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So, last year, I had my "little" Pierce made. Pierce SA Broughton 26", 5C, #3, 8 twist Rifle Basix @ 2.5 lbs McMillan Rem Sporter Edge filled Pierce 2pc alum pic base Farrell 30mm alum rings NF 2.5-10x32mm  The weight is more than I thought it would turn out.  After packing it around earlier this month on the elk hunt, I've decided it needs to go on a diet. My question is this. Since I have some credit with Chris Matthews of http://longshotriflesllc.com/, the original builder, I thought I'd have him slim it down a bit. 1. Turn the action down in between the bridges. 2. Turn down and shorten the barrels cone/shank. 3. Possibly lighter bases such as Talley LW's 4. Light scope, such as a VX3 4.5-14x40 Opinions? Most worried about the 1/2 MOA accuracy I get with both 140 Partitions and VLD's going to pot. Alan  | ||
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All that to remove an oz or two? I'd leave it alone other than maybe lighter scope, rings and bases. As usual just my $.02 Paul K | |||
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I would avoid having the action turned down if possible. I know you can shave off a couple ounces from the action but they never look right after they have been whittled on. The first thing I would look at for weight reduction is your scope, rings and bases. I would suggest going with a scope that has a size and weight more in line with your rifles dimensions. I would take a hard look at the Leupold VX3 2.5-8. Their Ultralight 3-9 makes for a nice light piece of glass. A set of Talley light weights will save you a couple ounces alone and really give your rifle a slimmer and cleaner look. I would also suggest lopping off a couple inches off the barrel. With the barrel properly cut and crowned you should have no loss of accuracy. You also have a LOT of meat in the first 6 inches of the barrel. I would bet you could easily shave off a couple ounces turning the barrel down. but you will have to do some bedding to fill in the gaps and that will reduce the overall weight loss of the project. Here are a few more places for you to look at that may save you a few ounces. Check your follower - if it is a metal one you can swap it for a factory remington plastic one. Bolt shroud - put on an aluminum shroud. Firing pin - swap out for a titanium firing pin. What is your target weight? William Berger True courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. - John Wayne The courageous may not live forever, but the timid do not live at all. | |||
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chambering ? | |||
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6.5x47 Lapua Alan | |||
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Paul, An action, properly milled, can remove 8oz or more. Here is a Rem LA I had put together back in 1982. Note both the narrow "waist" between the front and rear bridges. Also the milled cut on the left side of the rear bridge, below the rear scope base.  Mirror cut on the right side of the rear bridge.  See how the barrels shank diameter is cut down.  I will agree that this type of "lightening" cost many $ per oz but as I said I have some credit with Chris. Tanker, Some good ideas there. Much appreciated. I'd like to get the entire package under 7-1/2 lbs. Alan | |||
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I'll let you in on the fact that you guys make me feel a whole lot better about some of the decisions I make, and have made, to spend good money on the smallest of tweeking ideas. It's good to know that I'm not alone in the world of tweeking custom features in rifles.  Actually, I feel rather conservative compared to some of you, but I just want you to know that I truely understand your plight. I think the rifle is impressive as it is. Although the barrel may be a bit heavier and longer than necessary, if weight consciousness overcomes cost consciousness. KB ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ | |||
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What weight do you want? Start over. | |||
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I would lop three inches off the barrel. I would say that would save about 2 oz. Next that NF scope weighs 31oz and a Leupold 2.5x8 weighs...12oz. 31-12 = 19+2 = 21oz I am assuming that scale is reading 8 lbs 10 ounces so your rifle now is 7 lbs 5 oz. Mike  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Chuck, As stated above, under 7.5 lbs. Mike, My current NF scope, as you see it on the rifle is a 2.5-10 which weighs 19 oz. 3"? from the front? I plan on starting from the back and having it turned down to a slimmer diameter. Alan | |||
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OK, you must have the compact as the full sizwe weighs 31 oz and the compact is 19 oz. I was assuming you would just cut if off the front. Mike What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Nope. I like the velocity the way it is  And I have the full size NF 5.5-22x50 on my BIG 6.5x47 Won the Utah State Sniper Shoot with it last month.   Mike, Ever shoot over at the Sac Valley Shooting Center? | |||
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