Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

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Dec 16, 2020
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Idaho

Also, there is a stainless option if brownells ever gets them back into stock.
Great info! Thanks! Looks like a pretty reasonable price to get into a bolt rifle with a 4.5lb bare weight!

Does the 16 inch barrel on that barreled action come with a threaded muzzle? Any idea what thread pattern it is and the outer diameter of the barrel? Also, what was done to the Stocky's stock to get it down to 15.8oz?
 
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Jul 15, 2024
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What handguard is that? Which barrel did you go with?

Nice rifle
It's a homemade handguard. If you search my posts in this thread I document it. It'd just a round barrel nut I found with cutouts for a gas tube in it and a round section of CF tube. The clamp is what I actually made, but I found an aluminum one that I'd bet is only a few grams heavier than my home made CF one.

It's a faxon, they make the lightest 20", it's ~26oz iirc.
 
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Dec 7, 2014
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Great info! Thanks! Looks like a pretty reasonable price to get into a bolt rifle with a 4.5lb bare weight!

Does the 16 inch barrel on that barreled action come with a threaded muzzle? Any idea what thread pattern it is and the outer diameter of the barrel? Also, what was done to the Stocky's stock to get it down to 15.8oz?
I had the barrel cut and threaded, unfortunately, it only comes in a 22 inch sporter or a heavy barrel. I think my stock originally came in at 18 ounces, biggest thing was removing the recoil pad and putting on a piece of thinner foam. I did some drilling and sanding too but the weight loss was negligible. I would get the barrel channel for the bull barrel if had to do it over again.

Ultimately, it’s a fairly expensive project for a inexpensive little action, but I really enjoy the rifle.
 
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Anyone have an accurate weight on just the howa mini action? (No barrel or stock... but including everything else; bottom metal, trigger, action screws)? Or a weight on a take-off barrel? I'm curious how they compare to a kimber 84m action weight-wise.
 

ACHILLES

Lil-Rokslider
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Nov 26, 2017
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Texas
Anyone have an accurate weight on just the howa mini action? (No barrel or stock... but including everything else; bottom metal, trigger, action screws)? Or a weight on a take-off barrel? I'm curious how they compare to a kimber 84m action weight-wise.
Bare receiver 12.38 oz
223rem Bolt 9.06oz
Trigger 1.59oz
Jefferson outdoor bm with action screws 2.4oz
 
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T

Thegman

WKR
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
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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.
Some good advice given on UL 223 bolt actions. IMO, it's a waste of time and money though trying to get an UL-UL out of a bolt rifle. It will cost more than a significantly lighter UL-UL AR based rifle, but you should be able to get in the 4.5# range without too much difficulty and too much money.
 
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So...

23.03oz howa mini action (without bottom metal, but including bolt and trigger, ready to bolt into a chassis)

So, if I recall correctly on action weights for comparison:

21.1 oz kimber 84m (with fluted mountain ascent bolt, and including trigger)
22.72oz MacBros Element (including triggertech & bolt)

28.5oz Factory length 84m mountain ascent barrel in 308win

36.2oz Factory length tikka stainless lite barrel (not fluted) in 308win

Kimber Mountain Ascent 308win BA is 3lbs 1.2oz at factory length, and 2lbs 12.4oz (44.4oz) at 16 inches

Christensen Ridgeline Titanium Action 308win with 22 inch carbon fiber barrel threaded 5/8x24 (no brake) weighs 3lbs 8.5oz

Tikka 223rem tikka Barreled Action: 3lbs 9oz (factory fluted "superlite" barrel cut to 16, threaded 1/2x28 with a 5/8x24 adapter, fluted bolt, and ultralight mtngear bolt knob)
 
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Trackselk

WKR
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Oct 31, 2020
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517
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Idaho
Some good advice given on UL 223 bolt actions. IMO, it's a waste of time and money though trying to get an UL-UL out of a bolt rifle. It will cost more than a significantly lighter UL-UL AR based rifle, but you should be able to get in the 4.5# range without too much difficulty and too much money.
I agree, I spent $2&$3k on the 2 kimbers I built. Add another $1k if you count the change to 22Creed for a total of $4k on the mountain ascent, and my ULUL AR is coming in just over a pound lighter for just over $1k total, and I can swap calibers for what, $200 a barrel!?
 

Trackselk

WKR
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Oct 31, 2020
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I figured I'd post this up to help you all lose an ounce for cheap. I'm going to take one of these aluminum mags (listed at 4oz) and make a 2-3 round ULUL mag, with a finish goal of under 2oz. I may also try a pmag, but I want to window it for longer COAL, so I think the aluminum will be a lot better, and looks like it will be lighter also.
There's a good write up somewhere online on chopping mags down for "flush fit" which i can post a link for if you can't find it. I need to go find it again myself...

Here's the link for the mag:


Lastly, I've read that the old school GI aluminum mags are even lighter, if the listed weight was accurate anyhow...

Edit: also, cutting the mag to hold only 2-3 longer COAL rounds takes very little cutting, so I don't think it's going to compromise the reliability much at all
 
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