Lightweight Hunting Rifle Suggestions

Rhino rpr said:
Ruger American. Cheap, accurate, and reliable. Oh yeah they're light too.
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So they will... Looks like 6 - 6.3lbs per non magnum standard or compact options. Puts them on the map and at a fraction of the cost of others.

At that weight, they are a direct weight comparison to the kimber mountain, ascent and tikka superlite at a fraction of the cost.
 
cody c said:
So they will... Looks like 6 - 6.3lbs per non magnum standard or compact options. Puts them on the map and at a fraction of the cost of others.

At that weight, they are a direct weight comparison to the kimber mountain, ascent and tikka superlite at a fraction of the cost.
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The Montana, Ascent and many of the other rifles mentioned in this thread are 1-1.5 lbs lighter than that. Not to mention higher quality stock ect. but yes, much more expensive.
 
cody c said:
So they will... Looks like 6 - 6.3lbs per non magnum standard or compact options. Puts them on the map and at a fraction of the cost of others.

At that weight, they are a direct weight comparison to the kimber mountain, ascent and tikka superlite at a fraction of the cost.
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How do you come to that conclusion? You’re a pound apart, that’s massive.
 
Ardent said:
How do you come to that conclusion? You’re a pound apart, that’s massive.
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Holy cow a whole pound? I kid.

Haha, well on the web the ascent is listed as starting at 4lb 13 ounces and then directly below that says 5lbs 6 ounces, same for the ascent, https://www.kimberamerica.com/mountain-ascent so maybe you can speak of real world kimber weights, I cant.

Ruger compact at 6lbs: https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleCompact/models.html so within 10 ounces, or more, I think Im fair to use the phrase i used above "Puts them on the map and at a fraction of the cost of others." and the interesting part is the retail on the american is like $459USD. Which is kind of.. Well not an apples to oranges, but your spending a few bucks more on the kimber, and that ruger might make a nicer group, Ive never owned either of them though, so Im not one to say, but the interwebs speak of kimber barrels and their performance.

Also I gotta check the numbers on that spreadsheet, maybe thats where I got a wrong number.


Edit: it looks like the kimbers range from 4/13 for the 6.5CR to 6/7 for the 300WM, I probably got my numbers from the magnums. (So you were right)
 
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Ruger compact in .308 Win = 6 lbs w/ 18" barrel
Mountain Ascent = 4 lbs 13 oz w/ 22" barel
Montana in .308 Win = 5 lbs 2 oz w/ 22" barrel

So a pound lighter with a 4" longer barrel. That takes $$$$. Worth it to some, not to others.
 
cam1936 said:
Ruger compact in .308 Win = 6 lbs w/ 18" barrel
Mountain Ascent = 4 lbs 13 oz w/ 22" barel
Montana in .308 Win = 5 lbs 2 oz w/ 22" barrel

So a pound lighter with a 4" longer barrel. That takes $$$$. Worth it to some, not to others.
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We're splitting hairs and having a pissing match if it comes to brand favourites, of course I have biases too, the Kimbers probably are the best option, but they aren't perfect either, I think we know they had a reputation for much more than 1 MOA accuracy, not that they're stinkers but if we're being honest about biases.
 
pete dobinson said:
I hope it's not like taking your car in for service, nothing is ever cheaper than you think, it's usually more. jmo :)
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cam1936 said:
Ruger compact in .308 Win = 6 lbs w/ 18" barrel
Mountain Ascent = 4 lbs 13 oz w/ 22" barel
Montana in .308 Win = 5 lbs 2 oz w/ 22" barrel

So a pound lighter with a 4" longer barrel. That takes $$$$. Worth it to some, not to others.
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Actually you have to average the ruger's weight out, it weighs 6lbs but you only pack it up the mountain, when your loaded with meat you chuck the rifle therefore the average weight is 3lbs. :) They're disposable.
 
cody c said:
We're splitting hairs and having a pissing match if it comes to brand favourites, of course I have biases too, the Kimbers probably are the best option, but they aren't perfect either, I think we know they had a reputation for much more than 1 MOA accuracy, not that they're stinkers but if we're being honest about biases.
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They ain't perfect. Like I said back a few pages back, I went Remington in a Wildcat instead of Kimber. Kimber is the lightest rifle for the money though, (that is in the ultralight world, if you don't worry about that last pound than you can go way cheaper).
 
cody c said:
Holy cow a whole pound? I kid.

Haha, well on the web the ascent is listed as starting at 4lb 13 ounces and then directly below that says 5lbs 6 ounces, same for the ascent, https://www.kimberamerica.com/mountain-ascent so maybe you can speak of real world kimber weights, I cant.

Ruger compact at 6lbs: https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleCompact/models.html so within 10 ounces, or more, I think Im fair to use the phrase i used above "Puts them on the map and at a fraction of the cost of others." and the interesting part is the retail on the american is like $459USD. Which is kind of.. Well not an apples to oranges, but your spending a few bucks more on the kimber, and that ruger might make a nicer group, Ive never owned either of them though, so Im not one to say, but the interwebs speak of kimber barrels and their performance.

Also I gotta check the numbers on that spreadsheet, maybe thats where I got a wrong number.


Edit: it looks like the kimbers range from 4/13 for the 6.5CR to 6/7 for the 300WM, I probably got my numbers from the magnums. (So you were right)
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I spend a lot of money to save grams, a bloody pound is an order of magnitude in backpack mountain gear. I’m likely about to spend a fifteen hundred bucks on a pack to save 1/2lb, and that’s worth it. The Mountain Ascent weight difference is between the 84M (.308 length) and 84L (.30-06 length). There’s also the brake, it’s removable and the rifle comes with a tool for removal and thread protector. I’ve had three Mountain Ascents and an Adirondack, weighed all four. The .308 Adirondack and the MA were both in the high 4lbs, the long actions low fives, I didn’t use the brakes as they aren’t required.
 
cody c said:
The kimber with scope would still cost more, so it would be a bad move financially
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Round it up to a bakers dozen then.

Including the scope in the budget doesn’t really make sense , unless you’re going to shoot your ruger American like a shotgun, at a flock of stone sheep coming in to your decoys.
 
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For those of us with smaller bank accounts and 150 dollar packs, there is always cardio.

I laughed Slimbo, but I like my Ruger American. It's the only bottom of the barrel, barrel nut plastic fantastic rifle I've ever owned and it scares me how much I like it. If I'd bought one 5 years ago when I graduated from university I probably wouldn't be posting here today lol.
 
You’re right, in the end it’s whatever gets you out hunting whether it’s a lee enfield sporter, ruger American or a Rigby. From all accounts they seem to be a perfectly serviceable rifle and You’ve got to dance with the one that brung you. Still not giving up my kimber though! :)
 
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