The "Perfect" Lightweight Stalking Rifle

[Chasey]

I like the classic lines of the Sako Finlite, but if they did it in LH id defo buy the Sako85 Carbo Wolf in 308 for my Scotland stuff 3.1kg

Legendary Sako Rifles

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I know from experience that the design of the Carbon Wolf stock will give me more confidance on long range shots.

Mind you the carbon lite in 308 is available in LH and is 2.5kg

 

[Brighty3006]

Sako carbonlight

 

[Deermanagement]

I like the classic lines of the Sako Finlite, but if they did it in LH id defo buy the Sako85 Carbo Wolf in 308 for my Scotland stuff 3.1kg

Legendary Sako Rifles

The legendary Sako rifles that left a lasting impression on the industry

www.sako.fi

I know from experience that the design of the Carbon Wolf stock will give me more confidance on long range shots.

Mind you the carbon lite in 308 is available in LH and is 2.5kg

Consider myself really fortunate to own both Finnlight and Carbon Wolf. I've had many years of making and fitting gun stocks, admittedly shotgun to shoot Olympic Skeet, but all the attributes of a clean gun mount, head and position of eyes are the same for both this discipline and rifle shooting.

The Finnlight is excellent, shoots superb, but given a choice of having to make a shot count, with no room for error, say for £1m (as if) ........even with the small amount I've done with the Carbon Wolf, I'd grab this every time. I only have one small issue with it, which I'll discuss with Sako given the opportunity.

And yes I've shot a lot of deer in my time and only ever taken the one shot off my left shoulder, a 12 yard neck shot, so don't really think the fact that it's handed is a big issue.

 

[finnbear270]

Agreed......... .270 or 6.5 ?

https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/attachments/hardy-2-jpg.142017/

Has to be the .270W for preference.

 

[hybridfiat]

Stripped down naked and lightweight. Perfick!

 

[John Gryphon]

Oh dear me after reading this thread from page one today and looking at the photos I have to say that " for all of these wonderful rifles it was extremely hard to find(see) any evidence of them being carried much at all"
Scratches,marks,dents? Seriously lacking in fact some look like they are magazine ad rifles......
There are stalking rifles and there are those rifles that get to sit up on a seat with their owners and of course there are those rifles that come out of their safes to visit the internet now and then haaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[Chasey]

Consider myself really fortunate to own both Finnlight and Carbon Wolf. I've had many years of making and fitting gun stocks, admittedly shotgun to shoot Olympic Skeet, but all the attributes of a clean gun mount, head and position of eyes are the same for both this discipline and rifle shooting.

The Finnlight is excellent, shoots superb, but given a choice of having to make a shot count, with no room for error, say for £1m (as if) ........even with the small amount I've done with the Carbon Wolf, I'd grab this every time. I only have one small issue with it, which I'll discuss with Sako given the opportunity.

And yes I've shot a lot of deer in my time and only ever taken the one shot off my left shoulder, a 12 yard neck shot, so don't really think the fact that it's handed is a big issue.

Sadly it is if your left handed like me as they dont do a LH version

 

[Deermanagement]

Sadly it is if your left handed like me as they dont do a LH version

You would have thought there would be enough (not sure if it's about 5%) left hookers to make it worth while producing mirror image moulds?

 

[Chasey]

You would have thought there would be enough (not sure if it's about 5%) left hookers to make it worth while producing mirror image moulds?

I know but sadly I am stuck with a Blasa R8 Pro Success. As annoying as owning a Blasa is, at least they granted the lefties a chance. Great rifle don't get me wrong, but I do love the carbon wolf

 

[deeangeo]

Oh dear me after reading this thread from page one today and looking at the photos I have to say that " for all of these wonderful rifles it was extremely hard to find(see) any evidence of them being carried much at all"
Scratches,marks,dents? Seriously lacking in fact some look like they are magazine ad rifles......
There are stalking rifles and there are those rifles that get to sit up on a seat with their owners and of course there are those rifles that come out of their safes to visit the internet now and then haaaaaaaaaaaa

I reckon if you could see closely enough, you’d see my K95 carrying the scars of use and age...
but hey, most of us are leisure hunters and although some of us take quite a few deer, we still take pride in caring for our rifles.
For us, its not a job....we have our main job of work that funds the leisure.

 

[Chasey]

Strangely id love a G6 wood shotgun with nice engraving, but when it comes to rifles? I prefer stainless synthetic every time. My rifles get knocked about and soaking wet a lot more than my shotgun.

 

[ejg]

Is this why blaser created that adjustable stock that can be made to fit comfortably and avoid you lifting your head off the stock for fear of getting bolt "bolt nosed" as you swiftly and noisily ram that bolt backwards in a fraction of a second because you obviously need the second follow up shot in less than 5 seconds..... The stock which can be made to give the correct cheek weld, length of pull...basically two of the most important aspects of correct rifle fitting for consistent accurate shooting...... yet only made in right handed format....basically saying blaser owners are not proper hunters????..... as left handed shooter....try using one of them and a right handed grs and be confident and accurate enough to shoot a living animal...... I'm a proper hunter....I do it for a living....

