Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[StupidLightweight]

If anyone wants a shorty .300 BLK tube for their build, there's one on GunBroker for $80.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1079274764

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

Good rainy day to go back to the range. All shots at 50 yards off a bench, testing without a muzzle device. All with 10s between shots and 3min between groups. Overall still seeing average 2-3"groups at 50 yards. Booooo.

1st is two 5 shot groups with 75gr aac hpbt ammo. Adjusted scope 8 clicks down between groups.

2nd is a 10shot group with hornady 68gr hpbt

3rd is a 10shot group with pmc xtac 62gr LAP

4th is 62gr fed fusion

5th is 55gr fmj

6th is a different shooter with the 75gr aac hpbt


guess ill tear the upper apart and rebuild with the barrel tightened at 80ft-lbs vs 60 where it is now.

 

[robtattoo]

Good rainy day to go back to the range. All shots at 50 yards off a bench, testing without a muzzle device. All with 10s between shots and 3min between groups. Overall still seeing average 2-3"groups at 50 yards. Booooo.

1st is two 5 shot groups with 75gr aac hpbt ammo. Adjusted scope 8 clicks down between groups.
View attachment 806920
2nd is a 10shot group with hornady 68gr hpbt
View attachment 806919
3rd is a 10shot group with pmc xtac 62gr LAP
View attachment 806918
4th is 62gr fed fusion
View attachment 806917
5th is 55gr fmj
View attachment 806916
6th is a different shooter with the 75gr aac hpbt
View attachment 806915

guess ill tear the upper apart and rebuild with the barrel tightened at 80ft-lbs vs 60 where it is now.

Damn!
Hell I don't think I've ever even torqued a barrel. I usually crank it down hand right, then whack the wrench handle a couple of times with a rubber mallet.
I've never had one shoot that badly. I think you've got something else going on.
Shit, I've put 223s thru a .300blk & got better groups than that (yep, I've done it the other way too & STILL shot within 2" of my 100yd .223 group! Couldn't do it twice, mind you....)

 

[Welldone]

If anyone wants a shorty .300 BLK tube for their build, there's one on GunBroker for $80.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1079274764

Thanks
I bought it. Damn this affliction…….

 

[C Bow]

If you ever want to part with it please let me know

 

[BREAKCONTACT]

5lb 9oz as it sits, very heavy by this threads standards, but not bad for being a 20" gas gun. It's going to drop a few oz when I switch it over to the rifle buffer tube and stock.

 

[Trackselk]

@Hardly_Hangin
I wouldn't torque it over manufacturer max spec, and I don't think beyond 60 will help. I'd want to verify the scope and barrel on a different upper/rifle.

 

[Trackselk]

Define "terrible" in regards to the trigger.

I am of the belief that the lighter the rifle, the better the trigger you need.

Not necessarily lighter trigger, but not super heavy and gritty. I have a 3# CMC single stage in mine, and it's about perfect.

For me I'd say anything over 5#, but I prefer 2-3#

 

[sebastian.cassell]

Any thoughts on an UL or ULUL bolt action 223 rifle? Not quite sold on the ar style side charge ULUL rifles yet and my searching of threads hasn’t turned up many options other than a T3x or a howa mini. I’m a big fan of the kimber Adirondack rifles but they were never offered in 223 from what I can find. I am sold on the 223 for hunting big game but want a more traditional rifle to pair it with over the solo/shaw ar combo. Thanks.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Any thoughts on an UL or ULUL bolt action 223 rifle? Not quite sold on the ar style side charge ULUL rifles yet and my searching of threads hasn’t turned up many options other than a T3x or a howa mini. I’m a big fan of the kimber Adirondack rifles but they were never offered in 223 from what I can find. I am sold on the 223 for hunting big game but want a more traditional rifle to pair it with over the solo/shaw ar combo. Thanks.

I think the Howa mini is the only reasonable UL bolt action if you want a factory rifle. Otherwise a rebarreled kimber in an MPI microlite with bolt work done would be possible as well.

 

[packgoatguy]

Any thoughts on an UL or ULUL bolt action 223 rifle? Not quite sold on the ar style side charge ULUL rifles yet and my searching of threads hasn’t turned up many options other than a T3x or a howa mini. I’m a big fan of the kimber Adirondack rifles but they were never offered in 223 from what I can find. I am sold on the 223 for hunting big game but want a more traditional rifle to pair it with over the solo/shaw ar combo. Thanks.

As one who has gone down that rabbit hole, I can give you a few insights. If you search some of my posts from last spring (I think) I have details on weights of a tikka 223rem build I did. Ultimately, I switched out every part possible for titanium... cut the superlite fluted barrel down to 16 inches, lightened up a custom carbon fiber stock (down to just 20oz), fluted the bolt, the whole 9 yards. In the end, my AR15 bolt action solo300 223wylde build shoots just as well, and is 2 pounds lighter-weight...
There was a kimber Montana 223 model at one time, but they are rare on gunbroker.

Can I ask what it is about the AR15 bolt build that you don't like?

