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The question came up here a while back, "what is the ultimate backpack rifle?". We decided to build one, maintaining the balance between weight and accuracy. Follow along over the next ten days as we build & test it: http://www.americanhunter.org/...lightweight-rifle-1/ | ||
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I think The Myth: Lightweight rifles aren’t accurate was put to rest by the Tikka T3 Lite which produces very good accuracy. Good luck on the project. . | |||
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I appreciate it. If we meet our goal, we will end up quite a bit lighter than the Tikka" relatively-speaking, of course. | |||
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I like this idea a lot. I wanted a Kifaru rifle but just couldn't swing it. Their rifle was light and accurate,..... butt ugly! Nate | |||
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Which makes more sense, working your butt off building a super light rifle so you are carrying 1.5 pounds less or working your butt off losing weight so you are carrying 10 pounds less? . | |||
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Will be following your project with interest. | |||
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I just checked the weight of the Tikka T3 lite and it is:- - 6 lbs (2.7kgs), the next Tikka model up is - 6 /3/16th lbs (2.8kgs) We already have an Ultra Light stock for the Tikka T3 (any model) which brings the whole gun under 6 lbs without the scope and in a few months when we have made a Featherwieght stock I reckon we might just do it with the scope. And all that would be well below the $2000 you are spending. I do agree with Grenadier, sorry, just have never seen the for chasing the extra Oz saving, in my view it's like chasing velocity. I could lose 20kgs and that would be of much more benefit !!! Anyway, good luck. | |||
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Actually, if you read much of my stuff you'll know that I'm a big proponent of both. You'll find no bigger advocate of fitness for hunters than me. That being said, this is an exercise for the sake of testing things that we've accepted to be true without question. I'm not advising anyone to build an ultralight rifle, my goal is to see how light we can make one on a budget and determine whether it can be as accurate as a heavier one. | |||
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Here's the next installment for those interested: http://www.americanhunter.org/...lightweight-rifle-2/ | |||
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No argument if you can stand to loose weight. Given the theme of this particular forum I would tend to believe most are in pretty fair shape. If you start to shave weight where you can it adds up. Boots, cookware, packs, sleeping bags, etc all weigh a lot more if you are using conventional equipment. If you can shave a couple pounds off your rifle, use compact bino's, a couple pounds off the bag, and maybe even a couple pounds off the pack you are now carrying 7-10 pounds less equipment and if you lost body weight as well as doing some preseason cardio you'd be far less fatigued and probably hunt better, be safer, and not let fatigue get in the way of good judgement. My first wilderness backpacking hunt I was carrying 73 lbs of gear. I was beat just getting up to the hunting area at 8100' from 4200', but the next time I went I was carrying 54lbs. I don't have a true lieghtweight rifle for elk hunting so a 10# rifle didn't help. If I could get a Ultra-Light rifle I think it would be a great solution for this type of hunting. Nate | |||
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Nate, you and I are on the same page. Today's installment covers all of the machine work, should be interesting for anyone who wants to know exactly what goes into building a rifle. http://www.americanhunter.org/...lightweight-rifle-3/ | |||
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Is the caliber for this build .260 Rem? | |||
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Yes sir, it is. | |||
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We put everything on the scale to check our progress: http://www.americanhunter.org/...lightweight-rifle-4/ Hope you guys are enjoying it. | |||
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Great write up. . | |||
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Thanks, here's our scope choice: http://www.americanhunter.org/...lightweight-rifle-7/ I'd love to answer any questions anyone has. | |||
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Interesting pick for optics. If weight was not an issue, what would be your choice for this gun? I had this same issue a couple years ago, but did not like the light gathering of the 36mm lupy. I went with a 3x9x42 swaro (~12 oz.), but like the Zeiss better (~13 oz.) Most of my mountain hunts light was at a premium, and I predict that after the deer hunt, the swaro hits the road in place of a 44mm Zeiss. Does the cost of the build include the scope? | |||
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Jon, the cost does not include the scope. I think I honestly would have gone for the fixed 6x for the pure reason of durability. I anticipate this rifle going to some rough places and it's very likely to find itself bashed against hard objects. I often find myself taking shots at around 6x in most field situations when using a variable so I don't feel that the lack of magnification is much of a handicap. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the better scopes in the 3-9x range for most big game. Your 3-9x42 Swarovski should serve you well. | |||
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Here's the completed rifle on the scale, it's amazing how the weight adds up: http://www.americanhunter.org/...lightweight-rifle-8/ | |||
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Yep. I came up with the same ultimate solution, Kimber Montana in .308 Win (5 lbs. 2 oz.), Leupold 2.5-8x36 (11.4 oz.), and Talley Lwt. mounts (2.2 oz.), for a total of just barely under 6 lbs not counting scope covers and sling. Total cost when I put it together in 2009 was under $1600. It is finicky to hold/shoot sometimes, but it'll put three 150 gr. Federal factory Ballistic Tips in an inch. When I benched it earlier this year with the new Hornady 165 gr. GMX Superformance on a full-size Black Bear target at 285 yards I could cover three shots with the palm of my hand - all in the kill zone. Any missing will be my fault, not the rifle. These projects are fun, but todays rifles, including the NULA lineup, make them more for fun than anything else. And there is nothing wrong with that. If you are going to carry a big stick, you've got to whack someone with it at least every once in while. | |||
