Light weight hunting gun

[Buzz]

I recently built a 6.5x47L similar to what you're looking at building. I used a HS precision mountain rifle stock like the one posted above and a 22" barrel in a Remington magnum profile and a brake. With a zeiss 6.5-20x50, I came in around 8lbs and seems pretty well balanced. I carried it for a week on a recent hunt and was happy with it. Easy enough to carry most times and performed well on game. The only thing I might change is getting rid of the brake and cutting it back to 20". The brake liked to get snagged when busting brush.

 

[Fast14riot]

I will not buy a vortex scope. I have never owned one, but my father, mother and brother all do and between them have had 4 fail. Plenty of options aside from vortex.

Only real reason in considering a rem action is because I can build it slowly as funds allow. I will likely use a remage barrel and save on smithing cost a bit and I have lots of parts for them already.

I live in CA, but hunt NV and AZ high desert as well. Not much brush, stand, or woods walking. Just long hikes with gun on your shoulder.

Lots of good suggestions, thanks!

 

[dthomas]

At 73 years "young" ( and having owned, MANY, Rifles ! ),.. I carry and HUNT with,.. a 7.7 Pound Scoped, Tikka T-3 SS, in .270 WSM ( 140 gr. AccuBonds at, 3,150 FPS ) and son has, a 7mm-08 Tikka T-3 SS shooting the higher BC, 150 gr. ELD-X bullets at, 2,950. His Gun weight, is under 7.5 pounds ( scoped ), BOTH, Rifles / Loads, have killed Elk with, GOOD and accurate Bullet, performance !
We walk Glass, and Walk glass some more for, several Miles from, the Truck and shoot, usually from, the SITTING position over Sticks with, a Pack supporting the Rifles "Toe" ! Having a Rem 700 is OK but, you WILL need to put SEVERAL $$$'s into it to equal, a Tikka. To sum this up,..buy yourself, a Tikka .260 and set the bbl back then, re-chamber to .260 AI or 6.5 mm SLR and SAVE yourself some, Money ! OR, you could buy, a 7mm-08, 7mm Rem mag or .270 WSM and save, MORE, Money ! Drover, is also, an EXPERIENCED Rifle guy and knows, just how WELL built, the Tikka's ,.. ARE ! NICE Rifle, msinc ! BUT, how much did it COST, compared to,.. a Tikka ?

How are you getting 2950 from a 7mm 08 with 150gr bullet? I have a tikka t3 in 7 08 and get 2750-2800 out of a 140gr bullet with varget. I could get a little more but that is where it likes to shoot.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

How are you getting 2950 from a 7mm 08 with 150gr bullet? I have a tikka t3 in 7 08 and get 2750-2800 out of a 140gr bullet with varget. I could get a little more but that is where it likes to shoot.

Son is using, 65 StaBall, see Hogdon's Data,.. Excuse me,.. it's going 2,850 - 2,875 FPS using, 49 grains of StaBall with, the 150's,.. a Hot load. ( sorry my memory "slips",.. since NOT, my Gun ! )

 

[JB10]

I just got a christensen mesa in 6.5 prc. 6lbs. Got a sightron stac on sale, 23oz. Should be light. Can not beat the price of the rifle for features and scope was on sale for $359. Its my 4th one and got them all on sale.

 

[Evan]

I like short barrels for carry rifles because they just handle easier. An 8# rifle with a 26" ultralight barrel feels more heavy/awkward than a 20" medium contour that weighs the same 8# in my hands and slung on my back. I also don't think anyone would actually notice the loss of 100fps in most hunting situations. A good shot kills and a marginal doesn't.

 

[rcparker1]

270wsm, pierce ti action and recoil lug, #1 barrel, hitech sheep hunter stock.

 

[sparky123321]

Never built a 260AI, but I have built numerous Savage and Remage rifles. I've spent up to $3,000 on custom builds over the years, but short of competition I'll take my $1,000-1,200 Savage and Remage builds.

