Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Lightweight 223 Blueprint

Thinking about building a small .223 to carry deer hunting in the Adirondacks. I Missed out on buying an H&R Ultra Wildcat Model 317 recently and am thinking about building a similar gun. The 317 has a 20” ultralight barrel and is 39” overall. Weight is about 5 1/4 pounds. I want to end up with a similar sub MOA gun.

Anyone ever build a rifle like that. Pictures and experiences appreciated.

At 64 I’ve shot my share of deer and have other deer rifles and calibers so no “it’s too small for deer” posts please. I hunt by myself and am selective on shots. Currently my favorite deer rifle is a early L461 Sako rebarreled to 6x45 shooting a 100gr Norma Oryx.

Thanks.

Frank

If it were me I would try find a .223 Kimber Montana, these are mighty fine.

Kimber Montana, I agree. Too bad that Barrett’s mini Fieldcraft never came to be.

Another option would be to go the Howa mini action route. Never had one and don’t know much about them.

Or a Rem 700 donor with a Rock 5r in Rem factory Mountain Rifle contour dupe. Not sure if they still do the skinny stainless, but I ordered and used several not that long ago. McEdge stock either ADL or BDL.

I guess that’s a no. I’ll keep an eye out for a Montana. Thought someone might have built one. Found another source for a 317. May go that way. Doesn’t even come with sling swivels though.

I just purchased something similar, I ran across a CZ 527 synthetic American suppressor ready. It has a 16 1/2 in barrel and is threaded if you need it. It is about 5 1/2 lbs. Its a mini mauser action, controlled round feed and detachable box mag. I haven't shot it yet, so I can't comment on accuracy, but the CZ I have had have easily been moa to sub moa.

Sounds like a nice gun. Let us know how it shoots.

If you're going to build, the Defiance Anti on a Manners UC with a light contour bbl would be fun to spend your money on.

Prairie dog gun I take it?

Kimber Montana.

I'd be looking for a pencil barrel Sako over a H&R 317; same thing and at least a decade less wear. Throw in a McMillan Edge.

That does sound mighty slick actually

Adirondack deer rifle for solo hunting not jump shooting or drives.

Defiance these days. I built one on a lefty Rem 700, pacnor mtn contour, 8 twist, cut at 21" in a Bansner Sheep hunter with aluminum bdl bottom metal and flip flop pad. Shoots 75 amax very well. 6 shot group went .5" but rarely bench it anymore. Do shoot prairie dogs, coyotes and a deer in WY every once in a while with it. It was sub 6 pounds but can't remember exact weight.

Thanks 30338. Any chance for a couple of pictures?

If you need a closeup let me know. Its all work and one of my favorites.

The Defiance anTi would be the way to go if you want light.

I've built several (.223AI's) off M7's and 700's. M7 with 1/8 21" Mt rifle contour barrel in a Bansner stock with flip flop pad is nice. M700 with 1/8 22" Douglas #1 in an Edge stock is really nice as well. Today I'd use the anTi action and go 1/7 on the barrel at the length you desire in a lighter contour with the lightweight stock of your choosing.

Very nice Rifle.. Love to see a closeup or 2.

Thanks.

Frank

My build(still waiting on action and stock)

Defiance AnTi, 7 twist 18” #4 Bart CW, AG Composites privateer...

Frank, Here you go. Muzzle mics at .555. 21" barrel. With the 20 ounce 6x on it, goes 6 pounds 15 ounces. So bare rifle is around 5 pounds 11 ounces. Had the bolt cerakoted green. Pic of group prior to camo, 6 shots of 75 amax with RL15. Flip flop holding up well so far on butt.

A good factory gun to start with is a Interarms Mini Mark X in 223.

I just picked a used one up and am in the process of pillar bedding it and some other tweaks. With it's 20" barrel, it was 5 lbs.,14 oz. on my postal scale. Nice adjustable trigger on it, also. Sometimes called a Mini Mauser, it more like a small Sako with the exception of the Mauser-looking bolt shroud. After Interarms, they were imported by Charles Daly and later by Remington as the 799 (not the 798). The Remington 799's had a nice laminated stock, though it added another pound to the gun.

There's one on Guns International right now, for what it's worth..... -Al

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...remington-mag-clean.cfm?gun_id=101599354

30338,

Thanks for all the pictures, exactly what I was looking for.

Beautiful rifle.

Thanks again.

Frank