So last year I went down a bit of a rabbit hole building a super lite 308 AR style rifle.
2A Arms Xanthos Receiver set, JP LMOS BCG and Buffer setup, Faxon 18” Pencil Barrel, and Brigand Arms Noax Carbon handguard are the highlights. Shoots really well, and the JP LMOS system is sweet (quite reasonable on recoil). It’s under 6 lbs naked too.
Add magazine, 5 rounds, sling, rings and it’s up to 7.5lbs. With a lightweight scope (VX5HD 3-15x or a Delta Stryker 1-6x lvpo it’s up to about 8.7” lbs all in.
It’s a great weight. The one thing I didn’t really think about though is the size is still large compared to a traditional bolt action gun, and the accuracy isn’t quite as good either. I was going to do a POF Revolution DI, but ended up shying away because of all the proprietary parts - but in hindsight was more compact and may have been better for hunting.
Packing mine in the backcountry seems less than ideal (I did not do any long backcountry hunts last year though, but I’d like to). It’s still really fun to shoot at the range so I’m still happy with the build, and I’ve been shooting AR’s a lot this year so I am pretty comfortable with them. Good for shorter or easier hunts, no problem. If I ever hunt in Grizz country I’d probably feel better carrying that on a sling than a bolt action or relying on my 10mm sidearm haha. I may also consider throwing on a longer, heavier barrel for any longer range hunting where I don’t have to hike much and can set myself up well.
Anyways, I think I want to get a dedicated hunting rifle. I mostly hunt deer in NorCal, but have a lot of family back in CO and will probably move back, so deer, elk, and prong horn are all target hunts when I’m back there.
I’d like to keep the rifle chambered in 308 to keep it the same as the AR. I’m also a newer shooter and pretty new to hunting (only my second season) so less recoil is appreciated. At the moment I only shoot factory loads, and have to use less Free in California which is annoying.
I’ve settled on the Tikka T3X lite pretty much. Just debating now on whether I want the compact version or normal version. Unfortunately I cannot use a suppressor in CA, but if I ever move I’d likely cut the barrel down and thread it for one. I may get a clamp on muzzle brake or thread the barrel in the mean time though. I always wear electronic ear pro.
Any thoughts? Compact has a shorter pull and 20” barrel, which seems nice for packing the rifle. But not sure it really makes much of a difference in the bush and if I should just get the 22” normal lite version, which I could always cut down if I really wanted. I’m planning on SS. I’ll also get a limbsaver recoil pad.
Not sure if the Roughtech is something I should look at too? Since I’m planning on a brake and SS already, I think the roughtech has a better recoil pad too so maybe the limbsaver isn’t needed? Might not end up being any more expensive
Input appreciated! I’m pretty much splitting hairs at this point.
2A Arms Xanthos Receiver set, JP LMOS BCG and Buffer setup, Faxon 18” Pencil Barrel, and Brigand Arms Noax Carbon handguard are the highlights. Shoots really well, and the JP LMOS system is sweet (quite reasonable on recoil). It’s under 6 lbs naked too.
Add magazine, 5 rounds, sling, rings and it’s up to 7.5lbs. With a lightweight scope (VX5HD 3-15x or a Delta Stryker 1-6x lvpo it’s up to about 8.7” lbs all in.
It’s a great weight. The one thing I didn’t really think about though is the size is still large compared to a traditional bolt action gun, and the accuracy isn’t quite as good either. I was going to do a POF Revolution DI, but ended up shying away because of all the proprietary parts - but in hindsight was more compact and may have been better for hunting.
Packing mine in the backcountry seems less than ideal (I did not do any long backcountry hunts last year though, but I’d like to). It’s still really fun to shoot at the range so I’m still happy with the build, and I’ve been shooting AR’s a lot this year so I am pretty comfortable with them. Good for shorter or easier hunts, no problem. If I ever hunt in Grizz country I’d probably feel better carrying that on a sling than a bolt action or relying on my 10mm sidearm haha. I may also consider throwing on a longer, heavier barrel for any longer range hunting where I don’t have to hike much and can set myself up well.
Anyways, I think I want to get a dedicated hunting rifle. I mostly hunt deer in NorCal, but have a lot of family back in CO and will probably move back, so deer, elk, and prong horn are all target hunts when I’m back there.
I’d like to keep the rifle chambered in 308 to keep it the same as the AR. I’m also a newer shooter and pretty new to hunting (only my second season) so less recoil is appreciated. At the moment I only shoot factory loads, and have to use less Free in California which is annoying.
I’ve settled on the Tikka T3X lite pretty much. Just debating now on whether I want the compact version or normal version. Unfortunately I cannot use a suppressor in CA, but if I ever move I’d likely cut the barrel down and thread it for one. I may get a clamp on muzzle brake or thread the barrel in the mean time though. I always wear electronic ear pro.
Any thoughts? Compact has a shorter pull and 20” barrel, which seems nice for packing the rifle. But not sure it really makes much of a difference in the bush and if I should just get the 22” normal lite version, which I could always cut down if I really wanted. I’m planning on SS. I’ll also get a limbsaver recoil pad.
Not sure if the Roughtech is something I should look at too? Since I’m planning on a brake and SS already, I think the roughtech has a better recoil pad too so maybe the limbsaver isn’t needed? Might not end up being any more expensive
Input appreciated! I’m pretty much splitting hairs at this point.