Benefit to the Remington is trigger selection. However, I do prefer a Shilen barrel over a Criterion.

Either way an action is going to cost you $250-$350, $300-$400 for the barrel, $150 for a nice trigger and finally $350-$450 for a nice stock. All of my Savage and Remage builds have shot .5 MOA or better with proper load development.

Weight wise it's going to be your barrel length, barrel profile and stock that determine how light your rifle ends up.

If you decide to go with a 700 short action give me a shout. I just picked up a used Stockys carbon fiber stock that would get you started in the right direction at only 28-30oz. I was going to use it for a .223 Remage build I'm doing, but decided to go with a chassis for this time around as weight is not a concern.

 

[msinc]

NICE Rifle, msinc ! BUT, how much did it COST, compared to,.. a Tikka ?

Thank you for the likes and the nice compliments sir, point is well taken and a lesson I learned long ago. Tikka's are very nice rifles and you cannot go wrong with one at all, even putting the excellent cost/value aside. From what I have seen they could double the price and it would still be a great rifle!!!
I have never owned one, but a good friend of mine and his wife both hunt with and own several and they are all very accurate right out of the box.
If I didn't purchase that barrel {$75.00!!!} from an individual that for whatever reason elected not to use it and then did all the work myself......well, I don't know what I'd be hunting with, but it probably wouldn't be this one.
One thing I would add to this thread, in regards to the velocity discussions...I am no fan of short barrels or carbines. I like velocity, it kills. Published test velocities in reloading data are one thing, a chronograph reading on your rifle can and often is quite another.

 

[sparky123321]

Go for it! Take your time and enjoy your build! Lots on reasonably priced used/new takeoff actions, barrels and stocks come up here very often. Don't forget GunBroker and Ebay as well. Lots of great deals on gun parts there as well.

I've never built a rifle, or reloaded for that matter, just to save a few $$$. I'm a big fan of accuracy and a high quality prefit barrel like a Shilen, Douglas, Hart, etc. My builds are normally built around the barrel and a nice stock. Preferably a used stock in excellent condition.

I'm not knocking any manufacturer, but I've scoped more than a few factory barrels that look like they were rifled with a hammer and chisel.

Even if you get a Lemon for a barrel or just wish to change cartridges it's so quick and easy with a Savage or a Remage.

I enjoy the process and can take my time to focus on whatever I'm going for on the specific build(cartridge, style, cost, weight, etc).

 

[std7mag]

My most expensive build to date, and longest, started with a $65 rifle i accidentally picked up at auction.
8mm Mauser that had been Bubba sporterized. Electric tape holding together the cracked stock.
Obviously stock was used for firewood. Barrel wasn't much better.
Action is in good shape though.
Building a 7X57 Mauser for my daughter.
Shaved & contoured feed lip off, cut off & contoured bolt for use with a scope.
I got a Dakota 3 position safety ( model 70 swing style) and a Timney trigger i still need to install both.
Wife & daughter got together & bought a Boyds AT One stock in purple laminate.
(A purple Mauser... Great googly!!!)
Still need to get the action drilled & tapped for scope mount & need barrel.
Stupid me sold the scope i was going to put on it.

Aim is for shooting 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips for PA white tail. If ever get drawn for elk tag will load up something different.

 

[2506]

I had a friend that had a Model 7 Rem in 260 Rem and it sure was light to carry. Was OK for a hunting gun but hope you did not need to shoot more than 2 shots at a time because with that little whippy barrel it heated up quickly and shots started to wander.

 

[284winner]

In the next year I'm looking to build a light(er) weight hunting rifle. Chambering will be 260AI (i already shoot and load for it) but if i can get a rifle down to 8lbs I'd be happy. No need to go extreme.

I like R700 style actions. Barrel likely to be 20"-24". Help me decide on barrel profile, stock, scope, trigger.

