Help me build a sheep rifle!

[gtriple]

I already have the two lightest sheep rifles possible, that maintain capability out to 5 and 700 yards respectively. This thread is for building the highest quality, most capable rifle possible, in the 7-7.5 lb range. The 6 oz Rugged 360 Ti suppressor isn’t necessary, however a brake is absolutely something that I will never use on a hunting rifle. I want all of my senses while executing a shot or setting up a shooting position. I don’t need the extra step of putting in ear plugs and have often found myself in a situation where that is just not possible.

What are those 2 rifles?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

The largest I've used them with are 50mm objectives, but even those fit with a rail and .82" 30mm rings so I can't speak on any higher. I did remove DNZ 2 piece 30mm Lows from a 700 and replace them with Hawkins Hybrid lows to raise the scope....it was to low with the DNZ.

The drop at comb on the Trekker is -.41"

On the Terrain it looks like it's the same -.41"

On the Eagle it looks like it's 0" to +.99"

No doubt, the Eagle is going to get you higher if needed. The Terrain should be the same as the Trekker if anyone can speak to it.

The drop at comb of the Trekker should be pretty close to a Manners EH2, EH3, EH6, EH8, etc if you've used one of them. The Trekker actually seems a bit higher (to me) because of the width of the top of the comb over something slimmer like the EH8.

Sounds like a new thread is in order ^

What are those 2 rifles?

Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 and a Kimber Adirondack 338 Fed.

 

[madcalfe]

Paradigm 6.5 Creed anTi

For more information, click our build sheet. SN: 416-01847

paradigmcarbon.com

5lbs even and ready to be bought.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Paradigm 6.5 Creed anTi

For more information, click our build sheet. SN: 416-01847

paradigmcarbon.com

5lbs even and ready to be bought.

Sexy. I’d buy that over a Gunwerks any day. I’m not prepared to spend $7500 though.
There’s not enough value there to justify that over my Fieldcraft that cost me $1600.

$6,000 for a custom gun in a HNT 26 chassis with two Proof barrels in two different calibers is what appeals to me.

 

[gtriple]

Sounds like a new thread is in order ^


View attachment 564378
Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 and a Kimber Adirondack 338 Fed.

Alright, I'll take it one step further... if you've already got those two rifles and you want "the highest quality, most capable rifle possible, in the 7-7.5 lb range", then why not go with the most capable cartridge that can be easily fired for a rifle in that weight range? My vote would be a 7prc build.

And I'd just get that Barrett threaded. It's worked great for mine. Or swap it out for a threaded version.

By my numbers, you are going to be just over your goal, unloaded.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

Alright, I'll take it one step further... if you've already got those two rifles and you want "the highest quality, most capable rifle possible, in the 7-7.5 lb range", then why not go with the most capable cartridge that can be easily fired for a rifle in that weight range? My vote would be a 7prc build.

And I'd just get that Barrett threaded. It's worked great for mine. Or swap it out for a threaded version.

By my numbers, you are going to be just over your goal, unloaded.

View attachment 564396

I am super glad I'm not the only person with a spreadsheet for rifle components/build weight.

Ben here's my 7 PRC build estimate.....for reference.

COMPONENTS	WEIGHT (OZ)	NOTES
Stock	29.5​	Mcmillan GW2.0
Bedding/Chambering	0.5​	?
Trigger	2.2​	Triggertech Special
Bottom Metal + Mag	6.6​	Hawkins Hunter DBM LA
Action	23.5​	LP Fuzion Ti LA
Barrel	44​	20" sendero carbon six .83"
Suppressor	9​	SC Banish BC
scope	23​	Trijibruh Credo
rings	4​	UM
Arca Plate + Pic Rail	1.65​	SRS
TOTALS	143.95​	OZ
w/scope and suppressor	9.00​	LB
bare rifle	6.75​	lb
rifle w/out suppressor	8.43​

 

[gtriple]

I am super glad I'm not the only person with a spreadsheet for rifle components/build weight.

Ben here's my 7 PRC build estimate.....for reference.

