Ever come across a Lightweight Rifle like this?

[Mtnboy]

This pic is in a Duncan Gilchrist book I just got. Anybody seen a gun like that in person?

 

[AXEL]

I have seen photos of early attempts by Patrick Smith of Kifaru, to build ultralight rifles on Remmy 600s, by using extensive drilling. Seemed to work OK.

A guy at my usual gunstore had a Remmy Seven done like that, not quite so radical, put it into a super light stock from Lone Wolf, it was a .308Win. and he reported that it kicked a bit....

I have very light rifles, slabbed, modded, on sts short Classic and late M od. 7 actions, one goes a hair over six lbs. scoped, but, you spend a LOT to lose a little.....

 

[Mtnboy]

Holes drilled over the top of the scope mounts is something I always thought about. Obviously not a huge weight loss, but also a pretty simple job for any decent machinist.

 

[Eagle]

Holes drilled over the top of the scope mounts is something I always thought about. Obviously not a huge weight loss, but also a pretty simple job for any decent machinist.

As a structural engineer that deals with metal fatigue cracking everyday (helicopters), holes like that all over make me cringe. I can see cracks forming at some point down the road in the scope mounts especially, as there's a lot of force and vibration with each round fired. If I did that to a gun, I'm not sure I'd shoot it very often for fear of eventually fatiguing the metal to failure.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I got to see Patrick Smiths Gen 1 Rambling rifle. He told me he shot quite a few animals with it.

 

[realunlucky]

Patrick's rifle is crazy, I'd never be that daring with a drill bit

 

[shaun]

I got to see Patrick Smiths Gen 1 Rambling rifle. He told me he shot quite a few animals with it.

That is awesome!

 

[El Gavilan]

Looks like a Remington model 600 or 660 that was used for the base, they are pretty light to start with.

Mike

 

[Shrek]

It helps if you have enough money to that loosing the rifle isn't a big deal. It would be great to be able to buy a couple to experiment on and then one to combine all the results into.

 

[FreeRange]

That stock reminds me of when my sister made a cribbage board in 7th grade woodshop. That's a good proof of concept to be sure, I'd be curious how much weight the drilling saved, I'm sure he noted that down. The big cut out of the middle of the stock makes a lot of sense.

 

[Mtnboy]

What about the trigger guard holes?

Anybody have personal experience with that?

 

[mtluckydan]

I would bet moisture would be a nightmare with that many openings in the stock & metal of those rifles in a wet environment. With a Remington Model 7 with a Pendleton Stock, Talley bases & rings and a Leupold FX 3x9 compact scope you can be under 6 lbs without ammo in 308 and have a very nice looking and functioning rifle that will shoot under moa 5 shot groups.

 

[huntin'monkey]

I've been thinking of skeletonizing the fake walnut stock of my Savage Model 110 something like that, but those drill holes all over the fore end and bolt are over the top.

 

[GKPrice]

"Elvin Hawkins" ... have not heard THAT name in a while ......

 

[Moose2367]

Might make it lighter but an absolute PITA to clean

 

[waterrat]

Might make it lighter but an absolute PITA to clean

My thoughts exactly!

Now-a-days a Kimber Montana pretty much achieves what these fellows are searching for in a dependable easy to clean and shoot rifle. I fiddled with my 308 for a bit (loads that is) and it will shoot MOA with a good hunting bullet.