thanks for this, gives me some ideas on more places to shave weight. My badger isn't as light (1.125kg/2.48lbs) but it's super small when folded up. Idea is to carry it in my bag when I'm deer hunting in case I come across some small game.
The lightest weight rifles
- Thread starter Evanguy
- Start date
thanks for this, gives me some ideas on more places to shave weight. My badger isn't as light (1.125kg/2.48lbs) but it's super small when folded up. Idea is to carry it in my bag when I'm deer hunting in case I come across some small game.
How long is the barrel on that thing?
This isnt meant as a negative comment, but its pretty unreal that he got that semi auto with mag about a 1/2 pound lighter than yours. Also, where is the rest of the butt stock?
So I'll bit on the invite to others on lightweight builds...
This isnt probably falls into the light category, yours would be more "ultra-light" and mine is incomplete.
788 lefty, rebarreled to 6.5CM with a carbon six pipe. I used ultra light balsa wood with an aluminum skeleton and bedding tied into the balsa, then carbon fiber over top.
Pictures
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So the rifle with bipod, rings, EGW picatinny rail and skin on it is around 8 pounds, but with just the bipod is closer to 7. If you figure out what the average bipod weight is I guess this is under 7 pounds in comparison. I didn't really want to post pictures till the thing was completed but I dig the ultra light builds. The bipod is integrated, as I have a eberlestock pack, and I want to be able to slide it in and out without having to remove it and store it in the pack, or have it catch on the pack while trying to put it back in or pull it out of the bag in a hurry.
The choice of scope/rail/rings take this thing out of the lightweight category, but overall its a compromise for a mid range-ish setup for weight etc.
I made the aluminum skeleton, and the bottom metal is 6061 I did a CAD file for and had the trigger guard tigged together. Probably the most interesting part (at least for me) is that I redesigned the bottom metal and recreated the trigger inside the mechanism to move it forward about 30mm. The stock is designed around the trigger, the rear locking lug bolt on a 788 give it a very short bolt throw, so Ive decreased the overall length, without compromising LOP or barrel length. Benefits of a slightly shorter handling rifle without chopping the barrel. Once the weather warms up Ill get the last coat of epoxy resin, paint etc. Also, I did have to cut some of the rear picatinny lugs off the rail, as Ive shortened the LOP and moved the action back, the scope wants to sit forward more. Also drilled and tapped a 4th hole for the rail, the 788's come with 3 x 8-48 screws, vs. teh 700 4 x 6-48 screws.
Also, the small pieces of aluminum pipe off the skeleton are made for QD slings. There is a bunch of them for slings, and multiple on the sides. There are two (top and bottom) near the butt pad. The reason for this is so i could use two simple nylon slings to carry it like a backpack if you can visualize it.
The bipod has been modded, the aluminum tube on the legs replaced with CF, the bolt has been skeletonized, internal locking mechanism in the bipod (square steel lugs) have been replaced with 7075. The scope rings have been de-horned, the cross bolts replaced with Ti, which were slightly oversized and filed square to fit snuggly between the picatinny lugs, with wingnuts instead of bolt. Still need to run the lapping bar through them but havent gotten to that yet.
This isnt probably falls into the light category, yours would be more "ultra-light" and mine is incomplete.
788 lefty, rebarreled to 6.5CM with a carbon six pipe. I used ultra light balsa wood with an aluminum skeleton and bedding tied into the balsa, then carbon fiber over top.
Pictures
IMG_0321IMG_0854IMG_1269[1]IMG_1343[1]IMG_1345[1]IMG_1352[1]IMG_1348[1]So the rifle with bipod, rings, EGW picatinny rail and skin on it is around 8 pounds, but with just the bipod is closer to 7. If you figure out what the average bipod weight is I guess this is under 7 pounds in comparison. I didn't really want to post pictures till the thing was completed but I dig the ultra light builds. The bipod is integrated, as I have a eberlestock pack, and I want to be able to slide it in and out without having to remove it and store it in the pack, or have it catch on the pack while trying to put it back in or pull it out of the bag in a hurry.
The choice of scope/rail/rings take this thing out of the lightweight category, but overall its a compromise for a mid range-ish setup for weight etc.
