Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[Trackselk]

@Taudisio

Thanks, I forgot about your group on that steel back on page 89, I'm sold! Now if they improve the reticle before I buy that would be even better.
And I had just picked up another 3x9 UL leupold lately

 

[Taudisio]

@Taudisio

Thanks, I forgot about your group on that steel back on page 89, I'm sold! Now if they improve the reticle before I buy that would be even better.
And I had just picked up another 3x9 UL leupold lately

No flies on the leupold. Sometimes I wish I had 9 power to really stretch her legs…..

 

[Taudisio]

@Taudisio

Thanks, I forgot about your group on that steel back on page 89, I'm sold! Now if they improve the reticle before I buy that would be even better.
And I had just picked up another 3x9 UL leupold lately

I forgot I took these photos. The deer were around 120-150 yards IIRC, the bobcat was at 65ish. I did not shoot any of those animals. Should give you a good idea of the reticle on an animal. It’s difficult to take a photo while shouldering the rifle with the other and trying to line everything up.

 

[Trackselk]

I forgot I took these photos. The deer were around 120-150 yards IIRC, the bobcat was at 65ish. I did not shoot any of those animals. Should give you a good idea of the reticle on an animal. It’s difficult to take a photo while shouldering the rifle with the other and trying to line everything up.

Hmm, if thats under 150 looks like 300+ will be pretty challenging, but that 4 round group you posted looks GTG

 

[goalie]

The 3x at 300 yards was about as far as my old eyes were gonna go, and 200ish would be my limit for deer with this optic. I'm mainly woods, and the one place I can shoot 300+ I'm using a 6.5 creed because it could go out to 500.

On an unrelated note, I'm super antsy to get my Solo 300 action. I should have asked about just driving over and picking it up, as they're less than 20 miles from me.

 

[Trackselk]

Glad to hear that the 3x can go 200 on deer. I wonder if anyone has more thoughts on how much better the gen 2 solo in over the original? Took me forever to get a portless barrel built, and I'm wondering if I should get a gen 2 while they're available.

 

[goalie]

Shaw portless 233 Wylde

On sale, 2 left $168.80

 

[Taudisio]

Shaw portless 233 Wylde

On sale, 2 left $168.80

Add $20 shipping. I really debated grabbing one.

 

[goalie]

Add $20 shipping. I really debated grabbing one.

I haven't even shot mine and I am happy with it at full price. It's LIGHT, and I have no doubts that it will shoot more than well enough for my needs in the woods.

 

[packgoatguy]

Went to order one of the remaining shaw barrels, but they were already sold out. If anyone over-bought or changes their mind on one they bought, shoot me a PM Id be interested in taking it off your hands.

 

[goalie]

Went to order one of the remaining shaw barrels, but they were already sold out. If anyone over-bought or changes their mind on one they bought, shoot me a PM Id be interested in taking it off your hands.

Hopefully them selling out in a reasonable amount of time bodes well for more "portless" offerings.

 

[Trackselk]

I like it. I'm starting to look for an ultralight optic for going into what is now known as the EMAO (East of the Mississippi Area of Operations).

Something like this optic would be great for hiking/backpacking "rambling" with the rifle when small game is the main, if any, target, but still be easily capable out to 100+ yards if needed for the odd bear or whatever.

I load 4 grains of Trail Boss under a Speer 46 grain FP for squirrels and such. Shoots about 1/2" @ 25 yards.
View attachment 729437

Thanks for the recipe! I'm wondering if the flat point will do more damage to small game if I miss the head and hit the body. I once 'exploded' a huge blue grouse with my old 300 savage (hit a branch), of course that wasn't subsonic, but the tag soup sucked regardless...
I'm hoping the subs will just punch a hole through like my 45-70 pistol rounds at 1200fps did on blackbears?

 

[Thegman]

Thanks for the recipe! I'm wondering if the flat point will do more damage to small game if I miss the head and hit the body. I once 'exploded' a huge blue grouse with my old 300 savage (hit a branch), of course that wasn't subsonic, but the tag soup sucked regardless...
I'm hoping the subs will just punch a hole through like my 45-70 pistol rounds at 1200fps did on blackbears?

