Light weight rifle options

[midwesthunter]

Thinking about buying or building an ultra light rifle. Something in the 6.5lb or less range. When looking at factory options I know of the following, am I leaving any out, anyone have any experience with any of these?

Savage Ultralight 5.8lb or 6lb depending on chambering.
Savage lightweight storm 5.6lb or 5.8lb depending on chambering
Weatherby Mark V backcountry 5.4lb or 6.3lb depending on chambering
Tikka T3 lite 6.4-6.5lb's depending on chambering
Kimber Ascent 4lb 13oz or 5lb 6oz depending on chambering
Bergara Mountain 6.2-6.4lb's depending on chambering

I left Remington out as I am unsure what their future holds as a rifle manufacture. I do have a Rem 700 30-06 mountain rifle but that round is obsolete lol, just ask around the gun forums and FB pages. And thinking I may want something in the 6.5- or 7mm bore.

 

[VikingsGuy]

Of that list, I would take the Tikka T3X lite in a new stock every time - and if the pound was that big a deal I would find it somewhere else in my "kit". Also, with rifles, lighter is not always better - you add recoil and "whispiness" both of which can reduce practical accuracy.

 

[SoCalhunt88]

I’m a big fan of the tikka, have two myself and guys around have become converts as well.

 

[EYJONAS!]

From that list the tikka or bergara.

 

[Cheesehead]

I would add Kimber Hunter to this list. If you want to go very light, google <So, how light can a Kimber Hunter be? A build thread.>

was just in this boat and went slightly used Barrett Fieldcraft in 264 O’Connor

few people complain about Tikkas. I like mine

 

[Wallow]

Thinking about buying or building an ultra light rifle. Something in the 6.5lb or less range. When looking at factory options I know of the following, am I leaving any out, anyone have any experience with any of these?

Savage Ultralight 5.8lb or 6lb depending on chambering.
Savage lightweight storm 5.6lb or 5.8lb depending on chambering
Weatherby Mark V backcountry 5.4lb or 6.3lb depending on chambering
Tikka T3 lite 6.4-6.5lb's depending on chambering
Kimber Ascent 4lb 13oz or 5lb 6oz depending on chambering
Bergara Mountain 6.2-6.4lb's depending on chambering

I left Remington out as I am unsure what their future holds as a rifle manufacture. I do have a Rem 700 30-06 mountain rifle but that round is obsolete lol, just ask around the gun forums and FB pages. And thinking I may want something in the 6.5- or 7mm bore.

Have you tried working the bolt on a Kimber Mtn. Ascent? I ask because I thought I wanted one of those until I went to Sportsmens Warehouse and worked the action on one. The bolt bounced up and down on the rails and was not smooth at all. I don't know if it was due to the fluting on the bolt or what but it was a show stopper for me.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Browning x-bolt pro - 2020 was 6lbs 1oz or 6lbs 5oz the new 2021 xbolt mountain pro listed at 5lbs 14oz and 6lbs 2 oz.

Sako Finnlight is listed as just a hair over 6 lbs, although mine in 6.5cm is 6lbs 0oz according to my rapala scale.

Also Sako Carbonlight.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Have you tried working the bolt on a Kimber Mtn. Ascent? I ask because I thought I wanted one of those until I went to Sportsmens Warehouse and worked the action on one. The bolt bounced up and down on the rails and was not smooth at all. I don't know if it was due to the fluting on the bolt or what but it was a show stopper for me.

I second this. The gun salesman told me that it would smooth out over time, but when you run the Kimber bolt then run a sako or even browning xbolt there really is no comparison. Once you are paying $1200+ for a rifle these things are dealbreakers for me. Also the bolt lift on the kimber is close to 90, the sako and xbolt have around 60 degree which is another preference.

 

[noharleyyet]

Thinking about buying or building an ultra light rifle. Something in the 6.5lb or less range. When looking at factory options I know of the following, am I leaving any out, anyone have any experience with any of these?

Savage Ultralight 5.8lb or 6lb depending on chambering.
Savage lightweight storm 5.6lb or 5.8lb depending on chambering
Weatherby Mark V backcountry 5.4lb or 6.3lb depending on chambering
Tikka T3 lite 6.4-6.5lb's depending on chambering
Kimber Ascent 4lb 13oz or 5lb 6oz depending on chambering
Bergara Mountain 6.2-6.4lb's depending on chambering

I left Remington out as I am unsure what their future holds as a rifle manufacture. I do have a Rem 700 30-06 mountain rifle but that round is obsolete lol, just ask around the gun forums and FB pages. And thinking I may want something in the 6.5- or 7mm bore.

I'd like to handle one of these....

 

[homers]

Ruger American is 6.1 - 6.3 pounds

 

[ThunderNocked]

Tikka is probably the most common - they are very prevelant.
I have a Ruger American that is pretty light and for the cost of a Tikka you can get the American and put a nicer stock on it that is still light weight but might bump you a tad over the 6.5.
I am having a some work done on a Kimber Montana and it will be about 6.5#s.

Also Winchester Featherweight and Sako Finnlight should be in there.

and .30-06 isn't obsolete - just impossible to find ammo for like everything else. Having said that I went with an oddball caliber instead of the .30-06 because I wanted something more exciting. I don't regret it but I will get another .30-06 in the future.

 

[JLS]

Plenty happy with my Kimber Hunter.

 

[Brian in Montana]

Tikka.

Unless you decide to build.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Browning x-bolt pro - 2020 was 6lbs 1oz or 6lbs 5oz the new 2021 xbolt mountain pro listed at 5lbs 14oz and 6lbs 2 oz.

Sako Finnlight is listed as just a hair over 6 lbs, although mine in 6.5cm is 6lbs 0oz according to my rapala scale.

Also Sako Carbonlight.

Figured your rapala scale would have said it weighed a pound or two heavier

 

[.270]

I have a kimber hunter in 280AI that weights 6lb 3 oz with talley rings and a swaro Z3 3-10x42. Pretty lightweight set up and shoots great with hammer 143s.

 

[Jdan9]

Cooper M92

 

[ThunderNocked]

I have a kimber hunter in 280AI that weights 6lb 3 oz with talley rings and a swaro Z3 3-10x42. Pretty lightweight set up and shoots great with hammer 143s.

I'll have a similar setup - Leupold VX3i though on the 280AI Kimber Montana and Talley's. Guys doing some customer work to it for me so mine might be a tad heavier.

 

[.270]

I'll have a similar setup - Leupold VX3i though on the 280AI Kimber Montana and Talley's. Guys doing some customer work to it for me so mine might be a tad heavier.

I pulled 8 ounces of gel from the stock, makes it sound hollow but I dont really mind it. I stumbled across a great deal on that swaro otherwise I would have stuck a vx3 on it.

 

[ThunderNocked]

I pulled 8 ounces of gel from the stock, makes it sound hollow but I dont really mind it. I stumbled across a great deal on that swaro otherwise I would have stuck a vx3 on it.

Nice, I'll look at that.
I am going to throw it on the scale once I get it in hand finished. Then I'll look at options.

 

[fishing4sanity]

I have an older Savage Lightweight Hunter in 260 Rem, I've always liked that rifle. Also, I'd take a look at the Sako Finnlight as well.