Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Lite rifle

Hi Guys,
I'm posting here in stead of on the rifle group because you guys should have an answer.

I'm building a lite rifle in 7x57 and trying to keep the scoped weight under 6&1/2 lbs with scope. Could I use a surplus mauser action, F14 contour 20" barrel and a bell and carlson carbilite stock and still make weight? The scope will be a burris 2.75 fixed in leupold weaver QR rings.
What techinques are used to safley lighten a mauser?

Thanks.
If I dont get any nibbles here i'll repost on the rifle group.

Cajun

Cajun
Its going to be tough to make that weight with a Mauser action and BC stock. If you "skinny" the barrel enough you might , but its going to be close. A better way, one I am building after the Safari Shows, is using a Rem Ti action, # 2 Lilja, High Tech stock, Talley Lightweight ring/bases, Sisk firing pin assembly, adl triggerguard, Leupold 2.5x8. All up it should weigh slightly under 7, maybe 6 1/2. The Mauser makes a fine rifle, but there is a lot of steel in them.
Charlie

Canjun:

Here is an example of what Charlie Sisk is saying to ya:
I have a small ring FN 98 7-08 with a very, very skinny 22" pencil barrel and aluminum bottom metal that goes 4.36# without a stock. If you add a 1.25# stock with a blind magazine you end up with about 5.75# without your mounts and scope.

You are going to pay thru the teeth if you can find a small ring 98 from FN and a lot more for a Czech 33/40 which, I am told, has the small ring and has been lightened by milling on the bottom of the receiver. The small ring may save you an ounce or two--don't know. I imagine you can try and re-invent the wheel by using a surplus. $$$ for trigger, bolt handle, decent safety, milling and polishing

I gave up and have a TI receiver as the basis for a LW...its a lot lighter and probably cheaper.

THANK YOU for the reply!
I'm building a scout, and the mauser is the second option. First is a Rem model 7 youth( 7-08). The gunsmith that is helping me will keep an eye out for a used Remington action while I'm deployed but if nothing shows up between now and May, we will use a mauser and do our best( which is OK)

Tomk,
Where can you buy just a Ti reciever?

Mr. Sisk,
You make some nice rifles!

Cajun

Cajun
As far as I know, you have to buy the complete rifle. Thats what I do. A short "Sucks" action in ss or chrome moly will only be a few ounces heavier and a lot cheaper. I think a short action with .200 recoil lug, aluminium bolt shroud, aluminium triggerguard, Hogue recoil pad(doesnt have a metal plate like a Pac. Dec.) High Tech sheep hunter stock, lightweight Talleys, # 2 contour barrel, I think you'll be very close to the weight you desire. And you'll have a rifle that is balanced, something you can hit with in the field. Dont forget about that part, its suprising how many folks loose sight of that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Charlie

Cajun:
I defer to Charlie Sisk...his post above spells it for ya and he makes his living at it.

I have had mine for a few years and had it made up for me. The gent that did it is considerably more expensive, way more, I wouldn't go that route today. He had the TI (somehow), but now you have to supply them to him.

Another option. Though i seem to be the only one that appears to like it. Pick up a new Colt Light Rifle ) on gunbroker or auction arms. You can get them for about $400.00 in 270, 30-06, 7mm , or 300 win mag. If you get an 06 make sure it had the recall done on it. The 30-06 was only caliber that had a recall.
Have the rifle rebarreled to caliber of ur choice than buy a ( New Ultra Light Arms ) stock from Melvin Forbes. You will have as close to a ( Ultra Light Arms ) rifle as u can get and have about $1000.00 invested.

I have a 30-06 Colt Light rifle. It shoots great. What's the deal with the recall?.......DJ

Some of the first colt light rifles in ( 30-06 ) only had a recall. I am not sure i think it was to do with the safety or fireing pin.

NWC:

I have built more than a few (really) light rifles. Here is my belated opinion on your questions.

