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

What is everyone's opinions on the ultimate light weight hunting rifle? Caliber ? Barrel length? Stock? Action?

I have a short action titanium, standard 308 bolt face. Can't make up my mind on what to build. I want it to be light but still be able to make a 5-600 yd shot if needed.
Leaning toward a 260 ackley with 130 Bergers or 708 ackley

Rock #2 contour in a Edge MR Micky works perfect. 22" and twisted properly.

What game in mind?

I'm one that believes a rifle can be built too light. A 6.5lb all-up rifle (w/ scope, sling, rounds) is the least weight for my wants/needs, and I'd always take a muzzle heavy rifle with something like a no. 2 contour @ 22".

The cartridge is essentially meaningless among any standard .473 SA rounds. The 100 fps of an Ai translates into little meaningful gain and more hassle.

The standard 308, 7-08 and 260 are basically equals inside 600 yards, with the nod to the 6.5-08 for less drift. As always, the shooter makes the rifle, not the reverse.

Pick one that speaks to you, but I'd not bother with an Ai anything of those you mention. Push to shove, I'd go with the one with Lapua Brass availability.

Brad makes good sense there.

I like a "lightweight" to be somewhere between 6.5-7lbs scoped, with good balance. If I already had a Ti 700 action, I'd probably lean toward a 21" 6.5 Creedmoor. Contour would be a #2 or Remington Sporter. The stock would be an Edge Classic or Edge Mountain Rifle. I'd go with a Timney at 2lbs. That rifle would have a bit of forward balance, but still be quite light, at 5 3/4lbs or so for the naked rifle.

6-284 shooting a 95gr Berger in a fluted #2 and a McMillan Hunter Edge.

JPro, I have a Kimber MT 257 Rob... if I don't get it shooting the way I want I'm going to put one of SAS's Lilja modified Model 84M (no.2) contours on it chambered in 6.5 Creed. That round makes a ton of sense.

I'm putting this together

Manners carbon eh-6, #2 lilja, undecided on reg 700 or ti


going to chamber in 6.5x47, probably end up 22inches.


i do agree with brad on guns being too light and need to know the game you have in mind.


i recentlly completed a 280 ackley that i believe is about the perfect compromise between weight, balance, shoot ability and recoil management.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...1431325/280_Ackley_Improved#Post11431325

The Montana with a little more contour has always seemed like one of the neatest packages out there. If it were me, I'd be tempted to look at the .169/.170 freebore reamer for the Creedmoor over the later (and now standard) .199/.200 freebore. I was playing with some brass and bullets this morning and the slightly shorter throat looks to be a bit more flexible in a 2.82" magazine box.

Plain old 243 win shooting 105 BTHP @2991 fps with a BC of 0.530 doesn't suck.

J, good to know, thanks.

Mine's a stainless 700, 23" Rock #3 fluted, in a Classic no paint Edge, 2.5-8 Leupold in Talleys, chambered in 7-08, weighing in at 6lb 13oz empty.

It is milled out for a Wyatts box, and while I have good loads for 162 Amax or 168 Bergers, I put the regular mag box in it and have great matching loads of either 140 BT's or Accubonds at 2940.

I'll be using it mainly for deer and antelope possibly elk. I just fill under gunned when I'm chasing elk if I don't have a magnum in my hands even though I've killed plenty with as small as a 243.
I'm also a speed freak , reasoning for the ackley

You could do very well with Melvin's classic NULA, in .284 Win.

I'm a gunsmith so I have a hard time shooting something I don't build. They are nice rifles though

I think it'd be hard to beat the plain Jane 308 for the game you describe. I'd keep it 6.5 -7 lbs use Talley lightweights and your favorite lightweight scope - done.

OP, if you are a speed freak, maybe a 6.5 RM or SAUM, or 7 SAUM would suite.

Personally, I would be in a 6.5 Lapua thru 7/08, since you build your own rifles and ammo.

Good luck and enjoy.

I put together a 7lb 15oz Ti M700. Standard barrel cut to 18", suppressor, edge mountain rifle stock and zeiss diavari 3-9x42 in Warne premiers together with recknagel 3position safety.

Even with a 1lb suppressor on the end it is still a light rifle to aim at the one chance I had after a long flight and 5 days hunting.

Mines a 308.

With your Ti action, a #2 Lilja at 22" Hunters Edge stock in 7-08AI would be sweet with 120 BTs, 150 Scenars, or any 162 LR pill.

I have a Montana w/ a slightly heavier contour barrel, finished at 23" and cahmbered in 7mm-08AI. Easy to shoot accurately, easy to load for. I am shooting shooting MOA or better to 500yds from supported field positions,. The rifle topped w/ a 3-9x42 SS SWFA weighs 7.0 pounds.

I strongly disagree with the whole AI "not being worth it" when having a new tube installed. I wouldn't go to the expense to rechamber a factory barrel, but it costs no more to AI a new barrel. An AI w/ a highly finished custom barrel and a tight chamber will achieve the same velocities w/ factory fodder as a facory non AI equivalent - my 7mm-08AI routinely gets printed velocity or a little higher w/ factory 7mm-08 ammunitiin.

While Ackley chambers don't provide a huge boost in performance, more is reliably more. My 7mm-08AI pushes 150grn Scenar L's at 29000+ fps with long brass life. Just starting to work up 145 LRX's but they are looking very promising. Not having to trim brass is a nice bonus.

David

If you're wanting lightweight, I'd do a New Ultralight Arms. Melvin knows how to do it right. Personally, I'd go with the Model 20 with its 3" mag for COAL latitude. This would allow a 260 to shine.