I just got in to my first Kimber Montana. It’s a .308 with a Swarovski 3-10x42 A-Line scope mounted in Talley LW’s. It is as described only 5#15.9oz. It feels good in my hands and I look forward to shooting it. The fella I picked it up from said it shot really well(we’ll se about that), but he picked up a 75 Finnlight in 7-08. Guess he’s a one rifle guy….weirdo😂
My only hunting rifle - 9 pounds 1 ounce….. fully loaded, scoped and slung. memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
d500lnn; Good evening, I trust the week's been going more than less your way and you're well.
With apologies to those here on the 'Fire who've seen this before, but possibly not with the new paint job...
It's a between the wars commercial roll marked Mauser action with a 6.5x55 Swede military surplus barrel grafted onto/into it. It's in a Wildcat Composites stock and has gone on as much of a diet as I could put a 98 on.
Here's what it scales in at. When it was a .270 I had a Featherweight contour barrel and it was 7lb on the nose, but we didn't get along so now it's a Swede.
While I've shot lighter hunting rifles, it's about as light as I personally seem to be able to do good work with. Admittedly this stock fits me better than some other lighter rifles I've tried, so that's likely a huge factor too.
Some folks are able to shoot lighter rifles without doing anything different, but I seem to have to hang onto them a bit tighter than rifles which are a few pounds heavier.
My lightest Rig is a shade over 4 lbs with sights. She does really fine sending 480 grain projectiles give or take through the vitals of whitetail deer. Though Ill seldom take a shot over 30 yards with this rig.
I've got 4 center fire hunting rifles that all weigh in between 7lb 12oz and 7lb 15oz ready to hunt. As long as a rifle does not go much over 8 lbs, I am more concerned with stock fit and ergonomics than with weight.
My only hunting rifle - 9 pounds 1 ounce….. fully loaded, scoped and slung. memtb
You are the only non rifle loony here, but I admire both you and your wife. How heavy is her 338wm?
BSA, Yep, a little different than most! We have other rifles……but have only one hunting rifle. Her rifle is 8 pounds 15 ounces “all-up and ready to hunt”! Neither rifle wears a “weed burner”…..However, neither gets much “bench time” either! 😉 memtb
Last edited by memtb; 05/04/22.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
My Jap sporter .308 Win... 20" light barrel, compact stock, not d/t for a scope.
If it wasn't for sentimental value, I wouldn't own it, because it's a horror show to shoot. In top of being light, the stock doesn't fit me well at all, so it cracks me square in the cheekbone.
My lightest are a Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5x55 and a Kimber Classic in .257 Roberts-both under 6 lbs. The basic differences are a 24" barrel for the Barrett vs a 22" for the Kimber and the Barrett is much more accurate.
Kimber Hunter 358 Win I modified heavily. 5 lbs 6 oz with a full magazine, sling, and a 17ox Trijicon 3-9x40 with a green illuminated reticle on it now.
Unmolested M700Ti chambered for 260 Rem w/ VX-2 Ultralight 3-9x33 in Talley lightweights. 6lb2oz without sling. Gets the job done, though I shoot better with rifles having a little more meat in the barrel.
Ruger American Compact, with a Leupold fixed 2.5x scope. Comes in at 6.6 lbs loaded. A great little rig. Chambered in 308. Ultralight doesn't need to be expensive. My only gripe is the small boney butt. It's a sharp recoil that I can't believe this compact rifle is suitable for smaller shooters.
My 30-06 Montana with a 2.5-8 Leupold is right around 6 lbs 14 oz all up. The barrel was cut to 22 in and iron sights added. I used Weaver bases and 4x4 rings. Sling is 1" nylon with shoe goo for friction. Uncle Mikes stock cuff.
My 6.5 Creedmoor Hunter with a 3.5-10 Leupold is also right around 6 lbs 14 oz all up. Iron sights were also added. Again I used Weaver bases and 4x4 rings. Sling is 1" nylon with shoe goo for friction. Uncle Mikes stock cuff.
I had to laugh.. reading this thread and I wondered what my "mountain rifle" weighed in at. It is a Commercial FN Mauser in 270 with a Timney trigger , a nice svelte wood stock, and a mountain contour barrel which I thought was pretty light- at least compared to most of my other rifles. Put it on the scales and it weighed in at 9 lbs even. Now I know why that Tikka T3X Super lite felt so good in my hands.... I'm going to avoid weighing any more of my rifles for a while...
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
I had to laugh.. reading this thread and I wondered what my "mountain rifle" weighed in at. It is a Commercial FN Mauser in 270 with a Timney trigger , a nice svelte wood stock, and a mountain contour barrel which I thought was pretty light- at least compared to most of my other rifles. Put it on the scales and it weighed in at 9 lbs even. Now I know why that Tikka T3X Super lite felt so good in my hands.... I'm going to avoid weighing any more of my rifles for a while...
