Cutting the barrel back to 24" isn't going to drop much weight. The real savings is a lighter contour.
How did it feed?
Sling that wierd thing on your shoulder and you'll wish you had a " conventional" heavy rifle. Ouch! You'll get poked everywhere.
That would of been a perfect foundation for a 7mm mag build. I would seriously look at picking up a action and building what you want. A Pierce engineering action is worth every penny and is in a Rem 700 foot print. You will spend more money that way but if you want to hand down a rifle a production rifle doesn’t have the flair a custom one you chose the parts on does.
Everyone’s a critic. Drop the rifle into any of a dozen aftermarket stocks then.
If I'd been shooting a 6-7 lb gun, I wouldn't have had a prayer. Even the buck I shot the next day at 60 yards in half the wind would have been dicey. As I recall my Springfield with scope etc weighs 9 lbs unloaded (it can hold six rounds total). The bipod makes it heavier but rarely have it attached unless anticipating longer shots. Should not have had it attached on those windy days hunting coulee bottoms.
My point, as I posted earlier with the Rem 700 in a more traditional stock...
Very true ultra light arms all the wayWhile the above mentioned rifles are fine for the average hunter, your requirements are putting you in a very specialized arena.
Something like the Tikka & Kimber Hunter would get you closer to the weight your looking for, but bare gun. Not scoped.
Only 2 rifles & manufacturers come to mind for a true, under 7lb scoped rifle.
Both will set you back about $3,600.
First pick would be a New Ultra Light Arms model 24B.
Weight with Talley rings 5.5lbs.
Second would be a Proof Research Elevation Light Weight Hunter at 5lb 14oz.
Add a Burris Fullfield E1, 4.5-14X42 and a nylon sling, and your right at 7lb.
I should mention that with these ultra light weight rifles, most find shooting from a bench to sight scope in, do load workups can be a bit heavy feeling in the recoil deptartment. Standing/sitting with game in the scope, you don't notice it as much.
Great advice2nd Christensen Arms, very good build quality and guarantee sub moa. My friend has a Mesa and it feels like a very nice rifle. From my understanding, it's a 700 clone... correct me if I'm wrong.
Depending on your bank account though, the Mesa starts at $1300? It would definitely be an heirloom rifle..
Problem you have is Forbes is no longer in business. If you go to his site to order rifle your going to be dealing with Wilson Combat and they are only making Model 20. I would think if going to make more models they make Model 24.
As Handsome Jack told Marie Laveau, "You're too ugly for a rich guy like me."