I made the aluminum skeleton, and the bottom metal is 6061 I did a CAD file for and had the trigger guard tigged together. Probably the most interesting part (at least for me) is that I redesigned the bottom metal and recreated the trigger inside the mechanism to move it forward about 30mm. The stock is designed around the trigger, the rear locking lug bolt on a 788 give it a very short bolt throw, so Ive decreased the overall length, without compromising LOP or barrel length. Benefits of a slightly shorter handling rifle without chopping the barrel. Once the weather warms up Ill get the last coat of epoxy resin, paint etc. Also, I did have to cut some of the rear picatinny lugs off the rail, as Ive shortened the LOP and moved the action back, the scope wants to sit forward more. Also drilled and tapped a 4th hole for the rail, the 788's come with 3 x 8-48 screws, vs. teh 700 4 x 6-48 screws.
Also, the small pieces of aluminum pipe off the skeleton are made for QD slings. There is a bunch of them for slings, and multiple on the sides. There are two (top and bottom) near the butt pad. The reason for this is so i could use two simple nylon slings to carry it like a backpack if you can visualize it.
The bipod has been modded, the aluminum tube on the legs replaced with CF, the bolt has been skeletonized, internal locking mechanism in the bipod (square steel lugs) have been replaced with 7075. The scope rings have been de-horned, the cross bolts replaced with Ti, which were slightly oversized and filed square to fit snuggly between the picatinny lugs, with wingnuts instead of bolt. Still need to run the lapping bar through them but havent gotten to that yet.
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Thats awesome man. I love seeing people do their own work. Speaking of light weight rifles. I built a big bore that eneded up very light. I didnt try too though. The weight may not sound light until you hear what its chambered in. Still missing the iron sights but it came in at 8 pounds 6oz. Seems heavy right? Well its a 460 weatherby with 23 1/4" barrel
ooohhhh... My shoulder hurts.. Just thinking about that.
Wish I had access to a mill and a lathe so i could do some of the work your doing. Would look at milling some material off the 788 action and fluting the bolt, but its a rear locking lug action. Cant do any of that without impacting the integrity really. The bolt knob.. Made that on the drill press.
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Seems crazy to suggest put would porting the barrel shave the extra weight? 22lr isnt that loud to begin with and porting doesnt seem to effect accuracy in centerfires
Also there are new lighter weight ammo options on the market. If you weighed 40gr ammo and switched to 30gr you could maybe save 80gr
Also there are new lighter weight ammo options on the market. If you weighed 40gr ammo and switched to 30gr you could maybe save 80gr
So I'll bit on the invite to others on lightweight builds...
This isnt probably falls into the light category, yours would be more "ultra-light" and mine is incomplete.
788 lefty, rebarreled to 6.5CM with a carbon six pipe. I used ultra light balsa wood with an aluminum skeleton and bedding tied into the balsa, then carbon fiber over top.
Pictures
So the rifle with bipod, rings, EGW picatinny rail and skin on it is around 8 pounds, but with just the bipod is closer to 7. If you figure out what the average bipod weight is I guess this is under 7 pounds in comparison. I didn't really want to post pictures till the thing was completed but I dig the ultra light builds. The bipod is integrated, as I have a eberlestock pack, and I want to be able to slide it in and out without having to remove it and store it in the pack, or have it catch on the pack while trying to put it back in or pull it out of the bag in a hurry.
The choice of scope/rail/rings take this thing out of the lightweight category, but overall its a compromise for a mid range-ish setup for weight etc.
I made the aluminum skeleton, and the bottom metal is 6061 I did a CAD file for and had the trigger guard tigged together. Probably the most interesting part (at least for me) is that I redesigned the bottom metal and recreated the trigger inside the mechanism to move it forward about 30mm. The stock is designed around the trigger, the rear locking lug bolt on a 788 give it a very short bolt throw, so Ive decreased the overall length, without compromising LOP or barrel length. Benefits of a slightly shorter handling rifle without chopping the barrel. Once the weather warms up Ill get the last coat of epoxy resin, paint etc. Also, I did have to cut some of the rear picatinny lugs off the rail, as Ive shortened the LOP and moved the action back, the scope wants to sit forward more. Also drilled and tapped a 4th hole for the rail, the 788's come with 3 x 8-48 screws, vs. teh 700 4 x 6-48 screws.
Also, the small pieces of aluminum pipe off the skeleton are made for QD slings. There is a bunch of them for slings, and multiple on the sides. There are two (top and bottom) near the butt pad. The reason for this is so i could use two simple nylon slings to carry it like a backpack if you can visualize it.
The bipod has been modded, the aluminum tube on the legs replaced with CF, the bolt has been skeletonized, internal locking mechanism in the bipod (square steel lugs) have been replaced with 7075. The scope rings have been de-horned, the cross bolts replaced with Ti, which were slightly oversized and filed square to fit snuggly between the picatinny lugs, with wingnuts instead of bolt. Still need to run the lapping bar through them but havent gotten to that yet.