My Fieldcraft, followed closely by my Howa Mini Grendel in a OG stock. If I put a lighter scope and mounts on the Howa, they’d be neck and neck at just over 6.
Barrett FC 21" 6.5 CM is 5lb 2oz on my scale. As I recall, the SWFA 3-9 pushed it to around 6.5lbs. It now wears an Athlon 2-12 which should get it to around 7lbs.
I only have four that could be considered lightweight.
The lightest would be my Montana in 257R coming in at 6lb 0.5oz with a Leupy 3.5-10. It was 5lb 12oz with a 6x36.
Second is another Montana in 223 with Talleys and a 3x9 VX II at 6lb 2.8oz.
Third is a Tikka T3 SL with Talleys and another 3x9VX II at 7lb 0.4oz. It might go under 7 if I switched out the Mt. Tactical mag for a plastic stock one and peeled off the GFY sticker.
This one I wouldn't want any lighter. It's a Brown Precision 30-06 built on a FN commercial Mauser with Conetrols and a Swarovski 3-9x36 and it weighs 7lb 8.9oz.
I prefer my rifles to be around 7-8 pounds as they just balance better for me. My lightest is a Tikka T3X SL 308 that comes in just a tad under 7 pounds scoped with Talley's and a 3-9 Burris FF2.
My lightest centerfire rifle for big game is this Bergara Mountain 2.0, in 6.5 PRC. Weight with Leupold VX3-HD 4.5-14 scope and Talley LW mounts is 7 lb. 5 oz. I wouldn't want it any lighter.
I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave....
I only have four that could be considered lightweight.
The lightest would be my Montana in 257R coming in at 6lb 0.5oz with a Leupy 3.5-10. It was 5lb 12oz with a 6x36.
Second is another Montana in 223 with Talleys and a 3x9 VX II at 6lb 2.8oz.
Third is a Tikka T3 SL with Talleys and another 3x9VX II at 7lb 0.4oz. It might go under 7 if I switched out the Mt. Tactical mag for a plastic stock one and peeled off the GFY sticker.
This one I wouldn't want any lighter. It's a Brown Precision 30-06 built on a FN commercial Mauser with Conetrols and a Swarovski 3-9x36 and it weighs 7lb 8.9oz.
Hunt with Class and Classics
Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray
Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary”
Yes, it is a Charles Daly Mini, Pac-Nor barrel, and High Tec stock built by Kevin Weaver (Weaver Rifles). It is a petite little thing, I bought it when he had it for sale, for my daughter when she was little. It has limitations like it only holds two rounds in the magazine and feeds reliably, and the mag is too short to use bullets over 100 grains that aren't round nose. I would also like a little more substantial feeling bolt handle, but it would probably look out of place.
We have never killed anything with it, my daughter laid claim to a .300 Savage M700 Classic that I traded for. She wanted desperately to hunt an elk, and she thought it would be better. I usually just use the 06, but I may have to blood that Mini in OK this fall.
I'd have to re-weigh everything, but I think it is the 725, original stock, 700 stainless TI .260 barrel, sling, 2-7 scope coming in at about 7 1/2 lbs. The restocked (wood) factory original 700 in .243 comes in a close second to the 725. The aperture 94 is a tad lighter than either, but I haven't killed anything with it since 1966.
Poor thing..... But it gets carried on walk-about more than anything else.
But are you man enough to hunt with a '98 bull barrel in 30-06, with 3.5-10-50 scope, sling, that comes in just over. 11#?
OK- I cheat a bit- this gets carried mostly (not always - but not over a few miles on foot) on the ATV, snowmachine, or boat. Recoil is mild, and it will put 3 into an inch at 300 yards with a good rest. It's a 1,000 yard gun in the hands of an almost competent 500 yard shooter.
Good luck in the draw. I might get an antelope tag; have 5 points, and I hope to draw a sheep this year; have 18 Nelson and 17 CA variety points.
Thanks. I'll need luck. For antelope I too have 5 pts but I don't think that's enough to get back to the Sheldon. In 2016 it took me 9 pts to get there only to have F&G pooch my hunt right at crunch time with their fricking aerial surveys during the season. That cost me a 92 incher and I chew on the fish cops about that every time I see one.
Although I have yet to take it afield as I just acquired it, mine would be a Remington Model Seven stainless in 6mm with a Burris FullField II. Compared to my other rifles, this thing is a featherweight!
I think the 6.5 T3 with an Elite 3200 3x9 in Tikka mounts is lighter than,
Rem 660 308 in a Brown with 3x9 Vari-X in Galleys.
Both carry well, balance well. Despite length differences.
Not a fan of real lightweights. Much of my game shooting is "right now, off hand", the Tikka is hard for me to do that well with. The 660 has a much worse trigger, But it works better for me.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
I guess I have two. I built in 93 a vz24 . #1 Shilen barrel, Timney trigger, 2 piece Redfield rings and bases, Loop 1.75x6 glass, and a Brown precision “pounder”. Pillar bedded and free floated. Bottom metal shaped by me ,a file ,and a lot of 400 grit blue back paper. Model 70 bolt handle and I machined a Model 70 two position safety for it. Caliber 30-06. 7lbs3oz loaded .
