Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Light weight bolt action for old guy

The Finnlight is OK, but for close to the same money I would try the Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5 Creedmoor. The Barrett has a better stock, is lighter,no Sako dovetail to complicate life,and is likely just as accurate. Recoil won't be an issue with a 7-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

I will look at the Barrett Fieldcraft.

I turned 70 in Jan. Last year I quit using a heavy Model 700 in 7 Mag on Elk (which I'd used for 35 years) and went to a Ruger American Compact in 7MM-08. Mine is stainless and Left Handed. I mounted a 2X7 Redfield Revolution with steel mounts and the whole thing is 7 lbs. Not only that, but the rifle is around 37" long with its 18" barrel.--- very handy. I get right at 2800 fps with a 140 grain Partition.

So many great lightweight rifles available today! My short list is as follows, choose based on your available budget just how Uber light you want to go and stock fit.

NULA
Barrett Fieldcraft
Kimber Montana, Mountain Ascent ect.
Savage Lightweight Hunter
Tikka Superlite

For me personally the CLR/NULA hybrid is the perfect answer all up weight 7lbs 3ounces (rifle scope ammo sling) the stock fits me so well and they are the most consistently accurate rifles with multiple loads.

A step down big time in price I like Tikkas and put up with their factory stock. One day I might get a McMillian for my superlite.

Pretty good list Matt. Are McMillans available for the Savage? The position of the last 2 may be debatable, but other than that I would completely agree with you. I wish I would have bought a NULA 20 years ago and skipped everything I've bought since. I bought a very early Forbes last year,one of the first 20 made, and it is excellent in every way.I still want a NULA but I don't see how it could be 4 times as good as this Forbes.I'm afraid I would only get a lot better fit and finish for my money.

I like the T3 over the savage personally mainly bc of how boringly accurate they are. I'm not sure about McMillians for savage lightweight hunters...

The best value imo is to find a used Colt Light Rifle and send it to Melvin for his NULA conversion. ~$500 for the CLR and about $650 for Melvin's famous stock, bedding trigger and something else I'm forgetting at the moment.

I'd love a full blown NULA but can't justify the price considering how good his hybrids fit me and perform.

I,m loading some 270 WSM loads today that use 110gr Barnes TTSX bullets to lessen recoil. Added a Limbsaver pad
last fall. Only trouble with weatherby is I can,t find where they make a 7mm-08 cal. Is there a Mark V in that cal. ?

Shot the Ruger 270WSM Sunday, the Best load/ most accurate was 59gr of RL19 at 3057fps with 130gr Barnes TTSX. Recoil was ok
and accuracy was very good. Some of the hotter loads were around 3150fps with slower powders like MRP,and RL23. Didn, try RL26.
Got about 3300fps with the 110gr Barnes TTSX, bad accuracy, 1.5 to 2" at 100yards. Going to try Superformance with the 110gr and the
130gr TTSX. I like my hunting loads to shoot under 1 inch at a 100 yards. Thanks for all your help. Going back and look at several rifles
again.