The Ultimate Light Weight Sheep Hunting Rifle - What Is It?

[Slopeshunter]

Hey everyone,

Let's talk about building the ultimate sheep hunting rifle. The focus here being to make it as light as possible. This does not have to be a LR rig, let's say a 500 yard rifle. What components would you use to put this rifle together? What calibre / scope / rings & bases / barrel / stock would you use??

Look forward to the discussion.

Thanks

[James Jones]

for me ,
i'd say a Remington titanium action or custom clone made from Titanium

Bartlein barrel standard sporter conture 1-9 twist .284 cal 24" long chambered in 7mmWSM amd throated to feed the 162gr A-max from a Wyatt's mag box.

Manners MSC-UL stock , Aluminum bottom metal from PT&G

Tally aluminum one piece ring/base units

topped with a Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x50mm

[loaders_loft]

with weight being the primary issue, go to a burris compact 3-9x32 with ballistic plex reticle. Now known as a "Shortmag".

I'm sure leupold & others have similar compact scopes too. A big 50mm is going to be so top-heavy on an ultra light rifle.

[Derek M.]

270 WSM on a Stiller Predator action. #1 contour SS bbl of your choosing. I'd likely go with a Hart since I know they will do a featherweight SS bbl. I'd cut it to 25" long. Wyatt box mag. Jewel or Timney trigger. Since I like 1 pound triggers, I go with Jewel. 2 pounds, go with a Timney if you like. Any good 3x9 scope or even a 2x7 if you have exceptional vision. I do not so my scope would be at least a 4x12. McMillan, Manner, Rimrock (if you can get one) or MPI stock, pillar bedded. 150 Berger, 140 gr AB, or 130 TTSX

Second choice would be a 280AI.

[pstimac]

For the ultimate I'd consider the Titanium Strata from Rifles, Inc. They cost $1000 per pound. It weighs 4.5lbs. The list price is $3300 but you need to supply the Remington 700 Titanium action which, I think, will run you about $1200 for a total of $4500.

I'd then put a Leupold 3x9 ultralight scope on it with a custom varminter or horus reticle for longer shots w/o dialing. That will add a little over 1/2 pound. Total weight would be just a hair over 5lbs.

If you are planning to reload, I'd get it in a 7mm wsm and load 168 gr. Berger vlds.

If you're not going to reload, I'd get a 270 wsm and shoot remington 150 grain accutips. I've had really good luck with these long range in my tikka 270 wsm's.

[esshup]

I just purchased an A-bolt Mountain Ti in .243. With 3-9 x 40 VX-III, the DD medium rings and steel bases it weighs 7#. The stock weighs 1 1/2# by itself. Is there any way that I can reduce the weight of the rifle (even to the extent of changing the scope/mounts/rings)? I'd consider changing the stock if I could drop at least 8 oz.

[davewilson]

i think this automatic urge we have to get stainless barrels is counter productive. a chrome molly barrel will shoot just as good, cleans the same, but is considerably stronger than SS. i'm in the process of building a lightweight gun( relatively speaking) and Kreiger will make a CM barrel for me that's 3 profiles smaller than it will if i want a SS barrel. the strength of the steel is the reason.

also, if you're only shooting 500 and concerned about weight, get a 30 caliber or bigger. it will be lighter.

300WSM, 150 TTXS.