Firstly Blaser did not invent the adjustable stock, they copied it like many others. Yes I know about adjustable stocks LOP etc, design & make enough of them.
I for one don't have any respect for Blaser company or anyone involved in the Isny outfit... I have worked long enough for these type of people. For example the first thing when the guys who run the Blaser shooting school in the US came to our stand was to ask us if we could retro fit their Blaser rifles with proper stocks. I think Blaser only reacts to what the market wants, good or bad, only see sales figures. Yes I have hunted with a Blaser rifle and shot them at a range, even own one... there is better out there. For me they are overengineered overpriced and not what is needed in the field. BTW I deal with pro hunters mil/police shooters every day, most actually want to find ways of improving their skill and performance just as I am learning every day. I bet you could still learn a thing or two.
Another little thing.... the guy who shapes and designs the prototype stocks of the Isny outfit uses the same stock as this thread starter for his lightweight hill rifle.
edi

 

[Heym SR20]

Oh dear me after reading this thread from page one today and looking at the photos I have to say that " for all of these wonderful rifles it was extremely hard to find(see) any evidence of them being carried much at all"
Scratches,marks,dents? Seriously lacking in fact some look like they are magazine ad rifles......
There are stalking rifles and there are those rifles that get to sit up on a seat with their owners and of course there are those rifles that come out of their safes to visit the internet now and then haaaaaaaaaaaa

Due to the fine Scottish weather most rifles are taken to the hill in a gun slip, and most tend to be carried in a slip and then removed for final stalk with gunslip then being used as a rest. The slip does the hard work of taking all the knocks etc. Whenever a gun is in a vehicle is just about always put in a slip - and certainly will be if its going on the public road.

Given the pain in the arse of our licensing system and that rifles were comparatively executive items, most would have one rifle which was and is well looked after.

my heym i have had since the mid 1990’s and the combination for about 10 years. Both were 2nd hand but i have shot quite a few deer

 

[Southern]

One way to keep scratches and dings to a minimum is to have a battery in rotation, an a tough beater rifle that laughs off rain and briars.

 

[glasshalffull]

One advantage of wood is it can be make bespoken to the user stock cheaper than making a "custom" mould for a carbon stock unique to the buyer.

So a batch of, say, shotguns can be machine made with overlong stocks that are then shortened to fit the individual customer.

The other advantage is you can bend a wood stock on a shotgun through the hand to set it for the individual.

But yes for weapons where an ability to do either of the above isn't important plastic is fantastic.

Wood all day for shotguns except for wildfowling then synthetic. Synthetic all day for rifles for lets be honest when have you ever had a modification done on a rifle stock that requires wood bending?

 

[Basil H]

Not perfect but it works : .308 Sako Carbonlite without butt pad, Hardy IV, Swaro 8 x 50, simple "cloth" sling.
When needed, a Harris bipod. Tried a javelin but I found it a fiddly and awkward way to save 225g over the Harris.

This set-up makes my Remingon AWR 7mm RM feel like a log but I guess I am getting pretty old and puny.

By the way, do any of the experts on here know why stainless steel is not used more widely in weather resistant shotguns. A Benelli Beccacia in stainless/synthetic would be really handy,

 

[Brighty3006]

Carbonlight for me every time. Just had 4 days on the Hinds. Scottish weather and knocks and dings but it's a tool at the end of the day. .243 as well and all the deer went no further than 10 yards!!!!

 

[John Gryphon]

and all the deer went no further than 10 yards!!!!

Thanks Brighty, we are looking forward to your photos of the hunt.

 

[25 Sharps]

I agree, however if you know the wind, know your drop then longer ranges are possible. I have some experience in long range shooting at moving organic targets at range. I choose not to shoot at Deer at range out of respect for the quarry, however it is achievable. Reading the animal the situation and the surroundings.

I heard from an old boy that made a career of shooting at similar organic targets then training others to do it that more often than not the shots are walked in, is that the case? If so that wouldn’t work with deer.
But agree 400 yards isn’t that far!

 

[25 Sharps]

Oh dear me after reading this thread from page one today and looking at the photos I have to say that " for all of these wonderful rifles it was extremely hard to find(see) any evidence of them being carried much at all"
Scratches,marks,dents? Seriously lacking in fact some look like they are magazine ad rifles......
There are stalking rifles and there are those rifles that get to sit up on a seat with their owners and of course there are those rifles that come out of their safes to visit the internet now and then haaaaaaaaaaaa

I was just thinking similar, some very pretty rifles with zero marks from regular use?!