Try biathlon slings - TAB gear, other brands are available
Lighter weight options than my existing set up
- Thread starter Forty Watt
- Start date
I would thoroughly recommend a straight-pull Merkel Alpinist (what I have) or their Speedster which is more of a thumbhole shaped grip. Lighter and just feels handier than both the R8's I've tried, and a lovely action. I think they do .308 in plain or fluted and 20 or 22 inch, Alpinist is about 3kg with the plain longer barrel in .30-06. I have a Delta 2.5-15x56 coming in at just under 800gm, Stalon X108 mod about the same weight as yours, feel a really handy setup as others have said when handling it.
Rafter
Well-Known Member
A 3-12 x42 S&B Klassik is 600 grams, an ODI can is as light as you're going to get, then look at the stock and finally the barrel profile - a T3/Sako/Kimber lightweight 308 will do a thoroughly adequate job out to 400m, but it won't be as cool as the R8.
The 308 works fine out of a 16" barrel,so get the smith to wack at least 4" off while he is threading for the suppressor and go have fun.
Personally, I find the only thing a lightweight rifle does better than a heavy one is carry - for all of the important stuff (shooting, for example) a heavier rifle is better.
The 308 works fine out of a 16" barrel,so get the smith to wack at least 4" off while he is threading for the suppressor and go have fun.
Personally, I find the only thing a lightweight rifle does better than a heavy one is carry - for all of the important stuff (shooting, for example) a heavier rifle is better.
Been around this a while ago and looked at a full range of lightweight rifles for £4k to £1600 - went with the latter, a Tikka T3X 20” barrel .270 as the basic content fitted all of my boxes. To this I added a F&D UTS131 mod and a Swaro Z6i. Result ids something nearer half the weight of my previous S20/DS rig.
Lightweight doesn’t have to be expensive. All of my stalking mods are lightweights : 131g, 149g and 167g (latter is an Oceania Defence Alpine Hunter).
Lightweight doesn’t have to be expensive. All of my stalking mods are lightweights : 131g, 149g and 167g (latter is an Oceania Defence Alpine Hunter).
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Ahhr got ya, La Boeuf using a Sharps 1874 in 4570.
I have a sub 6lb rifle and and to be honest
Out of interest can you compare the F&D 131 and the Oceania Defence. I’m in need of another silencer as you know I already have an inconnel Oceania but want direct thread on this one.
I also agree you can’t go wrong with a Tikka T3 lite. They just shoot plain and simple. Many after market stocks to suit.
Although with a 660g scope and a 131g silencer the weight saving will be substantial on the current blaser given the location of the weight that’s lost, it will handle considerably different.
Out of interest can you compare the F&D 131 and the Oceania Defence. I’m in need of another silencer as you know I already have an inconnel Oceania but want direct thread on this one.
I also agree you can’t go wrong with a Tikka T3 lite. They just shoot plain and simple. Many after market stocks to suit.
Although with a 660g scope and a 131g silencer the weight saving will be substantial on the current blaser given the location of the weight that’s lost, it will handle considerably different.
tackb
Well-Known Member
Niggloh , check spelling
I use Tab, can highly recommend it
Scipio
Well-Known Member
Hello mate, and i think i get you a bit, as i never really liked shouldering the blaser r8s. I mean each to their own, of course, but the weight just "sits" funny to me and i dont like how they feel like when you repeat with them either, though that tbf might just me not having gotten the proper technique down.
Now Accuracy and build quality wise i think there are so many brands that would suffice your needs, that we could name them from now and until tomorrow and probably not even get them all.
So i'll assume we'll take those factors as a given, and instead focus on stuff like pointability, how they feel when shouldering and weight. Oh and of course the trigger crispness and the feel of quality when handling them.
Now we are all built differently, so please do take that into account and ideally go and handle whatever rifle that you end up fancying yourself, however the two light weight, synthetic stock rifles that i've felt lived up to all of the things mentioned above, were the sako finnlight and the tikka 3x lite. I prefered the Sako of the two. Just my 2 cents.
Ps. If you want to go clean, and keep it simple and light, maybe going un moderated could be a possibility? It would allow you to save weight and keep the natural balance and pointability of the gun. But If so, and considering that we're talking fairly light guns here, with a likely fairly light scope on it too, going with a cartridge like the 7mm08 might be a good choice. I know thar you mentioned a preference for staying with the 308, but if you want to be able to harvest the same sort of game that your 308 allowed you to, but with a quite acceptable recoil, even wirthout a mod, the 7-08 might just be a good option to look at, and maybe even the 6.5x55 and 6.5 Creedmoor too.
Best of luck!
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Motard
Well-Known Member
I'd say if you are not uncomfortable with single shot then get a kipplauf with a max 50 mm (44 better) lens scope and you'll never regret. There are now with thumb holes and kevlar stocks. Nothing beat them for lightness and easy of carrying, and all able to rise a big smile on your's face when you handle them. You can add a non invasive short light bipod on and a moderator but this last wouldn't be my choice just fie aesthetical reasons. light set up
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It's easier to change a scope than a rifle so when I want a lightweight set up, I install a Leupold VX2 scope. They are super light considering they have decent glass, cost only a couple of hundred pounds these days and come in a good range of specs. I fit Kenton Industries ballistic turrets. This example is the 3-9x50 version and weighs about half your current scope including mounts, lens caps etc.
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Freeforester
Well-Known Member
Swarovski A line 3-12/42: 360 grammes
Swarovski A line 3-12/50: 480grammes
Putting ice in a glass and decent whisky is anathema, btw. Try decent soft spring water.
Swarovski A line 3-12/50: 480grammes
Putting ice in a glass and decent whisky is anathema, btw. Try decent soft spring water.
Recently acquired a Swarovski Z5 3-5-18 x 44 BT for my Sako Carbonlight .308 - what a combo, the glass is lovely and the optic only weighs 451 grams, incredible.
Martiniblack577
Well-Known Member
SSG69 rig which has a moderator: Tom on here I think has one coming up for sale. Also saw a Scout for FS on GT/GS? One was unused.
Rafter
Well-Known Member
The Swaro 3.5-18 has gained a reputation here for fragility.
Lovely glass, but the elevation turret takes a dump more often than desirable.
On the other hand, when they work they are a lovely piece of gear, and if you aren't 2 days walk in then its not the end of the world to send it back on warranty.
Good to know, just got mine back from a service, prior to that gave it some very robust Scottish hill use and staggering and falling about through steep forestry clear fell, didn't miss a beat on the range at the distances I had on the ballistic turret. Got a good one I think and its now sporting unbashed turret caps and parallax wheel following its service
(and Swarovski chucked in a new set of bikini covers and a couple of the tools for removing the BT)Similar threads
