Looking at sub 6lb factory rifles - need thoughts!

[surfr716]

I have a kimber montana in 300 WSM, all in with a leupold vx2 it tips the scale right at 6 lbs. It's easy to carry all day, has an excellent trigger, and is sub MOA accurate. I highly recommend the kimber rifle. Caveat though you're going to have to get used to shooting such a light rifle, you really have to focus on the fundamentals to make the rifle shine

 

[FURMAN]

Looks like the Altitude stock weighs 24oz - so all in I should be around 94oz (5lbs 14oz) and $1400. That sound right?

Weighs a little more than the mt ascent and fieldcraft, but is in the ball park cost wise - about the same as the FC and a little less than the Kimber.

I don't think Tikka makes a 280AI do they?

Within a few oz, yes. 280AI, I do not think so. A properly seated 180 bullet will exceed the 3.4" tikka mag box. I personally would go 7 Saum or 300 WSM in a Tikka build. If you will be leaving the factory barrel on I would go 6.5 CM or 7mm-08. I personally would go Creed. I owned a Kimber. I would take the Tikka any day.

 

[freddiej]

The Kimber Montana is a real sweet gun. I have one in 270 WSM and it shoots! I have been practicing with it at 300, 400 and 600 yards. I have yet to be disappointed by it's performance. out of the box it's the second best copper and lead delivery system I own. The only better out of the box delivery system is my Tikka 270 Win.

 

[Tarheelpwr]

does anybody know what a Tikka Superlite barreled action weighs? I love everything about the Tikka except the stock and lack of a threaded barrel. What carbon fiber stocks are available for Tikka? Does AG composites make one?

@rfurman24

I just reached out to AG composites about Tikka. Response below:

AG Privateer and Alpine Hunter stocks are available for the Tikka. You have to call on to place the order.

 

[Litehiker]

I'd go with the BARRETT Fieldcraft, no question.

KimberMontana-> an OK rifle but sometimes has uneven quality
Tikka Superlight-> good 2nd choice except for their overpriced magazines.

I chose the 6.5 PRC X-Bolt Pro at 6 lbs. 3 oz. for $1,700. because I had other criteria besides weight, particularly a 3 lug bolt. And my Pro is very accurate - at 5 shots or less B/C the barrel heats up after those 5 shots and groups open up. But it's a hunting rifle and I should never need 5 shots for a kill.

Eric B.

 

[Goodtobetheking]

I've had a factory Tikka T3 Lite and a Rem Model 7, both with barrels cut and crowned at 16.5" shoot very well. Handy little guns.

Regarding short barrels...interesting article about barrel length and 6.5cm performance by Patrick Sweeney in the most recent Precision Rifle Shooter mag (pgs 26-30).

You're still 2,300 fps @ the muzzle (and will still be supersonic @ 1,000 yards, if it matters) with Hornady ELD 147g bullets with a 16 inch barrel. Going short on any barrel will make it 'stiffer', all other things being equal, which could contribute to reducing one variable in shot to shot POI variation. It also shifts the gun's weight back toward your shoulder, making it feel lighter. A little for a thin barrel, a lot for a heavy one, helping hit your NTE weight of 6 lbs.

To stay within your price limit, maybe buy a lightly used rifle and spend the savings towards the barrel cutting and crowning.

Any of the three brands you're considering, or even an XBolt, might work.

 

[BigSky112]

Kimber Mountain Assent

 

[DJ Fergus]

I want to buy a sub 6lb factory rifle - I already have a 6.5lb xbolt. I want something lighter. Budget is $2k or less for the rifle. I already have a VX5HD for it. Those currently in the running:

• Barrett Fieldcraft
• Kimber Montana
• Tikka Superlite

Any others I should consider? I don't want to build one, I want a factory rifle. I am heavily leaning toward a fieldcraft. I haven't shot any of them, but have handled the fieldcraft.

Those of you who own a sub 6lb rifle give me some thoughts on your experience - what rifle you own, accuracy, handling, recoil etc.

Caliber will probably be a 7mm08 or 280AI - but really up in the air right now.

Weatherby mark v ultra light chambered in the new 6.5 rpm ( rebated precision magnum) is an awesome looking rifle. I don't even like weathebys. It's got to be the best looking rifle they have ever produced. The 6.5 rpm is a nasty looking cartridge as well. If nothing else, just take a look at it.

 

[Unoboats]

Do you own one or have you shot one? I heard they are awesome.

Own one and it shoots lights out. Mine is a 243 shooting 95 g. Partitions. And up to 300 yds it's hits like Thor's hammer on Bighorn sheep and down sized game.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I'm really interested to know why the OP isn't a fan of the Kimber action?

What's not to like?
Lightweight firing pin assembly with small firing pin nose.
Semi-custom action made as light as possible without weakening it.
Rifle comes fully glass bedded with pillars. Barrels are very good quality these days, the days of bad QC have ceased.

As I stated, these rifles are very very good for the money.

Cheers.

 

[jlee91w]

I own a Tikka Superlite in 300WM with leupold 2-7. It definitely gets your attention with full power loads. I've downloaded to 200gr 2850fps and I have it suppressed and it is really easy to shoot now. Will usually put 2 shots touching and open up for the third. I would go with the cheaper Tikka or Savage and get a suppressor with the savings. it is nice to not have your ears ringing for 2 days afterward.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I'm really interested to know why the OP isn't a fan of the Kimber action?

What's not to like?
Lightweight firing pin assembly with small firing pin nose.
Semi-custom action made as light as possible without weakening it.
Rifle comes fully glass bedded with pillars. Barrels are very good quality these days, the days of bad QC have ceased.

As I stated, these rifles are very very good for the money.

Cheers.

I don't think it was me that was critical of the kimber actions was it?

 

[scasolari]

I recently got a Kimber Adirondack this year. With a vx-2 1-4, it only weight 5 lbs 13 oz. Great gun but if I had the money I'd probably take the Fieldcraft first or the Kimber Ascent next

 

[COBrad]

I only have experience with the Kimber's and a few custom ultra lights. Took possession of a NULA a month ago. Killed an elk and a deer with it so far. It's probably the best balanced and handling light rifle I've had, for what that's worth. I've had 3 Kimbers, two Montana's and a beautiful French walnut stocked classic when they first came out. That rifle was a .300 WSM. It was a reliable .75 MOA rifle with little load development. The 200 grain bullets, pushed hard, that I favor in a .300 kicked almost as hard as the middle of the road .458 win mag loads I was shooting- no fun and too hard to control for me to be very accurate. I settled on 168 gr Barnes TSX at 2800. Basically a 30-60 level load. One Montana was a .243 that took an excruciating bit of load development but ended up reliably shooting .6 MOA with that load. A 7-08 was a minute and a half to 2 minute gun and that's all I could get out of it. I used the two more accurate guns to shoot marmots out to 500 yards and some rock shooting beyond that with the .300. Ultralights are definitely challenging to shoot accurately but with practice and consistency they can still be very accurate. At 60 all my hunting rifles are being replaced with ultra lights. Drooling over a Cooper Backcountry since they were first announced. All 5 of my Coopers met and usually exceeded the accuracy guarantee.
FWIW I would buy another Kimber without hesitation.