Light weight rifle options

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Originally Posted by jamesgn8

...xbolt are considerably lighter...

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I see.

So these Brownings of yours are listed as 2.7kg bare, with a 16” barrel.

A Tikka T3x Lite with a regular 20” barrel is 2.9kg. Allowing approx 30g per inch of barrel, a 16” unfluted Tikka will weigh around... 2.78kg.

So your “considerably” equates to ~80g, at the most.

If you compare apples with apples, and select a fluted Tikka at 16”, e.g. the Superlite, the Tikka will be slightly lighter than your Browning.

You’ve been getting a bit of a hard time these past 12 hours or so but I think you’ll learn from it.

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

I see.

So these Brownings of yours are listed as 2.7kg bare, with a 16” barrel.

A Tikka T3x Lite with a regular 20” barrel is 2.9kg. Allowing approx 30g per inch of barrel, a 16” unfluted Tikka will weigh around... 2.78kg.

So your “considerably” equates to ~80g, at the most.

If you compare apples with apples, and select a fluted Tikka at 16”, e.g. the Superlite, the Tikka will be slightly lighter than your Browning.

You’ve been getting a bit of a hard time these past 12 hours or so but I think you’ll learn from it.

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Tikka is listed as 2.8kg with 570mm/22.4” barrel


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

I see.

So these Brownings of yours are listed as 2.7kg bare, with a 16” barrel.

A Tikka T3x Lite with a regular 20” barrel is 2.9kg. Allowing approx 30g per inch of barrel, a 16” unfluted Tikka will weigh around... 2.78kg.

So your “considerably” equates to ~80g, at the most.

If you compare apples with apples, and select a fluted Tikka at 16”, e.g. the Superlite, the Tikka will be slightly lighter than your Browning.

You’ve been getting a bit of a hard time these past 12 hours or so but I think you’ll learn from it.

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I was comparing the T3 not T3x. T3x definitely improved. Probably didnt word that right. In terms of free hand shooting x-bolts are more balanced which makes feel lot lighter and easier to shoot.


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Originally Posted by jamesgn8

In terms of free hand shooting x-bolts are more balanced which makes feel lot lighter and easier to shoot.


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....insert subjectivity here....

Again, too subjective @jamesgn8.

X-Bolts come in a huge variety of shapes / sizes / styles. Try shooting offhand with a suppressed X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon.

The main difference in balance and feel in offhand shooting is all in the short barrel, and what may or may not be hanging off the end. Not because it is specifically an X-Bolt vs a Tikka or anything else. Simple physics.

Rifle fit and feel is highly subjective and varies from one person to another. I don’t like the X-Bolt feel at all because the narrow forend feels all wrong in my hands, that’s just how I feel about it. But it does not make another brand that fits me better necessarily superior. I don’t like the Kimber either. And I’ve changed my Tikka stock to a lightweight chassis, which is a perfect fit and is a vast improvement in felt recoil. For me. Not necessarily for you.

This is the problem with so many of our forum comparisons. Rifles are like shoes, or cars, or smartphones. They all do the same thing, but what’s best in terms of fit, bling, price or condition is very much an individual preference.

I’ve always thought that when you’re trying to sell something, it’s best to leave the comparisons out of the pitch, because it automatically gives reason for a whole bunch of smart arses like me to argue with you (which we enjoy). The best sales pitches for used items such as this are straightforward factual ones with no room for quibbling. We all know what it is and don’t need Used Car Salesman to make an assessment.

Agreed - x-bolt is too small and light for me with my fingers like sausages. I tried them a few times and they felt like toys to me, with the fit all wrong. That’s just me and I’m sure they fit others better. I have two T3s in .284 Win and .300 WM. Both have Remington style integral lugs and are bedded, and the WM has a Bartlein barrel.

At the price point I feel the quality of the T3 action, trigger and barrel as a combo is hard to beat. Even the stocks, which get a hard time on forums, are good and do not flex as is often claimed. Overall, they are quality, light, and popular for a reason.

And you never hear my Tikka won’t shoot but have heard the Brownings won’t shoot from
numerous circles..

