Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Let's see the "Lightweight" Long Range Rigs

Love that rig there...

Had Chris Matthews of Longshot Rifles build my little Pierce last Fall.

Pierce SA
Broughton, 26" #3 5C, 8 twist
McMillan Rem Sporter, Edge filled.
Rifle Basix @ 2.5 lbs
Farrell 20 MOA alum base and 30mm rings
NightForce 2.5-10x32mm with NP-R2 reticle
PTG alum BDL floorplate and bolt knob
Rem mag box, follower/spring
Cerakote in black and stock in grey

8 lb 10 oz.

6.5x47 Lapua






So, far it likes 140's.

Partitions



and VLD's


Shot this yesterday am @ 576 yds; .53 MOA



I then shot a 576 yd ladder using Ramshot Hunter and the 140 VLD.

My accuracy node was with the last three shots. Their's 1.25" of vertical with .5 gr charge increase between each shot.


Alan

Probably not quite what you were looking for but it is lightweight at 6.25 lbs as seen. Rifles Inc. .284, 23" tube, Talley lightweight rings. 140-gr TTSXs at 3050 fps with R17. Leupold CDS 3-10 elev turret. I built it primarily as a deer and sheep mountain rifle--I guess this is my idea of that.



I'm not a real, real long range shooter but I've shot 5-7" 3-shot groups at 700 yds which means it can probably do better and should suffice for its intended purpose.

Really nice rifle....

This rig weighs 12.5 lbs with the sling and bipod attached.

It's a Rem 700 SPS Varmint 308, 26" Rem varmint bbl. HTG stock with sniper fill. Alloy Badger M4 bottom metal, Leupold MK4 3.5-10x40 in Burris Signature DD rings/base.



It should be easy enough to hit your desired max 11 lb weight, with edge stock , flutes, and a sensible sized scope.

Thanks for all the input guys, I'm zeroing in on a firm blueprint:

Remington 700 short action, .473" bolt face
Badger M5 bottom metal
EGW 20MOA base
Burris Signature 30mm rings
Jewell trigger
McMillan Edge stock, Compact Edge pattern
Barrel contour to be determined
Scope to be determined, though likely a Leupold with M1 adjustments.

Caliber is still up in the air; I lean .308 because of the profusion of good loads, but the 6mm's and 6.5mm's give great ballistics with less recoil and a bit less powder. Decisions, decisions...

Gettin custom envy. Got a lot of standard rifles that have little tweaks but have never done a trued action, custom barrel, trigger, etc.

Got a line on an early M7 .308 for fairly cheap but deathly afraid the factory barrel will shoot bugholes and derail my plans for a 8 lb. 260 precision rifle.

Topped w/ loopy 2.5-8x36 FX3 M1 turret. Comes in at 8lbs 1oz stuffed and slung. Going to run some 185 VLD's over RL 17 tomorrow and see where it's at.

lightweight eh ?
here's my 338 rum.
1 cow elk so far under her belt at 700 yards.
weight ?
haven't weighed her yet.
someday a mikey or a custom wood stock is in the future.
shown with 2 custom knives, and back straps from the cow she killed.

Noted.


Question for the peanut gallery,

Is a heavier rifle barrel really necessary for long range "big game" hunting?

After all were taking just one or two shots to kill an animal.

I use a #1 barrel and reaching and hitting at 1000 is not that difficult.

So why do we need heavier barrels?

Good point SU,

For a mtn rig I've always preferred a barrel around a #2 or 3 contour (.620"-.630" MD). Not too light but not too front heavy either. I've been in many big game hunting situations where I've had to run or am breathing heavy from the hike and a little weight out there helps me settle in quicker for the shot. Little details like that can make or break a hunt. I don't like packing a rig over 8lbs up in the high country where one is climbing and the air is thin. Sometimes one has to use both hands when climbing and a lighter rifle is just easier all around (but not muzzle light). My LR limit is about 500yds max I might add, definitely not in the same league as some of these guys!

MtnHtr

Posted this picture before, but at the moment, this is my go-to hunting rig for when a long shot is needed:

Good question...I don't think a guy does, although some prefer them.In a standard case 6.5 through 7mm, I'll take a #1 along the lines of a Krieger or Brux,and a #2 for anything on a magnum case in the same calibers.

A #2 Krieger has been my standard in various 7mm Mags for years.Last Sunday I shot my Mashburn Super with a #2 Krieger at 600 yards with plain old 139 Hornady's...I suspect anything I drew down on woulda been in for some hurt.

In a BG rifle to be lugged in my hands in rough country,I would never go above a #3,and I don't talk about #4's until I get to 375 cal or thereabouts.

Bob, I'm obviously not one of the tactical/dedicated long range shooters though I do regularly do 400-600 yds. For me, the strain of carrying a heavy rifle in the field overcomes any recoil issues when focusing on the game shot at hand. And all that's based on the assumption that a light rifle can be as accurate as a heavy one. And in the case of my one really light rifle, it's not an assumption.

Just for your information, I have a Remington 700 VSFS in .308 that goes 10.5 lbs. empty and w/o a sling. Has a Leupold VariXIII w/ target knobs. Has had it's factory trigger rebuilt, and has an M40A1 FP&TG. The intallation of which increased the magaziner capacity to 5 rds.
The fluted barrel is 26 inches long and it has a .800 muzzle.
Steel Badger one piece, 20 MOA base and steel Leupold Mk.4 Rings.
Shoots many loads from .4 MOA to about .7. E

Ditto on heavy heavy feel to help with out of breath shots. So does a good shooting sling.
I've found that a 24 inch barrel with a .600 muzzle works best for me as a rule. That can be easily had in a 7 1/4-7 1/2 lb. empty rifle. E

There's a reason why I've long had a rule of no less than .6" at the mzl, for me I find it helpful to stay to that!

Side note, wonder how many of our Snipers in the various forces use a flyweight tube...?

Dober

George,I get it.....BG hunting is generally a one or two shot game...if it goes much beyond that I call it a "rodeo"....something went wrong,or the rifleman did not "know" he could hit.

My #1's and #2's have performed well.....I have been a few places where people tried to buy the rifles on the spot...

It's important not to go too light for the caliber.....for example I think the barrel on Dober's 300 WSM is perfect and I would not really want one lighter than that.

If it where always like the movies (one shot one kill) a fly weight wouldn't be that bad. Definately easier to carry. When your working from an overwatch position it can be more like a busy varmint field. And shots aren't always from a classic prone position.

While my new LR rig is not a built gun but well tuned to my clearcut hunting,I will have no problem with the 300-350 yard shot with my 6.5 Creedmore Ruger 77..It's total # is 9lbs with a 3.5-10 Leupold....the little deer here won't be able to stand the 120gr AMAX!