Use will be for up to Mule deer possibly elk, shots to 700 yards max, not much low light hunting.

I have 3 kids and a limited budget, barrel likely to be a remage, scope probably from secondary market. Can't exactly afford a custom action in a McMillan stock and NF scope.

What would you do?

I think 8lbs (minus scope) is very realistic. Something like a Remington action, Iota Kremlin stock or Stocky's lightweight hunting/target model, light palma or light varmint contour barrel@22/24". I think you'd be around 7.5-8lbs. 9+/- with scope.

 

[tom]

Manners does make a short action stock that comes in at 17oz. I just can't find it on their website to be able to post a link, as it's fairly new.



6 creed, Lilja #1, pierce titanium sa.

Tom

 

[Hal]

Manners does make a short action stock that comes in at 17oz. I just can't find it on their website to be able to post a link, as it's fairly new.

View attachment 1222204

6 creed, Lilja #0, pierce titanium sa.

Tom

Tom that rifle is a feather. Have you had a chance to shoot it yet ?
I didn't know Lilja made a "0" , I'll have to check them out.
How do you like manners stock shape and handling?

Hal

 

[tom]

Tom that rifle is a feather. Have you had a chance to shoot it yet ?
I didn't know Lilja made a "0" , I'll have to check them out.
How do you like manners stock shape and handling?

Hal

Oh yeah, it shoots to boot. I broke it in shooting groups at 1,000 since we were there shooting benchrest matches anyway.

Here's a couple of the BEST it's shot at 1k. It's out of the ordinary, it's much more likely to group 4-6 inches with 2 tight and one out.



Not bad off a Harris bipod and a cheap Leopold 4-12 lol.

Tom

 

[Hal]

I would guess that rifle is in the top 1% of ultra light rifles that shoot like a house a fire.

Hal

 

[tom]

I would guess that rifle is in the top 1% of ultra light rifles that shoot like a house a fire.

Hal

It's just a 6mm, so a lot has to do with not overdoing it....cartridge/platform balance(I prefer 20+ pounds on anything 338 lol). It's a proven easy to tune combination as well. A few years back @MTlager built a couple 6 creedmoors and was running 115 Berger's. He filled us in on how well and easy they shoot. He was right, I don't know of anyone that didn't find it super simple to get them going good.

Tom

Here's a whitetail my buddy shot with it this year at 631 yards. Packing it out i wore the rifle as a "pendant" below my bino harness lol!

 

[JEFFPPC]

In the next year I'm looking to build a light(er) weight hunting rifle. Chambering will be 260AI (i already shoot and load for it) but if i can get a rifle down to 8lbs I'd be happy. No need to go extreme.

I like R700 style actions. Barrel likely to be 20"-24". Help me decide on barrel profile, stock, scope, trigger.

Use will be for up to Mule deer possibly elk, shots to 700 yards max, not much low light hunting.

I have 3 kids and a limited budget, barrel likely to be a remage, scope probably from secondary market. Can't exactly afford a custom action in a McMillan stock and NF scope.

What would you do?

You and I are the same size. My rifle and shooting requirements are a bit different but I have some ideas for you. The most comfortable stock I have ever found is a 700BDL stock cut to 12.5 inches with pad. You just saved 100's. I like to shoot long so I opted for a Rem Varmint weight Hart .280 barrel. Used Luepold 6.5 to 20 EFR with knobs. Shoots under an inch at 200 yds multiple 1 shot kills to 800 yds. Never weighed it but guessing 10 or couple ounces over. You put a lighter barrel on or good weight wise. I have put 3 of these together from Gun show donor rifles similar results with all 3. One of them, my son's, kills elk every year also.oh, spring changes to trigger gives crisp 20 oz trigger . Lot of bs around but bottem line, accuracy is barrel, bullet, and load deveopment.

 

[Hal]

Tom
That's a nice whitetail.

Hal