5 lb 5 oz Backcountry Rifle Set-up. All stock.

Jbuck

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 18, 2021
Messages
104
Not the cheapest option, but I had my kids Howa Cerakoted amd it smoothed the action up quite and bit.
 

OrangeMan73

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
159
I noticed the q cherry bomb on the muzzle there... what can you running on that outfit?

Howa mini in 6 ARC has me interested for my spawn who'll soon be hunting, and I like q's mount system.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2021
Messages
455
Location
NV
Howa is making some great rifles, my two Mini actions have been great. My main one in 6arc is right at 7 pounds with suppressor, mag, and glass.
 
Joined
Dec 3, 2023
Messages
15
I just got my Ultra Light Arms Model 20 in .284 Win. Bare weight is about 5 pounds 2 ounces. Now looking at lightweight scopes, which will weigh around 13 ounces. I figure a total of 6# or a touch more when ready for deer and elk. Push a 160-grain Accubond at 2900fps. Good to go.
 

Nicaburns

WKR
Joined
Dec 16, 2022
Messages
318
Mostly for the vertical grip and cheek weld?
Entirely for that reason… however, for some reason, the LOP is at least a half in shorter on the target stock… I had to fab a spacer out of micarta (Sometimes it is handy to be a knifemaker with supplies on hand.) I also had to design a 3D printed arca rail for the front that fit the contour of the forend at the point of the sling stud.
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
9,080
Location
Corripe cervisiam
Aren't those really light rifles hard to shoot accurately at distance?

I'm almost exclusively a Recurve guy for decades so don't beat me up...I'm considering picking up a lefty bolt rifle in 6mm, 6.5 or so.

I see guys saying the stock matters a lot- centered on bore...and those light rifles need a brake otherwise they don't shoot.

True or False?
 

Nicaburns

WKR
Joined
Dec 16, 2022
Messages
318
I can only speak from my limited experience but they can be a challenge. First, you have to allot a ton of time to practice because the barrel heats up fast so you have to wait between after three shots. Secondly, for me they make rear support more critical because they just don’t have much weight to really anchor them to a rest. But with a arca rail clamped into a tripod and a solid rear support they shoot just fine in my book. But I consider 350 yds my limit with this rifle and don’t practice much beyond that with it.
 

TN2shot07

WKR
Joined
Dec 19, 2020
Messages
675
Aren't those really light rifles hard to shoot accurately at distance?

I'm almost exclusively a Recurve guy for decades so don't beat me up...I'm considering picking up a lefty bolt rifle in 6mm, 6.5 or so.

I see guys saying the stock matters a lot- centered on bore...and those light rifles need a brake otherwise they don't shoot.

True or False?
More false than true…

True - light rifles are harder to shoot for most people. Less weight = more recoil so you have to learn to deal with that. The lighter cartridges (22’s, 6mm, 6.5mm) are going to be easier to handle, just like they would in a heavier rifle.

False - No special stock required, 2 of mine are just in factory ones. You do want everything centered up but that’s not specific for a light rifle. Personally, I don’t like the huge comb and vertical grip stocks that are so popular on here. My hunting doesn’t lend itself to prone shooting and those stocks are not as quick in your hands for off hand shots.

False - I don’t shoot anything with a brake, I’ve had way more issues with that noise than recoil. Plus who wants to be that a$$hole at the range. I have 3 rifles in that weight range, 2 are consistently moa and the other is about 1.5 and none are braked or suppressed.
 
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alexnelon

FNG
Joined
Feb 24, 2024
Messages
64
Location
Texas
I noticed the q cherry bomb on the muzzle there... what can you running on that outfit?

Howa mini in 6 ARC has me interested for my spawn who'll soon be hunting, and I like q's mount system.
Check out the Rearden Mfg. muzzle devices. Same system as the Q stuff but some more practical options for brakes, flash hiders, etc.

I have their Mini on my hunting rifle.
 
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
805
Location
Idaho
Aren't those really light rifles hard to shoot accurately at distance?

I'm almost exclusively a Recurve guy for decades so don't beat me up...I'm considering picking up a lefty bolt rifle in 6mm, 6.5 or so.

I see guys saying the stock matters a lot- centered on bore...and those light rifles need a brake otherwise they don't shoot.

True or False?
Caliber choice matters (less is more when it comes to recoil). For example, I have two modified Kimber Hunters. One in 308 weighs 4.25lbs bare, and 5lbs 12oz including Suppressor, Scope, rings, scope covers, ammo holder, cheek riser, and my own diy vertical grip. The other in 6.5Creedmoor weighs 4.5lbs bare, and 6lbs 12oz including scope, suppressor, (7.5lbs with tripod). I can shoot sub 4 inch groups at 500 yards with the 6.5creed, but I have a hard time getting 3 shots out of 10 on a 10 inch gong at 400 yards with the 308win (unless its sandwiched between sand bags, then it will put 5 shots under MOA and 10 shots under 1.5MOA). The difference is the recoil impulse moves the rifle slightly, even before the bullet leaves the barrel.. and this is magnified in lightweight rifles. The more recoil, the less easy it is to manage this. My limit for "ideal" shootability is about 9-9.5lbs for a 308win, 7.5-8lbs for a 6.5creed, 6.5-7lbs for a 6mm Creed, and 5lbs for a 223rem. That weight range would include the weight of all the features a rifle needs... scope, suppressor, rings, ammo, tripod, etc.

I will also add, that when trying to get maximum accuracy out of a lightweight rifle, the ergonomics matter a LOT. Vertical grips, grips close to the trigger guard, cheek rest high enough to give a repeatable cheekweld/eye relief position, negative comb, correct LOP, etc. Also, adding weight back in with useful accuracy improvement tools like bipods or tripods, suppressors, more durable scopes, etc will make a huge difference. The primary reason I build UBERLIGHT rifles is so I can put the extra features on the rifle and it still weigh less than most factory rifles do bare... which means I get to have my cake and eat it too... lightweight, accurate, quiet... So, the next time someone tells me that "ultralight rifles dont shoot..." they are welcome to come shoot off of a couple of my setups. My 6mmCreed I just finished has a folding chassis stock, 18 inch barrel, NXS 2.5-10, ultra7, cheek riser, adjustable LOP, prone-kneeling height tripod, scope caps, etc... and it weighs less than 7.25lbs including the mag. And doing load workup today, it put 11 rounds well under an inch.
 
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