@7RMBoy you haven't mentioned how you plan to shoot your 7m08, whether you reload, and if you are prepared to get a rifle modified.

Short of securing yourself one of Scott Traills SSR masterpieces (I'm forever looking out for these to come up for sale), you can go crazy if you are willing to shoot within 400m, reload, and happy to get something modified.
A Tikka T3, with a carbon stock (STUG if you can get one), barrel cut to 12", and a lightweight optic will probably have you under 5lb.

For all the people who think this is just batshit crazy, a number of the SSR .308's were running 10" barrels, and taking a lot of deer.

@quentin I have had a forum members SSR on my bench with multiple manufacturers faults that needed to be diagnosed and fixed
It's still a work in progress

I was always keen to get my hands on one and see if they lived up to the hype
And it was one of the left handed ones
So doubly keen

I was underwhelmed

Here's a good proven lightweight
Attachment 169992

Or get OverWhelen'd

Attachment 169993

Attachment 169994

Good thread. Getting sick of my lugging my 4.5 kilo rifle around in the bush and now I know which rifles to keep an eye out for when I have saved up enough to splurge. But then again the heavy gun gives my arms a good workout after carrying it around for hours.

The Savage lightweights are a good option too - cheaper and lighter than a T3, accurate, great trigger, 3-stage tang safety etc... not saying T3s aren't good rifles, but whenever I've used one I've been happy to go back to my Savages afterwards.

Just because I'm bored at work. On paper, my T3x Stainless Lite with DPT s/s suppressor and a fairly standard scope comes in at under 3.6kg.

Few options:

1. Howa Alpine

Attachment 170000

2.Rem Model Seven
Attachment 170001

3. Cheapest- eat some cement and harden the fuck up.

Here's the answer fella's. If you're guns too heavy, shoot a lighter deer...... eh! ....yeah...... I know..........

Brownings A Bolt 18"barrel.
KH

After reading this over the past few days I've decided to go and get a tikka strata.


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Originally Posted by Gerardo

After reading this over the past few days I've decided to go and get a tikka strata.


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You cant go wrong with a Tikka fulla. Have had most rifles brands out there and have never had a bad Tikka yet. All are shooters well beyond their price point. Only one custom rifle that I have owned has out shot my Tikkas and I had to wait a year to get that built. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

After reading this over the past few days I've decided to go and get a tikka strata.

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Nice… I’d be all over one of these in .300 WSM for a mountain rifle.

Sunday Gunday.

That Teflon coated bolt really is incredible.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8cfa05bb35.jpg

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There you go. Good choice, and happy hunting.

Very nice ,what cal did you get and are you going to chop it or suppress it standard barrel length?

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

Sunday Gunday.

That Teflon coated bolt really is incredible.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8cfa05bb35.jpg

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That's nice. What calibre? Will you shorten the barrel? Am I jealous? Yes!

It's 7mm08, but it'll be born again as a 284 winchester in the next week or two.
It's a 22inch barrel, but I'll think 20inchs will be the go.
Long action bolt stop, and large magazine and good to go [emoji106][emoji106]

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Why shorten it? And why change to a chambering that is near as damn it the same performance wise?

The very minor performance gain going from 7mm-08 to 284 Win is then mostly lost by reducing barrel length.

And fluted barrels that are fluted to the crown look a bit shit, just a personal aesthetic there.

You’ll halve the value of that lovely rifle instantly I would have thought.

I disagree in regards to performance.
And 284 is because I have all the reloading components for it, so I'll stick with it.
You're right about the fluting looking ugly when chopped, so might not.

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OK, cool. I thought hmmm, (after I said it, always dangerous), that I’d better consult my reloading manuals. I honestly can’t see much of a difference between the two cartridges, at any of the bullet weights. And they’re right next door to each other in the manuals, always a clue!

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

You’ll halve the value of that lovely rifle instantly I would have thought.

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Shhh... it'll be on the for sale section in a few months.

The semi-fucked-with rifles are always a good laugh.

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

I disagree in regards to performance.
And 284 is because I have all the reloading components for it, so I'll stick with it.
You're right about the fluting looking ugly when chopped, so might not.

