I've been inspired to find a very light rifle that I could easily walk with and take anything from coyote to deer. I'd like to end up with the following:

257 Roberts
LEFTY bolt action
stainless / synthetic
6 - 7 pounds total weight

Do I need to find a suitable lefty bolt action and rechamber/rebarrel it or is there an easier/cheaper option? If rechambering, would I be better off with the 257 Ackley Improved? I do reload, so that shouldn't be an obstacle. Would this combo also be a good way to get my wife comfortable with rifles?
Thanks in advance for any input.

Maybe you should consider a Rem 700 Mountain in 260rem.

It will out do the 257 rob in both traj and whomp.
Just ask todbartel.

I've suggested this combo also to a friend of mine who wants a deer rifle to start his son with and use as a deer rifle for himself. Low recoil and great performance.

You can also consider the Model 7 but it runs a 20" barrel opposed to the 22" on the Mountain. IMO you want the xtra distance from the mountain.

I'd also consider the .260, or the .243, in a light rifle. I would also consider the Rem. Mtn. Rifle.
The .243 works alot better than most realize, if you use a premium bullet like the Nosler Partition. The stories about "picked shots only" is for guys that don't know a decent big game bullet from a fancy varmit bullet.
I'd be real picky going to a "light" rifle. Most factory rifles tend to be a bit muzzle light. Slightly heavier guns, like an 8 lb., all up, rifle, are much easier to shoot well due to their weight and better balance. E

Maybe the finest rig you could make would be a M1999 Montana action. Their short actions are on sale now in stainless, left hand and so for that matter is the left land long action. They are getting $350 for it and they will put a SS barrel on in any cartridge for $311.

They said the action will go 2.5 lbs and a 22" slim barrel may go 2.0 lbs. Add 1.8 lbs for a stock and .8 lb for mounted scope and it totals about 7 lbs. Such a rig would be very expensive with a total over $1000. If you can afford $1000 then you would have something nice.

I would rather have one rifle as I described above at any reasonable cost to avoid a Remington.

Gonzo:

FWIW, I am building a lightweight deer rifle on a Kimber Model 84M action, chambered in .257 DGR [.25/7-08 Imp.]. The rifle will have a 20 1/2 tube, should weigh about 5 lb 4 oz and will hopefully shoot a 115 grain bullet at 2950, maybe even 3000 fps.

Jordan

Jordan,

Your project brings to mind 2 questions I didn't bring up at first:
1: What kind of recoil can i expect with such a super light rifle? I'm sure the 257Roberts is a pussycat, but at what point would recoil start to become an issue again? I've become accustomed to my near 9lb 300WinMag so i don't think any 257 should pose a problem, but please enlighten me. Maybe someone can suggest a similar cartridge/rifle combo to illustrate.

2: If I gave up on the LEFTY part, what sort of options might I have? Is the Ruger Ultra-Light any good? I've heard there's a lot of aftermarket tweaking to do. I still think 7lbs with scope is a good goal.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Gonzo:

Recoil? Heck, I dunno. I used to have an UltraLight Arms in .257 Ack. and the recoil was not bad at all. Which brings me to a question: have you thought about an UltraLight Arms rifle? I think they make lefties and they are a great rifle. Unfortunately, they cost about $2500.00.

Jordan

Gonzo FreakPower
I'm currently shooting 257 Robts AI in an encore pistol with a 15 3/4" barrel & the recoil isn't that bad, Can't imagine you'd have a problem in a light rifle.
Rich Jake

get the .260 work up a load based on 129hornaday and never look back.just my .02.

Gonzo... you and I are in the exact same boat. I've ordered a lefty M1999 action and intend to have them add a 23 to 24" barrel. Mine will be chambered to .257 Roberts (AI). With that tube and a nice walnut stock, I should be just over the 7lb. mark but that's fine. Hell, I'll just take 10lbs off my gut and be way ahead of the game!

Rem is starting top make LH short actions again and I believe Tikka does as well. Could be others too like Savage...

All depends on how much Jack you want to throw at the project!

I HAD a lefty short action on order with MR until I found out that Browning is now making their Micro-Hunter in left hand (short action). This is for my wife, but I picked it up last week and it is a very nice gun (7mm-08). I have a standard A-Bolt Hunter in 243 that shoots extremely well and I hope this does the same.

I believe Browning also has the standard Hunter in short action left hand, which would make a great carrying rifle.

Just another recent option available.

Hope it works, but here is a link. I paid $519 for it http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=001B&cat_id=035&type_id=026

[ 04-08-2003, 08:26: Message edited by: matt salm ]

I think your right on, a 257 Roberts is a neat all around rifle for varmints to Elk...You can shoot 60 to 125 gr. bullets..It will dance with a 270 with the 120 or 125 gr. bullets with a handload...suggestion: use a 30-06 lenth box and long throat it then it will really cook...

Mild of recoil, and a past proven performer.

Savage serves the left handed rifleman well.
See this
http://savagearms.com/centerfire/hunter/hunter_home.htm

I have the 11FL in .308 (it is also available in .243)lefthanded. It weighs 6.5 pounds. It'll shoot about 1MOA

I just recently got the heavy barrled, accu-trigger Savage in .223. It will shoot as well. See target below.