Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[sebastian.cassell]

It’s the pencil profile barrel with the .625 gas block size in 5.56 1/7 twist. I can get specific measurements if that doesn’t answer it.

 

[packgoatguy]

What's the diameter of that barrel?

I measured my bca barrel at about 12.65mm

 

[CJ19]

i am sure someone asked this question, but are there any recommendations for a ultralight standard bolt action upper that would go in these designs. I know it would add a bit more weight bit i would be willing to sacrifice a few oz for something that is my preference.

 

[HighUintas]

I measured my bca barrel at about 12.65mm

That's incredibly thin for it going all the way back to the tenon part. I would like to know why there's no bolt gun barrel contours as thin

 

[JBradley500]

I ordered a BCA. Thanks.

I need to put my spare parts together and make a backup.

 

[packgoatguy]

i am sure someone asked this question, but are there any recommendations for a ultralight standard bolt action upper that would go in these designs. I know it would add a bit more weight bit i would be willing to sacrifice a few oz for something that is my preference.

The lightest I'm aware of is the Pierce Skeke Ti Rem700 SA. 15.9oz. But it will cost you. Probably close to $2k for the action alone. There are quite a few in the 19-20oz range, including the Kimber 84m and MacBros Element.

 

[PistolPete]

The lightest I'm aware of is the Pierce Skeke Ti Rem700 SA. 15.9oz. But it will cost you. Probably close to $2k for the action alone. There are quite a few in the 19-20oz range, including the Kimber 84m and MacBros Element.

Is the Howa Mini in that 20 oz range as well? I don't know if I've ever seen an exact weight given for it.

 

[packgoatguy]

Is the Howa Mini in that 20 oz range as well? I don't know if I've ever seen an exact weight given for it.

This is a copy/paste from post # 2273:


"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)

47.3oz MacBros Element with 18 inch fluted 6mmCM barrel and Triggertech Trigger, including bolt.

I think the lightest action I've seen pics of was the kimber 84m that @StupidLightweight had skeletonized. If I remember correctly, it was about 17oz including bolt and trigger."

 

[PistolPete]

Thanks! And here I thought I'd read this entire thread...

 

[StupidLightweight]

 

[HighUintas]

View attachment 820688

Is that a 700 action? The biggest problem I can see so far with bolt actions is the lack of lightweight chassis blocks that take a standard a2 tube to add an ultralight stock. The XLR element Mg would be best, but it's very pricey and would still break 20 after adding the stock and grip.

I'm trying really hard to figure out how to do an affordable takedown stock for mine.

Other than being light, the affordability of making g a very short/takedown rifle from the AR platforms is the biggest draw for me. If I didn't want my 223 to match my main hunting rifle in form for training and familiarity purposes, I'd 100% go with the solo 300 or bca bolt action

 

[packgoatguy]

Is that a 700 action? The biggest problem I can see so far with bolt actions is the lack of lightweight chassis blocks that take a standard a2 tube to add an ultralight stock. The XLR element Mg would be best, but it's very pricey and would still break 20 after adding the stock and grip.

I'm trying really hard to figure out how to do an affordable takedown stock for mine.

Other than being light, the affordability of making g a very short/takedown rifle from the AR platforms is the biggest draw for me. If I didn't want my 223 to match my main hunting rifle in form for training and familiarity purposes, I'd 100% go with the solo 300 or bca bolt action

I'll answer the question about the lightest Chassis options in a Rem700 footprint (StupidLightweight will address this I'm sure, but I believe that pic is of his custom skeletonized Kimber 84m).

The lightest Chassis system I'm aware of is the HNT26. But you have to ditch their heavy stock and convert it to a buffertube style stock. Mine came in at 16.9oz including my diy (3oz) buffertube stock. That was with the Arca forend.

One thing to note... Chassis systems have one additional weight advantage over traditional stocks. They don't require a bottom metal.

