Light Hunting Rifle Build

[El Ruso]

I have a Remington 5R .308. The gun is a tack driver with 168gr TAP but I want to use the 700 action and build a light hunting rifle. I’m looking for an 800yd gun but lighter. I would like to try a carbon fiber barrel 1:8 twist with a short barrel 14-16”. I run suppressed. Any input on a barrel manufacturer who will be able to make a quality barrel?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Less than 16" and it's a SBR NFA item .

 

[Creekrat]

If it’s a tack driver as is I’d leave it alone and buy A new lw hunting rifle. What are you considering light? With a barrel even at 16” you’ll be giving up a lot of velocity which will make your long range effectiveness suffer as well

 

[LightFoot]

I don't think you can build one cheaper than you can buy one (though not 16").

I wouldn't go any shorter than 16 inches for 2 reasons: (1) the NFA; (2) velocity loss.

Velocity is an important factor when stretching your shots to 400 and beyond.

The Barrett Fieldcraft with 18" barrel is suppressor ready and deadly accurate. You would easily spend that $1800 price tag on components and gunsmithing on your build.

If you are gonna build: Manners EH-SL or similar, Proof 18" - 20" barrel or similar, TriggerTech or Timney, BDL style floorplate, your M700 action.

>>>----JAKE----->

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Tikka T3x cut to 16"?

Seems like a waste of time to me though....800 yards 16" barrel? You don't actually plan to hunt animals with it do you?

Paper puncher yes, animals.....i'd be hesitant on how ethical that is.

 

[El Ruso]

Thanks for the replies.
Disregarding NFA concerns as my suppressor is already an NFA item. Armorer costs are negligible.

My goal is the make a light rifle... call it 8-10lbs with a suppressor. I have optic, suppressor, action... I will be getting a light stock. The current one is heavier than I’d like and not field worthy ((it’s broken twice this year; 1 during an elk hunt) I don’t need to mention the manufacturer as of yet).

I want the short barrel to help maneuverability and drop weight; and I still have “the can” on the end to help velocity. There are some interesting articles regarding barrel length, velocity and accuracy.

The shortest .308 I’ve used was 16” and it was a 600 yard gun, all day. It was AR platform, not suppressed and not meant for precision. I think and hope this build can be done successfully.

 

[howl]

Never alter a good shooting rig. Buy what you want in addition to the good thing you already have going.

 

[El Ruso]

Tikka T3x cut to 16"?

Seems like a waste of time to me though....800 yards 16" barrel? You don't actually plan to hunt animals with it do you?

Paper puncher yes, animals.....i'd be hesitant on how ethical that is.

I don’t see your same ethical concern? If I can make an accurate rifle and know what my rifle does out to X distances. I train, know my weapon systems and use them as they are capable.

 

[El Ruso]

Never alter a good shooting rig. Buy what you want in addition to the good thing you already have going.

I know. I know. I know!!!! I’ve thought of that but I prefer to not have 60 guns in 70 different calibers. I know my weapons and how they work. No confusion in stressful situation, or mistakes grabbing ammo in the dark. I figure I can always throw the old barrel back on if it’s a flop and I should be back at square 1.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Thanks for the replies.
Disregarding NFA concerns as my suppressor is already an NFA item. Armorer costs are negligible.

You'll still need to register the rifle as a SBR with the NFA if it's shorter than 16". Just because you put a suppressor on the end of it doesn't negate the SBR laws.

My goal is the make a light rifle... call it 8-10lbs with a suppressor. I have optic, suppressor, action... I will be getting a light stock. The current one is heavier than I’d like and not field worthy ((it’s broken twice this year; 1 during an elk hunt) I don’t need to mention the manufacturer as of yet).

For the cost of rebuilding your action into what your looking for, you will be able to buy another rifle that will fit your requirements.

I want the short barrel to help maneuverability and drop weight; and I still have “the can” on the end to help velocity. There are some interesting articles regarding barrel length, velocity and accuracy.

The can on the end does not help velocity, You can accuracy with short barreled rifles, but expecting it to have the energy to kill large game at 800 yards is unreasonable.

The shortest .308 I’ve used was 16” and it was a 600 yard gun, all day. It was AR platform, not suppressed and not meant for precision. I think and hope this build can be done successfully.

For a target gun yes, but for hunting your expectations aren't going to happen @ 800 yds. You still need bullet energy to put the bullet through the animal & expand properly to inflict enough damage to kill it. Or are you going to play target practice till it's down?

 

[Dirt Wagon]

I don’t see your same ethical concern? If I can make an accurate rifle and know what my rifle does out to X distances. I train, know my weapon systems and use them as they are capable.

Paper and animals are different.....if you can't understand that then I can't help you. SBR's are not 800 yards hunting rifles.

 

[clockworkgator]

Is 16" really all that more maneuverable in the field than 20"? I get the drop down from 26/24 to 22/20, but 16 seems like a solution in search of a problem. That said, it's your money and your rig and we all have our preferences.

 

[Big Ern]

18" or 20" Proof Carbon Fiber barrel. Sendero Light contour. I run a 20" in 6.5CM on my hunting rig. Albeit it is a full custom Beanland build, it is an absolute tack driver. I saw no decline in accuracy from my Krieger barrel to the Proof.

 

[Wapiti1]

Talk to Mike at Hell's Canyon Armory. He makes CF barrels and knows what they are about.

Jeremy

 

[Brendan]

I don’t see your same ethical concern? If I can make an accurate rifle and know what my rifle does out to X distances. I train, know my weapon systems and use them as they are capable.

Its not accuracy that's the issue. Bullet speed and energy at those ranges out of a short barrel 308 is a problem.

I have a 9# 300 Win Mag with a 26" barrel and brake. Shorten the barrel, drop the brake for a can, and you're probably 9-10#.

 

[ElPollo]

Can you transport an SBR across state lines without law enforcement approval? My understanding is that it is complicated.

 

[16Bore]

Can’t see why someone who “trains and knows their weapons systems” has to ask how to put a rig together and didn’t know that 800 yard guns weigh more than 500 yard guns.

My 500 yard gun weighs 7.2# and was built in Finland. It’s just hunting, not tacticool operator bullshit.

 

[Kimber7man]

There you go with the common sense again, ‘Bore....

 

[khuber84]

Check out paradigm carbon, they have a light contour that you can cut to any length you want due to their manufacturing process. The 27" blank is less than 2.5#, cut 10" off and I bet you around 1# 12oz.