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Ultra Light Hunting Rifle Set Up??
- Thread starter Dwmuench
- Start date
My .308 Kimber Montana with Talley Lightweight low mounts with a VX2 2-7x33 is a hair under 6lbs. With a VX3 2.5-8x36 its a hair over 6lbs. Love the Montana, my favourite hunting rifle. Would happily have another. I don't feel the need to go lightwer than that. Its very easy to carry but I want to retain some shootability in the field.
Kimber Hunter will do much the same for less money, but that Montana stock is fantastic.
As others have said, a T3 with Wildcat ultralight stock will go well under under 6lbs naked and can probably be done for under $2000 if you finish the stock yourself. Will likley shoot very accurately as well.
I would like to try a barret Fieldcraft as well.
Kimber Hunter will do much the same for less money, but that Montana stock is fantastic.
As others have said, a T3 with Wildcat ultralight stock will go well under under 6lbs naked and can probably be done for under $2000 if you finish the stock yourself. Will likley shoot very accurately as well.
I would like to try a barret Fieldcraft as well.
I've got 4 Kimber lightweight rifles (6.5 Creedmoor, 7-08, 308 and 280AI)...all of them will shoot around 1/2 MOA for 3 shot groups.
I find if shooting off a rest at the range they shoot best with the rifle rested close to the chamber and a firm grip on the stock just ahead of the rest.
They actually shoot better off a bipod though (Spartan Carbon fiber) but need to be loaded quite heavily against my shoulder and you really have to make sure you are square to the gun.
Love my Kimbers
I find if shooting off a rest at the range they shoot best with the rifle rested close to the chamber and a firm grip on the stock just ahead of the rest.
They actually shoot better off a bipod though (Spartan Carbon fiber) but need to be loaded quite heavily against my shoulder and you really have to make sure you are square to the gun.
Love my Kimbers
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A few things annoy me about super light rifles and I went back to compromise setups. One thing was a scope that is only chosen for being light weight and just not up the task of taking a deer at longer range cleanly. Rather something with a higher magnification, proper turrets, good tracking and parallax to also check if any twigs, fence wire or grass is in the bullet path. Then stocks, some are built so light and might not have the internal structure to take a hard hit if dropped or one takes a tumble in the hunt. Would be a pity if the hunt of a lifetime were ruined for the sake of a few ounces or wrong construction. Not sure yet if a carbon barrel is a winner over a say a similar weighted steel barrel, I have both, both work neither are ultra ultra light weight. If carrying a rifle is an issue what is the issue going to be when carrying the rifle and the deer back.
edi
edi
Alright now I’m all for a DT Covert I do love it and gets a bad wrap from the LR crowd that can run a bolt is a slightly different position than your used to… but light weight? And mountain hunting? Mines staying at home.
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Totally agree! I think super light weight rifle is a trend/fads! Loosing a pound on
a rifle set up is easy I guess but more efficient than that would be getting stronger and loosing a few pounds of body weight(I think most of us could loose a few pounds lol), not everyone need/can loose the body weight, then a finding ways to have a lighter load make sense!
Post #501 here https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1673118-The-Mountain-Hunting-Thread/page51
Look at the pictures and read his post!!
If that's the price range you are comfortable with, a T3X Superlight could fill the bill for sure. In Magnum cartridges they really kick, though. For moose/elk/sheep you could go .30-06 with the slightly shorter barrel (22.4") vs magnums (24.3") and larger .308 bore size vs. 7mm or .270 cal to get it light as possible.
I'd recommend both a Limbsaver pad and a titanium recoil lug. Talleys for a light alloy ringmount system and a VX-3HD for a lightweight, high quality hunting optic. That would be a lightweight, do anything, leave nothing on the table set up.
Agreed. The Tikka T3x Superlight is a great starting point for a UL rifle. Fairly affordable & light in factory form, and with great aftermarket, easily upgraded/lightened over time as budget allows. Not hard to get under 5.5 pounds, with the right stock and some Ti parts.
But on a Tikka I'd go Sportsmatch rings over Talley LWs every single time. Only an ounce or two heavier, and way stronger.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
Go shoulder a few lightweight rifles before you make a decision. What fits others may not feel right in your hands. I prefer a kimber 84L because it fits me well. If I was hunting elk or moose I would choose a standard length action in 270, 280 or 30-06. I like a petite action like kimber for this purpose, again because it feels good in my hands. Another good option is a Remington mountain rifle, they come up used on the EE on this forum occasionally and would be a cheaper alternative. Good luck with your decision.
That is a beautiful range you have there. 2nd to none in Canada. My 308 is B-R-O-W-N.
it is and like the yukon a very well secret kept. but hunting opportunities are getting less and less everything will be soon on draw. thanks a liberal for that.
You can go down a very long and expensive rabbit hole with ultra light mountain rifles…
You are not going to get that much more accuracy for the crazy money some of the high end ultra light rifles go for when compared to a Tikka T3x Ultralite. I got one in 30-06 and it is great, except for that it kicks hard! Sighting in was a pain.
Out hunting the hard kick is not an issue but I would not want to shoot 7mm mag or 300win out of a Tikka Superlite.My beefy Sako A7 Roughtech Pro in 7mm rem mag feels like a 22 in comparison.
Put on a light 8x or 10x scope ( some guys go lite on an expensive rifle then put on an anvil of a scope) and your set.
You are not going to get that much more accuracy for the crazy money some of the high end ultra light rifles go for when compared to a Tikka T3x Ultralite. I got one in 30-06 and it is great, except for that it kicks hard! Sighting in was a pain.
Out hunting the hard kick is not an issue but I would not want to shoot 7mm mag or 300win out of a Tikka Superlite.My beefy Sako A7 Roughtech Pro in 7mm rem mag feels like a 22 in comparison.
Put on a light 8x or 10x scope ( some guys go lite on an expensive rifle then put on an anvil of a scope) and your set.
