If you really want to trim pounds on the cheap, it's much more economical to get a pair of light weight hunting boots, backpack, jacket, etc.. than to reduce the weight of your rifle. Light rifles also have some problems. Namely recoil, but there are other problems as well. A 300 WM that is six pounds with scope has 43 lbs of recoil.

I think you would be better off with a standard contour rifle barrel, with a lightweight scope and synthetic\carbon stock. You can do that fairly cheap. If you try much more than that, the expense usually outweighs the benefit.

Tommorrow is 300 mag. day at the range for me. I have to keep in practice. Each of these rifles weights over nine pounds and I will be holding on.

I would just buy a lightweight in 308 Winchester. As Ray Atkinsons says "at some range every 300 magnum becomes a 30-06"

They are shipping the Magnum Kimber Montana's. They shipped 300 WSMs a month ago and 270 WSM's a week ago. I have a Montana in 270 WSM and it cost under a grand.

Sevens,
Shooting a 4 1/2 to 5# .300 Win Mag would be equivelent to stepping out in front of an 80 MPH Kenworth, well almost.
Stepchild

If you are stuck on the m70 in 300 winmag, not too much to do. If you can go with a non-magnum, the recipe is 20 inch #1 profile barrel, stamped or aluminum trigger guard/magazine, wood swiss-cheese or superlight synthetic stock, light scope bases with aircraft-aluminum rings, light 2.5 to 6 power non-variable/non-sophisticated scope, nylon strap tied to stock at fore-end and grip with back-packers shoelaces. Stainless will probably be heavier than ordinance steel. Some actions are heavier, check with others on that. The above described parameters will give a gun ready to shoot at under 7 pounds (maybe 6 according to caliber, action chosen, and determination)...... or you can buy a ready-made that will be close without the extra work.

Match Grade Arms here in Houston will build you one for about $2400. 4.5-5.5# without scope They used to give you a load with your bullet choice (except barnes) that would group 1MOA or less. I don't know if they still do.

http://www.mgarmsinc.com/

The easiest way to save ounces is with a fixed power scope, something like a 4x Leupold, weaver bases, alloy rings.This will only add about 14 oz to the rifle. Most of the modifications you can do to the action(swiss cheese the non port side), magazine box(swiss cheese it) , bolt(hollow out the knob and hole in the handle handle etc. will save 6-8 ounces. The bulk of the weight of a rifle is in the barrel, so unless you re-barrel you are stuck . I would weigh the stock and if it is not more than 32-36 oz just use it as it is- most other stocks by the time you fit a recoil pad and bed, paint and swivels will weigh pretty clse to the 2# mark. It has often been suggested that it is easier for the hunter to lose 10#s than the rifle to lose 10 ozs.



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