Thread: Making a light rifle, lighter

I have recently picked up a kimber hunter in 6.5 creed with the intent of building a lightweight carry rifle that is still good to 400 odd. I love the 284 tikka but with the 20moa rail, rings, bipod adapter vx5 and can she is still pretty heavy and better suited to being slung than in hand.

Came across a thread on a Yankee forum about the hunter stocks being loaded with a heavy rubberised material for sound deadening. Thought I would post the process here for anyone wtih the same rifle can save an easy 250-300 grams.

Whip the recoil pad off(2 screws) and wind the rear sling stud out. You will see the goo. Using a long flat head screw driver work the sides away from the stock and feed a bit of oil in to loosen it up. Should all pull away pretty easily. Once you've got right round and loosened it run an auger into the rubber a couple inches then give it a good tug. Should pop out in one piece. You then romove the cap on the pistol grip and there is a chunk more in there, this slides out a bit easier. I stuffed a bit of lightweight foam (pool noodle stuff) in there to serve as sound deadening. Then throw it back together. Bam 250-300 grams lighter. Whole job takes 15 minutes

Finished rifle with dpt and vx3 1.75 - 6 is 2.77 kg almost a full kg lighter than the tikka or my bergara.
I should be able to achieve close to 2700 with 130 eldms which will get me grunt out further that I would want to shoot it.

Has a stripped/seized action screw so I might get it sent in to be removed and matching the bolt handle for a few extra grams.

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Cool rig man. I was wondering if the bergara had kept its place in the arsenal

Originally Posted by stevodog

Cool rig man. I was wondering if the bergara had kept its place in the arsenal

It has for now, may be traded for a 223 though, we'll see

120gr sierra pro hunters at speed will be epic out of that rifle

What length barrel is it? Does it kick much being that light?

Originally Posted by 308mate

What length barrel is it? Does it kick much being that light?

16ish. Havnt shot it yet, but I'll only be shooting 120's and 130's so I don't think it will be to bad.

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

16ish. Havnt shot it yet, but I'll only be shooting 120's and 130's so I don't think it will be to bad.

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Is that Brad's old gun?

Originally Posted by Tommy

Is that Brad's old gun?

Yeahp

Yeah it's pretty soft would provide some cross sectional strength but as it isn't keyed or bonded to the stock will provide no strength during recoil etc

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

Yeah it's pretty soft would provide some cross sectional strength but as it isn't keyed or bonded to the stock will provide no strength during recoil etc

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You might get a surprise. If the recoil pad sits slightly proud on the foam, then the recoil would be transferred through the foam to the pad and not through the shell of the stock. Punch a piece of polystyrene and see how much energy it can absorb ….. even the recoil pad itself is foam

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

You might get a surprise. If the recoil pad sits slightly proud on the foam, then the recoil would be transferred through the foam to the pad and not through the shell of the stock. Punch a piece of polystyrene and see how much energy it can absorb ….. even the recoil pad itself is foam

Doesn't touch the goop at all, probably a good 30mm clearance from recoil pad down to where the fill starts. Lots of

heavy doesn't make it accurate tho
heavy just makes it easier to shoot
i definitely find my kimber harder to shoot than my sako 75 piggy but its no less accurate