Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

Joined
Feb 16, 2021
Messages
1,359
Location
Eastern Oregon
Great list. A couple of small points:

If you're using a Jag handguard, you won't need the Solo barrel nut unless you're planning on also running it without a handguard at times (?).

I think the Faxon pencil barrel is about 19.5 oz, off the top of my head.

Look forward to seeing the build!
Yeah I wasn't sure and went ahead and placed that order to start checking things off the list. Got to choosing a handguard and realized I didn't need it.

Max range?
Eh, 300ish. Being a predator focused build it'll more likely be used closer range but I'll push the limits for fun at the range.

Initial thoughts would be

SWFA 2.5-10x32 at 9.5oz
Leupold 4x28 at 7.5oz

Spent a chunk of change on two RS1.2's this year and now this build so I'm looking for a budget friendly option for sure.
 
Last edited:
OP
T

Thegman

WKR
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
720
Yeah I wasn't sure and went ahead and placed that order to start checking things off the list. Got to choosing a handguard and realized I didn't need it.


Eh, 300ish. Being a predator focused build it'll more likely be used closer range but I'll push the limits for fun at the range.

Initial thoughts would be

SWFA 2.5-10x32 at 9.5oz
Leupold 4x28 at 7.5oz

Spent a chunk of change on two RS1.2's this year and now this build so I'm looking for a budget friendly option for sure.
If you don't think you'll need the ranging reticle, I'd lean towards the 4x for simplicity (and maybe reliability) at under 300 yards.
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,043
Location
Oregon
Yeah I wasn't sure and went ahead and placed that order to start checking things off the list. Got to choosing a handguard and realized I didn't need it.


Eh, 300ish. Being a predator focused build it'll more likely be used closer range but I'll push the limits for fun at the range.

Initial thoughts would be

SWFA 2.5-10x32 at 9.5oz
Leupold 4x28 at 7.5oz

Spent a chunk of change on two RS1.2's this year and now this build so I'm looking for a budget friendly option for sure.
For me with a similar build, I'm thinking I'd like to be effective at 400yds. It is terminal out to almost 500, so that gives me some wiggle room.
Yea, for both of you, a fixed 3x-5x. The leupold is a great choice, I have been having a blast with the primary arms micro prism 5x. I would think the 3x would be great for the same roll you guys are looking at.
Everyone that has shot my rifle has made (nearly) every hit out to 400 yards. The 500+ line gets really iffy depending on the shooter. I use the reticle spacing provided, when sighted in 1.5” high at 100, it’s been pretty spot on out to a little over 600 yards, but your load/bullet/velocity would vary on that.

IMG_4044.jpeg
This is my 1 spotter and 3 shot group at 300 from the videos posted earlier. All 4 under 2.25” with the 5x.
 

gtriple

WKR
Joined
Dec 15, 2021
Messages
1,594
Location
South Carolina
Yea, for both of you, a fixed 3x-5x. The leupold is a great choice, I have been having a blast with the primary arms micro prism 5x. I would think the 3x would be great for the same roll you guys are looking at.
Everyone that has shot my rifle has made (nearly) every hit out to 400 yards. The 500+ line gets really iffy depending on the shooter. I use the reticle spacing provided, when sighted in 1.5” high at 100, it’s been pretty spot on out to a little over 600 yards, but your load/bullet/velocity would vary on that.

View attachment 769279
This is my 1 spotter and 3 shot group at 300 from the videos posted earlier. All 4 under 2.25” with the 5x.
How well have you been able to interpolate between hashes at intermediate ranges?
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2021
Messages
1,359
Location
Eastern Oregon
A fixed 6 in single digit ounces would be awesome. That's where my Mavens sit pretty much full time.

Primary Arms has one at 11.7 oz. But at that weight class might as well go Leupold 2-7x33 at 11.1 oz.

Seems like the Aero cantilevered mount is still the only lightweight, cantilevered option out there. Just really hate the way the rings clamp.
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,043
Location
Oregon
How well have you been able to interpolate between hashes at intermediate ranges?
The hardest POA is the 200 yard line for me. Aiming with the bottom of the chevron is not my favorite. Luckily I’m not trying to shoot anything so small that there isn’t some wiggle room. There are “50 yard hash marks” for the in between ranges. I just think of “gapping” the same as it is with my pins on my bow. It hasn’t been an issue at ranges I would use the gun for hunting. If the opportunity arises next weekend, I’ll let you know how it does on deer sized targets. I haven’t had many issues hitting ground squirrels at/under 100 yards. I just finished reloading 40 rounds for it. Maybe I’ll put the plate at 230-270/330-370/430-470 to play with and verify she is ready for deer.
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,043
Location
Oregon
A fixed 6 in single digit ounces would be awesome. That's where my Mavens sit pretty much full time.

Primary Arms has one at 11.7 oz. But at that weight class might as well go Leupold 2-7x33 at 11.1 oz.

Seems like the Aero cantilevered mount is still the only lightweight, cantilevered option out there. Just really hate the way the rings clamp.
This is from the specs on the 5x. All the various scope height mounts included that you could ask for, that are included in the price (probably not the weight provided though). The 5x has a tight eye box, in the reviews I watched, the 3x has a much larger eye box.
IMG_4056.jpeg
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2021
Messages
1,359
Location
Eastern Oregon
Alright I'm sold on the Primary Arms 5x. Got it ordered. Theoretical base weight looks like 4.2 # and total weight scoped, suppressed and loaded 5.7 #. Weighed my tikka last night and it's 9 # scoped, suppressed and loaded.

Most obvious part to shave weight on is the AGP folder. We'll see if I like it too much to change it.
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,043
Location
Oregon
Alright I'm sold on the Primary Arms 5x. Got it ordered. Theoretical base weight looks like 4.2 # and total weight scoped, suppressed and loaded 5.7 #. Weighed my tikka last night and it's 9 # scoped, suppressed and loaded.

Most obvious part to shave weight on is the AGP folder. We'll see if I like it too much to change it.
If you don’t like it, let me know. My 3 pound 5.56 is wearing a red dot and I’d love to have the ability to stretch her legs.
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,043
Location
Oregon
Have you posted info about this rifle? I don't remember it.
I thought so. I was shooting it without the gas block for a while before it arrived. I haven’t touched it since the 6x45 barrel showed up though. Faxon 5.56, smoke composites short/open stock, holosun SCRS, 3lb 10oz with a loaded 10 round magazine. A good 250 yards and under setup.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3006.jpeg
    IMG_3006.jpeg
    480.5 KB · Views: 73
  • Resized_20240208_171943.jpeg
    Resized_20240208_171943.jpeg
    55.6 KB · Views: 76
  • IMG_3002.jpeg
    IMG_3002.jpeg
    817.4 KB · Views: 74

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,043
Location
Oregon
Well, some lessons learned while shooting, I only had 198yards to shoot at in this specific spot. For those that were wondering with the primary arms 5x, this is about what the chevron and my hold looked like at 198 yards, wind was approx 10mph from 2 O’clock. I could see the lid and the bottom of the bottle with the chevron, this would be zoomed in as it’s quite small, but you get the idea of the wiggle room and how small your target would have to be to be out of that “fudge zone”. I’d say 3 of those Gatorade bottles in a row would be a rough “deer lung”
IMG_4064.jpeg
 
OP
T

Thegman

WKR
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
720
Chalk up another one for the Little Big Gun. This was taken at about 54 yards.

I've climbed up and down big ass mountains four days this week, I'm really appreciating carrying this little flyweight...it's so light a couple of times I had to reach to my side to see if I'd left it in the truck.
20240928_165446.jpg
 
Top