Semi-Light shorter barrel build, looking for some feedback

I think the new Defiance Renegade with the Anti cuts is a great choice for an action around 23 ounces in a SA. I would use a Sendero Lite in a Benchmark Carbon Fiber barrel. I just received my first Peak 44 stock and am more than impressed, 17.4 ounces painted with pad and pillars. It is very rigid and would buy another in a heartbeat. If you're wanting to save weight I would use a Hawkins BDL bottom metal with magazine box spring and follower, if you want a detachable magazine I would still use a Hawkins Hunter with flush magazine. I think any trigger you pick would be fine Trigger Tech, Bix and Andy, or Timney. If yo want to save weight the new Feather Weight Hawkins would be great. I know you mentioned running a can and I really like a Carbon Fiber barrel with that as you can keep it light and attractive with a large mounting surface to mate up to. Good luck on your decisions and enjoy!

In the last 3 years I've built 4-5 short barreled rigs and all are 18-20". Some much lighter than others and all with Kelbly actions. Only action I use now. All of these below are very nice to carry. All have M5 style bottom metals.

2- 18" 308's that both shoot bug holes. One is 10 twist PBB prefit barrel, Bix-n-Andy Tac Sport Pro, with a 130 TTSX, Lapua brass, AA2460 powder at 3135 FPS and the other I shoot a 9 Twist Proof with a TT Special and a 168 SwissP (swiss military sniper bullet) 46.5 Varget, Alpha SRP Brass and CCI Mag primer at 2745 FPS. Both of these rigs shoot in the same hole if I do my job. Both built on Kelbly Atlas Tacticals and both loads are proven to be wicked on game. Both run suppressed with YHM Resonator. This 130 TTSX load has killed 2 cow elk over 350 yards with 1 shot DRT kills.

1- 20" 300WSM shoots 180 anything at over 3000 fps and the Berger 200.20 X in the 2800-2850 area. ADG Brass. Both bullets very accurate. Still undecided on final load. Kelbly Atlas Lite, 20" 9 twist X-Cal CF Cryo barrel. TT Diamond, APA RTG bottom metal, Grayboe Eagle Pro, NF NX8 with Hawkins Rings. This Rifle points and handles extremely well, a favorite of mine.

1- 20" 22 Creedmoor. Kelbly Atlas Lite, Proof Sendero Prefit 20" (Evolved Ballistics exclusive), TT Special, Hawkins M5 Hunter, Horizon Iota Kremlin stock, Surefire SOCOM 260 Ti can. Still developing load but super accurate with 85.5 Berger and Alpha brass. Hawkins direct mount lite rings and a Steiner HX6I 2-12x40. This rifle also handles/points extremely well and is very well balanced.

And have a 6 Creedmoor I'm still working on but near completion.

I have a sub 9 lb rifle with a can. Perfect set up for me. This set up in the picture is a 18" PRC but I could swap barrels and run a creed etc. I have 20" creed I built for a saddle scabbard. Running a 135 it go right at 2775. That same bullet in the 18" prc is 3000. Currently running a 20" prc Sherman at 3100

akmtnhnt said:

Ya, I can't see why you'd put together what looks close to a $4k rifle that isn't light at all, and really nothing else a factory gun can't do just as well. For like $2500 less.

Click to expand...

I appreciate it, and I've considered this route as well.

My last tikka was a defect from the factory, and took over 9 months to get a replacement from beretta. It was hands down the worst customer service experience possible.

It spent less time in my hands than it did in their warranty and service department. The a amount of time and money wasted (in ammo spent chasing down the issue) was ridiculous.

I had to to buy LinkedIn premium just to get a hold of beretta VPs to get an answer about my replacement even after 9 months, and possibly wouldn't have even gotten it in that time if I didn't do that. Their customer support wouldn't answer phones, wouldn't answer emails, etc.

At this point, I won't ever spend a single dollar with beretta again.

AleksanderSuave said:

I appreciate it, and I've considered this route as well.

My last tikka was a defect from the factory, and took over 9 months to get a replacement from beretta. It was hands down the worst customer service experience possible.

It spent less time in my hands than it did in their warranty and service department. The a amount of time and money wasted (in ammo spent chasing down the issue) was ridiculous.

I had to to buy LinkedIn premium just to get a hold of beretta VPs to get an answer about my replacement even after 9 months, and possibly wouldn't have even gotten it in that time if I didn't do that. Their customer support wouldn't answer phones, wouldn't answer emails, etc.

At this point, I won't ever spend a single dollar with beretta again.

Click to expand...

Browning x bolt SR.

Or if you actually want something light get a kimber hunter chop and thread it.

AleksanderSuave said:

Stock: Manners PH or LRH.
Action: Between a Kelblys Nanook, Terminus Apollo Lite, or Possibly a Zermatt TL3, originally planned on Defiance Anti but seeing them OOS most places and the price having gone up I would like to try other brands.
Trigger: Undecided
Barrel: Not sure yet on contour, possibly a stainless steel with fluting, was considering a Bartlein prefit, but seeing a lot of places doing prefits for either of the above actions, including PVA, Straight Jacket, Preferred Barrel Blanks, or Bugholes.
Rings - undecided
Scope: Considering a Tract Toric UHD 2.5-15x.

Suppressor: TBD - would like to get a 308 K Size can. I already have a CGS Hyperion full size can. This 308k can will likely double on a 6 arc gas gun when not used for hunting.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Click to expand...

