Rifle Build for Backpacking

[sp6x6]

I have a 6 # bare 6.5 PRC and a 7# bare 338Nm,338 had last 14 years.Live and hunt in grizzly country.338 my go to, but really like packing the 22'' PRC.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

For a 5-6 lbs rifle I'd look at a pierce titanium action, magnum bolt face for the longer shots on big animals, put it in a Peak 44 stock ( they advertise them as being 20 oz, but mine came in at 19 oz), and use a pencil contour barrel to keep weight down. If you use a carbon fiber wrapped barrel it weighs more than a pencil contour barrel. Keep in mind that a lighter rifle recoils more, using a suppressor means you have to add weight.

Thanks for mentioning the barrel weight vs carbons. So many folks never actually look at em and compare. If ur not tryin to shoot long strings the carbon barrel may not gain u anything but more weight.

 

[DirtNap35]

Thanks for mentioning the barrel weight vs carbons. So many folks never actually look at em and compare. If ur not tryin to shoot long strings the carbon barrel may not gain u anything but more weight.

Yeah and it depends on barrel manufacture. For example Bartlein CF barrels are probably some of the heaviest out there for CF barrels. Not sure where I saw it but there was a picture of 3 barrels cut to see how much steel vs carbon there was and Bartlein was something like 70% steel with a very thin layer of CF.

I currently only have one CF barrel and it gets hot around 4-5 shot string. My Bartlein 3B ss barrels it goes 8-10 shots before getting hot.

 

[Fenix Outdoors]

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.

A big shout out to @Elk Hunter 338 - built me two full kit sub-10lbs Norma Mag Improved rifles - a 300 NM Improved at 22" on a Deviant Action, and a 338 Warthog (40° improved Norma) at 26" on an AntiX that are so accurate and a pleasure to shoot WITH the SRS Ti Pro 5-port brakes. NOT so much with the Ultra 7, or Ultra 338 shooting 300 grain pills (the freakin dragon lives there haha). I'm also waiting on a TBAC RR, hoping for a big reduction in recoil. I might beg Dallas to spin me up an 18" Norma Mag Improved barrel just for kicks if the RR performs a miracle.
300 NMI

338 Warthog

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

with a NX8 (28 oz), Magnus (15 oz), and 2 pound barrel I'm estimating complete rifle 7.6 pounds. If I need I can run a different suppressor to get weight done. I want finished weight to be around 7.5 pounds or less.

Might hafta lose the suppressor. Thatll free up a chunk, as will lighter scope.

 

[DirtNap35]

A big shout out to @Elk Hunter 338 - built me two full kit sub-10lbs Norma Mag Improved rifles - a 300 NM Improved at 22" on a Deviant Action, and a 338 Warthog (40° improved Norma) at 26" on an AntiX that are so accurate and a pleasure to shoot WITH the SRS Ti Pro 5-port brakes. NOT so much with the Ultra 7, or Ultra 338 shooting 300 grain pills (the freakin dragon lives there haha). I'm also waiting on a TBAC RR, hoping for a big reduction in recoil. I might beg Dallas to spin me up an 18" Norma Mag Improved barrel just for kicks if the RR performs a miracle.
300 NMI
View attachment 620937
View attachment 620938

338 Warthog
View attachment 620939
View attachment 620940

Lol yeah I currently have a 300 NMI and 338 Reaper in the works with Dallas.….funny you tagged him cuz this build would go to him. Only guy I would go to…..dude is a master. Starting to get a collection of LPR's.

 

[Fenix Outdoors]

Lol yeah I currently have a 300 NMI and 338 Reaper in the works with Dallas.….funny you tagged him cuz this build would go to him. Only guy I would go to…..dude is a master.

For sure. And definitely take @Elk Hunter 338 fishing, he's also a master baiter. Ain't at right D?

 

[Rick Richard]

Lol yeah I currently have a 300 NMI and 338 Reaper in the works with Dallas.….funny you tagged him cuz this build would go to him. Only guy I would go to…..dude is a master. Starting to get a collection of LPR's.

He's built me more than a few. My latest one this year is a 7SAUM. The man knows what he is doing for sure.

 

[DirtNap35]

@Fenix Outdoors here's one of my LPR's. 6.5 PRC. Absolutely love the Nimrod. Shoots lights out 1/4moa with Berger 156 going 3080. Only thing sucks is I've been shooting it so much I need to put it away for a while otherwise I'm going to need a new barrel in couple years.

 

[Fenix Outdoors]

@Fenix Outdoors here's one of my LPR's. 6.5 PRC. Absolutely love the Nimrod. Shoots lights out 1/4moa with Berger 156 going 3080.View attachment 620943

That's what I'm talkin about. Yummy. Love me some Terminus actions. I have a build on a Kratos Lite in the PX that no one apparently wants lol. It shoots ragged holes inside 300 yards. Probably just keep it.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

Make some great points. Yeah most of the time I would assume rifle will be attached to backpack system. Do you think chassis offer any benefit, like a folding stock? Or is the shoot ability better with traditional stocks? Not sure on the pistol style grip. @Huntnful

Heres an idea,
Pick up an ultra light stock for one of your current magnums and do some shootin. Maybe even strip it down further to get the weight closer to this build.

That will let you evaluate the cartridge/recoil and perhaps the pistol grip at same time. Then your decisions resulting will be based on real specifics pertinent to you.

It may tighten up ur parameters.

I have a savage 110 UL in 7PRC, 22" carbon, burris signature HD 2-10×40. Spotting hits with something like this is not the easiest and in some field conditions/positions will be near impossible. Im currently shooting 150s. With 160-180grs its going to jump vertical quite a bit.

 

[DirtNap35]

Heres an idea,
Pick up an ultra light stock for one of your current magnums and do some shootin. Maybe even strip it down further to get the weight closer to this build.

That will let you evaluate the cartridge/recoil and perhaps the pistol grip at same time. Then your decisions resulting will be based on real specifics pertinent to you.

It may tighten up ur parameters.

I have a savage 110 UL in 7PRC, 22" carbon, burris signature HD 2-10×40. Spotting hits with something like this is not the easiest and in some field conditions/positions will be near impossible. Im currently shooting 150s. With 160-180grs its going to jump vertical quite a bit.

The only two I would consider changing are factory rifles 7 PRC and 300 wm. I hate both stocks. The rest are LPR's which I would never change. I don't really need another custom but hey I want it more soooo here we go again.

My win mag is already 8.2 pounds and I cannot spot impacts with a Ultra 7. Maybe it's me and my technique but f*** it's hard. I'm no expert by any means but I do shoot probably 1000+ rounds a year practicing. By practicing I actually try to mimic field conditions with elevated heart rate, timers, and change out targets down to a golf ball.

 

[Wilderness Blacktail]

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..

I agree. This is something I work with a lot as Im always alone and seeing the animals reaction is critical. With this weight range the 6's and 25s have alot to recommend them.

If more bullet weight is needed than adding a pound will help a ton.

 

[DirtNap35]

Ok. Great feedback so far. Next debate is to cut weight on scopes. Im die hard on NX8, tuff to beat for price, optics, and weight. What other scopes out there that can beat 28 oz? I would immediately discredit Zeiss and Leupold. It's simple they do not hold zero from my experience and would never buy another.