What’s your rifle weigh?

[StupidLightweight]

Of all the places to save weight on a hunt, a rifle is one of the worst, especially if you plan to shoot far or with a high degree of precision. I grew up shooting a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57. Not exactly a "featherweight" by today's standards, it likely weighs around 8 pounds with Leupold 2-7X. As I got more into ultralight backpack hunting, I went lighter and lighter.

I'll never forget my first hunt with a Kimber Montana in 6.5 CM on Kodiak island. It felt like a baton, and while I killed a few deer, it wasn't easy to get steady. Lesson learned, right? Nope. I went even lighter.

Shown here is the lightest big-game rifle I will ever own. It's a switch-barrel custom Kimber built by Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works — a true work of art. With the 16-inch .308 barrel and Weaver Classic 4x28 scope in skeletonized Talley rings, the entire package weighs 4 pounds, 2.5 ounces.

While it's a joy to carry and show off, there's limited utility in a gun that light, so I'm selling it. At a certain point, dependent on shooter and situation, feathery rifles become a liability, not an asset. If I wanted to punch a tag, I'd pack my vintage M70 over this custom Kimber any day of the week.

 

[gtriple]

Of all the places to save weight on a hunt, a rifle is one of the worst, especially if you plan to shoot far or with a high degree of precision. I grew up shooting a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57. Not exactly a "featherweight" by today's standards, it likely weighs around 8 pounds with Leupold 2-7X. As I got more into ultralight backpack hunting, I went lighter and lighter.

I'll never forget my first hunt with a Kimber Montana in 6.5 CM on Kodiak island. It felt like a baton, and while I killed a few deer, it wasn't easy to get steady. Lesson learned, right? Nope. I went even lighter.

Shown here is the lightest big-game rifle I will ever own. It's a switch-barrel custom Kimber built by Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works — a true work of art. With the 16-inch .308 barrel and Weaver Classic 4x28 scope in skeletonized Talley rings, the entire package weighs 4 pounds, 2.5 ounces.

While it's a joy to carry and show off, there's limited utility in a gun that light, so I'm selling it. At a certain point, dependent on shooter and situation, feathery rifles become a liability, not an asset. If I wanted to punch a tag, I'd pack my vintage M70 over this custom Kimber any day of the week.

Wait.. are you the seller on Gunbroker?

 

[StupidLightweight]

Wait.. are you the seller on Gunbroker?

Yes, sir. That's my listing, but as you can tell by the price, I'm not in much of a hurry to sell it. I feel the exact same about the rifle now as I did when I first picked it up after 3 years of gunsmithing: It's the coolest rifle I will ever hold. Not practical for me, but damn is it a fine package.

 

[gtriple]

Yes, sir. That's my listing, but as you can tell by the price, I'm not in much of a hurry to sell it. I feel the exact same about the rifle now as I did when I first picked it up after 3 years of gunsmithing: It's the coolest rifle I will ever hold. Not practical for me, but damn is it a fine package.

That's completely understandable. It's probably a pretty fair price. And a hell of a rifle. If a Rokslider wanted to buy it, would you sell it through here instead of Gunbroker to avoid their fees?

 

[StupidLightweight]

That's completely understandable. It's probably a pretty fair price. And a hell of a rifle. If a Rokslider wanted to buy it, would you sell it through here instead of Gunbroker to avoid their fees?

Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.

I'd certainly sell it here. In fact, I would prefer to sell it to someone here, ideally a hunter who will pack it into thin air in pursuit of sheep and goats. A rifle like this is meant to be stuffed into a float plane, not my safe, so at some point I'll post it in the classifieds. I've had tempting offers, but even my wife supports holding onto it until the right buyer comes along. I may also trade it for another dream rifle. We'll see.

 

[JohnB]

Of all the places to save weight on a hunt, a rifle is one of the worst, especially if you plan to shoot far or with a high degree of precision. I grew up shooting a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57. Not exactly a "featherweight" by today's standards, it likely weighs around 8 pounds with Leupold 2-7X. As I got more into ultralight backpack hunting, I went lighter and lighter.

I'll never forget my first hunt with a Kimber Montana in 6.5 CM on Kodiak island. It felt like a baton, and while I killed a few deer, it wasn't easy to get steady. Lesson learned, right? Nope. I went even lighter.

Shown here is the lightest big-game rifle I will ever own. It's a switch-barrel custom Kimber built by Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works — a true work of art. With the 16-inch .308 barrel and Weaver Classic 4x28 scope in skeletonized Talley rings, the entire package weighs 4 pounds, 2.5 ounces.

While it's a joy to carry and show off, there's limited utility in a gun that light, so I'm selling it. At a certain point, dependent on shooter and situation, feathery rifles become a liability, not an asset. If I wanted to punch a tag, I'd pack my vintage M70 over this custom Kimber any day of the week.

Post up the article about that bad boy. That's impressively light!

 

[StupidLightweight]

Post up the article about that bad boy. That's impressively light!

Shoot me a PM with your email address. I'll send it to you. I'd rather not post the article online.

 

[01Foreman400]

My new favorite is a savage lightweight hunter rebarreled to 284 Winchester.
Topped with a Burris 4-12. Taking it out west for elk and black bear this October. Shoots 140gr accubonds a little north of 3000fps into tiny little groups.

View attachment 569828


The lightweight I carried last year was a Remington model 7 308 that had the bolt fluted and skeletonized bolt handle. Topped it with a Burris 3-9x. Doesn't shoot quite as well as the savage but still right around MOA.

