Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[PistolPete]

Just got a chub. What is that?

Barely making the cut

View attachment 747211

 

[180ls1]

What?! Is that thing balsa wood?

 

[RepeatPete]

Dude, that thing is sick!

Thanks!

Just got a chub. What is that?

What?! Is that thing balsa wood?

Kimber 6.5 creedmoor, 18” barrel, Talleys, SWFA ultralight, carbon fiber magazine box, titanium action screws and bolt handle, and a custom built carbon fiber stock painted to look like wood.

 

[Thegman]

Yeah, that Kimber is about the same weight as my 308 Montana...without a scope and rings that is...

 

[The Guide]

Just got a chub. What is that?

What?! Is that thing balsa wood?

See his build thread here...

Jay

Lightweight Kimber Build with Custom Carbon Fiber Stock

Time for round 2. Last year I decided to build my own stock and really enjoyed the process. I’m happy with the outcome for a first build, but wanted to try again to tweak some things and build for a different application. The first stock is documented here...

rokslide.com

 

[Thegman]

The new purpose built Solos are (almost) here! I'm not sure when they'll be on the website, but should be very soon.


They're done really well. The biggest difference is the plug is now integral to the design and things that don't really need to be there, aren't (like an overly large brass deflector). The deflector is just big enough for a left-handed shooter.

Weight is about 6.8oz, which is pretty light.

I'll be putting together my sub-3lb 223 Wylde presently and post that as well.

 

[Big_wals]

The new purpose built Solos are (almost) here! I'm not sure when they'll be on the website, but should be very soon.View attachment 747983View attachment 747985

They're done really well. The biggest difference is the plug is now integral to the design and things that don't really need to be there, aren't (like an overly large brass deflector). The deflector is just big enough for a left-handed shooter.

Weight is about 6.8oz, which is pretty light.

I'll be putting together my sub-3lb 223 Wylde presently and post that as well.

That looks pretty cool! I keep coming back to this thread and wanting to build one of these, then I have to tell myself I dont really have a need for an ultralight rifle right now. Ya’ll definitely have some sweet builds going on though.

 

[StupidLightweight]

New Solo looks good, Thegman. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully he comes up with a right-side charger next.

 

[Thegman]

That looks pretty cool! I keep coming back to this thread and wanting to build one of these, then I have to tell myself I dont really have a need for an ultralight rifle right now. Ya’ll definitely have some sweet builds going on though.

I didn't have a need for one of these either...until I built one! Haven't used one of my "proper hunting rifles" in almost two years now.

 

[Big_wals]

I didn't have a need for one of these either...until I built one! Haven't used one of my "proper hunting rifles" in almost two years now.

Oh I’m sure I would use it! We just moved down to texas in January, probably wont be doing much trekking around the mountains for a while. We’re planning on moving back to the PNW in a couple years tho, might have to start buying parts for a gman special so I can have one by the time we move.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Build a Gman Special! They’re the coolest DIY gun you can assemble. Personally, I suggest an SBR or pistol with a 12 or 12.5 barrel and a short suppressor. Choose a cartridge that’s legal where you’ll hunt. With a 5.56 and 77 TMK, it’s a 350-yard capable package.

Last thing. Don’t go crazy shaving the final ounces. If you build it to be lightweight, it’ll be as light as you need for hunting purposes.

 

[Big_wals]

Last thing. Don’t go crazy shaving the final ounces. If you build it to be lightweight, it’ll be as light as you need for hunting purposes.

Yeah, Ive been following this thread from the beginning and there is some super cool builds on here, but I dont think I’ll go as lightweight as some are. I’d like an adjustable stock so my kids could shoot it, and a 6x swfa for glass

 

[Clarktar]

The new purpose built Solos are (almost) here! I'm not sure when they'll be on the website, but should be very soon.View attachment 747983View attachment 747985
View attachment 748005

They're done really well. The biggest difference is the plug is now integral to the design and things that don't really need to be there, aren't (like an overly large brass deflector). The deflector is just big enough for a left-handed shooter.

Weight is about 6.8oz, which is pretty light.

I'll be putting together my sub-3lb 223 Wylde presently and post that as well.

Awesome! The last part that I need!

 

[Thegman]

Last thing. Don’t go crazy shaving the final ounces. If you build it to be lightweight, it’ll be as light as you need for hunting purposes.

This is good advice. It's really easy and not expensive to build an UL--UL and they work great that way. My first was 3.5 pounds without really trying too hard and that rifle worked great (which is why I stuck with the idea), and 3.5 pounds is still ridiculously lightweight.

Now I'm more or less testing the lower limits with an UL UL-UL, mostly because I'm curious about what's possible. If it shoots just as well for me, great, if not it's really easy to add weight. Also makes adding heavier triggers (but lighter pull weight), heavier optics etcetera a good option.

 

[Thegman]

Okay, I think this is my opus...I'm going to have to start finding other things to do with my time...but I've learned a lot along the way.


