who builds the most accurate ultralight hunting rifle?
- Thread starter packgoatguy
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Depending on what chambering you want, the Barrett fieldcract is hard to beat, 5-5.7# most have fast twist for caliber. They're producing 280ai this year in 8 twist. Only downfall, the long actions have a short 3.4" mag box, but the short actions have a long 3" mag box. The long action would be perfect for a 284win.
I don't think that weight is currently possible with a carbon 26" blank no matter what other parts you find. For what it's worth if long range is the goal I've found boomers are pretty hard to shoot when they get sub 7lbs. 7lbs seems to be the sweet spot for a bigger braked magnum In my experience anyway but I'm not very versatile when it comes to shooting really small stocks either.
A Pierce titanium la is 19oz I believe, run it in a wildcat composites long range stock(22oz) set up adl style, add a trigger, mag spring and follower, you're at 45 oz or so. The lightest 26" barrel you'll get arguably will be a hells canyon Light hunter, and that will be in the 44oz area. You're already at 5.6#, I built a rifle, LPA Razor-ti short action, Hawkins bdl, mickey game hunter edge, 24" sendero lite 6.5mm w/ ti brake. Rifle is 5.7#, the only place I could have saved weight was going adl stock, and slightly lighter in the barrel with a different contour from HCA or carbon six, maybe another 6oz. You're not going to get below 5.5# with a 26" heavy contour barrel, long action, and a long range style stock. I've saw kimber Montanas with ti bolts, 18" barrels bores out to 358 cal in pencil contours that were 4.5# there not a lot of space to save weight on something you want to shoot long range
Farmerbrown32
Well-Known Member
Biggest thing with these ultralight rifles is just plain being capable to shoot them sub half moa. I have a kimber mtn ascent in 280ai and it is a tack driver, but it is **** hard to shoot a sub half moa group everytime with such a light rifle. It will shoot 3 into one ragged hole at 100 with 162 eldm at 2950fps.
Tidus56
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I would echo that shooting a lightweight rifle sub moa is just plain hard. It can be done but most can't do it with any consistency. I have found I like my big boomers around 9.5 pounds outfitted and lighter knockdown rifles around 8. Good luck.
Farmerbrown32
Well-Known Member
I have a lightweight 338 rum that i built myself with a carbonsix barrel MBM beast brake, manners stock and rem action. Weighs right at 10 pounds all put up with harris bipod, nf nxs scope nf UL rings and that is about as light as id go for a huge boomer like that in my opinion. Even with the great mbm brake it is still quite a bit to handle and is not for the faint of heart.
packgoatguy
Well-Known Member
What about one of the Brown Poundr Kevlar stocks, advertised at around 16-20oz... that could shave a few ounces. Any downside to those?
Nope, or you can run a wildcat composites, they're light too.
packgoatguy
Well-Known Member
Here are the numbers Ive found. Any other alternatives you would suggest other than the wildcat composites?
A Pierce Titanium long action with lightweight bolt is advertised at 19.3 Oz ($1835).
Proof Research Carbon Fiber 8 twist Sendero Light at 48 oz, ($729)
Titanium Muzzle Break 1.6 oz, ($225)
Brown Poundr Kevlar Stock 16-20oz... depends
D
Deleted member 25294
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Trust me dude if you build a sub 6 lb 28 Nos it'll beat your ***..
I'd go 6.5 PRC, I have a 5.8 lb 6.5 Saum, and have killed my last 2 bulls with it out to 900 yards shooting 147 eldms.
Once you step up beyond 6.5 magnums recoil is stupid in an ultralight.
If you went with a 7 twist barrel in 6.5 prc you'd be
Able to shoot the 156 bergers around 3000 fps.
That's assuming Berger ever releases them!
Had to check that they are still in business (they are): http://www.jarrettrifles.com/index.html
Back in the 1990's while stationed in Charleston, my buddy & I drove to Jarrett's shop where the owner Kenny gave us a tour and a list of options for my friend to accurize his Ruger 77 in .308. What they settled on was to rechamber the original barrel to 300 Jarrett, free float it, and have Kenny work his magic on the bolt and action. Probably the 2nd-cheapest option on what was Kenny's third-favorite brand of rifle, so he bumped down his normal guarantee of 1" at 300 yards to something slightly less incredible. For some figure way under 1 grand.
Deal done, Ruger 77 left at his place (cleanest machine shop i've seen in my life) he continued on to show us the Masters Long Range Event bolt pistols he had in process for TGO and for Koenig, then a look at his land which is a very nice spread.
Some weeks later we pick up the finished rifle and shoot it. I stop after about 5 rounds, 300 Jarrett has some kick to it... Long story short, after seeing what load combo it really likes, using Kenny's dies and ammo recipes, the gun shot 5/8" at 300 yards, twice. I witnessed it.
I'd search around to make sure they still have the same reputation today and if they do, a very good choice. I think they've done bolt pistols for benos if I remember correctly.
Back in the 1990's while stationed in Charleston, my buddy & I drove to Jarrett's shop where the owner Kenny gave us a tour and a list of options for my friend to accurize his Ruger 77 in .308. What they settled on was to rechamber the original barrel to 300 Jarrett, free float it, and have Kenny work his magic on the bolt and action. Probably the 2nd-cheapest option on what was Kenny's third-favorite brand of rifle, so he bumped down his normal guarantee of 1" at 300 yards to something slightly less incredible. For some figure way under 1 grand.
Deal done, Ruger 77 left at his place (cleanest machine shop i've seen in my life) he continued on to show us the Masters Long Range Event bolt pistols he had in process for TGO and for Koenig, then a look at his land which is a very nice spread.
Some weeks later we pick up the finished rifle and shoot it. I stop after about 5 rounds, 300 Jarrett has some kick to it... Long story short, after seeing what load combo it really likes, using Kenny's dies and ammo recipes, the gun shot 5/8" at 300 yards, twice. I witnessed it.
I'd search around to make sure they still have the same reputation today and if they do, a very good choice. I think they've done bolt pistols for benos if I remember correctly.