Kimber Montana 8400 325 WSM, Talley QD rings and bases, Loop 2.5x8x36 B+C reticle. A touch over 7lbs loaded.
Building a .257 Bob, the same as the 06’ but with a #2 Shilen barrel. I wish I would have went #1…. I have all the pieces and metal work is 80% complete. Shaping that trigger guard is something I have to be in the mood for! I will have to fit the action to the “ pounder” as Brown doesn’t make a direct drop in for the Mauser action. It will have an M8 4x on it.
"Aim right, squeeze light" " Might as well hit what you're aiming at, it kicks the same whether you miss or not" NRA Life, GOA
1. Kimber Adirondack 7mm-08 (aluminum trigger guard and Ti bolt handle) with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8 in Talley Ltwts… but probably wouldn’t ever carry it without a suppressor.
2. Kimber Montana 7mm-08 (aluminum trigger guard and Ti bolt handle) with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8 in Talley Ltwts
My favorite is my tikka 223 superlite that I cut 2" off the barrel and put a 2.5-10X32 SWFA Superlight on it. It weights 6.6 lbs with sling and a 5 round mag full of ammo.
Last edited by Trystan; 05/08/22.
Good bullets properly placed always work, but not everyone knows what good bullets are, or can reliably place them in the field
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." Robert E. Howard
Good luck in the draw. I might get an antelope tag; have 5 points, and I hope to draw a sheep this year; have 18 Nelson and 17 CA variety points.
Thanks. I'll need luck. For antelope I too have 5 pts but I don't think that's enough to get back to the Sheldon. In 2016 it took me 9 pts to get there only to have F&G pooch my hunt right at crunch time with their fricking aerial surveys during the season. That cost me a 92 incher and I chew on the fish cops about that every time I see one.
The lazy baztards in their chopper cost me a gynormous big mulie buck years ago. I was bow hunting on Granite Mtn and had been sneaking on it for over an hour, just pulled back, and their chopper flies right over, clipping grass. They got a double middle finger salute, and Willie got a dozen calls from me. I knew how to get his home number.
Hunt with Class and Classics
Religion: A founder of The Church of Spray and Pray
Acquit v. t. To render a judgment in a murder case in San Francisco... EQUAL, adj. As bad as something else. Ambrose Bierce “The Devil's Dictionary”
Win 94 Big Bore .375 with a Williams Peep. Slickest carrying rifle I own.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, used up, worn out, bottle of Jim Beam in one hand and a .45 in the other, loudly proclaiming WOW-- What a Ride!"
This one I wouldn't want any lighter. It's a Brown Precision 30-06 built on a FN commercial Mauser with Conetrols and a Swarovski 3-9x36 and it weighs 7lb 8.9oz.
That's a good weight for a 30-06. I have one about that weight and I wouldn't want it any lighter.
Okie John
Originally Posted by Brad
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
Ignoring Newton's third law of motion, I built up a 7# 7mm RM on a M700 action and while it made into a terrific western mountain rifle, it is too much of a good thing for a WI. deer rifle. It took the scope hitting me in the forehead to convince me to build up a similar 7# 2 oz 7mm-08 on a MK ll action, Brown Kevlar, Shilen #1 and Zeiss scope. I was ahead of the light weight rifle thing back in the '80's and it cost bigger bucks back then. For the earlier poster questioning his #2 Shilen, in retrospect my #1's are pretty light weight and if I were to change one thing on that 7mm-08, it would be to have gone with a #2.
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory
I have a first gen ti 30-06 a Barrett fieldcraft 6 creed and one in 7-08, some kimber Montanas, a few faux ti's in 7-08 and 308, some mini howa's in mdt lss chassis but my lightest is a kimber Adirondack in 300 blackout with a 16" hammer flared threaded barrel. The little kimber must be under 5 pounds.
It's still new in the box but I may ley my 10 year old hunt with it this year. He seems pretty happy with the mini howa in the last chassis slinging 129g ablrs from the grendel. The other is in 7.62x39 for cheap practice bit he prefers the accuracy of the grendel.
Finally found a Howa Mini Carbon Stalker in .223. Supposed to be 4lbs 10oz bare. Final talley will depend on the optics of course. The best on hand is a Trijicon Credo HX 2.5-10x56 at 25oz. I like what it has to offer, but don’t want to overbalance the little rifle. Might go with two scopes, a light one and the heavy for when I want the big lens and light.
Might have to paint that stock. Not sure how I feel about the carbon waffle look.
A 7 1/2 lb .243ai is my lightest weight ready to go hunting rifle, and it's not enjoyable to target practice with. A light weight rifle is like a diesel truck, more of a want than a need for most people.