They might. I figured they might make a little bigger hole for things like shooting a trapped hog or whatnot. About all I've used them for so far is squirrells. They don't seem to do any more damage than a 22LR.

Speer also makes some spitzers and spire points that I thought might do a little less damage??

SPEER 22 (.224) 45gr SPTZ BULLET Spitzer 100/bx - Graf & Sons

When you’d prefer controlled expansion over explosive terminal effects, choose Speer® Varmint Soft Points. Their Spitzer tip provides both accuracy and superior terminal performance. Great on-game performance Controlled-expansion bullet that minimizes pelt damage Spitzer, soft point, flat...

www.grafs.com

 

[Trackselk]

They might. I figured they might make a little bigger hole for things like shooting a trapped hog or whatnot. About all I've used them for so far is squirrells. They don't seem to do any more damage than a 22LR.

Speer also makes some spitzers and spire points that I thought might do a little less damage??

SPEER 22 (.224) 45gr SPTZ BULLET Spitzer 100/bx - Graf & Sons

When you’d prefer controlled expansion over explosive terminal effects, choose Speer® Varmint Soft Points. Their Spitzer tip provides both accuracy and superior terminal performance. Great on-game performance Controlled-expansion bullet that minimizes pelt damage Spitzer, soft point, flat...

www.grafs.com

Thanks again! I'm not sure on the spire points, but worth a try. Flat points are better if you're shooting through brush though.
You happen to have a speed on that load? I'm shooting for as quiet as I can without being on the ragged edge of a squib.

 

[packgoatguy]

They might. I figured they might make a little bigger hole for things like shooting a trapped hog or whatnot. About all I've used them for so far is squirrells. They don't seem to do any more damage than a 22LR.

Speer also makes some spitzers and spire points that I thought might do a little less damage??

SPEER 22 (.224) 45gr SPTZ BULLET Spitzer 100/bx - Graf & Sons

When you’d prefer controlled expansion over explosive terminal effects, choose Speer® Varmint Soft Points. Their Spitzer tip provides both accuracy and superior terminal performance. Great on-game performance Controlled-expansion bullet that minimizes pelt damage Spitzer, soft point, flat...

www.grafs.com

In regards to your subsonic recipe, have you found a source for Trailboss powder or a suitable substitute? Seems like it's out of stock everywhere. Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

 

[Thegman]

In regards to your subsonic recipe, have you found a source for Trailboss powder or a suitable substitute? Seems like it's out of stock everywhere. Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

Thanks again! I'm not sure on the spire points, but worth a try. Flat points are better if you're shooting through brush though.
You happen to have a speed on that load? I'm shooting for as quiet as I can without being on the ragged edge of a squib.

I haven't seen Trailboss either, I'm still using my first container, it seems to last forever. There are a lot of other powders that will work fine. Unique, Red Dot, Extra Lite and Clays are a few that I've used and they all work pretty well. Extra Lite is probably the fastest and the bulkiest of those.

I'm not sure of the velocity on the 4 grains of Trailboss, but I think it's pretty close to normal 22LR velocity, probably not quite sub-sonic. 4 grains was very accurate in my barrels so I just settled on that. 3 grains or so worked too, it just wasn't quite as accurate for me, it would probably be sub-sonic though.

A couple of other points: All of these loads tend to be dirtier than normal rifle loads, probably in part because they can't maintain pressure very long down the bore. Before going back to my normal hunting loads, I usually run a dry patch through the bore to remove some of the soft carbon they tend to leave behind. Would probably clean itself out after one or two shots, but I'd rather it not be there if my next shots might be at something way out there, though it probably wouldn't matter at all for closer shots, within 100 yards or so. It may not matter at all, I haven't tested that very much, but assume it would be better to not have that variable in the bore.

 

[ezwy]

It was suggested to me to post my results from my bullet testing of the 6x45 for those seeing this in the future. So, I first started off by getting and cutting bullets open to see their construction first hand.