View attachment 569835

I like that Model 7. I have a similar one in 7mm-08. It has a McMillan KS stock, Timney trigger, everything is cerakoted even the stock and some fluting done.

 

[Fire power]

11.5 lbs.

 

[Keith5579]

I'm just over 10 pounds unloaded including the TB Ultra 5 suppressor. 7-300PRC.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Of all the places to save weight on a hunt, a rifle is one of the worst, especially if you plan to shoot far or with a high degree of precision. I grew up shooting a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57. Not exactly a "featherweight" by today's standards, it likely weighs around 8 pounds with Leupold 2-7X. As I got more into ultralight backpack hunting, I went lighter and lighter.

I'll never forget my first hunt with a Kimber Montana in 6.5 CM on Kodiak island. It felt like a baton, and while I killed a few deer, it wasn't easy to get steady. Lesson learned, right? Nope. I went even lighter.

Shown here is the lightest big-game rifle I will ever own. It's a switch-barrel custom Kimber built by Rick Steinhour at Extreme Rifle Works — a true work of art. With the 16-inch .308 barrel and Weaver Classic 4x28 scope in skeletonized Talley rings, the entire package weighs 4 pounds, 2.5 ounces.

While it's a joy to carry and show off, there's limited utility in a gun that light, so I'm selling it. At a certain point, dependent on shooter and situation, feathery rifles become a liability, not an asset. If I wanted to punch a tag, I'd pack my vintage M70 over this custom Kimber any day of the week.

Very nicely done indeed, I like it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thinhorn_AK]

That’s my lightest one. Kimber Montana 308, barrel cut to 18” and threaded for 5/8x24, it has a trigger tech trigger, titanium skelotonized bolt handle and it’s been bedded. In the pic it has my banish 30 but in a week or so it will have my TBAC ultra 7 on it.

 

[atmat]

Shoot me a PM with your email address. I'll send it to you. I'd rather not post the article online.

I’d like to see it too. Can you PM me the link?

 

[hicountry1]

They range from 6.5lbs for my Wby BC in 280ai, to a smidge over 9lbs for my 7STW.

Several in the 7.5ish lb range, couple 8ish lbs

 

[z987k]

Yes, sir. That's my listing, but as you can tell by the price, I'm not in much of a hurry to sell it. I feel the exact same about the rifle now as I did when I first picked it up after 3 years of gunsmithing: It's the coolest rifle I will ever hold. Not practical for me, but damn is it a fine package.

I promise if you suppress it you'll never get rid of it.
You'll spot your own shots through your scooe.scope.

I have a gun of similar build and weight. If I can't spot my shots in my scope I don't hunt/keep the rifle.

 

[TheHammer]

Started a thread on this one due to its popularity, thinking people would like to know… this is with an omega 300 on the front, minus a sling and ammo.

 

[StupidLightweight]

I promise if you suppress it you'll never get rid of it.
You'll spot your own shots through your scooe.scope.

I have a gun of similar build and weight. If I can't spot my shots in my scope I don't hunt/keep the rifle.

Interesting to hear. Thanks for sharing. Weight added to the end of a barrel certainly cuts recoil. Even with the 6mm Creedmoor barrel, this dinky Kimber jumps like a deer scaling a fence. There's no pain, but she likes to move.

If it were to keep the rifle and suppress it, I would likely go with a a titanium reflex-style (over-barrel) can that doesn't add more than a few inches of length. That would be slick. It would also likely need to be custom made.

 

[gtriple]

Interesting to hear. Thanks for sharing. Weight added to the end of a barrel certainly cuts recoil. Even with the 6mm Creedmoor barrel, this dinky Kimber jumps like a deer scaling a fence. There's no pain, but she likes to move.

If it were to keep the rifle and suppress it, I would likely go with a a titanium reflex-style (over-barrel) can that doesn't add more than a few inches of length. That would be slick. It would also likely need to be custom made.

As much as I love my suppressors, a titanium muzzle brake could cut the recoil by about twice as much as a suppressor and be much lighter/shorter.

 

[z987k]

Interesting to hear. Thanks for sharing. Weight added to the end of a barrel certainly cuts recoil. Even with the 6mm Creedmoor barrel, this dinky Kimber jumps like a deer scaling a fence. There's no pain, but she likes to move.

If it were to keep the rifle and suppress it, I would likely go with a a titanium reflex-style (over-barrel) can that doesn't add more than a few inches of length. That would be slick. It would also likely need to be custom made.

Then I think this one is for you. https://www.absuppressor.com/raptor

As much as I love my suppressors, a titanium muzzle brake could cut the recoil by about twice as much as a suppressor and be much lighter/shorter.

Brakes are more effective at taming recoil, but they make everything else about shooting 100x worse. I won't hunt with a guy that has a brake on his rifle. I won't be within 50 feet of someone at the range with a brake. Don't need that punishment to my ears and brain.

 

[venado mula]

For a backcountry mountain rifle I like 7 lbs. or just under with scope and rings. This seems to be the best balance of shoot ability and carry ability. Lighter is strived for but comes with more practice shooting in hunting situations and price ($1,000 for every pound saved typically). My current backcountry mountain rifle with everything (scope, rings, sling, swivels, bipod adapter, ammo 3 rounds) weighs 7.0 lb. I don't notice I have it until I pull the trigger.