Ultralight Custom Break Action Rifle

[PistolPete]

I've gone the Contender route, and they're neat, but not readily going to be under about 5 lbs bare. Plus everything with then is expensive...

 

[StupidLightweight]

If the goal is low weight, I’d steer you away from the Contender route. Cool rifles, no doubt, but not nearly as lightweight as other options. AR options have been covered at length, so I won’t address that here, but for a similar price as you’ll pay for a customized TC, a gunsmith could whittle on a Howa Mini and get it down into the 3.5-pound range. That would be a worthwhile project.

Building lightweight guns is fun, but it’s largely a game. Outside of weirdly specific applications, going below 5 pounds is counterproductive for hunting. The 3-pound, 10-ounce custom Kimber I owned was so lightweight I rarely hunted with it. Same with my AR in the low 2-pound range.

 

[Axlrod]

Is it an Encore or Contender?

Contender G2 w/ SSK barrel. The barrel is not a light weight. The Encore frames weigh about 1# than the Contenders.

 

[Trumpet]

Albeit "low-budge", the new Rossi single shots are pretty cool...not particularly lightweight though.

Rossi LWC

 

[Trackselk]

There are threads on here with some really light TC G2's. My 30-30 was ridiculously light and I took 2 or 3 elk with it, but the ARs are lighter. It took me a while to find a smith to mill the 30-30 down to .5" at the muzzle iirc. I need to dig in the safe to see if I sold it with all my other tc stuff. The AR like mentioned above is also a lot less cash and then you have a repeater. The TC's require fiddling with finding the correct pin and keeping it greased, but I found that a backup shot wasn't nearly as difficult as you'd expect when I instinctively got 2 rounds in an elk one time.

 

[msalm]

I read a story of an ultra lightweight stock for the Howa Mini, offered in AU or NZ I think. Guys were putting together sub 5lb Grendel bolt actions.

 

[StupidLightweight]

From the factory, the Howa Carbon Stalker Mini Action is sub-5-pounds. That's light enough.

Carbon Stalker - Howa USA

CARBON STALKER The HOWA CARBON STALKER Howa barrel that is fitted into an excellent Custom Carbon Fiber wrapped stock that brings the weight of this functional mighty lightweight beauty starting at 4lbs 10 oz! NOW AVAILABLE IN KRYPTEK ALTITUDE FEATURED IN –Guns & AmmoBackcountry Hunter FEATURES...

www.howausa.com

But if you want to go really lightweight, send a Mini Action to a gunsmith like Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works. I have no doubt Rick could get it down to the 3.5-pound range.

 

[Stocky]

I'm theorizing on a potential rifle that would be lighter than any bolt action or repeater AR. Is there any reason why a break action could not be designed to be even lighter than these?

Locking mechanism is typically weaker or complex to make. So you either give up performance or cost.

Can build bloody light off a Contender. But if you wanted a truly light rifle a barrel locking system such as a Blaser K95 would be best so you can utilize aluminum outside of the locking area.

 

[Te Hopo]

I read a story of an ultra lightweight stock for the Howa Mini, offered in AU or NZ I think. Guys were putting together sub 5lb Grendel bolt actions.

Here you go

Kiwi made Howa mini ultralight chassis a reality?

I don't know how many remember some pics popping up a while back now of a kiwi made chassis for the mini , but the missus found this on Facebook

www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz

 

[Trumpet]

Here you go

Kiwi made Howa mini ultralight chassis a reality?

I don't know how many remember some pics popping up a while back now of a kiwi made chassis for the mini , but the missus found this on Facebook

www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz

View attachment 737345

Anywhere to get them stateside?

 

[Stocky]

I've got a lightweight g2 contender and you will never get it really light. Not compared to the single shot ar build without going fully custom with handmade components. Ie a custom pencil barrel at minimum length and a carbon handguard system. A custom rear stock which you'd have to make to maximize weight lose. A kimbers as easy or easier to get light as the actions pretty minimal weight wise and the stocks easier to make lighter. I am making up a barrel stub at work that might get me light but functionally it wouldn't out preform the AR style builds.

As for the howas. They get light but a kimber action is lighter than the howa mini. I have a mini in the above chassis that I slabbed and skeleonised the action and it was still the same weight as my kimber which has a longer barrel.

