Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[goalie]

45/70 and 30/30 single shots. I'll change it up based on how much walking will be involved

 

[Clarktar]

6UM, 223, 30-06, 375ruger, 450 Marlin.

And now this solo..... But after playing with the single shot I curious about a light weight gasser....

 

[Luke S]

Interesting you guys love your UL UL rifles so much. I had a AR that was a bit lighter than my 308 but I just didn't like the awkward shape so it didn't get much use. But these UL UL builds look light enough to overcome that (and using a smaller scope might help I suspect). Waiting to get home to some parts.

 

[robtattoo]

I ain't admitting how many rifles I've got. But, I regularly hunt with 3: My 2 Tikkas in .223 & 6.5x55 and my lightweight, custom 700 in .358.
My ULUL, being a .300 Ham'r, is more of a versatile replacement for a .30-30 Realistically is a sub-200yd gun. If (when) I can afford an ultralight 6x45 barrel, it'll get far more carry time.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

I called Henry repeating arms yesterday and talked to a sales guy about the long ranger express. Besides cost and weighing 7 pounds bare, the barrel has a 1:9 twist.

Basically i tried to convince him to offer just the action so we could buy it and put our own ultralight 1-8 barrel and carbon fiber stock on it. The new "supreme" thing allegedly takes ar mags. they are "tiptoeing"into the tactical space. But its still in design.

How cool would it be to have a ULUL lever action 223

 

[gtriple]

Great question!

I've had a lot of rifles come and go over time, but the current survivors ready to go, other than Solos, are Tikka Superlites in 223 and 30-06 and my favorite, a Kimber Montana in 308. None of those have come out of the safe for a minimum of two years now (the Kimber is really the only one I used regularly for the last 4 or 5 years). - Oh yeah, I have a Ruger American 300 Blk and a couple of ARs, including an ultralight gasser. The gasser does go on snowmachine wolf patrol in the winter, but that's about it.

I run through the same thinking. I have a 700 Ti action that hasn't been used for years. I often think about using it to build some sort of ultralight bolt rifle in some .224 or 6mm caliber, but then ask myself if I'd actually use it. I may do that eventually "just because". The only reason I haven't is that I keep coming back to "but why?".

That's where I'm at too. The only time I could see myself needing another rifle is if I'm confident that I'll be shooting over 400yds or if a 22 cal is not legal.

That kind of narrows down my rifle needs. I've been choosing between building a 22cm or a 6cm. The 6 sounds like the winner.

 

[Taudisio]

45/70 and 30/30 single shots. I'll change it up based on how much walking will be involved

I forgot about my lever guns. I have 1 or 5 of those in 4 calibers

 

[Deere90]

What’s the best straight pull action for these light weight builds?

 

[Thegman]

What’s the best straight pull action for these light weight builds?

Solo 300

 

[gtriple]

What’s the best straight pull action for these light weight builds?

Gen II Solo 300 upper (no barrel)

• Manually operated, straight pull • Stainless steel bolt handle • Includes bolt carrier assembly • 5.56/300 Blk sized bolt head • Mil-spec Ejection Port Cover • Accepts AR-15 barrel extensions • Weight: 12oz

solo300.com

 

[Thegman]

That's where I'm at too. The only time I could see myself needing another rifle is if I'm confident that I'll be shooting over 400yds or if a 22 cal is not legal.

That kind of narrows down my rifle needs. I've been choosing between building a 22cm or a 6cm. The 6 sounds like the winner.

Similar for me. I was thinking 22 BR or 6mm BR just to use the .478 bolt...but I rarely have to shoot beyond 300 yards so it just doesn't make much practical sense.

And I now seem to have a decent 88 ELDM load that should be at 1,800 fps at 500 yards. I'm thinking this barrel might do well with the 75 and 80 ELDM as well. That would get me out to 550 or so. If that proves to be the case, it -really- doesn't make much practical sense to spend the time and money on the turn bolt.

 

[packgoatguy]

Let me ask the other Solo UL hunters.... what other rifles do you actually use and/or when would you ever not use your Solo?

My predicament is this... I have several other really nice rifles... Tikkas in 7prc, 6.5prc, .223. Fieldcraft 6.5cm. And I want to build either a 22CM or 6CM Tikka. But I'm just not sure I'll want to carry any of these rifles in the field when my Solo 223 should be a 400yd killer at 1-4 lbs lighter than all of the others.

My ULUL solo300 build (223wylde) is setup for semi-long range (dialing Scope, arca for a tripod, adjustable stock cheek riser, nicer trigger, etc.) It's easy to stay in the 1moa range out to 400 yards, and I can hit my 500 and 725 yard gongs without much to-do... but wind plays a big role. It doesn't take much wind with the 77tmk bullets I'm using before It gets more challenging to get first round hits.

In contrast, my 6mmCM and 6.5cm rifles are far more forgiving when it comes to windy conditions with the 108eld and 140eld respectively... so, based on my velocities, and a comfort zone for reasonable wind calls, I consider my 223ul a 400-450 yard rifle, the 6.5cm a 550-600 yard rifle, and the 6mmCM a 600-650 yard rifle.

My set up takes into consideration, lots of youth hunters and older persons using them, and windy Idaho High Desert conditions, for mule deer, elk, bear, and wolf primarily. Shots are mostly in the 300 to 500 yard range, with a few above or below that.

