Rifle Build for Backpacking

19elkhunter51 said:

+ P + 9 mm @ 1005 fps = 326 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. 10 rounds = 3260 ft lbs of energy. One 460 S&W 460 magnum = 2860 ft lbs of energy with a 300 grain bullet at 2060 ft/sec. Five rounds of 460 gives you more than four and one half times the energy of ten 9mm. Presuming that you had time to fire 10 rounds.
Just saying.
Good hunting.

Click to expand...

I am very confident in saying that with that 460 S&W you will get one, likely poorly aimed, shot off while the 9mm with a dangerous game bullet will get off at least 3 or 4 controlled shots, maybe more, in that same time. Plus the 9mm has plenty of penetration for a griz skull. In that situation the only thing that matters in one in the skull because no matter what else you are shooting you hit anywhere else you are getting mauled.

quandary said:

I am very confident in saying that with that 460 S&W you will get one, likely poorly aimed, shot off while the 9mm with a dangerous game bullet will get off at least 3 or 4 controlled shots, maybe more, in that same time. Plus the 9mm has plenty of penetration for a griz skull. In that situation the only thing that matters in one in the skull because no matter what else you are shooting you hit anywhere else you are getting mauled.

Click to expand...

This is true. Energy is entirely meaningless. A bullet that does nothing but penetrate. Into the head/cns or you're getting mauled regardless of what you carry.

Now contrary to that, on an Alaska backpack hunt I don't carry a sidearm at all. Complete waste of weight and the bear issue is so overblown by people that have never really been around them. You don't need a massive rifle for bears either. Any center fire rifle is good enough for defensive purposes.

DirtNap35 said:

Trying to decide on specific build for backpacking in Alaska and Idaho. Target game in Alaska will be all DIY so Caribou, Moose, and Sitka Deer. In Idaho target game will be Elk and Mule deer.

Rifle goal specs would be lightweight 5-6 pounds bare, 16-18" barrel, suppressed (Magnus), and either MDT HNT-26 or something like a Manners PH. I've never had a chassis before so I'm unsure if I would like it. What's your opinion on the HNT-26?

Unsure on cartridge but would have to spot my own impacts and max distance I will shoot is 800. Curious to hear suggestions on cartridges? I should add I do my own reloading.

Click to expand...

If you like Chassis the hnt26 is the way to go. Metal chassis really suck in the cold. The hnt-26 is only 26oz in the non-folding configuration. It's a good bit more with the folder.
The lightest useful stock I know of is the echelon versa. 17oz and really good ergos. I had a mg4.0 and it was cold, but it also didn't work really well with my pack system. I run the quick release sling on my SG pack and you don't want a folded stock if you carry like that. It is SO much easier to carry with that or the gun bearer than a traditional sling or in your hands. And it takes forever to get a gun off a pack that is strapped to it without a quick release system since you have to take the pack off. The only exception to that would be in heavy alders. It's nice if the gun's footprint isn't larger than your pack in any dimension.

If you're 5lbs bare rifle, your suppressor and scope combo will matter a lot to the finished weight. Most people can't help themselves but put a 26-30oz scope on a light gun, even if you run a 6oz suppressor you're still in the 7+ range. I don't think much of anything over the 6.5cm/260 rem class of bullet and powder volume would keep you in the scope enough to spot a shot at 800.

Having gone down the UL path once, I could have saved a crap ton of money by building a semi-custom off a kimber hunter action.

@akmtnhnt I'm not sure if I would even like a chassis, I've just read when in the back country busting miles of brush you want a folding stock, short barrel, and light weight. We are planning to do multiple hunts in Alaska including float hunts.

Here's what I'm estimating for weight:
HNT26….30 oz
AntiX…….24.4 oz
CF barrel……32 oz. No clue on this one but 16-18" can't weigh much????
Nx8……28 oz
Rings……4 oz
Suppressor……7 oz or 14 oz depending on which one I pick between Scythe-TI or Magnus.
This puts me at 7.8 pounds or 8.2 pounds. I'm starting to lean to a 6 UM with 16" barrel.

DirtNap35 said:

@akmtnhnt I'm not sure if I would even like a chassis, I've just read when in the back country busting miles of brush you want a folding stock, short barrel, and light weight. We are planning to do multiple hunts in Alaska including float hunts.

Here's what I'm estimating for weight:
HNT26….30 oz
AntiX…….24.4 oz
CF barrel……32 oz. No clue on this one but 16-18" can't weigh much????
Nx8……28 oz
Rings……4 oz
Suppressor……7 oz or 14 oz depending on which one I pick between Scythe-TI or Magnus.
This puts me at 7.8 pounds or 8.2 pounds. I'm starting to lean to a 6 UM with 16" barrel.

Click to expand...

Don't forget trigger, magazine, and sling.

DirtNap35 said:

I was thinking about a 6 variant, 6.5-7 PRC Imp, 300 Rum, or 338 edge. Worried there would be too much recoil with a rum or 338 with that weight.

Click to expand...