From left to right
90gr Hornady eldx, which is too long for my chamber
87gr Hornady vmax
90gr nosler ballistic tip
80gr nosler ballistic tip
90gr Sierra gamechanger, also too long
85gr Sierra hpbt-“medium game hunting”
85gr speer spbt-also designed for medium game

From the one photo I have seen of the .224-77gr Sierra tmk cross sectioned like so, it appears to be constructed most like the eldx.

I have been thinking a lot about the 6x45 a lot since .243 is the minimum cal in my state for elk, black bear etc. for a light rifle but more so for a kid friendly elk rifle. Now that you have had yours for a while:

Would you be confident on short range elk with the 87 gr v max? Or look at other options?

Anything you would change barrel wise?
I’m looking at x-caliber 16 or 18” spaghetti profile, no gas port. They have a 7.5, 7.7, and 1:8” twists? Are you happy with that twist with the 80-95gr bullets?

I think those are my biggest questions at the moment. If not for the state law I think I would be happy sticking with 5.56 heavies but the 6x45 seems like the easy button for this platform being a do-all kids rifle/ ul packer where I’m at. Thanks

 

[Trackselk]

A couple of other points: All of these loads tend to be dirtier than normal rifle loads, probably in part because they can't maintain pressure very long down the bore. Before going back to my normal hunting loads, I usually run a dry patch through the bore to remove some of the soft carbon they tend to leave behind. Would probably clean itself out after one or two shots, but I'd rather it not be there if my next shots might be at something way out there, though it probably wouldn't matter at all for closer shots, within 100 yards or so. It may not matter at all, I haven't tested that very much, but assume it would be better to not have that variable in the bore.

This might be a good place for the .177 boresnake that I keep at camp in case anyone sticks their muzzle in the snow or mud. Works for all calibers without putting a ton of friction on the delicate crown.

 

[Taudisio]

Would you be confident on short range elk with the 87 gr v max? Or look at other options?

Anything you would change barrel wise?
I’m looking at x-caliber 16 or 18” spaghetti profile, no gas port. They have a 7.5, 7.7, and 1:8” twists? Are you happy with that twist with the 80-95gr bullets?

I think those are my biggest questions at the moment. If not for the state law I think I would be happy sticking with 5.56 heavies but the 6x45 seems like the easy button for this platform being a do-all kids rifle/ ul packer where I’m at. Thanks

Based solely on the 4 shots through deer this year, I am torn. I did not get the shot angle I would have liked. 3 of the 4 shots punched through and through, suggesting it would do just fine on an elk. The first one I hit the big buck with, I’m up in the air on. I thought the shot was broadside square in the ribs. It was farther back, and I think he was slightly quartering to me (think ribs/one lung/liver /diaphram). There was no discernible damage to the far side ribs. That said, it was only 60 yards, so higher velocity.

I really want to shoot a few more deer to get better data before I would take it on a bull hunt just based on the time and effort a bull hunt takes from me.

Another member on here sent me 30, 95gr TMKs and I got them up to 2664fps mv from my 16” 1/8 twist barrel. I have not shot them for accuracy and verified they aren’t key holing, but I think they will do fine with my faster twist and slower velocity. I would be happy and feel more confident shooting an elk with those at 2625fps, as that gets the impact velocity higher than I will ever need with the accuracy at ranges I can achieve with the rifle. An 18” barrel will give even more leeway with loads/mv, with the sacrifice of the weight. I am having to really push the little cartridge to get what I want with a 16” barrel, well above what the book says is maximum.

All that to say, I definitely think it will kill anything. How fast whatever you shoot will die, how big the blood trail will be, the max effective range-that’s all up for interpretation and some speculation at this point based on what I have seen.
If you aren’t afraid to have slower mv or push your loads pretty hot, the 16” will do fine. When I find more 95gr, I will have some loads/groups dialed for next season. But I will definitely be shooting at least one deer with the 87gr vmax next season.

 

[goalie]

Solo 300 is shipped.

Time to load up some 77's to shoot next week.