Light Weight Rifle?

[ducky]

I'm looking to lighten my load so to speak, and have a substantial back pay check coming to me. I would like to buy a light weight rifle, the thing is it can't weigh more tha 5 lbs for the bare rifle. It'll be chambered in .308 Win, I know kind of boring on the chamber but I like it.

My goal is a rifle that weighs 8 lbs or less all up. My current .308 weighs 9 lbs 5 oz all up and here are the specs.

M700 BDL cut and threaded at 18"
Warne Mountain Tech 20 MOA base 30mm low
Night Force SHV 3-10X42
Greyboe Trekker
Trigger Tech trigger
Omega 300 with ASR 3 port brake
Butler Creek Mountain sling
5 rounds of ammunition (150 grain)

So I could get there with my current barreled action if I change out everything, but might as well go custom at that point. Then I ran across the Howa 1500 Superlite at sub 5 lbs and can be found for under $1300, plus it's available. What other factory rifles should I be looking at in the 5 pound or lighter for say under $2500?

 

[Kimber7man]

Sub 5 lbs is tough
Sub 6 lbs I'd look at a Ridgeline FFT, or find a used 18" threaded Fieldcraft.

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

Wby Backcountry 2.0 TI

 

[Darryle]

NULA, Shorty Fieldcraft, but to get that weight, you can go full custom for a little more money and have a rifle that will shoot and have everything exactly how you want it.

 

[bultinkle]

I would probably just buy a tikka

 

[Darryle]

I stole a picture of Mike D Texas's rifle with 21" barrel and titanium action

6lbs 2.5oz

I just think you are going to have your work cut out to hit those weight goals

 

[Mark37082]

I've never owned one, but the Kimber Mountain Ascent is in your weight range. I have a Browning Xbolt speed in 308 win with a light weight scope that is < 8 lbs ready to hunt. It still is one of my go to deer hunting rifles in the safe.

 

[Plinker147]

Get rid of night force scope and you save 5lbs!! JK but they are heavy.

Kimber makes a 5lb rifle if that's your goal

 

[ducky]

Tikka rifles are too heavy, they were the first place I looked. Kimber was the second, the Mountain Ascent is the only one that will make my goal. Finding a new one is tough, got my eye on a couple used if they last until my back pay comes in.

The last Fieldcraft I saw was over $3K and not a .308. A NULA would have been great if I was smart enough to order it when Melvin was still building rifles. The Backcountry 2.0 TI is about $1K over my budget.

Easiest way to get to my goal weight is not use the suppressor, that'll take a pound right off but I don't want to. However, I could buy a TBAC Ultra 5 and save 8 ounces. I've looked at other optics, but a VX3 3.5-10X40 and Talleys only saves me 9 ounces. A Manners UL saves me around 5 ounces. So buying a Howa or Kimber is the cheapest route and still use my suppressor.

 

[Montucky Roamer]

Kimber Adirondack is even lighter, and you can make it lighter.

 

[Montucky Roamer]

Look at the gunwerks 6xi ti suppressor before the ultra 5. Probably similar weight but better muffling with 6xi.

 

[Montucky Roamer]

Gotta pay to play if you want to get Uber light. You'll find the kimbers are a crazy good bargain for hitting those numbers.

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

It looks to me like you have a pretty solid rifle that balances weight and performance. Not questioning your motives, but have you tried shooting a rifle in the weight category you are looking at? You may be giving up your consistent long range accuracy and shooting comfort for a few ounces. Super light rifles are touchy and unforgiving even under ideal shooting conditions. I had a .308 Field Craft which I ended up selling and have been personally much happier with a little extra rifle weight. Even when I brought my A game, that was not a rifle I felt comfortable reaching much past 300 yards with. My point is to make sure you are not about to dump a paycheck on something that gives up being good at everything else to be the best at one thing, unless you are 100% confident that is what you want. Then by all means, good luck finding the perfect rifle.

 

[Wisconsinvette]

I would probably just buy a tikka

I built a TIkka in 7 SAUM that is 8# scoped and loaded with an Ultra 7 attached.