COMPONENTS	WEIGHT (OZ)	NOTES
Stock	29.5​	Mcmillan GW2.0
Bedding/Chambering	0.5​	?
Trigger	2.2​	Triggertech Special
Bottom Metal + Mag	6.6​	Hawkins Hunter DBM LA
Action	23.5​	LP Fuzion Ti LA
Barrel	44​	20" sendero carbon six .83"
Suppressor	9​	SC Banish BC
scope	23​	Trijibruh Credo
rings	4​	UM
Arca Plate + Pic Rail	1.65​	SRS
TOTALS	143.95​	OZ
w/scope and suppressor	9.00​	LB
bare rifle	6.75​	lb
rifle w/out suppressor	8.43​

Lol I build spreadsheets for everything. You should see my backpacking spreadsheet. Has every item weighed to the gram and toggle boxes to select what I'm taking. Then it has every piece of food weighed with calories.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Alright, I'll take it one step further... if you've already got those two rifles and you want "the highest quality, most capable rifle possible, in the 7-7.5 lb range", then why not go with the most capable cartridge that can be easily fired for a rifle in that weight range? My vote would be a 7prc build.

And I'd just get that Barrett threaded. It's worked great for mine. Or swap it out for a threaded version.

By my numbers, you are going to be just over your goal, unloaded.

View attachment 564396

I like your breakdown . Since last year I had my Fieldcraft cut from 21” to 18” and threaded 5/8 x 24. Maybe I’m chasing something that doesn’t really offer a ton of improvement over what I already have.
As far as caliber, I really have no need beyond what my 6.5 CM offers with 127 LRX or G9 113 LR Hunters. I’ve killed 5 sheep with 7 rounds, and that was only due to wind, not the terminal performance of a properly placed bullet. Ranges from 40-517 yards.

For reference, I believe my Fieldcraft will weigh 7 lbs 6 oz loaded and with the 360 ti Suppressor.

I guess by that breakdown I’d be just over half a pound, but with the added benefit of a switch barrel, ergonomics and compactness of the folding stock, better tripod shooting ability and choice of barrel twist rate.

 

[gtriple]

scope

23​

Trijibruh Credo

Lol what is a Trijibruh??

 

[JCMCUBIC]

Sounds like a new thread is in order ^

Yes, I apologize for the sidetrack.

Where I looking to build a lightweight, switch barrel rifle in the basic format you've mentioned:

Defiance anTiX - guaranteed headspace, lighter by almost a 1/4 lb, integrated 20 MOA rail rather than separate pinned rail, integrated recoil lug rather than pinned, same footprint, I'd have it nitrite coated. It's more expensive but if you're going all in, I'd rather throw a couple hundred more $'s toward it for the integral base and recoil lug...and save the weight.

The Defiance action wrench is $125 and has been great for my use.

Lilja prefit barrel - light contour stainless in chambering, twist, threaded, etc that you desire. I've got prefits from Lilja and Proof (carbon). Light contour stainless will be noticeably lighter.

Grayboe Trekker w/Hawkins M5 BDL - give you the freedom of longer OAL than most AICS and is more comfortable to carry in hand, a chassis feel to the stock at a lighter weight, easier bolt manipulation than from a chassis grip (unless a thumb rest is on the chassis). Bed the lug with barrel completely free floated for barrel changes. The MDT is fine if you desire the foldable stock and I'm not arguing against it but I'm neither here/there on a folding stock.

Scope of your choice, the 2.5-10x42 is a great scope. I'd probably go with the S&B PMII 6x42 but that's just my prejudice.

Seekins 30mm Lows for rings, but there are lots of good options.

 

[gtriple]

I’ve killed 5 sheep with 7 rounds

This just tells me I need to move to Alaska.

 

[Muddler]

have you still not received your barrel? im waiting on a 6.5PRC barrel form them and at the time they said 4 months. Ordered mine in feb.

Just shipped out a couple of days ago. ETA early next week.

 

[fatbacks]

Whatever action you go with I would make sure is had a picatinny rail mountain system for the scope. I switch barrels between my defiance actions and one anTi doesn’t have a rail and process of removing scope and bases is lengthy compared to she. I pop a scope off with pic rail, swap barrel and throw it back on


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[B_Reynolds_AK]

Yes, I apologize for the sidetrack.

Where I looking to build a lightweight, switch barrel rifle in the basic format you've mentioned:

Defiance anTiX - guaranteed headspace, lighter by almost a 1/4 lb, integrated 20 MOA rail rather than separate pinned rail, integrated recoil lug rather than pinned, same footprint, I'd have it nitrite coated. It's more expensive but if you're going all in, I'd rather throw a couple hundred more $'s toward it for the integral base and recoil lug...and save the weight.

