Build components for lightweight rifle

[Long Cut]

Get you a CVA Scout with an SWFA 3-9, or Trijicon Credo/Huron and go kill some stuff. Keep it simple.
There’s a knife, 7 shells & flashlight in that stock pouch. Still a sub 8# setup.
For an east coast whitetail hunter, I haven’t found anything more efficient.

 

[Afhunter1]

1. I have never had any issues with them but do believe the others that have. I have about 10 sets on rifles currently and will probably start looking at other rings, but I’m not swapping them all out.

2. I’m the senior controls engineer at an OEM robotics company. No telling what we have laying around lol

I’ll take two arms please. One tuned for chips and one for beers. Please have ready for pickup before thanksgiving day. Thanks

 

[z987k]

Pierce Skele-ti, Douglas featherweight at 18" belled to 5/8 threads, echelon versa stock, trijicon credo hx 2.5-15x42, ab raptor 6 flush mount. Comes in at 6lbs 4oz (100oz)
That scope is really heavy and I wish I could find something I like as much that's lighter but I can't. Bare rifle is 4lbs 6.4oz.

 

[The Fish Box]

Well I might be looking at making this build a more expensive one than I originally intended. Build list looks like this.
Defiance ti-x action seems to be the lightest one. 16.8ounces
Peak blacktooth stock. 20 ounces
Ace sp-2 or proof sendero light. 61 or 48 ounces
Trigger tech diamond 2.5 ounces
UM DBM. Not sure
Nightforce NXS 2.5x10 20.5 ounces.
Overall weight 7.76 with steel or 6.89 for a carbon barrel.

Does anyone have suggestions for a better overall build? Not sure what barrel to go with for lightest contour and 9/16x24 threads for my suppressor.
Then I still need to pick the chambering, what is the best danger space round possible to be chambered in a short action, I wouldn’t be against stepping up to a medium action if there was a cartridge that warranted it.

 

[Formidilosus]

Well I might be looking at making this build a more expensive one than I originally intended. Build list looks like this.
Defiance ti-x action seems to be the lightest one. 16.8ounces
Peak blacktooth stock. 20 ounces
Ace sp-2 or proof sendero light. 61 or 48 ounces
Trigger tech diamond 2.5 ounces
UM DBM. Not sure
Nightforce NXS 2.5x10 20.5 ounces.
Overall weight 7.76 with steel or 6.89 for a carbon barrel.

So nearly the sam weight as a factory Tikka setup?

Does anyone have suggestions for a better overall build? Not sure what barrel to go with for lightest contour and 9/16x24 threads for my suppressor.

Why are you using such heavy barrels if LW is the goal? A very thin contour steel barrel with flare at the end works great.

Then I still need to pick the chambering, what is the best danger space round possible to be chambered in a short action

A fast 22cal. 22PRC, 22UM, etc. Though the 22CM with 62gr ELD-VT is very hard to top for DS.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

With the new interest in smaller cartridges the idea of a sub 8lb all done up bolt action rifle seems like an interesting idea.

I have attempted to build some lighter guns 10.5 pound 338 terminator and 270 wsm, but it seems impossible to get below that unless you go all titanium this/that and then ditch the nightforce scopes.

Could you guys post up your rifles with a component list to get into this weight range.

This is 7.5lbs as pictured. And it will be lighter and shorter soon with a Scythe suppressor and Blacktooth stock that are both inbound.

Just killed an elk with it at 300 yards a couple weeks ago.

Tikka superlight 6.5cm chopped to 16”, stockys stock, OMR Ti/carbon handle/knob, fluted bolt (by Kampfeld) UM low rings and Leupy Mk4HD 2.5-10. Gemtech Trekker can on it now.

 

[BlackTail]

Tikka T3X super lite in 6.5 Creedmoor. Factory 24” fluted barrel. Area 419 20 MOA rail. Seekins low rings and a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42. Weight 7lbs 14 oz. A McMillan Game Scout added 1oz.

 

[z987k]

Well I might be looking at making this build a more expensive one than I originally intended. Build list looks like this.
Defiance ti-x action seems to be the lightest one. 16.8ounces
Peak blacktooth stock. 20 ounces
Ace sp-2 or proof sendero light. 61 or 48 ounces
Trigger tech diamond 2.5 ounces
UM DBM. Not sure
Nightforce NXS 2.5x10 20.5 ounces.
Overall weight 7.76 with steel or 6.89 for a carbon barrel.

Does anyone have suggestions for a better overall build? Not sure what barrel to go with for lightest contour and 9/16x24 threads for my suppressor.
Then I still need to pick the chambering, what is the best danger space round possible to be chambered in a short action, I wouldn’t be against stepping up to a medium action if there was a cartridge that warranted it.

