Kifaru Rambling Rifle

BigUglyMan

BigUglyMan

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Imagine my shock and glee when last night whilst searching for packs when I see this beautiful piece of news...the Kifaru Rambling Rifle is back!

A few minor changes from the original but it's still true to the original ideal. Under 5lbs when in a non-magnum and topped with a Leupold 2-7x and only 8oz more when you go with a long action or a magnum. It'd make an exuberant 300WSM but it could be a fine rifle to pack into the high country.

I've got the want all over again!

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Old pic here of an early one.

The Ultimate Ramblin Rifle - Patrick Smith, Colorado author and experienced mountain guide, settles on the 350 and 358 in a light rifle for all round "ramblin" in big bear country.

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kennymo said:
Can you get interchangeable barrels for that?
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Barrels and bolts so you can have whatever you want within a case-length family.

And yeah, sans brake I'm sure it would boot you around. 40ft-lbs is lively, but manageable. Not much worse than my 7lb 11oz 9.3x62, but a bit worse still.
 
Or you could buy an Accent......Or a NULA.....or a Titanium Strata and skip the fugly and the extra 2-4k.

Who are you trying to kid anyway BUM. You and I would add a pound just getting our LOP right....
 
This summer's hiking in steep country with thick cover at the lower elevations has convinced me of the benefits that a light rifle has to offer. I was fortunate to have the loan of a custom shop M-7 Kevlar in .350 magnum, rather than the SAKO .300 magnum I had planned to use. Thank's Doug! Having said that, the Kifaru might have surpassed the point of diminishing returns, although I haven't held one. The point of the exercise is still to hit the target, and I don't see how the minimum forend of this rifle can be anything but a detriment to good field marksmanship. Hunting rifles chambered for moderate cartridges, can be made very light when the correct dimensions and materials are chosen, but in the end, it must still be shootable.
 
I prefer the new style forend compared to the original. I think the AFG will give great aid in controlling the rifle under recoil compared to the old "Power Grip" (I think it was called that). And the sling stud mounted on the end of the forend (what little forend there is) should help somewhat with field shooting. Minute-of-grapefruit is what we're after and I would bet that when shot carefully (as we all should endeavour to do when shooting game) it will work just fine. Wouldn't be my first choice fo stock for a gopher rifle though.

I remember visiting Prairie Gunworks in the old days before they became all tactical and edgy. While there my then-girlfriend and I were invited into the back to see the operation by Ross. There were all manner of interesting things on the go...a 280 destined for a US gunwriter (long before the 280 regained it's cool) but the one that stuck in my mind the most was a sweet little 308 that was sub 5lbs unscoped wearing a Wildcat stock. I've always lusted for a rifle like that but at the time as an incredibly impoverished university student I felt fortunate to be let through the doors let alone into the back to fondle rifles that were still being finished. Sadly PGW completely abandoned the hunting rifle side of things before I had the scratch to buy one but there are still many other viable options as put forth (NULA, Kimber Ascent etc) and plenty of talented gunplumbers who can put together a quality lightweight rifle. That's the great thing about living in a capitalist society - anyone is free to try to build a better mousetrap.
 
Bowie said:
What's the weight difference between this and the new Kimber Ascent in the same caliber?
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Somebody's google-fu is doubtless better than mine, but I'm having trouble pinning down an actual figure. Read in many places "under 5lbs with Leupold 2-7x" but hard numbers on the Gen II are eluding me. That scope weighs 10oz, so that would indicate the Gen II weights 4lbs 6ozs or less, that's very light and at minium 7oz / 9oz lighter than the Mountain Ascent (7oz without brake, 9oz with). Depends if that 7/9oz is worth $4,000 landed here in Canada to you vs a Mountain Ascent, for some it may be, along with the barrel change capability and takedown. It's passed my threshold though, while I can still admire it.
 
BUM, you shooting one of those would be like watching me shoot an AR-7. I think I visited PGW about the same time as you did. Ross saw his opportunity and was able to make hay, and good for him; but probably the last time he held a hunting rifle was when his picture was taken for the Barnes Manual.
 
Ardent said:
Somebody's google-fu is doubtless better than mine, but I'm having trouble pinning down an actual figure. Read in many places "under 5lbs with Leupold 2-7x" but hard numbers on the Gen II are eluding me. That scope weighs 10oz, so that would indicate the Gen II weights 4lbs 6ozs or less, that's very light and at minium 7oz / 9oz lighter than the Mountain Ascent (7oz without brake, 9oz with). Depends if that 7/9oz is worth $4,000 landed here in Canada to you vs a Mountain Ascent, for some it may be, along with the barrel change capability and takedown. It's passed my threshold though, while I can still admire it.
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Nothing wrong with your google skills Ardent, info on the ramblin' rifle is hard to come by. I'm willing to bet the number of owners of these mythical creatures barely breaks into double digits. I am somewhat skeptical about the claimed weight, I can't imagine hacking the fore-end would drop huge ounces, if we are talking an 18" pencil barrel well then maybe, but I'd be curious as to the dimensions of the barrel before it's wrapped.
While I will admit it's a cool looking concept to us gram-weenies, I'd be a liar if I said I thought it was practical in the field.
I get a bead of sweat on my brow shooting a sub 6lb'er off the bench from concentrating so hard on the fundamentals, could only imagine trying to work up a load for the Kifaru! Ah well, there is always someone on here who can shoot half inch groups off-hand on a windy day! :ninja:
As Boomer said...there comes a point of diminishing returns.
 
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Boomer said:
BUM, you shooting one of those would be like watching me shoot an AR-7. I think I visited PGW about the same time as you did. Ross saw his opportunity and was able to make hay, and good for him; but probably the last time he held a hunting rifle was when his picture was taken for the Barnes Manual.
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Ha! Now that would be one for the promotional material!
 
BigUglyMan said:
If you buy an ultralight rifle then you don't have to lose as much weight prior to a mountain hunt. Why do you think I like them so much?
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I'm not opposed to LW rifles at all, just that I've always viewed the Kifaru with some suspicion. :)

I'm also not sure I would pay that price when I could easily have a great LW rifle that is a pound or so more for half the price, and may shoot better. Although I've never shot a Kifaru so I'm just guessing at the accuracy.
 
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