So, theoretically you could build a 3.25lb (51.9 oz) bolt action as follows:

18.5oz (pierce skele ti, 18.5oz including triggertech trigger)
16.9oz modified HNT26 chassis
16.5oz "theoretical" 16 inch pencil profile barrel (if you can find a barrel maker willing to go down as small as the BCA ar15 barrel).

You would also need to account for the weight of action screws and barrel nut I'd guess.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Is that a 700 action? The biggest problem I can see so far with bolt actions is the lack of lightweight chassis blocks that take a standard a2 tube to add an ultralight stock.

That's the switch-barrel Kimber 84m mentioned a few posts back. It was light as hell, took forever to build, and cost three or 4 times what these ARs do. It was a very sweet rifle though. Total weight with the 16-inch .308 barrel was 3 pounds, 10.6 ounces. I think that was with scope rings, too.

 

[KyleR1985]

Or you could just pull the barrel extension, and make an insert, and not require a gunsmith….thats a Satern 6x45 AR barrel in a handi rifle stub.

No gunsmith, just a dude who stayed at a holiday inn express!

 

[sebastian.cassell]

Or you could just pull the barrel extension, and make an insert, and not require a gunsmith….thats a Satern 6x45 AR barrel in a handi rifle stub.

No gunsmith, just a dude who stayed at a holiday inn express!View attachment 820811

We need details!

 

[KyleR1985]

We need details!

I’ll do a separate thread on the handi. Don’t want to derail this one. But want to wait till I shoot it before I run my mouth too much haha!


I was just saying that we don’t need to get a barrel company to profile a thin barrel - buy a pencil AR barrel. Make it fit in an action. Might not be pretty but honestly these ULUL’s are the ugliest guns I’ve owned!

 

[HighUintas]

I'll answer the question about the lightest Chassis options in a Rem700 footprint (StupidLightweight will address this I'm sure, but I believe that pic is of his custom skeletonized Kimber 84m).

The lightest Chassis system I'm aware of is the HNT26. But you have to ditch their heavy stock and convert it to a buffertube style stock. Mine came in at 16.9oz including my diy (3oz) buffertube stock. That was with the Arca forend.

One thing to note... Chassis systems have one additional weight advantage over traditional stocks. They don't require a bottom metal.

So, theoretically you could build a 3.25lb (51.9 oz) bolt action as follows:

18.5oz (pierce skele ti, 18.5oz including triggertech trigger)
16.9oz modified HNT26 chassis
16.5oz "theoretical" 16 inch pencil profile barrel (if you can find a barrel maker willing to go down as small as the BCA ar15 barrel).

You would also need to account for the weight of action screws and barrel nut I'd guess.

That's the switch-barrel Kimber 84m mentioned a few posts back. It was light as hell, took forever to build, and cost three or 4 times what these ARs do. It was a very sweet rifle though. Total weight with the 16-inch .308 barrel was 3 pounds, 10.6 ounces. I think that was with scope rings, too.

Are there any threads with the details of these chassis? I'd thought of the hnt26 doing a buffer tube stock, but that hnt is wayyyyy more than I'd spend and not sure how the connection would happen. . I was thinking the XLR or lss may not be too bad, if I absolutely have to have a takedown stock at some point

 

[KyleR1985]

Are there any threads with the details of these chassis? I'd thought of the hnt26 doing a buffer tube stock, but that hnt is wayyyyy more than I'd spend and not sure how the connection would happen. . I was thinking the XLR or lss may not be too bad, if I absolutely have to have a takedown stock at some point

I’m not sure how much I’ll use it hunting, but I have an Outlier chassis on a savage tactical action I’m building. 250.00 for chassis and the shortest forend. It weighs 20 ounces with the shortest fore end. 6 ounce buffer tube stock from ULUL build, and a 1.5 ounce AR grip, and you’re in for under 2lbs for the chassis.


A chassis is a chunk of aluminum CNC machined. Those bigger name brands are charging a huge premium. The finish on this is top notch. And it’s cheap. It’s just metal work not nuclear surgery. Like the AR’s