Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[HighUintas]

That little SBR is the kind of thing I want to build. Just need to prioritize...
Hope I don't derail things but that Tikka idea looks cool. If you could turn the barrel down it would appear that 4 pound Tikka would be possible. Not UL UL but I'd like it for an all around hunting rifle.

I'm not actually going to attempt to file down my barrel myself. It's easy enough to do with octagon barrels and time, but without a large a contoured round barrel could be a disaster. Maybe if I burn a barrel out sometime soon I'll try it on that.

I'm thinking that next time I get a new barrel, I may get a profit from McGowen. Their Douglas featherweight contour looks the lightest, at 32oz for a 22". Depending on caliber, you'd cut 1-1.5oz per inch so it could potentially be at 24 oz or less if also heavily fluted. Their prices are not bad compared to others for including fluting.

Throw in UM's skeletonizing work and you're looking at a 4-4.25lb bare Tikka. It may not be a bad investment, although pricey, if doing a 223 since you can shoot the barrel for nearly forever. The stock is going to be less than ideal though.

I'm going to put the stock on my Tikka 6.5cm as is to see what the felt recoil is like. That one currently shoots 140s in the 2500fps range with a 21" barrel.

 

[packgoatguy]

Could you please tell me more about this subsonic 77gr?

Atomic ammo makes it

 

[packgoatguy]

Could you please tell me more about this subsonic 77gr?

Atomic Subsonic 223 Remington Ammo 77 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Box

Atomic Ammunition’s 223 Remington Subsonic is unlike any .223 Rem ammunition. It is quieter than most .22 Long Rifle ammo, has virtually no felt...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[z987k]

1st blood with the little 1.9lb 5.56.

60 yards with a subsonic 77gr.

Cottontail for the stewpot.

I've thought about using those for real spooky ptarmigan at 100-125yds. Is it accurate enough for that?

 

[packgoatguy]

I've thought about using those for real spooky ptarmigan at 100-125yds. Is it accurate enough for that?

I've found them very accurate in my rifle. But might be hard to judge drop past 100 yards

 

[Taudisio]

1st blood with the little 1.9lb 5.56.

60 yards with a subsonic 77gr.

Cottontail for the stewpot.

I have been chewing on making a solo pistol. I know @Thegman had success with the 73 or 75eldm but it wasn’t exiting/penetrating as consistently as the 77tmk. I wonder if the lower velocity would be a better match for the slightly more “splashy” bullet. Chopping my faxon pencil barrel at the gas port may be in order….

 

[packgoatguy]

Il

IF I do another rifle I might SBR it. A Tikka seems to make more sense for that than a Kimber. The fact that I could get a Tikka almost as light seems like a good deal.

I don't own a Tikka or a Kimber. A UL UL is next on the agenda.

I'll warn you... once you carry an ULUL around for a bit (let alone an SBR) every other rifle will feel ridiculously heavy and way too long by comparison. It kind of spoils ya.

 

[Trackselk]

Il

I'll warn you... once you carry an ULUL around for a bit (let alone an SBR) every other rifle will feel ridiculously heavy and way too long by comparison. It kind of spoils ya.

This is so true! My once light marlin 336 feels like a monster beast to me know, and now it and the tikka are sold or for sale...

 

[Luke S]

Yeah I might build a UL UL and call it good. Only issue is some kids like my bolt action better than my AR to shoot. I actually feel like I shoot my traditional bolt action more constantly as well. Not sure why.
So I might stop with my UL UL backpack rifle IF I shoot it well. If not I'll probably try some kind of bolt action build.

 

[packgoatguy]

I have been chewing on making a solo pistol. I know @Thegman had success with the 73 or 75eldm but it wasn’t exiting/penetrating as consistently as the 77tmk. I wonder if the lower velocity would be a better match for the slightly more “splashy” bullet. Chopping my faxon pencil barrel at the gas port may be in order….

These little atomic 77otm bullets at subsonic velocity don't seem to open up at all. Normally if I shoot a bunny with a 22lr I'll get pretty significant trauma, large wounds. But this one today was 22cal hole in and 22cal hole out. Heard the bullet ricochet when it hit the rock behind it. Perfect for bunny shots when I want the meat.