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I'll send you a pic of my 18" fluted barrel that had the fluted section threaded and is used as the cap.

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Originally Posted by caberslash

Few options:

1. Howa Alpine

2.Rem Model Seven

3. Cheapest- eat some cement and harden the fuck up.

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It's a shame that Howa doesn't make the Alpine model anymore.
I always wanted to get a light rifle with a hinged floor plate magazine, it seemed ideal.

7mm08 tikka with 20" barrel. Sends 162gn eldm @2630fps with 2208 and stupid accurate. For moderate range the 284win doesnt in my mind make the faff of sourcing brass and limited resaleablity worth the extra few fps my mind. Don't get me wrong I've lusted a 284 but tried to be pragmatic....

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Originally Posted by Hunty1

7mm08 tikka with 20" barrel. Sends 162gn eldm @2630fps with 2208 and stupid accurate. For moderate range the 284win doesnt in my mind make the faff of sourcing brass and limited resaleablity worth the extra few fps my mind. Don't get me wrong I've lusted a 284 but tried to be pragmatic....

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What sort of practical range would you get out of that on reds ? Will be sorting a load for my 708 shortly was looking at 150gn eldx due to the success I've had with the 145gn in my 270win

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Originally Posted by dannyb

What sort of practical range would you get out of that on reds ? Will be sorting a load for my 708 shortly was looking at 150gn eldx due to the success I've had with the 145gn in my 270win

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Further than I would shoot! Ballistic calculator says it holds >1000ft/lbs and 1680fps to 800yards

Also tried the 150 eldx but got the same velocity as the 162 eldm. Suspect the eldx has a harder jacket that ratched the preasure up quicker.

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Originally Posted by Hunty1

Further than I would shoot! Ballistic calculator says it holds >1000ft/pds and 1680fps to 800yards

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Bloody heck that's not bad, wouldn't personally take it that far with the scope that's on it, but that's impressive.....if only 162gn eldms weren't so scarce now :oh noes:

I am lefthanded and struggled to find an Ultralite factory rifle without customizing something to fit and be not too heavy
Tikka rifles are good but just don,t fit me
I found a Forbes 308 L/H action rifle and it fits like a glove straight out of the box:) but probably will not last a lifetime but love it so I don,t care where a Tikka might if I spend the money so I got one and am slowly customizing it, work in progress as I can afford to
fitted a Stug stock fluted bolt and it had an 18-inch barrel when I got it but have re-barreled it to 6.5 Creedmore from 308 as I don't need 2 308s but will be putting the 308 barrel back on if the Forbes becomes unfixable

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Originally Posted by Synthetic

It's a shame that Howa doesn't make the Alpine model anymore.
I always wanted to get a light rifle with a hinged floor plate magazine, it seemed ideal.

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Did a bit of research before getting mine, Howa/Legacy Sports International (US Importer) and Randy Newberg did a deal with Mark Bansner of High Tech Stocks to supply them with stocks, and bolted in a Cerakoted lightweight action (slabbed from the factory) and barrel. Quality items, they are a fiberglass stock with pillars installed from the factory.

The pattern is still available as their 'Sheep Hunter' stock: https://www.bansnerandcompany.com/ba...-rifle-stocks/ but they don't inlet for Howa's anymore. Supposedly supply of the stocks were a problem yet the premium paid for the Alpine version made it a bit of a slow seller according to US sites. Obviously the Gunbroker price spiked once they stopped making them, especially for the 6.5 NeedMore ones.

Paid £500 for mine with an Aimsport Moderator, so I think I got a good deal.

My 7mm-08 Rem Model 7 Stainless (older, 3 hole receiver from the late 90's) is arguably even more of an ultralight rifle, especially since the former owner had it chopped to 16" :o

In fact, the McMillan KS it sits in is worth quite a bit if you believe the US forums. It's quite a nice stock, very light, stiff, bedded in some way but no pillars. Had to bin the factory trigger for a TriggerTech and put a 20MOA EGW rail on, but that's it. Could not believe the shop sold it to me for £400... seems that mountain rifles are not valued in the UK, says it all really!