Rifle is just a standard 700
ATRS Sheep Hunting Rifle...
- Thread starter lmart
- Start date
Rifle is just a standard 700
I firstly want to say that i didn't think posting "my new sheep rifle" would cause such a stir. Truth be told, i hunt only sheep with a rifle. All other big game i hunt with my bow. So when i say that this is my new sheep rifle its because it will probably only ever chase sheep.
When i walked into ATRS back in January i was looking for brass for my my wifes 6.5. I started chatting with Rick about the carbon fibre barrels and the light weight but strong gun i thought about building one day. To my surprise i walked out of ATRS with a receipt in my hand and the waiting game began. When discussing with rick about my needs, i told him i wanted a gun that was fairly lightweight, but very strong and built with components that i could trust. Simplicity was my goal. As any hunter knows, the rifle needs to work as intended, period and end of story.
A couple of years ago i purchased a "ultralight" Forbes Rifle from a shop here in Alberta. After a few hunts, the "kevlar" stock started to fall apart and there was a major malfunction with the bolt. After that fiasco i always said i would never again trade a bit of weight for quality.
In my mountain hunting carreer, i have found that people will always try and shave mere ounces off anything they can to lighten the load, but wont lose any ounces (or pounds for that matter) from around the spare tire they pack around their waist. I have no problem with my new 8.5 pound sheep rifle as i constantly work to lose and keep off the pounds that really matter so i can enjoy a few of the comforts of home when i am way out west. Specifically, a virtual tack driver of a rifle.
As well, as Carverk pointed out with the link to that youtube vid, i like the idea of taking a strong rifle capable of withstanding some punishment.
Thanks for all of the feedback. Should be out to the range in the next few days. I will post the results.
When i walked into ATRS back in January i was looking for brass for my my wifes 6.5. I started chatting with Rick about the carbon fibre barrels and the light weight but strong gun i thought about building one day. To my surprise i walked out of ATRS with a receipt in my hand and the waiting game began. When discussing with rick about my needs, i told him i wanted a gun that was fairly lightweight, but very strong and built with components that i could trust. Simplicity was my goal. As any hunter knows, the rifle needs to work as intended, period and end of story.
A couple of years ago i purchased a "ultralight" Forbes Rifle from a shop here in Alberta. After a few hunts, the "kevlar" stock started to fall apart and there was a major malfunction with the bolt. After that fiasco i always said i would never again trade a bit of weight for quality.
In my mountain hunting carreer, i have found that people will always try and shave mere ounces off anything they can to lighten the load, but wont lose any ounces (or pounds for that matter) from around the spare tire they pack around their waist. I have no problem with my new 8.5 pound sheep rifle as i constantly work to lose and keep off the pounds that really matter so i can enjoy a few of the comforts of home when i am way out west. Specifically, a virtual tack driver of a rifle.
As well, as Carverk pointed out with the link to that youtube vid, i like the idea of taking a strong rifle capable of withstanding some punishment.
Thanks for all of the feedback. Should be out to the range in the next few days. I will post the results.
Hmmm...now I'm curious how light a person could build using the lightest carbon barrel. I like the idea of carrying a tack driver hunting but won't trade 3lbs for added consistency. 1lb though......
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Insite Arms are your men for this. They're working with a carbon fibre stock maker and can build you one under 5lbs - Sako Carbonlight range. Alternatively, you can get carbon fibre stocks for a T3. A superlite in a CF stock would be 5-ish lbs.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Holy crap.....I just had a look at the Pierce site... They can make you a shot action that comes in at 17oz, or long at about 19oz - both weights without rail or recoil lug. For comparison the ATRS actions are 37 and 42oz - but that's with recoil lug and rail. Not exactly apples to apples, but sounds like a very real weight savings to me.....
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
OR... If after the lightest of the light, instead of building a $4k+ project rifle, you can just buy a Kimber; 4.8lbs short action, 5.3lbs long action... and it comes in .280AI. I built a ~$12,000US full titanium actioned custom (not just the receiver like most Ti's, but the whole action) and it came in heavier than my Kimbers (6.25lbs pre-optics, but it's a .375 2 1/4" Nitro for Grizzly duty).