A B & C Carbelite is a heavy stock and carries about a 1 lb. penalty VS. some others IE Bansner or Brown.

A Mauser is a fine action but hard to make into a light rifle. I built a 25-06 up on a G-33/40 w/22" barrel and a very light 22 oz. stock. The result was 6 lb. 10 oz. finished weight with a light scope.

As others have mentioned, a Remington 700 is the painless way to go. With that as a start, 6.5 is very easy.

JimF

Cajun,
Another option is to find a 700 Mtn. rifle and re-stock it with a Ti take-off or a Basners. I have done that twice.

I have a .257 Roberts that I got Rick to replace the stock with a Basners and one of his awesome paint jobs. That rifle is a dream and will probably be lowered down with me when I am!

I have a 30-06 Mtn rifle that has been converted to an ADL and I got a Ti take-off for $125.00 on the board here. The slim bbl. contour on the Mtn. rifles drops right in to the Ti stock. On my postal scale, this 30-06 weighs dead on at 6 lbs. I did use a trigger guard off a Ti. Other than that it is a straight s/s Mtn. rifle barreled action converted to an ADL. When I add the light weight Talleys and a 2.5-8 VX-III, I will be under 7 lbs. and I will have a nice lt. weight rifle on the cheap.

My other rifle is a stock .338 Win Mag 700 BDL s/s that I got restocked with a Brown. With Warne Maxima bases and Burris Sig. Zee rings and a 2.5-8 Leupy this one weighs 7.75 Lbs and is light as I want a .338!

So you can do the light thing but as everyone else has mentioned, you will have way more options if you go with a 700.


C-ROY

Look for a used Ruger ultralight in .308. I picked up one with the thought about building a scout rifle, though never got around to adding the iron sights and forward mounted scope. One of these days I'll get around to lightening up the stock.

It is a light rifle, and has pleasingly accurate with every type of bullet I've tried, from 147 gr mil surp to 220 gr rn. I haven't tried 130 gr triple shocks, but they are on the list.

Umm...I think if you want a light scout rifle, you should simply buy a brand new Ruger "Frontier." It is a factory scout rifle built on their 77 compact concept, stainless, laminate stock. It will come mighty close to your desired weight, and you could easily drill some holes in the buttstock if you felt you needed less weight in the rear end (to get it to balance better). I think it even comes with the scout style scope base included.

I wouldn't waste any time with the Mauser lite idea. It isn't ever going to get very light without some expensive work. The Model 7 in 7mm-08 with a Banser ADL stock will make your weight without any modifications.

Jim, great to hear from you again!! Welcome back. Tim

Canjun,
I just checked the Remington website and they list the Ti in 7mm-08 at 5.25lbs. Is that a possibility for ya w/o all the work? Don't get me wrong, I REALLY want a 7x57 also, but want to go the pretty wood route. I realize the 7-08 approach is more practical but less romantic.
222Rem

Anyone have the real answers to the difference between a Rem SS and Ti action(only the action!!) weight? I know they save a bunch of weight by barrel contour and stock weight so comparing 2 rifles is worthless.

If its a few ounces its not worth the bucks.

Now compare a 629 Smith 4 inch and same 4 inch in 329 Scandium and there feels like there is a considerable amount of weight saved. That type of difference would be worth it.

Jeff

NWCajun, another easy way to get a lite 7 is just buy a 5 1/2lb Kimber 84M in 7-08 and go hunting. Lots cheaper than custom and the Kimbers tend to shoot great......DJ

dj- How would you rate the stock on the Montana's when compared to some of the better custom stocks (McM, Bansner, Brown, etc.)?

The Remington catalog says there is an 8 oz. weight difference in the actions. I have not had two actions to weigh, so I don't know if they are correct or not, but that is what they advertise.

Thanks for that Dakota Deer. That would make it about a 31 ounce action in a blind magazine set-up. Whew!