Whats there to support the butstock? Balsa is pretty weak isnt it? Doesnt the wrapping provide that much support?
There is two layers of carbon fiber over the stock that are plenty for overall structure, in hindsight I would have just done one layer. Being the first time I played with ultra light balsa and carbon fiber I wanted it strong. If i did/do it again, it will probably just be balsa and CF, with some sort of pillar or something just bigger than pillars to tie it together.
The ultralight balsa is like the blue styrofoam sheet, maybe slightly stronger, but super soft, and as light. Actually, that wood is so light when you hold it in hand its kind of a mind fk, its amazing how light it is in contrast to conventional walnut stocks. I dug up the numbers, factory wood stock, 39.2 ounces, balsa 6.3 ounces... That's without the aluminum skeleton and CF or bottom metal etc. but thats over 6 x lighter!!!
The aluminum bedding blocks with side rails structure weighs 8.1 ounces, the front piece of alloy for the bipod legs 3.0, so the skeleton cost about 11 ounces in weight. Bottom metal is 2.7 ounces.
I think pillars and bottom metal (aluminum) tie in the overall structure well enough that this would work well enough. I'm probably into the CF for about $150 worth of material.
If I did it again, Id go with a lighter contour, and no skeleton, just work more on pillars tied into the carbon skin. I probably could have shaved around 2.5 pounds if I got rid of the bipod legs, skeleton and lighter profile barrel, but this is a bit of a compromise between a lightweight/compact and mid range target shooter. The scope/rings/rail take it over the top in terms of being considered a light weight rig however.
The ultralight balsa is like the blue styrofoam sheet, maybe slightly stronger, but super soft, and as light. Actually, that wood is so light when you hold it in hand its kind of a mind fk, its amazing how light it is in contrast to conventional walnut stocks. I dug up the numbers, factory wood stock, 39.2 ounces, balsa 6.3 ounces... That's without the aluminum skeleton and CF or bottom metal etc. but thats over 6 x lighter!!!
The aluminum bedding blocks with side rails structure weighs 8.1 ounces, the front piece of alloy for the bipod legs 3.0, so the skeleton cost about 11 ounces in weight. Bottom metal is 2.7 ounces.
I think pillars and bottom metal (aluminum) tie in the overall structure well enough that this would work well enough. I'm probably into the CF for about $150 worth of material.
If I did it again, Id go with a lighter contour, and no skeleton, just work more on pillars tied into the carbon skin. I probably could have shaved around 2.5 pounds if I got rid of the bipod legs, skeleton and lighter profile barrel, but this is a bit of a compromise between a lightweight/compact and mid range target shooter. The scope/rings/rail take it over the top in terms of being considered a light weight rig however.
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Balsa wood is crazy light. I have RC nitro airplanes made of it. It is a MF really. I never once though if useing it as a stock with CF or FG over it. Cool opened up some new ideas for me.
And yes i was thinking about using lighter ammo
But then realized im gojng to carry 100 round with me anyway and my back pack weights more then the gun. And my gps plus cell phone adds more weight.
Really there are tonnes places i can cut pounds off my over all weight. So really any lighter is just getting silly.
I have it now at 1.15.8 with 7 rounds in the mag
Im done once i get the rear sight on. I made it to my goal. Ill post pics once rear sight is on.
My self im pretty light at 150 pounds. But cutting my hair would save more weight then anything else i can take off the rifle so it seems the rifle weight is as light as it can be without makeing it awkward to hold and use
And yes i was thinking about using lighter ammo
But then realized im gojng to carry 100 round with me anyway and my back pack weights more then the gun. And my gps plus cell phone adds more weight.
Really there are tonnes places i can cut pounds off my over all weight. So really any lighter is just getting silly.
I have it now at 1.15.8 with 7 rounds in the mag
Im done once i get the rear sight on. I made it to my goal. Ill post pics once rear sight is on.
My self im pretty light at 150 pounds. But cutting my hair would save more weight then anything else i can take off the rifle so it seems the rifle weight is as light as it can be without makeing it awkward to hold and use
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So.. Yeah, not a lot of others who dabble with lightening up rifles around here.
Is there a different forum where folks are a bit more interested in modd'ing stuff and passionate about light weight builds? I'm thinking the topic would be more fun in a different place, where folks have more to offer.
Reccomendations? Looked at 24hourcampfire, a bit more info
Is there a different forum where folks are a bit more interested in modd'ing stuff and passionate about light weight builds? I'm thinking the topic would be more fun in a different place, where folks have more to offer.
Reccomendations? Looked at 24hourcampfire, a bit more info
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