Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Ultimate light weight hunting rifle

Jeff and Brad, I won't disagree with any of what you have said. But for me, ultimate lightweight and ultimate lightweight hunting rifle are not close to the same thing. I have had the Montana 7mm-08, no thanks.

The green stocked 280 above is 7 pounds 0 oz with a 6X36 and 7-4 with that Kahles CL. It was designed for lightweight backpacking but more importantly hitting in the field. When I spec'ed it I didn't go all-out for lightest weight, obviously. That is a kevlar stock, 22.9 oz with alloy trigger guard and blind mag. DD rings which are in every way superior to LWs except for a couple ounces, a barrel 23" with a .575" muzzle which could have been slimmer but was designed to be slightly muzzle heavy. A Leeper-tuned original pre-64 trigger which is safe, 2 pounds and dead crisp. And yes Brad, the bolt modified to clear a super low ocular, not that you can tell (the 6X36 is in super-low DDs).

I could have easily dropped a half pound but designed it for hitting in the field and backpacking durability. And like yours my rifles see mountains every year.

I don't post as much here anymore but shoot a lot more. In excess of 10 000 rounds a year, 2/3 of that in silhouette. You want to learn hitting in the field which at its essence is trigger squeeze and more importantly follow through, take up silhouette. There is no replacement for actual trigger time. I know what fits, and hits, for me. You want to see a backpacking AND hitting field rifle, look again at my pic. i will carry the extra half pound. Been there done that.