Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Lightest 223 build?

Looking to build the lightest 223 rifle for packing. I have seen min mauser 4lb scoped, would that be a good place to start?

M 85, MPI stock? cut barrel to 16?

You need it to be 4 lbs?

I'd look at one of those Ruger American in the Ranch rifle package....16.5 inch barrels...one in 8 twist...

For a light rifle I don't know of a better place to start than a Mini Mauser.

I would like it to be 3lbs,but dont think it will happen on my budget.

When do we talk about handling/shootability?

Zip gun

I was getting there..

How about a Contender Carbine?

Those aren't very light. 6 lbs bare rifle.

T/C Contender w/super 14 Bbl & brake or extension to 16" by David White, add a youth model rynite stock (12" LOP) and a Burris Mini Compact 6x Rifle Scope and you've got a light +/-4lb
sniper set up for all the vermin you could ever wish for. While David is working on the muzzle ask him to rechamber the breech to .222 Rem Mag Imp. and throw in a set of 223 AI dies to reload.
The only step ahead would be to find some 5.6x50R brass and follow Bellm's rules!

Forgot about the contenders, would rather have a repeater but will check into them .

Yep, I understand that shooting will take some practice. I will get packed more than shot.

Kimber Montana hacked to 16" barrel, buttstock hacked to 12" over a flip-flop pad.

That was my second choice, didn't think about hacking the stock?, thought MPI but would be into it quite a bit though.

Any one know the weight reduction of a barrel Kimber Montana contour per inch?

That's what I'd do. I set up a very light .357 Maxi carbine a few years ago. No reason .223 wouldn't work out.

Tom

I have a NULA in .223 with a 22" barrel that's weighs just under 6 pounds with a Leupold VX 3 2.5-8 with 6 cartridges and sling. It's scary accurate with any load too. Not sure how light you need but don't overlook NULA.

He wants 4 lbs or less. That eliminates pretty much any bolt action rifle build.

Did you see that mini Mauser on a scale? What kind of scope and mounts did it have on it? Do you know any of the specs?

There is an old article that shows exactly how to do this with a mini sako. The article is titled "ultra-light sako" and is in the book Gunsmithing tips and Projects second edition. They get the rifle to 3.7 lbs without scope. I don't see why the same couldn't be done to a mini mauser.