As for the 77tmk, I get 2230fps with my 8 inch barrel (2750 same ammo in a 16 inch barrel) I think a 10 inch barrel would get closer to 2400fps. I've heard the 77tmk is reliably expanding down to 1800fps, which gets me past 250 yards with the 8 inch barrel. With a 10 inch barrel, would get it to 380 yards I'd guess.

 

[Taudisio]

These little atomic 77otm bullets at subsonic velocity don't seem to open up at all. Normally if I shoot a bunny with a 22lr I'll get pretty significant trauma, large wounds. But this one today was 22cal hole in and 22cal hole out. Heard the bullet ricochet when it hit the rock behind it. Perfect for bunny shots when I want the meat.

As for the 77tmk, I get 2230fps with my 8 inch barrel (2750 same ammo in a 16 inch barrel) I think a 10 inch barrel would get closer to 2400fps. I've heard the 77tmk is reliably expanding down to 1800fps, which gets me past 250 yards with the 8 inch barrel. With a 10 inch barrel, would get it to 380 yards I'd guess.

I was more referring to big game hunting only. The 73gr would probably be a perfect match for the slower velocity. The 69tmk would also probably fill the role as well.

I think with my 8.3” hand guard, a 9-10” barrel would be my smartest option for unsuppressed, but the gas journal for the faxon would still be there. I wouldn’t shoot it unsuppressed anyway so the end length wouldn’t matter as long as the suppressor clears the handguard.

 

[HighUintas]

Yeah I might build a UL UL and call it good. Only issue is some kids like my bolt action better than my AR to shoot. I actually feel like I shoot my traditional bolt action more constantly as well. Not sure why.
So I might stop with my UL UL backpack rifle IF I shoot it well. If not I'll probably try some kind of bolt action build.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I Really want to dive into one of these ULUL, but I have never actually shot an AR style rifle and don't know that I would like carrying one around when hunting, especially a 223. I'm not quite there yet. If I could have a 223 Tikka and a 223 ULUL, I would.

Hunting and shooting a bull with my 243 this year was a huge step haha.

 

[HighUintas]

I picked up the local Tikka 223 SS barrel today. I figured I'd resell it for a profit to put towards a ULUL if I don't pursue my 223 Tikka idea haha.

It is 39.8oz. regular lite contour. I believe it would lose about 1.5 or 1.6oz if I cut it to 16", potentially getting it to 30oz.

 

[packgoatguy]

I'm kinda in the same boat. I Really want to dive into one of these ULUL, but I have never actually shot an AR style rifle and don't know that I would like carrying one around when hunting, especially a 223. I'm not quite there yet. If I could have a 223 Tikka and a 223 ULUL, I would.

Hunting and shooting a bull with my 243 this year was a huge step haha.

Well, if you're ever in Eastern Idaho, shoot me a PM and you can come shoot my ulul rifles.

 

[HighUintas]

Well, if you're ever in Eastern Idaho, shoot me a PM and you can come shoot my ulul rifles.

Will do!

 

[HighUintas]

I added a thermarest butt pad.

I had cut the lop short for my kids awhile back... I think using the internal spacer and adding the foam it will be roughly 12.75 or 13. A little short, but the eye relief on my swfa UL is short when shooting prone. It should work .... And feels good enough to work for a little more recoil!

 

[packgoatguy]

In regards to the PhantomDefense NAS3 cased 77gr ammo noted previously... I also saw this on their website.

300 AAC Blackout - "Spicy Boi" 85 gr Maker NAS3+ - 50 CT

Experience the 300 AAC Blackout 85 gr "Spicy Boi." Designed for CQB and short-barrel platforms, it delivers controlled penetration, superior ballistics, and lightweight Nas3 casings for accuracy and durability. Perfect for self-defense.

phantomdefense.co

An 85gr 30cal at 2450fps in a 5.5 inch barrel... thats pretty impressive isn't it? How does this compare to what's been seen out of the 300hammr?

 

[packgoatguy]

LOL I just realized my 15x meopta binos weigh more than my rifle!