So, how light can a Kimber Hunter be? A build thread.

[gtriple]

Saw this also I messaged the guy that has it for sale. He sent me the article about the build. It is a pretty cool build. If I am remembering right the gunsmith is the same one that worked with Patrick from Kifaru to build the Rambler rifle, I think that was the name of it.

Cool article. He even stated in the article that the recoil with the 308 was "brutal". Lol. And the 6mm shot a 3-shot group into an "apple-sized" pattern at 170 yards. I'm not sure what "apple-sized" correlates in MOA, but still pretty impressive.

 

[Jeremyc_1999]

Speaking of Rambling rifle the lgs has this:

Shop

www.shedhorn.com

 

[gtriple]

Speaking of Rambling rifle the lgs has this:

Shop

www.shedhorn.com

$12500!? Wow that is proud.

 

[Jeremyc_1999]

$12500!? Wow that is proud.

Yep, can almost get into the full auto game for that kind of money

 

[gtriple]

Yep, can almost get into the full auto game for that kind of money

You could get 2-3 NULA rifles for that price. Or any other custom rifle. That's crazy. And then you've got this goofy looking rifle and barrels that only fit together.

 

[TomJoad]

I’d put money on that 50be barrel having no more than 1 round down the tube.

 

[packgoatguy]

A break or a can on that gunbroker uberlite would really tame the recoil. My kimber hunter 16 inch 308win, after mods weighs in at 5lbs 11.6oz including a TBAC ultra7, 2.5-10x32 swfa, and a tiny arca rail... bare rifle is about 4lbs 2.8oz the last time I checked, which is about 8oz more than the one in the ad for $6300 (I think I'm into mine about $1000 not including the scope or suppressor). Recoil is very manageable with the suppressor on it. My boys even enjoy shooting it. On the bench, I can get sub moa groups (waiting for the barrel to cool between shots) and have rung steel out to 600 with it. It doesn't have much going for it in the looks department... still a work in progress (thanks to those who have posted their kimber mods on here over the years, as I copied many of them)... but it makes for a nice packable hunting rifle. 2700fps MV with hornady 168eldm.

 

[daleyj45]

Yep, can almost get into the full auto game for that kind of money

hey dude hmu i might have the spotter youre looking for but i cant send messages yet

 

[gtriple]

Saw this on Gunbroker and figured I'd post it here in case it hadn't been seen yet. Pretty sweet build.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/990566770

@StupidLightweight is this your listing?

 

[StupidLightweight]

@StupidLightweight is this your listing?

That's my listing, sir.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Speaking of Rambling rifle the lgs has this:

Shop

www.shedhorn.com

Wow. Thank you for posting this Kifaru Rambling Rifle listing. Very cool to see them for sale. When I was a wee lad, that was my dream gun. I would have done anything to own one.

When I built a 2.25-pound AR pistol in .300 BLK, I sent the article to Patrick Smith and he called me. We chatted for half an hour or so. Talk about a fascinating guy. So far ahead of his time. In a lot of ways, he was the da Vinci of the hunting world.

During the chat, I thanked him for his pioneering efforts on lightweight rifles. After the call, I even sent my .300 BLK to his local FFL so he could play with it for a month, which was quite the honor.

 

[kelly1]

I have had a Adirondak in 308 for a while,and finally found a Hunter stock cheap.
Removed the gel and added some open cell foam from a gun case in the back to dampen noise.
Adirondack was 5lb 9oz with leupold 3x9 compact,talleys and bikiny style scope covers.
The Hunter with no gel,magazine and stock pad plus the scope & mounts and covers ended up at 5 lb 4oz.
adirondack stock complete was 24 oz fyi.
I really enjoyed this thread ,read it at least a couple times,kelly

 

[Antares]

Just lightened my .308 Win Montana up a little. Replaced the factory bolt handle with a titanium one and had the barrel down to 16.5". The cheek pad I have on there is probably 1 oz, FYI.

The numbers:
Bare rifle = 4 lbs 10.5 oz
With scope (VX-3i 2.5-8x36 w/ Talley lightweights) = 5 lbs 8 oz
With suppressor (GEMTECH Tracker) and 3 rounds = 6 lbs 6oz

 

[kelly1]

Just lightened my .308 Win Montana up a little. Replaced the factory bolt handle with a titanium one and had the barrel down to 16.5". The cheek pad I have on there is probably 1 oz, FYI.

The numbers:
Bare rifle = 4 lbs 10.5 oz
With scope (VX-3i 2.5-8x36 w/ Talley lightweights) = 5 lbs 8 oz
With suppressor (GEMTECH Tracker) and 3 rounds = 6 lbs 6oz


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That would hang on a pack nicely.
nice light scope

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Just lightened my .308 Win Montana up a little. Replaced the factory bolt handle with a titanium one and had the barrel down to 16.5". The cheek pad I have on there is probably 1 oz, FYI.

The numbers:
Bare rifle = 4 lbs 10.5 oz
With scope (VX-3i 2.5-8x36 w/ Talley lightweights) = 5 lbs 8 oz
With suppressor (GEMTECH Tracker) and 3 rounds = 6 lbs 6oz


View attachment 580850
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I’m right there with you. Barrel cut to 18”, has a skeletonized bolt handle.

 

[mtwarden]

Filled my hollow Hunter stock with some spray foam (Loctite) and finally got around to painting it. Weighed it and with the paint and foam it went up 0.2 ounces, BUT removed the rear sling stud and voila- right back where it started

 

[Trackselk]

Filled my hollow Hunter stock with some spray foam (Loctite) and finally got around to painting it. Weighed it and with the paint and foam it went up 0.2 ounces, BUT removed the rear sling stud and voila- right back where it started

Very nice, the paint looks 'factory' to me from here!
Curious about the exact loktite product (?), that's definitely light enough to convince me to use it!

 

[mtwarden]

Thanks!

It's their foam spray for big gaps, I sprayed too much in- it kept oozing out; you don't need to fill the stock to the very end as it will expand outward. It doesn't hurt anything, but the stuff is a little messy and had to keep removing some every 5 minutes or so. I probably could have let it keep overflowing out and waited until it dried/cured and then used something like a razor to slice it off.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite...hXi6HYhHZ3ATIQuzsVBoCMhAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[eaglemountainman]

@mtwarden
I like the gray pebble paint! Looks great.

So what's your final weight, all up, with 3 rounds and no sling?

 

[mtwarden]

@mtwarden
I like the gray pebble paint! Looks great.

So what's your final weight, all up, with 3 rounds and no sling?

Thanks

5 lb 13.7 oz