A couple months ago I posted a review of my new lightweight deer rifle, the Kimber Adirondack 6.5 Creedmoor, I was absolutely thrilled with the rifle and had zero regrets. https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1785209-Kimber-Adirondack-6-5cm-I-m-a-believer?highlight=kimber+believer
BUT, being a bit of a gun nut, it got me looking very hard at other lightweight rifles, well, maybe lusting is a better word. I came across the new Barrett Fieldcraft .308 with 22" bbl on the Precision Optics website. After chatting with Omer about it, and doing some online research, it became obvious this rifle had no apparent down-sides. It was built following the style of Forbes ultra light rifles, but with Barrett production quality and attention to detail. Omer, as usual, was amazing at getting the gun in my hands (although I did get bitten by the Canada Post strike which led to a painfully long delay from BC to Ontario).
Once in my hands, I could quickly see how precise and flawless Barrett builds their firearms. It looked more like a medical instrument in how well it was machined and finished. ZERO tool marks or sharp edges, everything just perfectly radiused, the fit of the stock is beyond comparison, with not even a detectable gap anywhere between the action and Carbon Fibre stock. The bolt is fluted and glides with buttery Tikka/Sako like fashion. The safety has the perfect tension, and feels so substantial and solid. The Timney trigger is perfect as you would expect, breaking like glass around 3-3.5lbs. I couldn't find a single flaw.
What really impressed me was the fit of the stock. I've read alot of articles about Melvin Forbes stocks and the ergonomics he created with his rifles. I don't know how closely Barrett followed his design, but the rifle shoulders and comes up to the eye with amazingly natural fluidity. The cheek rest is perfect and with medium Talley rings and a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 scope, my eye lines up behind this rifle with lightning fast ease. My Kimber is great in this regard also, but the Barrett just takes it up a notch. All together, the rifle and scope tip the scales just a hair under 6lbs. My rifle is #938 and came with a coupon for free Talley Lightweight rings from Barrett.
At the range is where the gun really shines. I took 4 different ammos with me. All 4 shot well, 1.5" and under even with the cheapest Federal blue box ammo. So far, the best ammo (that I had with me) was Hornady Whitetail Hunter 165gn which shot consistently under an inch, my best being .58" for a 3 shot group. I did notice that the apparent stress relieving that Barrett does to these barrels help eliminate or reduce heat-induced stringing. I noticed very little walking of shots as I continued to shoot without cooling the barrel. I was also impressed at how the recoil was not nearly as strong as I had expected from a sub 6lb .308. It has recoil, no doubt, but very tolerable and somehow muted, maybe through the carbon Fiber stock.
You are probably wondering Barrett vs Kimber... which do I prefer? I'm not sure I can answer that yet, too close to call although I'm leaning towards the Barrett. Somehow the Barrett feels more solid in the hand, the fully bedded barrel, perfectly shaped bolt handle, and well made safety makes the gun feel rock solid in all the tactile ways you use a gun. The Kimber's safety, while functional, seems like it isn't built as solid as it should be, the bolt is not as smooth or solid feeling as it has more moving parts, and the slight flex you feel between the barrel and stock forend add up to a feeling of being less solid than the Barrett. Its all subjective and tactile and has no bearing on performance or accuracy, as both guns are shooters. I do wish the Barrett was threaded to add a sleek brake like the Kimber has.
If you are looking for a lightweight hunter, look no further than the Barrett (or Kimber for that matter).
Once again, Precision Optics and Omer hit it out of the park and provided amazing service and advice. Thanks again.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i2T9VxQKtPEoeK268
BUT, being a bit of a gun nut, it got me looking very hard at other lightweight rifles, well, maybe lusting is a better word. I came across the new Barrett Fieldcraft .308 with 22" bbl on the Precision Optics website. After chatting with Omer about it, and doing some online research, it became obvious this rifle had no apparent down-sides. It was built following the style of Forbes ultra light rifles, but with Barrett production quality and attention to detail. Omer, as usual, was amazing at getting the gun in my hands (although I did get bitten by the Canada Post strike which led to a painfully long delay from BC to Ontario).
Once in my hands, I could quickly see how precise and flawless Barrett builds their firearms. It looked more like a medical instrument in how well it was machined and finished. ZERO tool marks or sharp edges, everything just perfectly radiused, the fit of the stock is beyond comparison, with not even a detectable gap anywhere between the action and Carbon Fibre stock. The bolt is fluted and glides with buttery Tikka/Sako like fashion. The safety has the perfect tension, and feels so substantial and solid. The Timney trigger is perfect as you would expect, breaking like glass around 3-3.5lbs. I couldn't find a single flaw.
What really impressed me was the fit of the stock. I've read alot of articles about Melvin Forbes stocks and the ergonomics he created with his rifles. I don't know how closely Barrett followed his design, but the rifle shoulders and comes up to the eye with amazingly natural fluidity. The cheek rest is perfect and with medium Talley rings and a Leupold VX3i 3.5-10x40 scope, my eye lines up behind this rifle with lightning fast ease. My Kimber is great in this regard also, but the Barrett just takes it up a notch. All together, the rifle and scope tip the scales just a hair under 6lbs. My rifle is #938 and came with a coupon for free Talley Lightweight rings from Barrett.
At the range is where the gun really shines. I took 4 different ammos with me. All 4 shot well, 1.5" and under even with the cheapest Federal blue box ammo. So far, the best ammo (that I had with me) was Hornady Whitetail Hunter 165gn which shot consistently under an inch, my best being .58" for a 3 shot group. I did notice that the apparent stress relieving that Barrett does to these barrels help eliminate or reduce heat-induced stringing. I noticed very little walking of shots as I continued to shoot without cooling the barrel. I was also impressed at how the recoil was not nearly as strong as I had expected from a sub 6lb .308. It has recoil, no doubt, but very tolerable and somehow muted, maybe through the carbon Fiber stock.
You are probably wondering Barrett vs Kimber... which do I prefer? I'm not sure I can answer that yet, too close to call although I'm leaning towards the Barrett. Somehow the Barrett feels more solid in the hand, the fully bedded barrel, perfectly shaped bolt handle, and well made safety makes the gun feel rock solid in all the tactile ways you use a gun. The Kimber's safety, while functional, seems like it isn't built as solid as it should be, the bolt is not as smooth or solid feeling as it has more moving parts, and the slight flex you feel between the barrel and stock forend add up to a feeling of being less solid than the Barrett. Its all subjective and tactile and has no bearing on performance or accuracy, as both guns are shooters. I do wish the Barrett was threaded to add a sleek brake like the Kimber has.
If you are looking for a lightweight hunter, look no further than the Barrett (or Kimber for that matter).
Once again, Precision Optics and Omer hit it out of the park and provided amazing service and advice. Thanks again.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i2T9VxQKtPEoeK268
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