You have the wrong steel contour if the carbon is lighter. Carbon barrels don't belong on ultralight builds. As form said, a featherweight type steep profile with a bell is lighter. Also with a dbm dont forget to add the internal magazine and follower weight.
Look at my post above yours. It's significantly lighter. Especially the bare rifle.
I'll post my individual component weights later as each was weighed before it was put together just to see what was adding what.

 

[The Fish Box]

So what contour should I order? I don’t see a much lighter option thru ace sp1, who offers a featherweight barrel and does a flared end.

 

[wind gypsy]

So what contour should I order? I don’t see a much lighter option thru ace sp1, who offers a featherweight barrel and does a flared end.

Get away from the standard ACE, Bartlein, Krieger, etc contours for one. They are all excessively heavy on the ass end. Shanks are typically longer, thicker, and slower to taper than a sporter barrel needs only to then taper a bunch at the muzzle. Something like a standard rem sporter or tikka lite contour is going to be a fair bit lighter. A guy could ask his smith to cut off some of the shank end to cut down on weight a bit for a given length. Ace #1 isn't all that heavy especially if you cut some of the shank off. Benchmark is another that has contours that taper a little quicker on the chamber end.

Flared end is tough to get without a longer wait custom contour but you can have a smith add a shoulder to a smaller contour to get bigger diameter threads and have solid shoulder.

 

[The Fish Box]

I was looking at mcgowens website and it looks like Douglas featherweight or shilen#1 along with a couple others are two pounds which seems to be the lightest. I will look at the specs a little closer.

I was thinking I could go with 1/2x28 threads on the barrel and then get an adapter to thread into my suppressor to get to the 9/16 thread pattern. One concern with the lighter contour is POI change when hanging a suppressor off of it so I don’t know how critical threading really is.

 

[wind gypsy]

I was looking at mcgowens website and it looks like Douglas featherweight or shilen#1 along with a couple others are two pounds which seems to be the lightest. I will look at the specs a little closer.

I was thinking I could go with 1/2x28 threads on the barrel and then get an adapter to thread into my suppressor to get to the 9/16 thread pattern. One concern with the lighter contour is POI change when hanging a suppressor off of it so I don’t know how critical threading really is.

I'm not following? My MTU contour barrel has a notable POI change with a light suppressor on it too. Adjust zero for the suppressor and go forth.

 

[z987k]

I was looking at mcgowens website and it looks like Douglas featherweight or shilen#1 along with a couple others are two pounds which seems to be the lightest. I will look at the specs a little closer.

I was thinking I could go with 1/2x28 threads on the barrel and then get an adapter to thread into my suppressor to get to the 9/16 thread pattern. One concern with the lighter contour is POI change when hanging a suppressor off of it so I don’t know how critical threading really is.

I have a mcgowan in a douglas featherweight contour at 18" with the end belled up to 5/8 threads. It's no more wait than ordering any other contour from them. It's 28oz.

No barrel won't have a poi shift suppressor on or off. I have a 16in 44 mag lever action with a thick octagonal barrel and it has a larger poi shift then any of my bolt action rifles do suppressor on and off. But they're all enough that you'd never hunt without re-zeroing if you decide to leave the can home.

 

[The Fish Box]

@wind gypsy I fully understand the POI change which is why I brought it up, my other larger diameter barrels all have some POI change some almost nothing and others up to an inch or so, just curious if a pencil barrel will be multiple inches.

 

[nphunter]

Kimber hunter in caliber of choice. Have barrel cut to 16”-18” and threaded. Pull gel out of stock or buy MPI stock.

I also like the break action above.

 

[wind gypsy]

@wind gypsy I fully understand the POI change which is why I brought it up, my other larger diameter barrels all have some POI change some almost nothing and others up to an inch or so, just curious if a pencil barrel will be multiple inches.

Yes, 2+ inches isn’t out of the question but why does it matter?

 

[LargeAvos]

Kimber hunter in caliber of choice. Have barrel cut to 16”-18” and threaded. Pull gel out of stock or buy MPI stock.

I also like the break action above.

View attachment 796605

What’s the weight on that puppy?

 

[The Fish Box]

@wind gypsy Cause I’d rather not have that be the case. But some times you can’t have your cake and eat it too I guess.

 

[nphunter]

What’s the weight on that puppy?

5.5lbs I haven’t removed the gel yet and it’s a 280AI so a long action. There is about a half lb of gel in the stock and I’m swapping the but pad for a light stock one if I can find it. Someone added a heavy limbsaver one. I just picked it up a couple days ago.

My kids have the same rifle in 6.5cm and they are just under 7lbs with ammo, slings and 3-9 leopard gel still in the stocks.

 

[Wrench]

Don't overlook the bumblebee/xlr 4.0mg