Stock: Any flavor of carbon fiber Manners with a Mini-Chassis
Action: TL3 with both a standard and Magnum bolt face...cause why not.
Trigger: TriggerTech Special or Diamond
Barrel: 18" Carbon6 in 6.5 PRC or 7 SAUM or 6.5 Creed
Rings: pick your flavor
Scope: Nightforce NX8 2.5-20
Suppressor: pick your flavor

If kimber would re launch the Adirondack line in some current cartridges, or someone start making a decent stock swap with bdl. Kimber would absolutely own this segment. Feel like they and the barret fieldcraft were 10 years ahead of the curve, we're they out now instead of 2010 they couldn't keep up with production instead of languishing on shelves.

Takes about $33-3600 to dupe the weight of an Adirondack....

comfisherman said:

If kimber would re launch the Adirondack line in some current cartridges, or someone start making a decent stock swap with bdl. Kimber would absolutely own this segment. Feel like they and the barret fieldcraft were 10 years ahead of the curve, we're they out now instead of 2010 they couldn't keep up with production instead of languishing on shelves.

Takes about 33-3600 to dupe the weight of an Adirondack....

Click to expand...

The Kimber hunter and Montana(Adirondack is in the MT line) are the exact same barrel and action. Difference is the stock and the barrel length/threading.
Buy a hunter in your preferred chambering, cut and thread, buy a nice aftermarket stock and have an Adirondack.

I agree they should be doing this factory, but you can still get one with just a tiny bit of work.

I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one of those Kimbers to try the stock out in person.

akmtnhnt said:

The Kimber hunter and Montana(Adirondack is in the MT line) are the exact same barrel and action. Difference is the stock and the barrel length/threading.
Buy a hunter in your preferred chambering, cut and thread, buy a nice aftermarket stock and have an Adirondack.

I agree they should be doing this factory, but you can still get one with just a tiny bit of work.

Click to expand...

Hang up is the cartridges they've put hunters out in. Don't think I've seen anything other than 280, 3006, 6.5 creed and 308 for a significant amount of time. On the accents it's been 300 win and 6.5 creedmore, on the montana front the only new production I've seen is 6.5 creed.

Factoring a rebarrel or re bore plus an mpi or out kast stock and your flirting with custom prices. On the hunter the mag conversion to the mpi is.... well not super refined for the price. Not sure what outkast does to utilize the hunter magazine vs the blind magazine of the Adirondack/montana/ascent lineup.

Kimber seems content to sell oodles of 1911s to my father in laws demographic, a bummer considering even inflation adjusted from pre covid prices an Adirondack would be about half the cost of an equivalent weight full custom.

AleksanderSuave said:

I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one of those Kimbers to try the stock out in person.

Click to expand...

Seems like the stock had decent reviews, all stocks are heavily personal preference so it's probably worthwhile to get hands on. Adirondacks in 6.5 creed do come up from time to time on the gunbroker type sites. Usually fair priced ones move quick, but I'd guess about every three or four months something pops up.

I've spent some money chasing weight savings, dollar per oz the kimbers are hard to beat. If you have strong opinions on triggers, bolt throw, barrel twist, and stock fitment a custom is probably still the answer.

comfisherman said:

Hang up is the cartridges they've put hunters out in. Don't think I've seen anything other than 280, 3006, 6.5 creed and 308 for a significant amount of time. On the accents it's been 300 win and 6.5 creedmore, on the montana front the only new production I've seen is 6.5 creed.

Factoring a rebarrel or re bore plus an mpi or out kast stock and your flirting with custom prices. On the hunter the mag conversion to the mpi is.... well not super refined for the price. Not sure what outkast does to utilize the hunter magazine vs the blind magazine of the Adirondack/montana/ascent lineup.

Kimber seems content to sell oodles of 1911s to my father in laws demographic, a bummer considering even inflation adjusted from pre covid prices an Adirondack would be about half the cost of an equivalent weight full custom.



Seems like the stock had decent reviews, all stocks are heavily personal preference so it's probably worthwhile to get hands on. Adirondacks in 6.5 creed do come up from time to time on the gunbroker type sites. Usually fair priced ones move quick, but I'd guess about every three or four months something pops up.

I've spent some money chasing weight savings, dollar per oz the kimbers are hard to beat. If you have strong opinions on triggers, bolt throw, barrel twist, and stock fitment a custom is probably still the answer.

Click to expand...

I'm not as picky about triggers on a bolt action or any of the other criteria. I really just want a stock that doesn't deter from my ability to be accurate, I'll give two examples though.

My howa originally came wearing one of these monstrosities:

Horrible LOP and the whole thing was made of thin plastic.

My tikka t1x and t3x both felt the overall fit was not right for me. Cheek rest was too low even with lower rings and it felt too light for the action itself.

I'm not the most experienced in this but these were my observations from trying both of those and the immediate improvement I got in replacing the stock on both.

I'm starting to think more and more about just grabbing that tikka roughtech 20" barreled 6.5. The difference in cost between that and my ideal custom build would cover the scope and another suppressor for it.

Sometimes the excitement of a new build gets in the way of logic.

AleksanderSuave said:

I'm starting to think more and more about just grabbing that tikka roughtech 20" barreled 6.5. The difference in cost between that and my ideal custom build would cover the scope and another suppressor for it.

Sometimes the excitement of a new build gets in the way of logic.

Click to expand...

I'd take a hard look at the Browning Xbolt2 lineup as well as the Weatherby 307 Alpine CT. Both look like **** fine rifles and have good reviews.

kgarrett said:

I'd take a hard look at the Browning Xbolt2 lineup as well as the Weatherby 307 Alpine CT. Both look like **** fine rifles and have good reviews.

Click to expand...

That weatherby is interesting, I also saw brownells selling a howa "superlite" barreled action, which is something in between mini and 1500 sized action, but I bet is kissing cousins to that 307 alpine.