 

[sebastian.cassell]

As one who has gone down that rabbit hole, I can give you a few insights. If you search some of my posts from last spring (I think) I have details on weights of a tikka 223rem build I did. Ultimately, I switched out every part possible for titanium... cut the superlite fluted barrel down to 16 inches, lightened up a custom carbon fiber stock (down to just 20oz), fluted the bolt, the whole 9 yards. In the end, my AR15 bolt action solo300 223wylde build shoots just as well, and is 2 pounds lighter-weight...
There was a kimber Montana 223 model at one time, but they are rare on gunbroker.

Can I ask what it is about the AR15 bolt build that you don't like?

Thanks for the experience with your tikka build. Thats exactly what I was trying to avoid.
As far as the Ar15 build I am just being picky in general. I strongly dislike chassis rifles overall. I like the classic hunting rifle look of a plain stock with modern features. I killed a few deer this season with a 223 ar15 and I do have an UL gasser 223 I built in 2017 that’s 5ish lbs with a scope and can but I just don’t quite enjoy them like I do my kimber Adirondack 308 or my seekins element 300prc. I would love to be proven wrong though so I might just have to bite the bullet and put together a solo rifle. Anyone selling complete guns yet?

 

[Taudisio]

Thanks for the experience with your tikka build. Thats exactly what I was trying to avoid.
As far as the Ar15 build I am just being picky in general. I strongly dislike chassis rifles overall. I like the classic hunting rifle look of a plain stock with modern features. I killed a few deer this season with a 223 ar15 and I do have an UL gasser 223 I built in 2017 that’s 5ish lbs with a scope and can but I just don’t quite enjoy them like I do my kimber Adirondack 308 or my seekins element 300prc. I would love to be proven wrong though so I might just have to bite the bullet and put together a solo rifle. Anyone selling complete guns yet?

SCR RIFLE LOWER - FDE POLYMER

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fightlite.com

Here is an option for the lower. Appears you just build whatever upper you want with the solo300 and it should work just fine, albeit heavier than building the whole thing out yourself.

 

[packgoatguy]

Thanks for the experience with your tikka build. Thats exactly what I was trying to avoid.
As far as the Ar15 build I am just being picky in general. I strongly dislike chassis rifles overall. I like the classic hunting rifle look of a plain stock with modern features. I killed a few deer this season with a 223 ar15 and I do have an UL gasser 223 I built in 2017 that’s 5ish lbs with a scope and can but I just don’t quite enjoy them like I do my kimber Adirondack 308 or my seekins element 300prc. I would love to be proven wrong though so I might just have to bite the bullet and put together a solo rifle. Anyone selling complete guns yet?

I will say that I have a kimber hunter 308win that I lightened up (cut barrel to 16, shortened stock, removed gel) and it is one of my favorite guns to plink with. And I can't say enough good things about the seekins havak element 300wm I have... its the best "factory" rifle I've ever owned... but anymore, my "chassis" built rifles (in particular the AR15 and the ones in MDT HNT26 chassis)have been the ones that get shot the most. It's partly because I put folder stocks on them... and the kids think that's cool, and I think it's convenient... but mostly because they are lightweight, accurate, and I can customize their fit to younger Shooters when needed.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

5lb 9oz as it sits, very heavy by this threads standards, but not bad for being a 20" gas gun. It's going to drop a few oz when I switch it over to the rifle buffer tube and stock.

What handguard is that? Which barrel did you go with?

Nice rifle

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

@Hardly_Hangin
I wouldn't torque it over manufacturer max spec, and I don't think beyond 60 will help. I'd want to verify the scope and barrel on a different upper/rifle.

10-4, thanks for feedback.

 

[180ls1]

Thanks for the experience with your tikka build. Thats exactly what I was trying to avoid.
As far as the Ar15 build I am just being picky in general. I strongly dislike chassis rifles overall. I like the classic hunting rifle look of a plain stock with modern features. I killed a few deer this season with a 223 ar15 and I do have an UL gasser 223 I built in 2017 that’s 5ish lbs with a scope and can but I just don’t quite enjoy them like I do my kimber Adirondack 308 or my seekins element 300prc. I would love to be proven wrong though so I might just have to bite the bullet and put together a solo rifle. Anyone selling complete guns yet?

The 16" Howa superlite + tally lightweights + swfa 2.5-10 would put you at 5 flat.

I am building a 20" + stockys VG that may be 5 3/4lbs. My dad has a 5.5lb superlite that he loves. At the moment I am not confident my solo build will replace a traditional bolt guy for big game hunting either.

Love my 300 prc as well, close to 9lbs.

 

[packgoatguy]

Regarding the Howa Mini Action as a possible ULUL build base... has anyone any first hand experience on actual parts? For example, I've read the mini action itself weighs like 10.2oz? Is that with or without the bolt, action screws, etc? Theoretically if you had a 16 inch barrel made to the same thin profile of a kimber, that could be in the 22-24 oz range I'd guess. Put in one of the 20oz Stockys VG stock referenced above... that could be a possible sub 4lb base rifle. Don't know enough about Howa though. Too bad they don't have a stainless action option.

 

[Luke S]

I think I heard somewhere the bolt is 10 oz so it would be a bit more if correct.
I would like a UL UL bolt action but I'm working on a UL UL AR15 for now. I may not use it a ton but it will the the shortest I can go without an SBR.