Lightweight hunting rifle build

[madcalfe]

Kahles is a big step up from an NX8, highly recommend.

id have to agree i looked through a NX8 and compared it to the kahles in store and it was noticeably better. lol the kahles was also noticeably harder on the wallet to lmao.

 

[Oregonmuley]

So my target weight is not set but I am looking at sheep, mule dear and under 400 yard elk. That gun you have looks like the other one I am working on which is a 300 prc for elk and bigger animals. I am a huge fan of the 7mm size and if Barnes is not making there new low drag bullet in 6.5 or if it is too long to get in the action I will be going 7mm-08 or 7mm rausm. The 7mm hits the sweet spot on all copper Bullets right now.

7MM-08 you say Here is one I recently had done, it was just under 6 lbs naked, with a NXS Compact its 7 lbs 8 ozs. Liked it enough had another one done

 

[Broomd]

The first thing a guy needs to do is figure out what "super light" means for himself.

For many of us 'light is right' believers, 'superlight' isn't 7-8 lbs. It's 5lbs and change scoped.
The other thing is the ridiculous yardages here being tossed around.
Does anyone stalk to be within 200-300 yards anymore? Unbelievable.

 

[Ultralight Hunter]

7MM-08 you say Here is one I recently had done, it was just under 6 lbs naked, with a NXS Compact its 7 lbs 8 ozs. Liked it enough had another one done

I do like the bullet options but getting a box of something off a shelf is the only down side. I am getting reloading and that is why I would consider the 7mm rausm but the 7mag is about the only one. I feel like everything is switching to the 270 right now and then the 7mm will be the cool round again.
What is the bullet you are running and the FPS

 

[tdot]

So my target weight is not set but I am looking at sheep, mule dear and under 400 yard elk. That gun you have looks like the other one I am working on which is a 300 prc for elk and bigger animals. I am a huge fan of the 7mm size and if Barnes is not making there new low drag bullet in 6.5 or if it is too long to get in the action I will be going 7mm-08 or 7mm rausm. The 7mm hits the sweet spot on all copper Bullets right now.

I built a 6.5ss a couple of years ago and have had a chance to compare it to the results of my 260rem on a number of black bear and the results aren't exceptional different. I was hoping/expecting better performance than I saw.

I built a 7saum this year and while I have only shot a single ram with it, the terminal results more closely resemble the results I've seen from my 30 caliber then the 6.5. I recall being a bit surprised with how much better my 7-08 was vs my 260Rem as well.

The side benefit of the 7mm is the same contour barrel will be slightly lighter then the 6.5mm.

 

[Ultralight Hunter]

This thread has swapped over to my not super light gun but my 300 kind of. I am after a sub 6.5 pound gun at least with the caliber and barrel length is what I am trying to figure out. 6.5 creed,6.5prc,or 7mm-08 and around 20” barrel. Big question is for the weight and inefficiency between creed and prc in 20” barrel. I would like under 6 pound with scope and 6.5 pound with suppressor.

 

[Ultralight Hunter]

I built a 6.5ss a couple of years ago and have had a chance to compare it to the results of my 260rem on a number of black bear and the results aren't exceptional different. I was hoping/expecting better performance than I saw.

I built a 7saum this year and while I have only shot a single ram with it, the terminal results more closely resemble the results I've seen from my 30 caliber then the 6.5. I recall being a bit surprised with how much better my 7-08 was vs my 260Rem as well.

The side benefit of the 7mm is the same contour barrel will be slightly lighter then the 6.5mm.

That makes sense because I was looking into what I might get out of the 7mm-08 to the 6.5 creed and I can push the 145 grain out of the 7mm as the 127 grain out of the 6.5. Also with the 7mm I’m not trying to load the heaviest bullet I can in it so it seams more efficient all the way around on balance speed to bullet weight.

 

[Ultralight Hunter]

That makes sense because I was looking into what I might get out of the 7mm-08 to the 6.5 creed and I can push the 145 grain out of the 7mm as the 127 grain out of the 6.5. Also with the 7mm I’m not trying to load the heaviest bullet I can in it so it seams more efficient all the way around on balance speed to bullet weight.

If I’m right the 6.5ss is almost just like the prc?

 

[Oregonmuley]

I do like the bullet options but getting a box of something off a shelf is the only down side. I am getting reloading and that is why I would consider the 7mm rausm but the 7mag is about the only one. I feel like everything is switching to the 270 right now and then the 7mm will be the cool round again.
What is the bullet you are running and the FPS

Not a hand loader just a hunter. I shoot factory Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tips, they kill stuff which I think is what you want.