The Defiance action wrench is $125 and has been great for my use.

Lilja prefit barrel - light contour stainless in chambering, twist, threaded, etc that you desire. I've got prefits from Lilja and Proof (carbon). Light contour stainless will be noticeably lighter.

Grayboe Trekker w/Hawkins M5 BDL - give you the freedom of longer OAL than most AICS and is more comfortable to carry in hand, a chassis feel to the stock at a lighter weight, easier bolt manipulation than from a chassis grip (unless a thumb rest is on the chassis). Bed the lug with barrel completely free floated for barrel changes. The MDT is fine if you desire the foldable stock and I'm not arguing against it but I'm neither here/there on a folding stock.

Scope of your choice, the 2.5-10x42 is a great scope. I'd probably go with the S&B PMII 6x42 but that's just my prejudice.

Seekins 30mm Lows for rings, but there are lots of good options.

You make some very good points. The Terminus Apollo has neither an integrated pic rail or an integrated recoil lug. Thank you for that perspective.

Also, looking at Lilja, I am seeing their custom barrel options that come as prefit’s for Defiance actions. An 18” fluted steel bbl with 5/8 threads that comes in lighter than a carbon barrel does sound attractive, especially when you then have the option of using an action wrench and barrel vise to swap barrels without removing the scope, as you could clamp further down the barrel safely, unlike with carbon fiber.

 

[Reburn]

Could use a nightforce ultralight unimount. You’ll be re-zeroing anyway going between the two calibers so removing for barrel swap in the unimount will make it easy.


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Why would you remove the scope to remove the barrel when using a WTO switchlug?

Why would you have to rezero a previously zeroed barrel?

I have 2 switchlugs. the tikka doesnt even have to come out of the stock for a barrel change.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

You make some very good points. Thank you for that perspective.

Why would you remove the scope to remove the barrel when using a WTO switchlug?

Why would you have to rezero a previously zeroed barrel?

I have 2 switchlugs. the tikka doesnt even have to come out of the stock for a barrel change.

We were comparing and contrasting the benefits of either a WTO Switchlug, which doesnt require those steps with that of a prefit setup, that when used with carbon barrels, does require scope removal.

 

[Reburn]

We were comparing and contrasting the benefits of either a WTO Switchlug, which doesnt require those steps with that of a prefit setup, that when used with carbon barrels, does require scope removal.

Sorry I must have missed that.

I have 2 WTO switchlugs. One tikka and one LA defiance. I have been nothing but happy. If you go with WTO you should consider getting a 22 LRV. Mine pushes 90gr bergers at 3230.

 

[Pilsner]

Huber or Geissle, they are more bomb proof. They are military grade triggers.

CG Extremes are not as bomb proof but feel amazing.

Trigger Techs feel ok, but get nasty quick.

Jewells feel better but are worse when they are gummed up.

Bix N Andy feel the best, but are also liable to get gummed up.

Shilen and Timney also make triggers. They neither feel great or are they tough.

At no point in history has "military grade" been a positive. It really means "built by the lowest bidder".

 

[Mojave]

At no point in history has "military grade" been a positive. It really means "built by the lowest bidder".

The job of DCMA is to ensure that this isn't a thing anymore. Not saying you aren't correct.

After 20 years in the military and 10 working in Defense (not for DCMA), I feel as though we have some good equipment and some equipment that I wish was better. No one is issued a Vortex, let's put it that way.

I stand by my comment on Geissle and Huber. The CG-Xtreme is tough, but not as tough as a Geissle or Huber. Both feel like they have sand in them compared to a Bix or CG-Xtreme.

 

[Pilsner]

The job of DCMA is to ensure that this isn't a thing anymore. Not saying you aren't correct.

After 20 years in the military and 10 working in Defense (not for DCMA), I feel as though we have some good equipment and some equipment that I wish was better. No one is issued a Vortex, let's put it that way.

I stand by my comment on Geissle and Huber. The CG-Xtreme is tough, but not as tough as a Geissle or Huber. Both feel like they have sand in them compared to a Bix or CG-Xtreme.

The alternate descriptor from Mil Grade is "Private Proof" or "Marine Proof".
If something is truly durable THATS how I expected it to be described lol