This is an enormous range for cartidges. I think its a bit broad for your purposes and rifle parameters. It reads akin to "im looking at maybe a Prius or an F350 super duty" .
A lil more brainstormin will help narrow it some, what goals are most important?. Is the 800 yard range for every animal, or is it 550 for elk?

For spotting impacts with a gun this light youre likely gunna be disapointed in anything with more recoil than the 6.5s. Even then the heavies cam get a good bit of muzzle jump and depending on range ya may not see what happened.
I gather that muzzle brakes are most effective for lowering recoil enuff for spotting impacts.

Lee7588 said:

Don't forget trigger, magazine, and sling.

Click to expand...

Hmmmm. I might need to run a short action to cut some more weight. I was going to buy a long action just to have that option of running something else besides a 6UM

OP, here's one of my 18" 6 Creedmoor, AntiX SA, MCS PH, Hawkins Hunter DBM, Hunter mag loaded with 4 rounds, Trigger Tech Diamond 2-stage, SRS Ti Pro single port MB, NF 2.5-10x42 Mil in NF Ultralite rings, Vortex scope level, Aadmount scope covers.

Comes in right at 8.2 lbs.

I'll get you a breakdown and total weight of my 16.5" 6RSAUM in the XLR Magnesium folder and TBAC Ultra 5 tomorrow with a pic. Hopefully it can help you out in the direction you're going.

DirtNap35 said:

Hmmmm. I might need to run a short action to cut some more weight. I was going to buy a long action just to have that option of running something else besides a 6UM

Click to expand...

7SAUM with 22" carbon barrel mounted in an XLR folding magnesium chassis.

This rifle is a dream to shoot. Very accurate, very light in the hand (I don't even put a sling on it it's so easy to carry in the hand), virtually no recoil, can spot every shot, and has never not killed an elk or deer. Some of its handy work (not the birds haha)

Wilderness Blacktail said:

This is an enormous range for cartidges. I think its a bit broad for your purposes and rifle parameters. It reads akin to "im looking at maybe a Prius or an F350 super duty" .
A lil more brainstormin will help narrow it some, what goals are most important?. Is the 800 yard range for every animal, or is it 550 for elk?

For spotting impacts with a gun this light youre likely gunna be disapointed in anything with more recoil than the 6.5s. Even then the heavies cam get a good bit of muzzle jump and depending on range ya may not see what happened.
I gather that muzzle brakes are most effective for lowering recoil enuff for spotting impacts.

Click to expand...

Yeah it's just options of cartridges I don't have. The 800 yards would be my max for every animal but would do anything I could to get to 600. I would love a 338 edge short barrel or a Rum short barrel but I know for the weight I want there's no way I can run it suppressed as recoil would be to much. Now that's unless the new TBAC RR cans do what they advertise, claiming 65% recoil reduction. I got one in ATF jail right now. Maybe I should wait and see if it does reduce recoil like they claim. Cuz man if it does it will be a game changer.

Fenix Outdoors said:

OP, here's one of my 18" 6 Creedmoor, AntiX SA, MCS PH, Hawkins Hunter DBM, Hunter mag loaded with 4 rounds, Trigger Tech Diamond 2-stage, SRS Ti Pro single port MB, NF 2.5-10x42 Mil in NF Ultralite rings, Vortex scope level, Aadmount scope covers.

Comes in right at 8.2 lbs.

I'll get you a breakdown and total weight of my 16.5" 6RSAUM in the XLR Magnesium folder and TBAC Ultra 5 tomorrow with a pic. Hopefully it can help you out in the direction you're going.
View attachment 620921

View attachment 620922

Click to expand...

Looks awesome man!!

DirtNap35 said:

Hmmmm. I might need to run a short action to cut some more weight. I was going to buy a long action just to have that option of running something else besides a 6UM

Click to expand...

Maybe think about not using the suppressor. As nice as it is to shoot suppressed, it adds weight. I'm assuming that you would be flying to Alaska rather than driving. If you were driving not sure how Canada feels about suppressors

Lee7588 said:

Maybe think about not using the suppressor. As nice as it is to shoot suppressed, it adds weight. I'm assuming that you would be flying to Alaska rather than driving. If you were driving not sure how Canada feels about suppressors

Click to expand...

I've been bitten with suppressors….if the cartridge allows I will always want a suppressor. Not just for me but mainly how the animals react.

Fenix Outdoors said:

OP, here's one of my 18" 6 Creedmoor, AntiX SA, MCS PH, Hawkins Hunter DBM, Hunter mag loaded with 4 rounds, Trigger Tech Diamond 2-stage, SRS Ti Pro single port MB, NF 2.5-10x42 Mil in NF Ultralite rings, Vortex scope level, Aadmount scope covers.

Comes in right at 8.2 lbs.

I'll get you a breakdown and total weight of my 16.5" 6RSAUM in the XLR Magnesium folder and TBAC Ultra 5 tomorrow with a pic. Hopefully it can help you out in the direction you're going.
View attachment 620921

View attachment 620922

Click to expand...

I just weighed my win mag with suppressor (ultra 7) and it weighs 8.2 pounds as well. It has a really nice kick and cannot spot impacts at all, which is why I'm trying the new TBAC RR cans.