What is a typical mountain rifle build?

ruby76 said:

Factory built Kimber Montana in 280AI is super light, unless you really want to build something.

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If Kimber made a left handed rifle I wouldn't even be considering a build and buying one of these.

Lightweight ADL carbon fiber stock, short Ti action, 22" carbon fiber barrel and you will find you are 90% on your way to a 7 - 8 lb sheep rifle. Be careful with your scope choice re:weight. Most (? all) of my sheep rifles weigh 7 - 7.5 lb ( or slightly less) "ready to hunt" which means rifle, sling, mounted scope and full magazine. This is just me as many choose to go 1 - 3 lbs heavier.

.280AI @ 8lbs 13oz
R700 LA BDL trued by Axisworks
.250" PTG recoil lug
Deep spiral Bolt fluting -2oz
Alloy bolt shroud -2oz vs factory steel bolt shroud
TI firing pin @ Wolfe Blitzschnell spring
Carbon fiber bolt knob -2oz vs factory steel bolt handle
Manners EH1 bedded (27oz) w. 2 studs (1 ea F/R)
R700 factory alloy BDL metal
Shilen Match trigger @ 1.5lbs
26" 1:9" Proof Research Sendero Light
Hawkins 3 port brake (3oz)
Seekins alloy 20MOA Picatinny rail (4oz)
Seekins alloy 30mm medium high rings
March F 3-24x52 Illuminated FML-1 (24.4oz)
Flatline Ops level

You could shed more weight by going with Talley lightweight rings instead of Pic rail & Seekins rings
Could save 8oz by going with a TI action
Could save some weight by a scope change

I have a 7RM that is 9lbs 13oz
R700 LA BDL trued by Phoenix Customs
Alloy shorty Tac bolt knob
26" 1:8.5" Bartlein #3B fluted
.250" PTG recoil lug
APA Micro Bastard brake
Manners EH2 bedded
Timney CE @ 8oz
Factory Rem bottom BDL metal
Seekins alloy 20MOA Picatinny rail
Seekins alloy 34mm Low rings
S&B PMII 3-20x50 LT MTC illuminated H2CMR
Vortex lo-pro level

I have a 6CM that is 9lbs 14oz that I could easily shave almost 2lbs off if I wanted. (which I might do for hunting) built by Axisworks
Lone Peak Fuzion TI SA DBM
Swapped the steel knob for a CF knob -2oz
24" 1:7.5" Proof Sendero
Axisworks3 port Muscle Mag brake
Manners PRS2 (could easily shave over a pound here with just a non-adjustable Manners)
Trigger Tech Diamond @ 6oz
Axisworks M5 DBM w. AI mags (could shave probably 6+oz here with an alloy BDL)
Seekins 30mm Medium rings
Tangent Theta TT315M Gen 2XR (28.8 oz)
Flatline Ops level

I think any rifle less than 10#s is a joy to carry in the mountains and still maintain enough mass to shoot well. Not that the rifle would be less accurate @ 7lbs, but they take so much more (or less) consistent shooter input to be as able to be shot as well.

SavageHunter11 said:

The non adjustable Manners in full carbon fiber is 28-30oz according to their website...thats close. Are any of those 20-25oz stocks you talk about aluminum bedded? Was hoping to have aluminum bedding for a bit of extra rigidity and accuracy. Do you guys typically have aluminum bedding or is there another route usually gone? Please tell me if I'm over building this rifle too...I probably am.

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You don't need or want an aluminum bedding block in a lightweight rifle cause they are HEAVY. You don't need a bedding bock in a carbon fiber stock because they are very stiff by themselves, way more stiff than fiberglass.

I would look at putting a Leupold VX5HD or VX6HD on it too. They are only 20 oz.

How long is the barrel?

SavageHunter11 said:

If Kimber made a left handed rifle I wouldn't even be considering a build and buying one of these.

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I see we posted at the same time, I missed the left handed comment.

Slick8 said:

I too am considering a lightweight build. I don't consider this a true Ultra-light sheep build just a good all around lightweight hunter.

I added my comments to your post in bold.

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Wow, that is a lot of good information. Some of it I wasn't hoping to hear (I really like APA muzzle breaks) but I'm glad to have the great advice. Thank you. Also, If I do a Remage barrel setup I do have to have a recoil lug and barrel nut so having a squared and trued lug isn't heavier compared to a non-squared and trued nut and lug and only helps. Not sure what my options are for lighter barrels though. I might not be able to do a remage barrel setup anyways. Again, thank you for the great advise.

Barrelnut said:

You don't need or want an aluminum bedding block in a lightweight rifle cause they are HEAVY. You don't need a bedding bock in a carbon fiber stock because they are very stiff by themselves, way more stiff than fiberglass.

I would look at putting a Leupold VX5HD or VX6HD on it too. They are only 20 oz.

How long is the barrel?

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I hadn't considered that carbon fiber is more rigid, thats a good point. Also, the barrel is 24". My thought was if I am going 280A.I. over 7mm Rem Mag I should have a 24" barrel to squeeze more velocity out of a smaller cartridge. Should I consider a shorter barrel?

adam32 said:

ADL will be lighter than a BDL set up also.

McMillan Edge, MPI, Wildcat, Pendleton, AG Composites, Bettin, (I'm sure I'm missing some)...all make stocks in the 16-28oz range. None have aluminum bedding blocks as far as I know.

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Is the difference between ADL and BDL that an ADL is a blind mag and the BDL is a hinged floor plate? I've been a Savage guy most my life (thus my user name).

For a left hand, could always just get a Tikka lite. Just a little over 6 lbs. They come left handed. Then just add a brake. Would have to get a 7mm Rem mag. But if your adding a brake, that shouldn't matter at all.
http://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-lite-stainless

SavageHunter11 said:

I hadn't considered that carbon fiber is more rigid, thats a good point. Also, the barrel is 24". My thought was if I am going 280A.I. over 7mm Rem Mag I should have a 24" barrel to squeeze more velocity out of a smaller cartridge. Should I consider a shorter barrel?

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I would stay at 24. Would not do a 26 though.

dirtytough said:

Like mentioned you can lose weight with a different barrel and stock. Also I would use an aluminum bdl setup. Should save weight there also. Also the action is fairly heavy. A ti action is 21 oz for a long action. You could also have a smith lighten up the remington action.

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I know I've listed parts for a $4k+ rifle but I'm not spending the money for a titanium action. I'll spend a few extra minutes at the gym everyday to be able to pack a few extra ounces in the action rather than spend $1500 on just an action. Thanks for the input though

Barrelnut said:

For a left hand, could always just get a Tikka lite. Just a little over 6 lbs. They come left handed. Then just add a brake. Would have to get a 7mm Rem mag. But if your adding a brake, that shouldn't matter at all.
http://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-lite-stainless

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I hadn't seen the Tikka lite was in left hand. That's a tempting option.

The thread seems to be winding down. Thank you all for the advice. I definitely learned a few things and hopefully by spring I've got a good, sub-nine pound rifle built and ready for a sheep hunt.

GA Precision builds a rifle named the Extreme Hunter that weighs under 7.5 lbs
Templar (Defiance) action
Manners 100% carbon fiber SL stock
24" Bartlein #3 fluted barrel with Vías muzzle brake
APA DBM
Talley Lightweight rings
6.5 SAUM

If you can afford it,it's a fantastic option.