A little different flavor of factory lightweight

cam1936

cam1936

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
Central Alberta
There has been lots of talk of lightweight rigs in the last several months. The Montana always springs up in the conversation and seems to be a popular choice. I recently picked up my rifle from the gunsmith and am in to it for a little bit less than a new Montana, the following would be a option for those who don't like the Kimber platform for whatever reason.

Rem 700 Mountain SS in 7mm08 (6 lbs 5.3oz)
-Sold the 34 oz B&C stock
-Bought a Wildcat Composites blank (17.2 oz)
-Had gunsmith inlet, bed, paint and install studs
-Did flip flop pad myself, stock finished at 19.8 oz

Rifle now weighs 5 lbs 7.1oz bare. 5 oz heavier than a Montana, but you get a better stock (not that the Montana has a poor one), a quality bedding job and your choice of colour. Both rifles have 22" barrels. Scoped I'm at 6 lbs 3.1oz. I like the rifle. I really like the stock. Don't know if I would do it again or just go and get a Montana. What are your thoughts CGN?

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I like the Remington 700 platform a lot so I'm lovin' this !!

Maybe a Gre-Tan firing pin/shroud could save you a few more ounces (and be a bit of an upgrade) ?

Very nice rifle cam1936.

Maybe we should start a Remington 700 / Model 7 custom light weight rig thread. Would love to see what guys have come up with for LW Remington setups !
 
That's a very nice job Cam 1936, looks great.
Thanks for sharing with us, looking forward to your range results.
That's seriously close to my 700 Ti- 270 / 08 for weight, mine is 6 lb. 4 oz. scoped with its original stock.
 
Thanks for the comments!

I think a Gre-tan shroud/pin and a new trigger will be done after this year's hunting season. That way I have time to insure everything is 100% reliable.

Slabbing the action and machining the bolt is tempting, but then the cost is getting up there. Maybe when the barrel needs replacing.

I plan to hunt and shoot this rifle a lot so that may not be too far away.
 
Kevan said:
That's a very nice job Cam 1936, looks great.
Thanks for sharing with us, looking forward to your range results.
That's seriously close to my 700 Ti- 270 / 08 for weight, mine is 6 lb. 4 oz. scoped with its original stock.
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Kevan,

Is the factory stock a B&C? If so they are porkers! Mine weighed 34 oz.
 
cam1936 said:
Kevan,

Is the factory stock a B&C? If so they are porkers! Mine weighed 34 oz.
Click to expand...

Yes, as far as I know it is that.

On another note I ordered one of the Howa Alpines in 308, had one in 6.5 Creedmoor but swapped it to my Son.
Nice little rifle with a shaved action and a Bansner stock, but when the dust settles it still will weigh 7 lbs. up with Talley mounts and a light scope.... roughly a pound more than yours..
 
Light rifles are nice to carry but slightly heavier is easier to shoot more accurately... I would not strive to be the lightest...
 
guntech said:
Light rifles are nice to carry but slightly heavier is easier to shoot more accurately... I would not strive to be the lightest...
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Very true. I find shooting the real lightweight rifles a lot like shooting a hand gun or golfing. Your form, grip and follow through are big parts in being accurate.

I plan to practice with this thing a lot. If I'm not satisfied with the accuracy, either rifle or my ability, I'll have to figure something else out. However, It is a backpack sheep hunt rifle so ounces do count!
 
If you've planned it for a Sheep rifle I think you have it down pat..... excellent cartridge choice in a very handy package for carrying.
I'm impressed with it and for me that would be light enough.
 
I think the 'lightness' of the rifle is offset by the shootability and "inherent accuracy" of the -08 class cartridge. With a 140 grain or 120 grain bullet, it should be quite a tame shooter. It's a good looking rig. How does it shoot?
 
I fully understand a slightly heavier rifle is easier to shoot, however the guys building ultralights are typically building them for hard hunts not range use. You carry the rifle a hell of a lot more than you actually shoot it. The guys who are cutting the handles off their tooth brushes to save weight sure as hell aren't going to add weight to the rifle so it's easier to shoot.
 
I like it with the exception of the flip flop recoil pad....with the money invested already, a $30 pachmayr or kick-eez would be a nicer touch lol
 
I won't be able to hit the range with it until my next set of days off in two weeks time. I have a few different weights and types of bullets to try, hoping 140 grain Nosler ABs work well and 140 BTs shoot to the same point of aim/impact for cheap practice.

Doublegun you are correct on the weight part. So long as one practices enough to be competent with an ultra light it is every ounce that counts. A rifle is also one piece of kit that goes with you everywhere on the hunt. For the same amount of money as I spent on the Wildcat and gunsmithing I could have lost some more ounces in my sleep system. However once camp is set up I don't have to haul it around with me up the hills, the rifle I do. This is also the reason for the flip flop pad. Flip flop and epoxy weighs 0.4 oz, I don't know of any commercial pad that light.
 
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