Ultralight Boomsticks

In the way of kimbers, I feel the hunter is overlooked as a lightweight option. Every hunter stock has 8oz of fill added as the hunter stock (mag included) is actually a hair lighter than a Montana/Adirondack/ascent stock without that fill. Imagine what sales on the higher end kimbers would be like if the hunters were listed as the same weight? Other than stocks the only other difference really between a hunter and Montana is a threaded barrel which I’m sure makes very little difference to most people in the real world. I also believe the hunter stock to be the best designed composite stock on the market as it’s very stiff in its unique design.

For those that want a kimber without paying the premium price. I’d go with a hunter and spend the 10min it takes to remove the fill, assuming you can live with a removable mag over a blind mag. Adding the cost of a smith threading your barrel, you’d still be out ahead with more money to put towards your optics.


My go-to rifles now are an Adirondack .308 weighing in at 4lbs15.3oz topped with a 2-7x33 Leupold and an Ascent .280ai weighing in at 7lb1oz topped with a vx6 3-18x44. Which one I grab depends on how far I’m hiking.

Other than practise, I find the easiest way to improve accuracy out of any lightweight rifle is lowering your trigger weight.
 
kc34 said:
Very true. You can certainly pay a price with increased recoil when you get really light rigs. Not sure it is really worth it myself but to each their own.
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Plus, some lightweight rifles can be a bit finicky on the bench. I have a 700 Edge in 308 that was giving me a bit of trouble on the bench not shooting as well as it should until I read a thread on 24Hr CF that gave me a tip to try.

Now it shoots fine.
 
Heres a few lightweight builds, the 280AI and 6.5 PRC were built by Gary Flach,

Just a note of information the Kimber Montana 84L action weighs 20.6oz and the Defiance Anti LA weighs 21.6oz

280AI-Defiance Anti Action, alloy bottom metal, 24 inch #1 contour fluted Benchmark Barrel, Wildcat Ultralight Composite stock with palm swell and high comb added, Rifle weighs 5lbs 2.4oz on its own, Talleys holding a Leupold 4.5-14x40 30mm CDS scoped, weighs 6lbs 4oz scoped.




270 win- Kimber Mountain Ascent, Talleys holding a leupold 4.5-14x40 CDS 1 inch tube scope, weighs 6lbs 6oz scoped, I had it bedded and the trigger adjusted and with Barnes factory 130gr TTSX ammo its crazy accurate..........so don't let people tell you lightweight rifles cant shoot accurately





Heres my 6.5 PRC built on a Kimber Montana 8400 WSM donor, has a Titanium bolt handle and trigger guard, 23 inch #1 contour Fluted 1-8 twist Benchmark barrel, palm swell and high comb added to the factory Montana stock, weighs 5llbs 15oz on its own and 7lbs 6.5oz with Talleys and a Zeiss V4 4-16x44 Z-plex scope.

 
Heres another Kimber Montana 84L build, its chambered in Weatherbys new 6.5 RPM, Gary Flach lengthened the mag box so I could load the 156gr Bergers, we used a 24 inch #2 contour 1-8 twist Benchmark barrel, it shoots very well also with Handloads 65.0grs of R26, BR2 primers/156gr Bergers at 3.420 COAL, it didn't care for the 3 factory loads Weatherby offers as the 140gr AB shot at 3/4" group and the other two offerings were both about 1.25"



1st 3 shots with Handloads-avg vel 3065



Adjusted the scope and 2nd 3shot group- avg vel 3069

 
Ive played a bit with the lightweight rifles. I like a 7 pound rifle for carrying dont mind them getting heavier if i not talking them on walks

I have a 6.5x55 under 6.5 pounds with scope
And a 460 weatherby at under 8.5 pounds.
Also a semi 22rf that weighs under 2 pounds (1 pound 15oz)

The weatherby is only an ultra light for what its chambered in
 
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For me it is not just light, it has to be short. I see no advantage having a light conventional rifle that still sports a 24" or 26" barrel because it works out to carrying a 4' long prybar that hits and snags on virtually everything.
 
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Brian46 said:
For me it is not just light, it has to be short. I see no advantage having a light conventional rifle that still sports a 24" or 26" barrel because it works out to carrying a 4' long rybar that hits and snags on virtually everything.
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I agree... velocity is not the "be all, end all" thing it once was, we now have extremely accurate compensating rangefinders and scopes. Accuracy is as important as ever, but how we get there is less important. If I can make clean and consistent hits out to my max range (whatever that is for you, 2-3-4-500 etc...) with a shorter rifle, then I don't see the need to carry a long awkward rifle in the field, where maneuverability comes into play on a regular basis. As far as weight goes, I will take a slightly heavier short rifle over a longer lighter rifle in the field every time... with the weight between my hands and not swinging around as much on my shoulder and snagging brush etc... it is the reason I keep reaching for my Ruger Frontier rifles so much, they are not particularly light, but they balance and carry so well in the field... they are also accurate. Better yet is the lighter, shorter rifle.
 
I got a Tikka T3x lite stainless in .260 Remington then put the compact stock on it. Weighs in at 7lbs 2oz with a VariX III 3.5-10X50 on it. Sweet shooter, was busting crows at close to 350 yards yesterday with it.
 
I have short barrels on any rifle i built/pieced together.
Even my 500 jeffery project im back and forth on 18" or 20". I want it to be a thick bush gun.

I like an 18-20" barrel, 36-38" oal, 6.0 to 8.0 pounds If im walking with it. Doesnt have to be crazy light. But i do know my model 70 at 10 pounds is no fun after only 10kms in
 
I built a 280AI last year, my dream rifle. Defiance AnTi action, Benchmark #2 barrel at 24", AG Composites full carbon stock, Rem 700 take off BDL bottom metal, Hawkins 30mm 20MOA rings, Razor LHT 3-11pm 5X42 scope. Weighs in 7.9lbs with sling and three rounds int he mag. Balance is perfect, and it shoulders like a dream, I love it and wouldn't change a pice on it. Now I want to build another one!
 
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