devon deer stalker
Well-Known Member
My xbolt SS is pretty light.
How about a different sling?
Cheers
Richard
How about a different sling?
Cheers
Richard
The lightest Rifle out there ?
- Thread starter Gallowaycountrysports
- Start date
Cumbrian 1
Well-Known Member
Great in theory but out of the three people that I know who have acquired them all three were problematical from the outset, search the web and you will see that they are not isolated issues, okay if you want a spread like a 12bore
. I would recommend a carbon fibre stock from PSE composites and a short (20") sporter profile barrel in a 6mm cartridge in fact the rifle below is ideal:http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php/104170-Stiller-6br
Donaldson K. Hornet
New Member
Blaser?
DKH
DKH
Vipa
Well-Known Member
Have to agree.. my first rifle was a Tikka T3 lite.. lovely and light, very accurate but kicked like a mule when it went off and put a mod on the end and even worse, a mod and a bipod and it became so front heavy it was actually rather difficult to lift and aim... I couldn't hold it for more than a few seconds without getting the shakes! It's all about levers and fulcrums!
Whilst I understand the desire for an uber lightweight rifle, the impracticalities that then creates will actually cause more problems than a heavier, well balanced firearm.
A better option would be to fit your estate rifle with a backpack type sling... carrying weight then becomes much less of an issue.
Last edited:
A Tikka T3 Lite that kicked like a mule ?? Calibre ?? Not 243, I'll bet. Honestly this recoil stuff just gets sillier and sillier.
For those who persist in missing it, the OP is proposing to buy a 243. Not a 30.06, nor an 8x57, nor a 9.3 x 62.
FWIW, the T3 Lite would appear pretty suitable for what is being sought. With the synthetic stock they tend to have a little weight on the left hand, which settles them nicely - this would be a little more so in the smaller bores, like 243. Excellent trigger, and not expensive. Good reputation for accuracy. In the synthetic stock, the 243should weigh well under 6.5lbs. Not as light as the Kimber though. The pistol grip is a little more hand filling than I prefer, but would probably not be too fat for most women.
For those who persist in missing it, the OP is proposing to buy a 243. Not a 30.06, nor an 8x57, nor a 9.3 x 62.
FWIW, the T3 Lite would appear pretty suitable for what is being sought. With the synthetic stock they tend to have a little weight on the left hand, which settles them nicely - this would be a little more so in the smaller bores, like 243. Excellent trigger, and not expensive. Good reputation for accuracy. In the synthetic stock, the 243should weigh well under 6.5lbs. Not as light as the Kimber though. The pistol grip is a little more hand filling than I prefer, but would probably not be too fat for most women.
Last edited:
Tikka T3 Lite
Remington Model 7 - a bit thinner barrel, but comes in youth and ladies size stocks
Winchester M70 Compact - a Featherweight with 2 inches lopped off the barrel, so stouter than the Model 7, stock is a bit short for the ladies.
Browning X-Bolt
Kimber 84 in French Walnut - ladies will like the look. Dainty action and bolt handle, a mini-M70. Stock is very straight, like the X-Bolt, set up purely for scope sights.
Remington Model 7 - a bit thinner barrel, but comes in youth and ladies size stocks
Winchester M70 Compact - a Featherweight with 2 inches lopped off the barrel, so stouter than the Model 7, stock is a bit short for the ladies.
Browning X-Bolt
Kimber 84 in French Walnut - ladies will like the look. Dainty action and bolt handle, a mini-M70. Stock is very straight, like the X-Bolt, set up purely for scope sights.
Some good suggestions there Southern.
The most recent Rem 7 that I handled had a little more barrel than the early ones I think. May have been 22", and it felt very nice in the hands - pointed well and no "wandiness" about it in 308. 243 would add an extra couple of ounces to the barrel which would also be nice. Nice slim stock for smaller hands. Good option.
The most recent Rem 7 that I handled had a little more barrel than the early ones I think. May have been 22", and it felt very nice in the hands - pointed well and no "wandiness" about it in 308. 243 would add an extra couple of ounces to the barrel which would also be nice. Nice slim stock for smaller hands. Good option.
Vipa
Well-Known Member
no... not .243.. it was a 6.5x55.. you know... the calibre with the low recoil! lol.... unmoderated with such a light frame it gives a very sharp punch in the shoulder... quite unpleasantly so... moderated of course its a different kettle of fish but then, as I said, it becomes a horribly unbalanced uncomfortable rifle to hold.. there just isn't enough weight in the stock.. I ended up loading a stock cover up with about 20 rounds of ammo to try and compensate but then that only worked to a point and sort of defeated the object of having such a light rifle.. Others I know filled the stock cavity with varying amounts of lead shot... At that point, any benefit was lost
so, there are 2 potential issues unless the lady stalker is a Russian shotputter... unmoderated, overly light rifle plus female/youthful form = unpleasant experience.... moderated, overly light and very front heavy/unbalanced rifle plus female/youthful form = different (and in a lot of ways more) unpleasant experience..
