Post your Mountain Rifle

[bearkilr]

Just for some pre Christmas entertainment, lets start a thread about lightweight rifles. Post what you have, description, with a picture if possible; customs, production, Frankenstein, doesn't matter.

If you have a picture of it on a scale, that'd be a bonus, so we know you're not

If you're Hercules and hauled a 15 lb rifle up Mt. Everest and feel the need to tell everyone about your manhood, start your own thread. This one's for what are considered lightweights in the year 2014.

I'll start:

Kimber Montana 84M in 308 Win with a VX3 2.5-8x36 in Talley Lightweight mediums and aluminum trigger guard. 5 lbs, 13.25 oz.
Internet accuracy: cloverleaf at 500 yards offhand
Actual accuracy: around 1"@100 with my very limited range time, more to come.

Only thing missing are mountains.........

 

[sheephunter]

I've got a bit of a mountain rifle fetish



6.5 Creedmoor Stiller action 5lb 13oz naked
270WSM Defiance action 6lb 3 oz naked
7mm RM Pre64 M70 action 6lb 6oz naked
.338WM Defiance Action 6lb 12oz naked

I'm not a huge fan of the super light-weights...something in the 6-6.5 pound range seems to fit me just perfectly.

 

[bearkilr]

^^ Nice, especially #2. Do they still engrave the rams head on the floorplate as well?

 

[sheephunter]

^^ Nice, especially #2. Do they still engrave the rams head on the floorplate as well?

A couple of the earlier builds weren't engraved....Ya that 270 has seen a lot of mountains right across the world.

 

[Mik123]

Who makes those stocks?

Thanks,

Mik

I've got a bit of a mountain rifle fetish



6.5 Creedmoor Stiller action 5lb 13oz naked
270WSM Defiance action 6lb 3 oz naked
7mm RM Pre64 M70 action 6lb 6oz naked
.338WM Defiance Action 6lb 12oz naked

I'm not a huge fan of the super light-weights...something in the 6-6.5 pound range seems to fit me just perfectly.

 

[sheephunter]

Who makes those stocks?

Thanks,

Mik

They are all McMillan stocks.

 

[deerfarmer]

Nice rifles SH. 3 of them have what looks like electrical tape around barrel.... is that just storage for muzzle protection?

 

[sheephunter]

Nice rifles SH. 3 of them have what looks like electrical tape around barrel.... is that just storage for muzzle protection?

Yes it is just a handy place to keep it. The 270 usually has a few wraps as well.

 

[Ardent]

I was pretty smitten with the mountain ascent, I think I'll pick one up again. I do need to find a way to fit good irons to it, hunt irons only and would like to get some good adjustable sights on one.

 

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Christensen arms carbon extreme in 270wsm
Remington model 7 in 7mm08.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

I've done the "ultralight" thing a more than a few times now. In my way of thinking there are lightweight rifles that scale between 6.5-7.5lbs scoped and then true ultralights that scale below 6.5lbs with glass.

I've owned three Montanas and in my IMHO they are the best factory "turn-key" ultralight available, no sacrifice in barrel length but can be finicky in load development.
I've also owned several Model Sevens and I think they deliver great value for the do it yourself type,not hard to make weight with a simple stock swap.
doublegun here on CGN knows his model Sevens and has built some real nice ones himself.

I had Corlanes build me a full custom mountain rifle in .284win. Nice rifle but I was underwhelmed with what you get for what you pay...they charge a lot of baksheesh for assembling from a parts bin. I played with it a little bit before it went down the road for half of what I paid for it...let's just say the fella that bought it from me paid exactly what it was worth. Lots of money floating around up near the oil patch I guess, a lot of money too me is probably chump-change to a rig worker. I'm sure the market probably dictates the gunsmithing fees they charge. I will give them credit where it's due, they have awesome turn-around times. The rifle was completed when they said it would be and this is a huge deal to me and is not the norm in my experience.

The best thing I ever did was give Melvin Forbes a ring. I ordered mine from Mel knowing full well that Forbes LLC was making a factory rifle out of his design.
Balance is unbelievable on this rifle...fits me like it was made for me and shoots tightest of any of my rifles regardless of weight.
Cold bore shots always land in the same spot and load development was a cake walk.
I really don't like the looks of it much,and that is tough to swallow because most guys like something pretty to look at but she's got it where it counts.
First world problems!

