Sheep build, UL backpacking rifle

[Backcountry sports]

I'm interested in putting together a sheep rifle. Thinking something around a 6.5 PRC and now for the tricky part.. would like the overall weight to be sub- 5lb scopeless sub 6 scoped. Would love for it to be carbon if possible but I get that may be unrealistic. Would prefer bolt but open to single shot if I could keep the barrel carbon.

What components could help me achieve this?

Rifle inc out of texas or a cooper model 92

 

[bretterath]

carbon stock #2 lilja shaved rem SS 700 fluted handle/bolt aluminum shroud etc. and its shoots really.. obviously not a bench rifle ..

ultra lite builds aren't that hard, but they come with their ups and downs .. the main one is the stock.. your going too have to have a slim trim sporter style too cut the weight were it counts ... and another problem is most build it thinking over all rifle weight then add a 24or 28 oz scope!!! when you should be designing it with your perfect scope in mind then build the rifle around the optic .. there are simply not very many scopes that will allow a sub 6 pound rifle scoped .... the optic has too weigh 14 oz or less ... that's were it becomes tricky and get quality.

i have a 308 ultra lite build going now that the parts weigh 5# 12 ounces un machined that's with a carbon barrel.. that's with very little effort in trying too shave weight.. and still have a 600 yard rifle pretty easily

What are you components on that 308?

 

[7mmshooter#1]

I'm interested in putting together a sheep rifle. Thinking something around a 6.5 PRC and now for the tricky part.. would like the overall weight to be sub- 5lb scopeless sub 6 scoped. Would love for it to be carbon if possible but I get that may be unrealistic. Would prefer bolt but open to single shot if I could keep the barrel carbon.

What components could help me achieve this?

Limited selections and all comes down to how custom and money of course. Have you you thought about the Tikka t3x superlite in 6.5prc? It's 6.4 lb stock but bet you could shave off some with barrel length reduction 1.5 oz per inch barrel reduction. Titanium bolt handle and shroud and fluting probably another oz or 2. You'd be close to 6lb rifle alone. Brian

 

[Ovis Spotter]

I'm interested in putting together a sheep rifle. Thinking something around a 6.5 PRC and now for the tricky part.. would like the overall weight to be sub- 5lb scopeless sub 6 scoped. Would love for it to be carbon if possible but I get that may be unrealistic. Would prefer bolt but open to single shot if I could keep the barrel carbon.

What components could help me achieve this?

I know you're looking to do a custom build and prefer a carbon barrel, but I'll offer my experience. I've guided sheep hunts in So Cal for the last 20 years and drew a tag myself 3 years ago, and bought a Kimber Montana in 6.5 CM, put a VX3 3.5-10 with Talley mounts. It comes in around 6.7 lbs total. After doing the obligatory accurizing and load development it's consistently sub .75" I shot my ram at 480 yards with 127 LRX. The rifle works great for me and left money in the bank for scouting trips.

 

[DHBWA]

I know you're looking to do a custom build and prefer a carbon barrel, but I'll offer my experience. I've guided sheep hunts in So Cal for the last 20 years and drew a tag myself 3 years ago, and bought a Kimber Montana in 6.5 CM, put a VX3 3.5-10 with Talley mounts. It comes in around 6.7 lbs total. After doing the obligatory accurizing and load development it's consistently sub .75" I shot my ram at 480 yards with 127 LRX. The rifle works great for me and left money in the bank for scouting trips.

Great advice..!

 

[jrock]

Really good discussion and advice here.
I've skinny'd up some of the discussed components and used MPI stocks to save more weight. If you aren't too picky on stock shape/recoil pad, there are a few stocks that will easily end up <17 oz finished. Its very reasonable to get to a 5lb bare rifle. You could go for a brand name completed rifle like Kimber or NULA to gain a few specialized weight saving component's and not totally break the bank.
Scopes, check out the SWFA UL scopes at <10 oz.

 

[Reacher913]

I am a gunsmith here in TX. I just spec'd out a rifle for a customer that was sub 5 unscoped. I'd be happy to give you the parts list if you were willing to have someone build you one.

 

[SDC270338]

I'm interested in putting together a sheep rifle. Thinking something around a 6.5 PRC and now for the tricky part.. would like the overall weight to be sub- 5lb scopeless sub 6 scoped. Would love for it to be carbon if possible but I get that may be unrealistic. Would prefer bolt but open to single shot if I could keep the barrel carbon.

What components could help me achieve this?

Titanium Action, carbon fiber stock, Proof research barrel, trigger tech trigger. But even with all those components u will may still be hard pressed to meet your target weight

 

[SDC270338]

Titanium action, carbon fiber stock, Proof Research Carbon barrel, trigger tech trigger, and your choice of bottom metal, and u may still have the challenge of meeting your target weight.

 

[Cornbinder57]

Don't know if it would interest you. But you might look at Oregunsmithing. I just had a rifle build done by them. It's a 7mm wsm, has a 22 inch barrel plus a brake. Weight of the bare rifle is 5lb 4oz. Haven't weighted it since I got a scope put on it. Also haven't got to shoot the rifle due to some medical issues. But due have another rifle build from them, it's a 300wm and weights 7lb 4oz all scoped up and it shoots quite well. Good luck, both on your search for a light rifle and your hunt.

I can second Oregunsmithing ultra-lite. I had a colt light rifle 270, bored out to 338-06 Ackley and stocked in his ultralight stock. Rifle with 3.5-10 Leupold vx-3i and 4 rounds in the mag weighs 5.2 lbs. Shot lights out .5 moa wirh 200 grain bullets. Regret selling it, but the new owner loves it. Reasonable cost as well.

 

[vancewalker007]

Really good discussion and advice here.
I've skinny'd up some of the discussed components and used MPI stocks to save more weight. If you aren't too picky on stock shape/recoil pad, there are a few stocks that will easily end up <17 oz finished. Its very reasonable to get to a 5lb bare rifle. You could go for a brand name completed rifle like Kimber or NULA to gain a few specialized weight saving component's and not totally break the bank.
Scopes, check out the SWFA UL scopes at <10 oz.

A NULA model 20 in a 6.8 Western would be a cool sheep rifle.

 

[JMack]

Sako carbon light

 

[esshup]

I know it's not the caliber the OP wanted, but my Kimber Mountain Ascent in .308 is 4#, 13 oz sans scope/rings/mount. It comes with a threaded barrel, a muzzle brake and a thread protector.

 

[sbruni]

Mark Bansner is making stocks again… they experimented with construction and materials for a couple of years before restarting the stock works. I know on their standard stock they cut the weight around 12% while increasing strength by something like 25%… his Yukoner weighs 5lbs 5 oz with a Steele action. I bet you could talk him into a titanium and get that down to 5. I'd check in with him at least on the stock