 

[crich]

Here’s my custom .300wsm 5lbs 4oz bare and 8lbs 2oz ready to hunt with 4 in the mag and 5 shells on the butt stock. I can hit steel at 1100yards with it as long as it’s calm out. 500 yards is quite easy though.

View attachment 325523
View attachment 325524

What components did you put together to hit that weight?

 

[tdot]

That makes sense because I was looking into what I might get out of the 7mm-08 to the 6.5 creed and I can push the 145 grain out of the 7mm as the 127 grain out of the 6.5. Also with the 7mm I’m not trying to load the heaviest bullet I can in it so it seams more efficient all the way around on balance speed to bullet weight.

Correct. 6.5ss and the PRC are pretty similar.

In my experience, when comparing the actual results from 260rem and 6.5ss, they are equally as comparable at any given length 20"-24". I'd expect to see the same between the Creed and PRC. ie, if the cartridges yield a 300fps difference at 24", then that same spread will be there at 20". If anything I'd say that larger caliber bullets in a given case, lose less in shorter barrels then the smaller calibers.

Between those 3 cartridges you've mentioned, I'd happily build a 7-08. I'm just researching loads for a friends 7-08 right now. We have some 119grain Absolute Hammers enroute and I'd expect to see 3100-3200fps from them. If we achieve those speeds, they should be devastating little bullets from a very easy recoiling round, with no brake needed.

 

[madcalfe]

What components did you put together to hit that weight?

Paradigm carbon stock
Defiance anti SA
Trigger tech special
20” proof sendero
Pva ultralight jet blast brake,
Snowy mountain bottom metal.

I could of got below 5 lbs with a proof sendero light and different bottom metal no problem but didn’t wanna wait on a sendero light barrel.

 

[30338]

If I was shooting righthanded, I'd pound the easy button and buy this. Bed the lug yourself, then go kill stuff. Don't know seller, not related in anyway to this sale.

SOLD - Kimber Adirondack 6.5 Creedmoor**SOLD**

Kimber Adirondack in great condition with a low round count. Asking $1450.00 shipped.

www.snipershide.com

 

[260madman]

I recall being a bit surprised with how much better my 7-08 was vs my 260Rem as well.

As a 6.5 slut I admit that a 308 does better at poking large holes and blood trails. I don’t have a 7-08 to compare with my 260s and 6.5s but it doesn’t surprise me. It was easy for me to ditch my 243 after I killed a couple deer with my 260 many years ago.

 

[luke moffat]

Read the article and it was really good. A lot of good info. It starts to put back in the 7mm-08 because the Bullets I like to use have better bc’s.

I rebarreled that rifle from a 358 win to a 6.5 CM for that reason. Still comes in at 4 pounds 2 oz before optics.

 

[Roksliding]

I have a 7.5lb 300 WSM pushing 208s at 2935 and I shoot it out to 1500 yards, currently unbraked. Not ideal, but it works. Pick a stock with good ergonomics and 500 should be as easy as breathing.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

I developed a flinched just reading that.

 

[madcalfe]

I developed a flinched just reading that.

Hahah yup, I’ve exclusively only owned 300wsm for close to 10 years first was a 5lbs 9oz tikka it kicked so bad, and now my 2nd a 5lb 2oz custom, I wouldn’t even consider shooting it without a brake having any hopes of spotting shots. Shootable yes but not ideal

 

[Decker9]

Just for reference (if it helps at all), I built a full custom PRC that finishes at 6 1/2 lbs with a 22” pencil barrel, and have a lighter T3 6.5 swede with a 19” barrel, both rifles shooting 140 AB’s

The PRC pushes 2975, the swede pushes 2625 (hot load)

The PRC is an absolute mule compared to the swede, impossible to spot shots. Both dial deadly out to 600 yards (Swedes max kill range is about 400-450).

The PRC definitely has less drift/drop then the swede out at distance.

In all honesty, I prefer the swede for the less recoil and more compact.

 

[Levi8599]

I have a 22” 6.5prc that weighs 8lb 6oz without the bipod. It’s on an SR3 with proof sendero barrel. Just finished up load testing and I’m running the 135berger classic hunter at 3187 fps. Groups .495-.264= .231”

 

[NIDAHO HUNTER]

For still hunting in black timber I love my 7-08 140 gn Tsx. I haven't shot a deer or elk over 100 yds in 5 years