Damn - sweet! Great deal. I bought one for moose hunting. Paid over $1300 for mine.
Ultralight bolt action - build one? Or just buy a Howa Superlite?
- Thread starter Astute Observer
- Start date
Weatherby Fan
CGN Regular
- Location
- Maple Ridge,BC,Canada
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.
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 $975 ish before tax. It has a 20" barrel which wasn't really what I was looking for but as you mention, I could rebarrel it or cut it down to 18.5".
I'll see how the .308 feels in a light rifle - it should be manageable and if so, I'll rebarrel to .338 Fed (or 8.6 blackout?) down the road.
Weatherby Fan
CGN Regular
- Location
- Maple Ridge,BC,Canada
Wow that’s a great deal on that rifle, keep us up to date on your progress.
WF
good choice,
Guys gave you a ton of good advice after going over the last 6 pages. not sure if it was said however
with the custom route its fun, but If you get bored or change your mind, you tend to take a bit of a bath on reselling.
Ive had quite a few built and things change, ideas change, that 6,000$ 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
That thought has indeed crossed my mind!!!
https://alpineriflecraft.ca/
You could buy almost two of those T L I in ti for one of those Alpineriflecrafts.....
And Mike gives a pretty honest review.
I recently built a 308 recently off of a model seven action and it came in just under 6.5 pounds, scoped loaded etc. May not be as light as you want it but for me it is about perfect. I stuck with a 22" K&S barrel (no muzzle break) and an ultralight wildcat stock. It does kick for sure but it is not un manageable so I would be interested to see how much recoil that howa ultralight has. I am having great results with 165gr bullets and plan to hunt with it this fall.
It couldn't be rebored... There's not enough barrel wall to spare. Rebarreling and cutting a wider channel in the stock would be the only by viable option to increase the calibre
I have model 7 in 308 and 358 sitting in wildcats currently. Don’t seem to use them as have 9.3x62 near that weight that usually gets the hand on. Was interested in seeing if could get a 5 lb rifle and scope set up for use for amount that it gets shot while hunting. I was even thinking a 4lb 3030 be good enough as seem to be looking at squirrels more latey
So how’s the new HOWA shooting ? What’s it liking for factory ammo or handloads ? How’s the trigger ?
What’s the scope you are running ? Come on INFO UP Bud
Enlighten us
yup, have Ruger 16.1" ranch in 6.5 grendel with 123gr factory low pressure is as blast as I will go, also have howa ultralight build in 6.5g cut to 18.5" and it's ideal on same ammo, it's about 4.5 to 4 3/4 lb nekkid depending on which bottom metal I use JO cz 527 vs JO hinged (slabbed/fluted about 2.5-3.0 oz out of action/bolt, stocky's carbon, cut down from 22" standard barrel), for standard pressure short action cartridges like 308...20" is as blasty/noisy as I'll go, the howa I have is a tack driver and easy to shoot small groups with, it's only rifle that light that is easy to shoot well in field or bench, generally prefer to be between 7 and 8 lbs scoped etc. for shoot ability, have shot well down mid 6lb and 7.0 lb but sort of limit and stock design really helped the mid 6lb set up, weight isn't enemy, it helps eat recoil for follow up potential or watch in scope etc. but helps field accuracy also, I sweat weight a lot less than I used to because it's actually a beneficial thing when you pull the trigger
my smith won't cut down past 18.5"
leave it at 20", no gains going below that, ideal for 308 efficiency velocity wise, balance/aim/swing/point will be better, blast/noise is about the right higher limit, it is the right number for a 308, good choice, 20" is what I like for short handy light rigs and 308 gets most of it
