Ultralight bolt action - build one? Or just buy a Howa Superlite?

[wasa]

https://northprosports.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=1515&product_id=22854

Screaming deal here on a 308 if this interests you, and theyre a site sponsor...

Damn - sweet! Great deal. I bought one for moose hunting. Paid over $1300 for mine.

 

[Weatherby Fan]

I need someone to talk me out of making a bad financial decision.

So I'm currently obsessed with building an ultralight bolt action brush rifle. I'm thinking 5 lbs and a 12" - 14" barrel. I'm debating whether to buy a Howa Superlite and cut, crown and thread the barrel... Or build something with the following components list.

Component	Name	Min Weight (oz)	Max Weight (oz)	Price
Action	Terminus Apollo Lite TI	20.00​	20.00​	$1,825.00​
Barrel	IBI carbon prefit 14"	36.0?​	40.0?​	$1,350.00​
Barrel Nut	IBI barrel nut	2.65​	2.65​	$55.00​
Stock	Wildcat Composite	16.50​	21.00​	$450.00​
Rings	Warne Hyperlite	2.33​	2.33​	$160.00​
Scope	Leuopld VX Freedom 1.5-4x	9.60​	9.60​	Already Own​
Brake	PVA Ultralight Jet Blast	1.37​	1.37​	$170.00​
Bottom Metal	Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM	2.80​	2.80​	$325.00​
Magazine	MDT Polymer 3 round / 10 round	1.38​	4.80​	Already Own​
Trigger	Triggertech Special 2-stage	1.5?​	1.5?​	$360.00​
TOTAL		5.88 lbs​	6.63 lbs​	$4,695.00​

Meanwhile, a Howa Superlite with a 16" barrel would weigh 4.3 lbs (68.8 oz), obviating the need to buy the stock, action, barrel, barrel nut, bottom metal and magazine. All in with optic, rings and brake it would come to 5.12 lbs. So it's even lighter too, and that could be reduced even further by cutting the barrel to 12" with a crown and threading by a gunsmith. EDIT: Yeah, realized that's illegal. Nevermind.

All in the cost would be about $1800, so less than half the price.

What would the Howa be giving up?

Howa has a 90° bolt throw instead of 60° that the Terminus Apollo Lite TI has...

The Howa would only take the proprietary 3 round mag, no option for a 10 round.

The Howa trigger would be far inferior to the Triggertech trigger

The Howa isn't available in all the custom calibres (was thinking .338 Federal)

So - convince me not to blow my money on a custom rifle.

I have a lot of custom rifles built and when I’m starting a build on a new cartridge or not exactly sure what I want in my build I either rebarrel an existing rifle or buy a cheap donor and rebarrel it,

this way if it falls out of favour or not what I wanted or expected I’m only out the cost of a barrel/chambering,
Kimber Montanas were always a favourite to rebarrel for a poor man’s custom but seem to be few and far between nowadays

In your case I might go the Howa super lite route or look at a Kimber Hunter or even a Tikka T3x SS

Ultra lite rifles in cartridges like 338 Fed will be obnoxious to shoot so again go the cheap route as recoil may change your mind pretty quickly on your direction.

 

[Astute Observer]

Ultra lite rifles in cartridges like 338 Fed will be obnoxious to shoot so again go the cheap route as recoil may change your mind pretty quickly on your direction.

Yeah I ended up going with a How a 1500 Superlite in .308. Got a smoking deal on one that I couldn't pass up, like around $975 ish before tax. It has a 20" barrel which wasn't really what I was looking for but as you mention, I could rebarrel it or cut it down to 18.5".

I'll see how the .308 feels in a light rifle - it should be manageable and if so, I'll rebarrel to .338 Fed (or 8.6 blackout?) down the road.

 

[ivobb]

Ultralight then complain that the recoil is excessive
I would just buy a HOWA then get the hinged floor plate (no magazine sticking out) and your good to go

 

[Weatherby Fan]

Yeah I ended up going with a How a 1500 Superlite in .308. Got a smoking deal on one that I couldn't pass up, like around $975 ish before tax. It has a 20" barrel which wasn't really what I was looking for but as you mention, I could rebarrel it or cut it down to 18.5".

I'll see how the .308 feels in a light rifle - it should be manageable and if so, I'll rebarrel to .338 Fed (or 8.6 blackout?) down the road.

Wow that’s a great deal on that rifle, keep us up to date on your progress.
WF

 

[kayaker1]

There is a newer production,like-new condition Montana 6.5 on GP for $1700 that I am trying hard not to buy. Very good deal if you want a good lightweight rifle.

 

[diemaco]

I couldn't help myself and got one in 6.5 Creedmoor. I think Howa was a little optimistic on their weight, but I'm far from any mountains so i can live with a few extra ounces. I'm anxious to see if it shoots.

 

[s3xspert11]

Yeah I ended up going with a How a 1500 Superlite in .308. Got a smoking deal on one that I couldn't pass up, like around $975 ish before tax. It has a 20" barrel which wasn't really what I was looking for but as you mention, I could rebarrel it or cut it down to 18.5".

I'll see how the .308 feels in a light rifle - it should be manageable and if so, I'll rebarrel to .338 Fed (or 8.6 blackout?) down the road.

good choice,
Guys gave you a ton of good advice after going over the last 6 pages. not sure if it was said however
with the custom route its fun, but If you get bored or change your mind, you tend to take a bit of a bath on reselling.
Ive had quite a few built and things change, ideas change, that 6,000$ build cost sure drops off a ton depending on the build.

I think you played this one smart for now, see what you like and what works, rifle and cal wise (308 always rocks)
but maybe by next year when 8.6 hits sami spec have IBI do up a 12.5" for you =)

also notable mention It was over your weight being 6lbs 7oz but damn something just fun about hunting with a model 94 30-30 or 32 win. for that 100-150 yard brush