Lightweight rifle build

[Boman]

Ok I'm thinking of a new rifle build and I need some help. I want something light enough to pack and still take game out to 5-600. I don't have a huge budget but I think I can make do. I want something solid and repeatable. Here's what I'm thinking:

.300 rum
Proof research barrel- for weight and consistency
Action- rem 700, stiller or defiance
Stock- B&C medalist- same as wby ultralight rifles, these have an aluminum bedding block.
Muzzlebreak? Aps, muscle, je custom?

What do you think? Do I need a full custom action? What else do I need to focus on? What am I missing?
Thanks for your help

 

[300stw]

colt light rifle in 300 win mag,,,,

 

[Boman]

I'll check them out. Thanks

 

[Boman]

Anyone else

 

[Pdvdh]

Ok I'm thinking of a new rifle build and I need some help. I want something light enough to pack and still take game out to 5-600. I don't have a huge budget but I think I can make do. I want something solid and repeatable. Here's what I'm thinking:

.300 rum
Proof research barrel- for weight and consistency
Action- rem 700, stiller or defiance
Stock- B&C medalist- same as wby ultralight rifles, these have an aluminum bedding block.
Muzzlebreak? Aps, muscle, je custom?

What do you think? Do I need a full custom action? What else do I need to focus on? What am I missing?
Thanks for your help

500-600 yards is not a terribly challenging or difficult distance these days, and quite a few factory rifles are both light enough and accurate enough to serve your stated desire well to those distances. See this Thread: http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/need-advice-new-stalking-rig-128974/

 

[trebark]

Unless you're shooting grizzlies, 300rum has prohibitive recoil for a lightweight rifle. If you like the 30 cals, look at 300wsm or 30-06. I would learn towards the 300wsm as it is a short action and would be a bit lighter than the long-actions.

custom action vs. Rem700
If you ever intend to resell the rifle/action, the custom action will retain more value better than a blueprinted Rem700.

Muzzle Brake
For the magnums, look at four port brakes. Personally, I like the four port muscle brake.

Other things to focus on:

Trigger
Stock Remington triggers are not bad. If you want to upgrade, just get a jewell. They are the best. DO NOT get a timney. Two friends of mine have had them fail.

Bedding
Definitely bed your action into the stock.

Optics
Buy once, cry once. In other words, buy the best you can afford. And if want you want is more than you want to spend, then wait and save your money until you can afford what you really want.

 

[ejolsen1]

Drop the Proof Research barrel and take the extra money and go with a Pierce Ti action. I would use a good quality barrel from Lilja or several other makers.

Manners makes some very nice light weight stocks check out their elite hunter series.

 

[J E Custom]

First = What do you intend to hunt ?

What do you consider "Light"?

There are many calibers/cartridges that will work at 5 and 600 yards. All though the 300 RUM is one of my favorites, it may not be necessary for you needs, but if you want one I would build what you want.

The action= a 700 Remington action will do nicely and stock availability is second to none. Also you can install a jewel trigger On it.

Stocks are a very personal choice so you are on your own. (I like the laminates because of balance
but they are a little heaver that the composites.

Muzzle brake ? (You know what I would recommend Ha, Ha) A light weight 300 RUM will have plenty of recoil and the better the brake the more you will like it.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Boman]

I will be hunting elk and deer mainly.

I consider 7.5lbs to be light. But the lighter the better for this project.

I should have said 700-800yds.

I think for now I'll stick to the 300 rum. I had a 6lb .340wby and I loved it. Shouldn't have gotten rid of it.

I will look into the pierce action but they have problems with their site and my firewall keeps closing the page down.

Ive thought of just using a #2 lilja but I want to do a 28" barrel and I dont think they do that. I figured the Proof is best of both worlds just more expensive.

Thanks for the info on timney triggers thats a bit scary.

I haven't thought about optics yet. ..

 

[Boman]

One of my bigger questions is with the action. Im leaning towards a Stiller predator but the folks at Proof use Defiance actions. Which would you go with? Any differences with them? The Defiance is a few hundred more and is it worth it? It seems like using a Remington is a good idea until you see how much it costs to true them up.. seems like the smart play is to go custom from the start.

 

[lhouston78]

If you dont mind the jump of the rifle the 300 rum is a good round. Down sides are barrel life, fitting 200 gr plus bullet in a mag and barrel jump for spotting hits(in a light weight rifle). I have had six carbon barrels and they are cool but not worth the money if you are just looking to save weight. A number 4 will weigh less than a carbon and 28" #4 should work fine( my 280 ai has a #4.5). Bell and carlson makes a great stock for the money and light weight. Jewelle triggers are great or the shilen trigger is good for less.

 

[Boman]

lhouston,

Why did you go with the carbon barrels? Also whose did you use? According to proof a 28" 30 cal will weigh around 3lbs. Lilja shows their #2 is right at 3lbs.

 

[trebark]

One of my bigger questions is with the action. Im leaning towards a Stiller predator but the folks at Proof use Defiance actions. Which would you go with? Any differences with them? The Defiance is a few hundred more and is it worth it? It seems like using a Remington is a good idea until you see how much it costs to true them up.. seems like the smart play is to go custom from the start.

Cost wise, there is little difference between a blueprinted Rem700 and a custom action like the Stiller or Defiance. The difference is in their ability to retain their value. The custom actions definitely retain there value where the Rem700 does not.

 

[J E Custom]

I will be hunting elk and deer mainly.

I consider 7.5lbs to be light. But the lighter the better for this project.

I should have said 700-800yds.

I think for now I'll stick to the 300 rum. I had a 6lb .340wby and I loved it. Shouldn't have gotten rid of it.

I will look into the pierce action but they have problems with their site and my firewall keeps closing the page down.

Ive thought of just using a #2 lilja but I want to do a 28" barrel and I dont think they do that. I figured the Proof is best of both worlds just more expensive.

Thanks for the info on timney triggers thats a bit scary.

I haven't thought about optics yet. ..

The 300 RUM is a fine choice for what you want to use it for and you will not be disappointed in
it's performance.

I am a huge Lilja Fan and you cant go wrong with one of his barrels. With the length you want,
I would recommend a #4 (Less that 8 oz difference in the weight of the #2 contour) and save that weight somewhere else. (Scope, stock. rings and bases ETC).

It is true that the custom action has a better re-sale value but I will tell you first hand, you will never get what you have in a custom rifle if you try to sell it No matter what action you use. I try to tell everyone to plan on keeping a custom rifle so build what you want. A custom action does not mean it will automatically shoot better. There is some pride in owning a custom action so that choice is yours.

ON the trigger issue I have used all of the factory triggers and most, if not all of the after market
triggers , And I can find no finer trigger than the Jewell.

Just my opinion for what its worth.

J E CUSTOM