To go lighter you have to give up functionality and the ARs are hard to beat. If we could still do them I'd go that way as value for money to weight they just win.

 

[rtrevith]

I chose to go with an SSK frame and barrel. A discussion with Mike Belm led me to go with a 357 maximum. 5 lbs 9 oz and easy handling.

 

[Thegman]

I have brass and dies for that cartridge of you’re in need of them.

 

[Long Cut]

How much money are you willing to spend?

Personally, a 7# rifle is a “good” hunting weight for my personal needs and the applications this particular rifle will experience.
Spending an extra $6-800 to shave off several ounces didn’t seem like a worthwhile venture. I’d rather apply that to another weapon system to fit a different niche.

My CVA Scout in 6.5CM with a Triad Tactical stock pouch, 5 shells, knife in the pouch with 2 additional rounds on the side. A whopping 7.10#

 

[packgoatguy]

70.1oz is as light as I could get my 223 contender, including 16 inch barrel, folder stock and scope rings and a spot for a couple extra bullets. It was 87.5oz (under 5.5lbs) including an swfa ultralight 2.5-10x32 bdc, and a scythe ti can.

It is definitely the most compact option out there... and surprisingly accurate over a rest with 77tmk from stand1.

But my bolt action AR15 build is still lighter, even with the NXS 2.5-10x42, which weighs 11oz more than the swfa. And I can ring my 715 yard gong with it as long as I dial correctly for the wind.

Kimber hunter 308win cut to 16in can be in the same weight range without a lot of expense... this one would be under 90oz with the scythe ti instead of the Jolene. Would be under 87oz with a fluted barrel.

 

[z987k]

How much money are you willing to spend?

Personally, a 7# rifle is a “good” hunting weight for my personal needs and the applications this particular rifle will experience.
Spending an extra $6-800 to shave off several ounces didn’t seem like a worthwhile venture. I’d rather apply that to another weapon system to fit a different niche.

My CVA Scout in 6.5CM with a Triad Tactical stock pouch, 5 shells, knife in the pouch with 2 additional rounds on the side. A whopping 7.10#

View attachment 774988

I think we should go away from what weight is good for a hunting rifle, and more what recoil is good for a hunting rifle. If you could magically get a 308 in a 3lb gun to recoil like a 22LR, you'd have no issue with the gun weighing 3lbs.
Keeping recoil under about 15ft-lbs is what most people are looking for in a hunting rifle.

 

[packgoatguy]

I think we should go away from what weight is good for a hunting rifle, and more what recoil is good for a hunting rifle. If you could magically get a 308 in a 3lb gun to recoil like a 22LR, you'd have no issue with the gun weighing 3lbs.
Keeping recoil under about 15ft-lbs is what most people are looking for in a hunting rifle.

To your point, I've found that for maximum shootability long range (especially for kids or novice shooters), I consider the total weight of the finished rifle, including bipod/tripod, ammo in mag, ammo in sleeve, suppressor, scope, etc...

My rule of thumb all up is:
5-6 lbs, 223rem, 22arc, 6arc
7 lbs or more for 243win/6mmCreed
8 lbs or more for 6.5mm Creed
9lbs or more for 7mm-08
10lbs or more 308win/270win/6.5PRC

This is also factoring in other shootability improvements like suppressors/muzzle brakes, vertical grips, cheek risers, rear rest, Etc. I'd want my rifles to weigh a bit more if they were missing some of those factors.

That being said... for 300 yards and in, a 6lb 308win is plenty accurate and quite fun to shoot with a suppressor.

 

[ezwy]

The contender limiter seems to be barrel options for profile and cost. Cheaper lighter barrels would make them way more exciting to me. Going to try the AR route and compare it to the SSK 50

 

[ezwy]

I chose to go with an SSK frame and barrel. A discussion with Mike Belm led me to go with a 357 maximum. 5 lbs 9 oz and easy handling.View attachment 773104

I have nearly the exact same setup. Was going to try and get a 16”223 but not happy with contours/weight and prices.

 

[Trackselk]

The contender limiter seems to be barrel options for profile and cost. Cheaper lighter barrels would make them way more exciting to me. Going to try the AR route and compare it to the SSK 50

I think LRI is pretty reasonable for reprofiling barrels, threading, cerakote etc, if you want to put your TC on a diet