Many folks seem to insinuate a few extra pounds don't matter, I can assure you they do, but the style of hunts matters too. All my operation's mountain goat hunting is backpacks and boots from a drop off lake, no horses, it's heavily physical naturally. I had an in shape guide from Alaska in his 30's come last year and he puked from exertion, pounds don't matter... Ounces do! I also in the same breath recognize mountain hunting means different things in different places, many have less footwork to do, horses, or easier terrain.
People will bring up the "greats" from the past and their Featherweights that weighed what we now consider a standard rifle, and I'd like to remind them they'd have taken a 5lb rifle if it was available and losing weight can only help. Not all mountain hunting is created equal, either, I caution clients booking you're far better off with a sub-6lb .270 Win than an 8lb .300 and the lighter rifle will bring you more opportunities and a better experience.
Yes... I agree the easiest place to cut weight is on your body, and that's a continuing challenge for clients. But all else being equal every ounce we can cut, perfect, every pound... Well no further explanation required! I fly into extremely marginal alpine lakes at high altitude and saving every smidgeon of weight there is a safety consideration too. As soon as one says "It's just a few pounds" the slippery slope has begun. The good aircraft manufacturers understand weight and one of the helicopters I fly at the day job is running a wire reduction program right now to cut grams... Let alone pounds.
I'm admittedly weight crazy, gear is shaved to the bare minimum as for where I operate it brings better experiences. Where lmart is and for what he's doing his new rifle could well be perfect, though if he was booking a mountain goat hunt here I'd suggest he picks up a Kimber to beat up and leave his nice new build at home. He's not, and I wish him luck in the fall on his sheep, it'll no doubt kill them nicely and I'm interested to hear how it shoots. No doubt extremely well like all stuff that rolls out of Rick's shop.
As for the tough crowd, this is the internet, bring a helmet.
Many folks seem to insinuate a few extra pounds don't matter, I can assure you they do, but the style of hunts matters too. All my operation's mountain goat hunting is backpacks and boots from a drop off lake, no horses, it's heavily physical naturally. I had an in shape guide from Alaska in his 30's come last year and he puked from exertion, pounds don't matter... Ounces do! I also in the same breath recognize mountain hunting means different things in different places, many have less footwork to do, horses, or easier terrain.
People will bring up the "greats" from the past and their Featherweights that weighed what we now consider a standard rifle, and I'd like to remind them they'd have taken a 5lb rifle if it was available and losing weight can only help. Not all mountain hunting is created equal, either, I caution clients booking you're far better off with a sub-6lb .270 Win than an 8lb .300 and the lighter rifle will bring you more opportunities and a better experience.
Yes... I agree the easiest place to cut weight is on your body, and that's a continuing challenge for clients. But all else being equal every ounce we can cut, perfect, every pound... Well no further explanation required! I fly into extremely marginal alpine lakes at high altitude and saving every smidgeon of weight there is a safety consideration too. As soon as one says "It's just a few pounds" the slippery slope has begun. The good aircraft manufacturers understand weight and one of the helicopters I fly at the day job is running a wire reduction program right now to cut grams... Let alone pounds.
I'm admittedly weight crazy, gear is shaved to the bare minimum as for where I operate it brings better experiences. Where lmart is and for what he's doing his new rifle could well be perfect, though if he was booking a mountain goat hunt here I'd suggest he picks up a Kimber to beat up and leave his nice new build at home. He's not, and I wish him luck in the fall on his sheep, it'll no doubt kill them nicely and I'm interested to hear how it shoots. No doubt extremely well like all stuff that rolls out of Rick's shop.
As for the tough crowd, this is the internet, bring a helmet.
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Interesting. Seems you have the experience to back it up on many fronts. I take your word for it. Also seems like you have a pretty sweet job!!!!