Ultimately for my personal use, my 223 ULUL gets carried the most... but if I need a rifle for a dedicated trip to help a kid get their elk... I'm probably grabbing the 6.5creedmoor setup (it is heavier to carry, but easy to shoot accurately). Case in point, my neighbor turned 70 this year, and drew a bull elk tag, and I offered to help him. He was able to make a 455 yard 1 shot drop kill shot with that 6.5cm, having almost no experience behind that particular rifle. It is very shooter friendly, so it gets used.


These are the rifles that get the most use in my camp.


223rem/wylde ULUL
84.6oz (including Scope, Suppressor, Mag, folder stock, Scope Rings, Scope Caps, dope charts, Gizzelle trigger, arca rail)
77tmk 2750fps (Stand1)
16 inch barrel
Solo300 Strait Pull AR
Folding stock
NIGHTFORCE NXS 2.5-10x42
Scythe Ti Suppressor

308win kimber
92.6oz (including Scope, Suppressor, Mag, Scope caps, rings, ammo sleeve, dope charts)
175gr Terminal Ascent 2460fps
168 Eld Subsonic grouse load
16 inch barrel
Kimber hunter (modified)
Swfa ultralight 2.5-10x32 bdc
Resilient Jolene Suppressor

6mm Creedmoor
106oz (including Scope, Suppressor, folder stock, mag, Scope caps, rings, dope charts, ammo sleeve)
108eldm 2855fps n555 load
18 inch Barrel
Full custom (Rem700sa clone... MacBros Element action, K&P barrel, fluted at LRI, HNT26 chassis with diy folder stock)
NIGHTFORCE NXS 2.5-10X42
TBAC Ultra7 suppressor

6.5 Creedmoor
121oz (including Scope, Suppressor, folder stock, mag, Scope caps, rings, dope charts, ammo sleeve)
140eldm, 2650fps RL16 load
16 inch barrel
Semi-Custom Tikka (factory superlite barrel cut to 16in, bolt fluted by LRI, Ti bolt knob, ti mag release, ti trigger screw, hnt26 chassis)
TRIJICON Credo 2.5-15x42
TBAC Magnus suppressor

 

[goalie]

I'm just here to whine about the pile of parts (everything but the Solo 300 action) sitting on my workbench taunting me while we processed a few deer last night in my shop. It's not like I NEED it anytime soon, but having everything else is making me squirrely.

 

[BasicUtahrd95]

Great question!

I've had a lot of rifles come and go over time, but the current survivors ready to go, other than Solos, are Tikka Superlites in 223 and 30-06 and my favorite, a Kimber Montana in 308. None of those have come out of the safe for a minimum of two years now (the Kimber is really the only one I used regularly for the last 4 or 5 years). - Oh yeah, I have a Ruger American 300 Blk and a couple of ARs, including an ultralight gasser. The gasser does go on snowmachine wolf patrol in the winter, but that's about it.

I run through the same thinking. I have a 700 Ti action that hasn't been used for years. I often think about using it to build some sort of ultralight bolt rifle in some .224 or 6mm caliber, but then ask myself if I'd actually use it. I may do that eventually "just because". The only reason I haven't is that I keep coming back to "but why?".

I would love some more details on what parts you used to build your UL gasser. How does the weight compare to your straight pull solo? How has the reliability been?

 

[gtriple]

I'm just here to whine about the pile of parts (everything but the Solo 300 action) sitting on my workbench taunting me while we processed a few deer last night in my shop. It's not like I NEED it anytime soon, but having everything else is making me squirrely.

Uppers are 1-2 weeks out

 

[goalie]

Uppers are 1-2 weeks out

I know, I'm on "the list" but it doesn't make waiting any easier.

 

[Deere90]

Uppers are 1-2 weeks out

Guess I should order one now

 

[goalie]

Guess I should order one now

Email him and get on the notification list. There is no "pre order" option on the website.

 

[Thegman]

I would love some more details on what parts you used to build your UL gasser. How does the weight compare to your straight pull solo? How has the reliability been?

An ultralight gasser is actually super easy. Follow the first two builds in this thread. Use an Aero or other lightweight upper, aluminum bolt carrier (I like the DSA), adjustable gas block, the same stock as build #2 and pull the weights out of the buffer. Mine is 3# 10oz. Could pretty easily hit about 3# 7oz or less with a Smoke Composites stock. So that puts it about 13-16oz heavier than my lightest Solo.

The Solo can get away with a lighter handguard and stock as neither need to function around a gas system, and ultimately a lighter barrel all else being equal, as they don't require a gas journal or gas block.

I haven't shot it a ton, but it has been totally reliable. The gas does need to be tuned to the load to minimize it beating itself up from being over-gassed, but once that's done it has been 100% reliable.

A friend used it a couple of years ago on Kodiak to take a couple of deer, I used it on a black bear, but other than maybe a couple of coyotes and miscellaneous stuff, I think that's about it, and it actually pre-dates any of my Solos.

 

[C Bow]

I had a Kimber Arondak I built 5 lb 9 oz loaded with a 4.5 x 14 x 40 Vx3 in only cal I have hunted with since the 70s as it was what I shot in service I gave it to sheep guide after killing sheep