Recommend Me A Lightweight Rifle

[WeiserBucks]

I like shooting and hate recoil, every rifle I own has a brake!

 

[timberelk]

Yup, they're out there. You can find smiths/manufacturers that will flute and thread any thickness barrel and some others will not. Kimber for example has has some grievous issues with dissatisfied customers as it relates to the accuracy of their rifles. That said, I've seen at least one in 325 that shot amazingly well. I guess I'm suggesting that on a lightweight mountain rifle, a brake could complicate things, not the least of which is additional weight. Heck, Tikka has a bolt on brake. I like the OP's inclination of going 6.5 Creed as the recoil is intrinsically manageable, with or without a brake. Not a knock on brakes. Just tossing out a thought that an extra thing on your gun may not necessarily make it as sweet as one hoped.

If I bought a pencil barrel that was not threaded, I wouldn't get it thread because of how thin the barrel already is. I am looking for one that is already threaded from the factory or one with a break

 

[jrsolocam]

After hunting with 10 to 12 lb rifles my newer builds at 8.75 lbs are heaven going up hills. All set to go my 6.5 Saum (Borden, 3 Brux, Mcmillan Hunter EDGE, Leupold M4) is as light of a rifle that Id be comfortable shooting out to 6-700 yards. I wanted a 6 pounder once, and someone more experienced than me told me to get in better shape...he was right

 

[Rich Coyle]

When you get old there is no more getting in shape.

 

[Canhunter35]

Ultimately you need to buy what you want. A salesman tells you whatever you want to hear to get a gun sold and on the forum everyone injects their preference/prejudice into the suggestions and most of us on this forum everyone seem to like heavy barrel guns. Lol.
Personally I would go with a 7.5 lb sporter gun, like the sako a7 roughtech, put lightweight rings and scope on it. I just find light guns hard to shoot as accurately. I would buy it in a 6.5cm though. But if you want absolute lightness, go for it, it's ur gun!

 

[jrsolocam]

When you get old there is no more getting in shape.

Uff da I hear you. Its gets harder every year. But we have to try.....

 

[martinakl]

I picked up a Browning Hells Canyon Speed in 6.5 Creedmoor. Comes with a removable brake. It's advertised at 6lbs 5oz. I put mine in a McMillan Game Scout. Right at $1500 for gun and stock.

Mine shoots factory Nosler 140g under MOA. Just started reloading for it. Multiple starting loads .75-.9.

 

[johnnyk]

Uff da I hear you. Its gets harder every year. But we have to try.....

Hey! round is a shape! LOL

 

[timberelk]

As far as the caliber goes, I'm also consider calibers like the 270 win or 30-06 and loading in low so the recoil is similar to the 6.5 creed but I have the opportunity to load it hot and take the 500 yard + shots on elk with the right bullets

 

[huntinherrrington]

I personally like the 30-06 idea. 130-165ish gr bullets do wonders on deer sized animals with minimal recoil (depending in the range as to what bullet and grain). Step up to 215 berger for elk. I have many different rifles but always grab my 30-06 when i head to the woods. Not the coolest caliber i have but does the job every time. Also a good recoil butt pad is a nice aid to help felt recoil. Recoil is determined by the shooter. I started shooting a 30-06 at 12yrs old. To me a 30-06 is the standard or normal for recoil. If recoil is that big of a deal, get a 6.5 and keep the Elk shots closer. It seems you would be happer with a 6.5 for 95% of the time. What about a 6.5x284? The fast 6.5s really appeal to me for hunting. Like the 6.5 sherman.

 

[BEEMAN]

I was in a similar situation last year and decided to build one. I went with a 6.5X47. Wildcat carbon fiber stock, Benchmark #3 fluted, brake, trigger tech, Rem SA, factory BM, Tally one piece, Swaro Z5 5-25X52 BT. Finished at 8 lbs and shoots half MOA or better with 130 AccuBonds. I agree that it is much harder to shoot good groups with a light rifle.

 

[timberelk]

Can anyone else comment on the 270 win or 30-06 loaded down to 6.5 recoil idea?

 

[Canhunter35]

Most cartridges perform best near full capacity. That said, best way to reduce recoil is with bullet weight. 130gr/270, 155/30-06.
But if ur that concerned with recoil, get the 6.5, make one load and be done.

 

[jrock]

Yup, they're out there. You can find smiths/manufacturers that will flute and thread any thickness barrel and some others will not. Kimber for example has has some grievous issues with dissatisfied customers as it relates to the accuracy of their rifles.

I don't know what contour the light weight Kimber uses but I know that several high end barrel manufactures won't flute light contour barrels. Nothing smaller than a #3 and the #3 fluting is virtually nothing. Some won't flute unless it's a #6 or larger.