GGG
GGG
- Location
- Jameson, SK
Was that the XL?? I read about that in a forum last night.
They mentioned that if your call Pierce they are still available.
GGG
Look forward to seeing them...... And thank you for expanding on why you made your choice...... Valid points indeed.....
OR... If after the lightest of the light, instead of building a $4k+ project rifle, you can just buy a Kimber; 4.8lbs short action, 5.3lbs long action... and it comes in .280AI. I built a ~$12,000US full titanium actioned custom (not just the receiver like most Ti's, but the whole action) and it came in heavier than my Kimbers (6.25lbs pre-optics, but it's a .375 2 1/4" Nitro for Grizzly duty).
Many folks seem to insinuate a few extra pounds don't matter, I can assure you they do, but the style of hunts matters too. All my operation's mountain goat hunting is backpacks and boots from a drop off lake, no horses, it's heavily physical naturally. I had an in shape guide from Alaska in his 30's come last year and he puked from exertion, pounds don't matter... Ounces do! I also in the same breath recognize mountain hunting means different things in different places, many have less footwork to do, horses, or easier terrain.
People will bring up the "greats" from the past and their Featherweights that weighed what we now consider a standard rifle, and I'd like to remind them they'd have taken a 5lb rifle if it was available and losing weight can only help. Not all mountain hunting is created equal, either, I caution clients booking you're far better off with a sub-6lb .270 Win than an 8lb .300 and the lighter rifle will bring you more opportunities and a better experience.
Yes... I agree the easiest place to cut weight is on your body, and that's a continuing challenge for clients. But all else being equal every ounce we can cut, perfect, every pound... Well no further explanation required! I fly into extremely marginal alpine lakes at high altitude and saving every smidgeon of weight there is a safety consideration too. As soon as one says "It's just a few pounds" the slippery slope has begun. The good aircraft manufacturers understand weight and one of the helicopters I fly at the day job is running a wire reduction program right now to cut grams... Let alone pounds.
I'm admittedly weight crazy, gear is shaved to the bare minimum as for where I operate it brings better experiences. Where lmart is and for what he's doing his new rifle could well be perfect, though if he was booking a mountain goat hunt here I'd suggest he picks up a Kimber to beat up and leave his nice new build at home. He's not, and I wish him luck in the fall on his sheep, it'll no doubt kill them nicely and I'm interested to hear how it shoots. No doubt extremely well like all stuff that rolls out of Rick's shop.
As for the tough crowd, this is the internet, bring a helmet.
*crosses keg of rolling rock off his shopping list.....
this is my my pick for most hunting its not what most of you would use but I like it with 15" 308 barrel is 7 lb as seen in photo it is %100 reliable
I hate hang up on stuff so I go with short rifles but that's because im living on BC coast
If living in Alberta my choices would be different
lets see how his new rifle shoot that is what matters
I hate hang up on stuff so I go with short rifles but that's because im living on BC coast
If living in Alberta my choices would be different
lets see how his new rifle shoot that is what matters
this is my my pick for most hunting its not what most of you would use but I like it with 15" 308 barrel is 7 lb as seen in photo it is %100 reliable
I hate hang up on stuff so I go with short rifles but that's because im living on BC coast
If living in Alberta my choices would be different
lets see how his new rifle shoot that is what matters
Handy looking rig..... Would be illegal to hunt with in my province though, which I guess doesn't matter for mountain hunting.....
Surprised to hear a Thompson single with a 15" tube would weigh that much.....
It has a bull barrel the scope can be a bit lighter .
Sum one on CGN turned me onto the biathlon type slings if I get out on gout or sheep hunt this year I will bring that sling the encore 308 or my Winchester low wall 6.5x55
But what do I know I still think 22lr is a deer round
I travel a lot between northern BC and northern Alberta and needed a hunting system that was flexible to hunt both BC and Alberta this is wear im at so fare
223 and 308 both are 15" barrel plus one turkey barrel
The point im making is each of us have different needs in a rifle depending on environment and hunting style let a lone taste
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