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I chose your route and kept my 9lb rifle and lost 30 lbs. No sweat carrying it up and down all day. | |||
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Can't beat the Tikka T3 for the price and accuracy. And I've lost 25 pounds since getting back from Africa (no parasites or disease! life style change). And the Savage Lightweight hunter is only 5.5 lbs! "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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Interesting project. My Kimber MT in 308 win, weigh's 6lbs 4oz's all-up. All-up means scope, mounts, sling and rounds. I think it's pointless to talk rifle weight unless you talk about everything you'll actually be carrying. The rifle shoots lights-out. Rifle cost was $1050. Just got a Kimber 84L Montana in 30-06. Had the barrel cut/recrowned to 23". With a 6x36 LR Leupold (9.5 oz's) in Low Talley Lwt Mounts (2.0 oz's), Uncle Mikes (now Butler Creek) Mountain sling (3.5 oz's) and four rounds (3.8 oz's) the entire rifle weigh's 6lb's 9oz's. Rifle cost was $1,025 plus $35 to cut and re-crown. Your scope choice is as bad as I can think... at least for my eyes. If there's a less user-friendly scope than the Leupold 3-9x33 I don't know what it is. Yes, I've owned two (I'm a slow learner), but to each his own. The 6x36 Leupold actually weighs the same as the 3-9x33 variable and is far more user friendly. Just a thought.  | |||
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Brad Thanks for the input. Can't sa I disagree with your choice. As you may have seen, when it came down to dollars my advice was basically "buy a Kimber Montana". This wasn't about being practical, it was about testing boundaries and challenging theories. Lightweight rifles can be accurate, that we proved. | |||
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There a lot of places you could have put that chubby girl on a diet and made weight at almost no additional cost and done it on day one. Flatten taht bolt knob and drill ahole through it. IHMSA shooters have been doing it for decades. Same with taking a little off teh bottom of the action and opening up the action as well. That barrel could have taken some light fluting and not affected accuracy. Look at the Steyr Scout. IIRC mine is .520ish at the muzzle. Other than that love the build. DRSS Kreighoff 470 NE Valmet 412 30/06 & 9.3x74R | |||
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At 135 lbs. A light weight rifle is not an option, it's a must have...Really, I try to shed carry weight any where I can, which can be tough on a blue collar budget. | |||
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Enjoyed following along. Here's my recent "build".... Tikka T-3 Superlite fluted in 7 mm mag from Sportsman's Warehouse ----- $725 Talley light weight base/rings ---- $44 Swarovski 3 x 10 - 42 (off AR Classifieds) - $600 Total Cost - $1,369 Weight 6 pounds, 14 ounces. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Sounds good, I wonder if they've got another one  | |||
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There's no question that the route I chose was not the most economical. Between the your Tikka, the Kimber Montana, the new ultralight Kimber, and the Forbes rifle there are several realyl lightweight options available out of the box. | |||
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Agreed!! I have a couple of beautiful rifles destined for use in Africa. I could have easily had a synthetic stocked .375 for far, far less money that would kill an animal just as dead. I enjoyed following your build. It's the journey that matters in this case. Toughest part of mine with the Tikka "build" was finding the weight of the Talley rings. I had to call them. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Great project and write up; I enjoyed following along with your progress. Custom guns are never practical, but then what is? In my former career, I spent most of my time carrying "100 pounds of lightweight gear" and I fully understand how every ounce adds up. Even when I was in better physical condition than most mortals I preferred to carry an M4 over a MAG58. My current lightweight favorite is a Merkel K1. | |||
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Never know!! Keep an eye on the classifieds. The steals do not last long. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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.416 rem new ultra light arms, with irons sights 6.25lbs.... $3000....worth every penny. | |||
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Rem 700KS (30-06), fluted bolt, kevlar stock (DuraMax coating), cerakote finish on all metal, Leup 2.5-8x, synthetic sling - 7.25 lbs. Shoots 180 partitions around 1" at 200-yards. I have about $1,200 in the entire rig. Nothing terribly sexy about the set-up but it's a pleasure to carry and shoots good enough for my needs. | |||
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I've used this Leupold for years on many rifles to include double rifles, and it's never failed. Great choice, probably the lightest weight quality scope on the market!! JP Sauer Drilling 12x12x9.3x72 David Murray Scottish Hammer 12 Bore Alex Henry 500/450 Double Rifle Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock 6.5x55 Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock .30-06 Walther PPQ H2 9mm Walther PPS M2 Cogswell & Harrison Hammer 12 Bore Damascus And Too Many More | |||
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The T3 is hardly a lightweight in the world of mountain rifles. I've seen rifles over a pound less built for the mountains. While light-weight rifles certainly can be accurate, few people shoot extremely lightweight rifles well....myself included. I've built several dedicated mountain rifles and all fell between 5lbs 12 oz and 6 lbs 12oz. That seems to be as light as I can go and still shoot them well. The quest for the perfect mountain rifle is a lot more than the quest for the lightest rifle! | |||
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