Ultralight Ultralight Rifles

[Johnagrant6]

I recall some very light rifles in this thread a few years ago.

Thread 'So, how light can a Kimber Hunter be? A build thread.'

Jan 5, 2021

I’ve been wanting the perfect rifle for Eastern close quarters hunting. For diving down into the swamp of the property I hunt, and for tracking deer, for myself and friends.

Criteria were light, short, and hard hitting, as well as not to pretty to worry about roughing up.

Enter a Kimber Hunter in 243 Winchester.



Light, check. Short? Ehh sorta. Packs a punch? lol no. Ugly? Yep.

Let’s see how much weight we can lose in 15 minutes. Here’s the stock with mag removed.



Let’s pull the gel out of the stock and grip, and trim a bit of useless rubber out of the butt...

• ChrisAU
• Replies: 535
• Forum: Firearms

• 

There’s also some fairly light, very compact single shots in this thread:

Thread 'The Hobbit Rifle'

Aug 4, 2020

I've had a ton of interest in the gun I put together for my kids and I. Rather than addressing the same questions repetitively I decided to start a thread on it. My brother-in-law and I put two of these together a little over a year ago with great success. We wanted a gun with an adjustable LOP to accommodate growing shooters, short OAL to make it through nasty brush, ambidextrous and light enough to pack around the mountains. This setup is as close to perfect for our needs as we’ve found.

The first step is to pick up a Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter Platform. We used the Model #1870...

• SLDMTN
• Replies: 337
• Forum: Firearms

• 

Thank you! I went through the Hobit Rifle thread yesterday. Didn’t seem like there’s very many light rifles in there. At least from my stand point. Great compact options just not light!

I guess I was hoping for a complete setup between 4-5lbs if that’s even possible?

 

[Johnagrant6]

I recall some very light rifles in this thread a few years ago.

Thread 'So, how light can a Kimber Hunter be? A build thread.'

Jan 5, 2021

I’ve been wanting the perfect rifle for Eastern close quarters hunting. For diving down into the swamp of the property I hunt, and for tracking deer, for myself and friends.

Criteria were light, short, and hard hitting, as well as not to pretty to worry about roughing up.

Enter a Kimber Hunter in 243 Winchester.



Light, check. Short? Ehh sorta. Packs a punch? lol no. Ugly? Yep.

Let’s see how much weight we can lose in 15 minutes. Here’s the stock with mag removed.



Let’s pull the gel out of the stock and grip, and trim a bit of useless rubber out of the butt...

• ChrisAU
• Replies: 535
• Forum: Firearms

• 

There’s also some fairly light, very compact single shots in this thread:

Thread 'The Hobbit Rifle'

Aug 4, 2020

I've had a ton of interest in the gun I put together for my kids and I. Rather than addressing the same questions repetitively I decided to start a thread on it. My brother-in-law and I put two of these together a little over a year ago with great success. We wanted a gun with an adjustable LOP to accommodate growing shooters, short OAL to make it through nasty brush, ambidextrous and light enough to pack around the mountains. This setup is as close to perfect for our needs as we’ve found.

The first step is to pick up a Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter Platform. We used the Model #1870...

• SLDMTN
• Replies: 337
• Forum: Firearms

• 

Went though the kimber thread thank you lots of good stuff in there!

 

[Taudisio]

Well, I’ll need to go back to the drawing board for the 95gr tmk and the 6x45. By that, I mean try some other powders.

Middle 5 were the top of my pressure test, bottom 5 was .4gr lower. Right 5 are my 87gr vmax load. Far left hole, I started to adjust my zero. My loaned out chronograph has gone to a 3rd party, so no velocities to report.

 

[TheM1DoesMyTalking]

Well, I’ll need to go back to the drawing board for the 95gr tmk and the 6x45. By that, I mean try some other powders.
View attachment 1010736
Middle 5 were the top of my pressure test, bottom 5 was .4gr lower. Right 5 are my 87gr vmax load. Far left hole, I started to adjust my zero. My loaned out chronograph has gone to a 3rd party, so no velocities to report.

Which powder is this with and what are you trying next? Trying to glean what I can while waiting for my 6x45 barrel to arrive!

 

[Thegman]

Well, I’ll need to go back to the drawing board for the 95gr tmk and the 6x45. By that, I mean try some other powders.
View attachment 1010736
Middle 5 were the top of my pressure test, bottom 5 was .4gr lower. Right 5 are my 87gr vmax load. Far left hole, I started to adjust my zero. My loaned out chronograph has gone to a 3rd party, so no velocities to report.

I've heard good things about TAC in both 6x45 and 6 Max, maybe give that a try?

 

[ezwy]

Well, I’ll need to go back to the drawing board for the 95gr tmk and the 6x45. By that, I mean try some other powders.
View attachment 1010736
Middle 5 were the top of my pressure test, bottom 5 was .4gr lower. Right 5 are my 87gr vmax load. Far left hole, I started to adjust my zero. My loaned out chronograph has gone to a 3rd party, so no velocities to report.

What’s your barrel twist?

 

[Taudisio]

Which powder is this with and what are you trying next? Trying to glean what I can while waiting for my 6x45 barrel to arrive!

H335 with the 95gr. My 87 vmax load is with x-terminator.

I've heard good things about TAC in both 6x45 and 6 Max, maybe give that a try?

I don’t have any in my stash. I’ll run some pressure tests this week, but I won’t be able to do much for a couple weeks besides that.

What’s your barrel twist?

1 in 8

 

[Taudisio]

Which powder is this with and what are you trying next? Trying to glean what I can while waiting for my 6x45 barrel to arrive!

To answer your first question, I think varget is next up. 8208 after that. This was stolen from elsewhere so take it as some dudes load data from the internet and don’t trust your life on it. I’ll probably do some more research but 24.5gr sounds like the start of my pressure testing unless @Thegman wants to run QL for me….

 

[Thegman]

To answer your first question, I think varget is next up. 8208 after that. This was stolen from elsewhere so take it as some dudes load data from the internet and don’t trust your life on it. I’ll probably do some more research but 24.5gr sounds like the start of my pressure testing unless @Thegman wants to run QL for me….
View attachment 1010965

I would, but no quickload access at the moment. I'll be surprised if you can fit enough Varget to get good velocities though. Hopefully I'm wrong about that as it's a pretty good powder otherwise.

 

[PistolPete]

FWIW, Gordon's Reloading Tool shows a 6x45 (31 g H2O capacity) loaded with a 95 TMK at 2.37" to be at 106% case fill with 25 g Varget, and predicts 2516 fps in a 16" barrel at 61k psi.

 

[Taudisio]

FWIW, Gordon's Reloading Tool shows a 6x45 (31 g H2O capacity) loaded with a 95 TMK at 2.37" to be at 106% case fill with 25 g Varget, and predicts 2516 fps in a 16" barrel at 61k psi.

Thanks, I know I can fit 2.36, 2.37 might be a stretch. I’ve crunched powder before though. H4895 looks to be another decent one. I don’t have any though and I’ll get TAC before I go there.