The only real downside to a 'normal' weight of sporting rifle as opposed to an 'ultra light' is carrying the thing.. that can be overcome very easily with sensible sling choice or a chivalrous ghillie... all of the other 'issues' that go with a more weighty rifle are actually benefits... steadier shot, less chance of a pull, less felt recoil so as well as being more comfortable, less likelihood of flinch, better balance, particularly with a mod etc.. etc..
Last edited:
The early Model 7s wore an 18-inch barrel. After lots of requests, they went to a 20-inch.Some good suggestions there Southern.
The most recent Rem 7 that I handled had a little more barrel than the early ones I think. May have been 22", and it felt very nice in the hands - pointed well and no "wandiness" about it in 308. 243 would add an extra couple of ounces to the barrel which would also be nice. Nice slim stock for smaller hands. Good option.
On some, like the 7mm SAUM, they put a heavier 22-inc barrel.
My son started deer hunting with a Model 70 Compact in 7mm-08, downloaded with 120-gr Nosler BT at 2,650 fps ( like a .257 Roberts). Little recoil, low muzzle blast, and very accurate. His friend started on a Rem Model 7 in .243, and I would take them both to the range. The .243 seemed to have a lot more blast and as much recoil as the 7mm-08. No runners with that 7mm-08. Not a step after being hit.
When I helped out in a local gunshop some years ago, I saw the occasional Ultralight Arms rifle (American imports) being traded in. These ULA rifles really were light, but when you see a near new mint rifle on the secondhand racks, it suggests it didn't work out too well for the owner. It appears that Ultralight went bust, but is now in business again as New Ultralight Arms (NULA)
These rifles appeared to have been made as off the shelf designs and imported as such, not made to individual order and were priced ~£1,100-£1,300 s/h when you'd get a good s/h Sako for maybe 750-850. There must be a few still around from this period.
The reincarnated company's website is
http://www.newultralight.com/HTML/custom-rifles.html
They are certainly not cheap nowadays!
These rifles appeared to have been made as off the shelf designs and imported as such, not made to individual order and were priced ~£1,100-£1,300 s/h when you'd get a good s/h Sako for maybe 750-850. There must be a few still around from this period.
The reincarnated company's website is
http://www.newultralight.com/HTML/custom-rifles.html
They are certainly not cheap nowadays!
Just going to throw some maths in here. Using the same load (100gr@3000fps over 45gr of powder) the calculated recoil is nearly 20% higher with a bare 85 carbonlight than a bare Finnlight. Quite a difference for half a kilo.
What's 20 percent of bugger all though Jim? The recoil of a .243 is like a tinkerbell blowing her fairy dust into your shoulder! As you so often like to remind me with me being a .243 owner lmao
I agree mate recoil is negligible in either weight. However, it's a consideration. The difference between a heavy(ish) rifle with big scope, bipod and steel moddy and a Finnlight with a light scope and light moddy would be even more pronounced.
This may affect weaker or new shooters to an extent where the ability to carry it easily is negated.
And yes a .243 is like be gently tickled by a light wind.
Last edited:
As several others mentioned, a good starting point would be a sporter rifle with a light action such as T3 or rem 700. Sporter barrel shortened to 20" fitted toa lightweight stock. Some lightweight stocks handle recoil better than some heavier stocks especially if a good recoil pad is fitted.
Often wrong swivel stud position on a stock make for uncomfortable/awkward handling, making the owner think the rifle is heavy. Things like scope, mounts, moderator and bipod if chosen wisely will make a big difference in the overall weight.
All the lightweight rifles 5.7lb - 6lb I had, shot well, even on crows over 400yds.
If one has issues with the recoil of a 243, one might consider a different sport.
edi
Often wrong swivel stud position on a stock make for uncomfortable/awkward handling, making the owner think the rifle is heavy. Things like scope, mounts, moderator and bipod if chosen wisely will make a big difference in the overall weight.
All the lightweight rifles 5.7lb - 6lb I had, shot well, even on crows over 400yds.
If one has issues with the recoil of a 243, one might consider a different sport.
edi
Crosshair243
Well-Known Member
My Steyr Scout is still for sale 
You also get a bipod included in the weight. Stick a nice light fixed mag scope on there and a light mod and you've got exactly what you need
You also get a bipod included in the weight. Stick a nice light fixed mag scope on there and a light mod and you've got exactly what you need
tackb
Well-Known Member
My Steyr Scout is still for sale
You also get a bipod included in the weight. Stick a nice light fixed mag scope on there and a light mod and you've got exactly what you need
I had a 308 scout , it was awesome apart from one thing , it wouldn't group at all with any ammo , factory or handload ? there must have been something wrong with it I'm sure but I gave up in the end and had riflecraft build me a rifle.
the steyr scout concept is fantastic as a stalking rifle and if you find one that groups buy it!
Similar threads
