with fluted #2 Mullerworks tube and a MPI Kifaru Rambling Rifle Style stock. I am hoping that is cracks the sub 5 pound barrier before scope.

Sorry for the late reply....my 338-06 is a 21" barrel, its 4 pounds 14 oz for just the rifle.

My 358 win (pictured above is 16" barrel)-its A LOT lighter than my 338-60

WOW! What action are you using and barrel?

I guess I should quantify "a lot." It's just over 1.25 pounds lighter than he 338-06. So maybe it's not as light as you were thinking when I said "a lot"

It's a Kimber Montana action and barrel.

I have a Tikka Superlite in .270 that I'm quite happy with, it's a fairly light rifle, although the Zeiss HD5 on top does weigh it down a bit.

I picked up my first Kimber Montana a few months ago, topped it with a VX3i 2.5-8x36 in Talley lightweights torqued the action screws to the suggested 65 in-lbs and I've been pretty impressed. My particular copy is in 6.5 Creedmoor (I didn't feel like paying extra to upgrade to a Creedmore...), and is sub moa with Hornady Precision Hunter.

I've also worked up a few loads so far.



Both hold 1500 ft-lbs to right around 400yds, which is further than I will be shooting on game, and don't kick too much for longer range sessions. That's actually one of the things I really like about the rifle/cartridge combo, even for a recoil weanie like myself, this 6lb setup is quite shootable.

I think that qualifies as "a lot",especially when speaking of such a light weight rifle.

M1 carbine.......

Tikka T3X Superlite in .300 Win is My favorite lightweight rifle that I own but if I could find a new Weatherby Ultralightweight in .300 Win that would shoot I bet I would love it........Hb

The, uh ... salvage LW fits me surprisingly well and SHOOTS surprisingly well despite being made of legos.