This one was a semi-custom 280AI built by a great member here named RickF. Rem 700 with lots of metal removed from the action, Mc-edge and a Shilen trigger. 24" Gaillard barrel.Wonderfully balanced,shot lights out with speeds approaching factory 7mm rem mag loads. I really miss this one,it was a sweetheart. It weighed close to 6.5 with a Leopold ultralight scope IIRC.

Heres the RMR I owned in .284... Defiant thinhorn M action, 23" Pac-nor fluted, with PTG steel oberndorf-style bottom metal in a Mc-edge,Shilen fire control.
Could have gone lighter with a blind mag. It went slightly under 6.5lbs scoped.

Heres My NULA in .284win... close to 3100FPS with a stiff load of RE-17 and a 140r TTSX.

Honorable mention goes to my modified Ranch Hand in .45 Colt. I'm in the mountains carrying this one throughout the year,not just hunting season and this is my "ramblin'" rifle so to speak. I carry it in my hand or it can fit in my pack.
325gr hardcast bullets travelling near 1500FPS helps me sleep well under the stars.

 

[sheephunter]

I chuckle every time I see someone's Thinhorn. I think I got the only Thin Horn ever built......lol I got the first Thinhorn ever built and it seems there was a bit of a communication break down with Defiance as to how it was actually spelled.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

I chuckle every time I see someone's Thinhorn. I think I got the only Thin Horn ever built......lol I got the first Thinhorn ever built and it seems there was a bit of a communication break down with Defiance as to how it was actually spelled.

Could've been worse...could of got stuck with the tinhorn!

 

[bearkilr]

Wow, Sun n Steel, that RMR is shiny! Needs a Harley Davidson sticker on the butt!

 

[freddyfour]

I was pretty smitten with the mountain ascent, I think I'll pick one up again. I do need to find a way to fit good irons to it, hunt irons only and would like to get some good adjustable sights on one.

I want one of these in 260Rem

 

[double gun]

I've done the "ultralight" thing a more than a few times now. In my way of thinking there are lightweight rifles that scale between 6.5-7.5lbs scoped and then true ultralights that scale below 6.5lbs with glass.

I agree. The term "lightweight" applies to a rifle in that 6 to 6 1/2lb range, and the term "ultralight" is for rifles under 6lbs. (bare rifle). I was once addicted to trying to build the absolute lightest rifle, but after building a handful realize there are some things I won't give up to save a few ounces. My personal favorite factory lightweight to actually shoot is weatherby's 6 lug, non magnum ultralight(even in their ridiculously heavy stock). 24" barrel that's not a pencil, actually scaled down long action, actual bottom metal, proper recoil pad right around 5 3/4lbs. They handle and point amazingly well. Now if someone made a proper drop in lightweight stock for them I would really be giddy. Why did I sell my 280 again???

In my opinion the best bang for your buck ultralight is a m7 wearing a wildcat. They will come in at 5lb +/- 1 or 2 oz with no other work done.

I have a grudge against kimber, but recently have been softening and thinking about giving one a try... With some alterations of course. Like a complete idiot I passed a crazy good deal I was offered on one from crazy davey a while back.

 

[bcwave]

I've got a bit of a mountain rifle fetish



6.5 Creedmoor Stiller action 5lb 13oz naked
270WSM Defiance action 6lb 3 oz naked
7mm RM Pre64 M70 action 6lb 6oz naked
.338WM Defiance Action 6lb 12oz naked

I'm not a huge fan of the super light-weights...something in the 6-6.5 pound range seems to fit me just perfectly.

Nice defiance actions - what barrel are you using and who puts it together for you?

 

[sheephunter]

Nice defiance actions - what barrel are you using and who puts it together for you?

Shilen barrels....Corlanes did the work

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

Wow, Sun n Steel, that RMR is shiny! Needs a Harley Davidson sticker on the butt!

Paint adds weight son!
Even the electrical tape sheephunter uses on his muzzle is making that scale climb.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

Love the Mountain Ascents, and appreciate the picture of it scaled.
I never would have thought that the NULA model 20 in .284 would be so close in weight...they look ridiculously close. My rifle came with the talleys included and installed (acraglas bedded) so I have never weighed the bare rifle without the rings but I believe these two are running neck and neck and I have to admit I'm a little surprised that the Ascent doesn't pull a comfortable lead with the extensive metalwork and .308 diameter bore.
The little Swaro on top is a 3-9X36 that goes a hair over 12ozs for reference.
Not too shabby for a rifle designed in the mid eighties. I'm curious as to what the new Forbes short actions are running scaled? I thought I noticed Forbes LLC pissing around with shorter barrel lengths though, and even Kimber seems to have gone down that path with the Adirondack.