Thread: Light weight carry rifle options

Originally Posted by Tentman

Currently I have a Kimber 84M Hunter in 308 as my lightweight goto carry/truck - the latest in a very long line and a keeper, its an fantastic shooter, the stock is "just right" and all stainless . . . But getting hard to get. Prior to that I had a Howa Superlight but with a walnut stock. Both excellent rifles but the Kimber is a bit more refined, it's trigger is excellent, a step up on the Tikka which is no slouch. Some people get on OK with the Howa two stage trigger but I'm not one of them, they are fine for target work but I could never get them (two Howa mini's and the superlite) to break how I like for off-hand shooting out on the hill.

With the Kimber you'll probably have to get it shortened (they are usually sold in 22") but when you do you can run a 14x1 thread, bigger at the muzzle is always better. The Howa people are good at honouring their guarantee but they have had to be, a gunsmith I know has bought several superlite "duds" off the wholesalers for future projects.

Opinions . . . .

Perfect sum up.
I have a kimber Montana cut at 17”, 14x1 thread. Magnum Dpt sup. Shoots the fiocchi 168 gr SMk into 1/2” easily. Does not like the hornady 150sst somehow. Better safety than what’s on the market other than a blaser. I find the trigger a bit over curved but that is me.
And broke in half vertically the talley low 1” that was on it. ( scope is a leupold vx3i 3.5-10-40). Replaced by the more elegant leupold standard steel base . That rifle never missed a beat.

Regarding the Howa ultra light, the carbon stock feels a bit flimsy, the inletting is not great and requires a good bedding to solve the problem of the tensions in the receiver when tightening the screws in the original inlet.
If one is getting the barrel shortened, jump to a 14x1 thread if possible instead of the original 1/2-28 ,specially in 308.
Only available in blued steel, so taking good care of it is important if hunting in the rain.
Overall they are not bad rifles but just be prepared to spend a little bit more than the $2,2k ish they cost to have them set up and shooting well.

They are still lighter and cheaper than a sako carbon light.