Lightest barrel contour you'd go with for hunting?

[ChrisAU]

Looking at picking up a Tikka T3 ot T3x for a donor action for a 6CM build, thinking about ordering a McGowen prefit during their sale. I'm in no rush for it. The idea for this rifle will be lightweight, if I decided on everything it will be in a Rokstok.

So, how light would you go? #1 contour? Douglas featherweight? Will be 18".

 

[wind gypsy]

Tikka lite contour is about as light as I'd want to go. Most of these aftermarket barrel contours really stack up the weight in comparison in the shank area even if they get skinny at the muzzle.

 

[handwerk]

Most of my customized rifles are model 70’s with a Winchester featherweight contour barrel, no complaints.

 

[khuber84]

Plan to run a muzzle device? If so the lightest contour that'll give you around 0.700-0.725" diameter at the 18" mark. Some guys are doing lighter contours with a dogknot on the end that swells back up for threading, I however don't much care for the looks. My personal preference is a light palma with the shank turned to 1.200 and shortened to 2.250 for the creed/gt/br variants. I know my 26" light palma in this manner came out near 3oz lighter than a benchmark sendero light carbon.

 

[nobody]

What @wind gypsy said above, Tikka lite profile is about perfect for a “pack it everywhere” type rifle IMO

 

[ChrisAU]

Right now I’m thinking a 18” #1, fluted and threaded 1/2-28. I have a .358 threaded 1/2-28, certainly not adverse to a 1/2-28 threaded 6mm.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Depending on cartridge I’ll buy your factory barrel.

For a 6 creed an 18” 7 twist tikka lite contour threaded and fluted would be sweet.

 

[bojangles808]

Right now I’m thinking a 18” #1, fluted and threaded 1/2-28. I have a .358 threaded 1/2-28, certainly not adverse to a 1/2-28 threaded 6mm.

did you end up getting this? what was the weight?

 

[Harvey_NW]

If ordering custom I'm a huge fan of either the Tikka hybrid lite or just .750 Taperless contour from PBB. They're lightweight and finish with a .75" shoulder so you can thread 5/8-24. Also love getting a fluted blank for $400.

 

[ChrisAU]

did you end up getting this? what was the weight?

I wound up getting an 18" fluted Douglas #2 from McGowen, but prefit for a Falkor LW7. I forgot what the weight was but I am taking the rifle apart soon to put install an ARCA rail so I can weigh the barreled action and I know the weight of the action/trigger so I can get pretty close on the barrel weight.

 

[z987k]

If ordering custom I'm a huge fan of either the Tikka hybrid lite or just .750 Taperless contour from PBB. They're lightweight and finish with a .75" shoulder so you can thread 5/8-24. Also love getting a fluted blank for $400.

McGowen will do the actual tikka profile and just flare the end for the 5/8 threads if you want. I think it's lighter than the hybrid light or tapreless .750. Mine at 20" is 2lbs 1oz. No fluting.

Just for data, my douglas featherweight at 18" is 1lb 12oz. No flutes.

 

[bojangles808]

McGowen will do the actual tikka profile and just flare the end for the 5/8 threads if you want. I think it's lighter than the hybrid light or tapreless .750. Mine at 20" is 2lbs 1oz. No fluting.

Just for data, my douglas featherweight at 18" is 1lb 12oz. No flutes.

thanks! any chance you could show the two rifles with these barrels next to each other?