Kelbly Action Build - Going Lightweight

[Will_TXHunter]

Has anyone done a lightweight build off the Kelbly Atlas Lite? Weight is 24.2 ounces (on my scale) with bolt, action body (no trigger) and recoil lug. I picked this up from Preferred Barrels for $800 bucks in a magnum bolt face with plans to build a 270 WSM lightweight backcountry build. I am super stoked. I also ordered an X-caliber carbon barrel blank for $563 in the 20% Black Friday sale and will have my local gunsmith chamber this and thread to the action for me.

Kelbly is telling me that they don't recommend going the barrel nut route since they see better accuracy with a shouldered barrel. They also state this is easier of an install but I have only done one Savage barrel install and it has the classic barrel nut and was hoping to do a barrel nut for this build to do some of the gunsmithing myself, but ah well. I just thought that was interesting. The whole point of the Remage barrel swap with a barrel nut is for the ease of a DIY'er like me doing this myself I thought but not a big deal. I need my gunsmith to work the barrel anyways.

I haven't bought a rifle in 6 years and have never done the custom rifle thing so any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[XLR]

Kelbly actions are great actions for the weight (and great people to work with). The shouldered barrel vs remage & barrel nut accuracy debate is never ending but you can assemble everything yourself with a shouldered barrel the steps are just a little different. If you are taking it to a smith I would just have them put it all together but in the future if you decide that you want to change the cartridge up then you can just go with a prefit and assemble it yourself. There are a lot of good videos out there showing how to assemble and check headspace with prefits and I would agree that its even easier than installing a remage barrel with a barrel nut. Overall though great choice on the action and it will make a great light weight rifle!

 

[83cj-7]

You can send your barrel blank to a place like TS customs and he can chamber and thread it for your action. When you get it back you just screw it on and torque it down. My friend has a bunch of his barrels and they shoot amazing.

 

[khuber84]

Kelbly holds very tight tolerances. 100% capable of prefits. As long the smith chambers to go gauge(usually 001-002 deeper just for safety) you'll be all good. My smith's had enough kelbly actions in his shop, that he just cuts the barrel with the action specific cnc program, no action needed. He's cut me a handful of prefits and they've all allowed for 002-003 shoilder movement on virgin firing which is where I want it.