Help Newbie Build Lightweight Rifle

[timberelk]

I've been a gun owner for many years but never actually started from scratch with a rifle build (other than an AR15).

I am looking to build a light weight hunting rifle with the following specs:
5.5-6.5lb overal weight
20-24" barrel
Either 6.5 creed, 270 or 7mm-08 or possibly a 308
Around $1000 for just the rifle (much higher than that and I may as well buy an already build rifle like a weatherby wildness or CA Mesa)

 

[livetohunt]

With that budget I would think you would have a hard time unless your doing the gunsmithing yourself. You could spend almost your entire budget on a proof wrapped barrel.

I think you could be around $1000 getting a bergara b14 hunter in 6.5 creedmoor that most people are getting .75 MOA or even .5 MOA with factory ammo and put a better trigger and a Stockys carbon fiber stock on it and be around 6-6.5 lbs. Thats what I'm planning on doing so I have a lightweight rifle.

 

[timberelk]

With that budget I would think you would have a hard time unless your doing the gunsmithing yourself. You could spend almost your entire budget on a proof wrapped barrel.

I think you could be around $1000 getting a bergara b14 hunter in 6.5 creedmoor that most people are getting .75 MOA or even .5 MOA with factory ammo and put a better trigger and a Stockys carbon fiber stock on it and be around 6-6.5 lbs. Thats what I'm planning on doing so I have a lightweight rifle.

Thanks for the recommendation! Any idea on the wright of the b14 hunter stock? I want to be able to compare it to the Stocky's to see how much weight I'm saving. I'm also looking at weatherby's wilderness rifle at 6.75lbs for $800 or savages light weight hunter at 5.65lb for $700-$900

 

[CLP]

Totally agree with livetohunt. 5.5 pound customs are pricey. Another option would be a Tikka T3 Lite. I have one in 7mm-08 and it's an awesome little rifle for the price. You could also swap out the factory stock for a McMillan Edge or Manners and only bust your budget by $300 or so.

 

[PBramble]

I second the T3 lite. My 300 win mag is a great gun for a factory rifle with factory ammo so far.

 

[livetohunt]

Timberelk, as I was typing my post I realized it would help to add that in there! But I couldn't find the weight of the b14 hunter synthetic stock anywhere! The complete gun weighs 7.1 lbs with the short action 6.5 and 22" barrel. They were on sale at cabelas for $630 a month ago. Apparently the 6.5 was sold out during deer season almost everywhere.

The savage would be a hit or miss, I just bought two of the long range hunters in 7mag and one shoots .6 MOA all day, the other one I went to boresight and at 50 yards and it's 12" left 8" down so I haven't even really shot it yet. It's a lemon.

 

[WildRose]

Timberelk, as I was typing my post I realized it would help to add that in there! But I couldn't find the weight of the b14 hunter synthetic stock anywhere! The complete gun weighs 7.1 lbs with the short action 6.5 and 22" barrel. They were on sale at cabelas for $630 a month ago. Apparently the 6.5 was sold out during deer season almost everywhere.

The savage would be a hit or miss, I just bought two of the long range hunters in 7mag and one shoots .6 MOA all day, the other one I went to boresight and at 50 yards and it's 12" left 8" down so I haven't even really shot it yet. It's a lemon.

Don't count it out just yet, your scope mount screw holes may just need to be moved and redrilled. If it's that far off I'd call Savage and see if they won't replace it. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the barrel is slightly bent either.

In either case they should make it right for you and probably will. I don't shoot Savages myself but I've heard nothing but good relative to their customer and warranty services from those who do.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Just buy you one of these...

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...enterfire/Remington+700+MOUNTAIN+SS+BC+7MM-08

And this trigger...

https://swfa.com/timney-triggers-calvin-elite-remington-700-w-safety-7.html

And have a professional DevCon bed the action, free-float the barrel, and torque the 2 action screws to 65 inch-pounds. You should have a shooter. If you want to have the smith lathe-cut a recessed target crown on it, and hand-lap the barrel, that will also help.

I can build a rifle for around $1000, because my smith charges me REALLY good prices for work, but most anywhere else you go, you're easily looking at double to triple what I pay. The smithing fees would be about the only thing holding you back from building a high-quality rifle for around $1,000-1,200 (parts only, no labor).

 

[timberelk]

I'd really like to go with the bell and Carlson "Weatherby look a like" spotter stock in tan with black webbing but need to find an action and barrel. On bell and Carlson they are saying only a 700 BDL will fit in that stock. How is the weight on the 700 BDL's?

The stock I want weights 2.25lbs

 

[timberelk]

Or I buy a cheap howa 1500 lightly used locally and bell and Carlson makes the same weatherby style stock for the howa. But I've herd those howa actions and barrels are really heavy

 

[Deleted member 25294]

I know the Tikkas have already been suggested but let me strongly re suggest it!
You mentioned a 6.5 creedmoor and tikka now offers a t3 lite in that chambering with a 24.3" barrel weighing in at 6.3 lbs.
I can tell you for a fact that my plastic tikka stock weighs 2 pounds even, so if you put a carbon fiber stock on there that finished at 20 oz you would have a 5.5 pound rifle that will shoot as good as most customs.

 

[FEENIX]

Savage 11/111 and 16/116 in lightweight hunter offers all of the chambering you mentioned and meets your budget and weight requirements. It's your best DIY friendly option for future projects. Cheers!

 

[martinakl]

I didn't see Kimber Montana mentioned yet. Turn Key rifle that for sure meets your weight requirements.

No need to restock
No need for a new trigger (just lighten the pull weight)

Fit and finish of a custom rifle, for much less.

 

[105amatt]

I'd look at the Remington 700 CDL SF in 270 Winchester.