I was hoping for 2# 12oz and beat that by 1.4 oz. This thing is nuts. The Red Ryder was strange shouldering the first time. Even knowing kind of what to expect, this was still unbelievable. I'll start getting it set up for moose season which starts in a couple of weeks.

The new Solo 300 upper is bar none the tightest tolerance upper I've ever worked with. It fits together like a Swiss watch and there is zero play between the upper and lower. It's a really well made upper, I was really impressed with how tight everything is and how tight it fits with the lower.

Time to start getting some pictures of this sucker laying on some big animals.

 

[asilmas]

I posted some info on the 77TMK thread about my experience on trying out the 77TMK on this black bear. There was some interest in the rifle used so I'm posting some info about the whys and hows on some of what I've put together over the last year or so.

View attachment 611751

I've been carrying lightweight bolt rifles around the mountains for a long time and have thought about how to make the lightest rifle I could, just to see what's possible, if nothing else. The lightest bolt rifle I've had was a 4# 9oz 308. That was pretty costly and there didn't seem to be a way to get much lighter without a lot of machining, cutting and $$.

The AR platform seemed like a good place to look having an already lightweight aluminum upper receiver,, lightweight relatively inexpensive barrels available and all the lightweight parts available...and the ability to easily put them together.

Anyway, here's a couple I've put together. Most are still getting modified as I figure out what works best for my purposes, or have been since the pictures were taken, but this hopefully give the basic idea.

This is the rifle in the picture above that took the black bear, in it's initial iteration I put together with what I had on hand at the time. I jokingly refer to as the Red Ryder. The bare rifle is only about 12oz heavier than a Red Ryder BB gun and feels more like you're holding a BB gun than a rifle you might use for big game. It's lighter, by about 1/2 a pound, than a 22LR Henry Survival Rifle if you've ever handled one of those.

View attachment 611752

Front to back, here's what it was and some of the tweaks since then:

Wilson Combat Ultralight 5.56 barrel (now wearing a Faxon 223 Wylde pencil barrel to see if I could get 75 ELDM to shoot well at AR OAL length - still didn't work well, but the 77 TMK does, and probably would in the Wilson as well, I just didn't have any at the time)

Guntec aluminum gas block cut down and reversed to seal the gas port (cut off too much apparently as it was leaking). Put another unmodified one on for now.

NFA 5" lightweight handguard. This is probably too short for shooting off a pack and is probably too short to carry well on a sling...but it was what I had in the parts drawer. I've since put a cut down 10" version of the same on. That will be replaced with a 10.5" Jag Composites Ultralight CF handguard. The 10.5 JC handguard is a bit lighter that that 5" aluminum handguard. I have one on my 3#10oz 5.56 gasser. They're super lightweight and work well so far.

TN Arms Carbon 15 lower. These weigh 4 oz. and have threaded brass inserts in the receiver for the buffer tube/stock and hand grip. There are lowers that are even a little lighter, but they're not reinforced as well. I did have an NFA receiver crack on the top of the buffer tower on another build so decided to go with these. So far so good.

NFA polymer LPK. These have worked fine for me so far in multiple builds..

Solo 300 bolt action upper. These use a shortend, aluminum bolt carrier and don't require any springs, buffers, etc. in the buffer tube so can use any kind of stock.

A good place to mention why I decided to build as a straight pull bolt AR rather than a gasser:
A little easier to make a lighter build.
Easier to keep track of and recover brass.
Simpler than a gasser.
Not finniky like super lightweight ARs can be. I've built an ultalight AR as I mentioned above. It's a great rifle, but I do have to be sure gas is tuned for the specific load, etc.
Nothing getting dirty from the gas system.
I've hunted with bolt rifles all my life and never felt handicapped by that in any way. For the hunting I do, if I need multiple, rapid follow up shots, I've just screwed up. And, I can run this faster than any turn bolt if that matters...which it probably doesn't.

Hogue 15° grip. These only weigh 1oz and are only about $20.

A2 buffer tube with a Farrow Tech butt that attaches in place of the A2 stock. About 5oz total. There are other stocks about the same weight, but wanted to see what could be done on the cheap.

Hopefully that sums this one up okay and some here find the idea interesting. I'll post something shorter on the next build.

Wow, what a cool rifle!

 

[JBradley500]

@Thegman time to build a pistol version and try to get 1lb 15oz lol

 

[StupidLightweight]

@Thegman must be in Paris, because he just set an Olympic record. Nice job, sir. You should nickname this build "Black Gold" for the honorary medal we've bestowed upon you.

 

[StupidLightweight]

@Thegman time to build a pistol version and try to get 1lb 15oz lol

Be careful what you wish for. If there's a way, he'll do it...and there's always a way.

 

[Thegman]

Be careful what you wish for. If there's a way, he'll do it...and there's always a way.

I'm sure some nut will come up with something that makes this look like a boat anchor!

...but this is beyond what I ever imagined possible for a hunting rifle...provided I can shoot this damn thing at this weight, we'll see. Just scored some 77TMKs, so I'm almost back in business.