Looking for a light weight rifle

Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
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Reno Nv
I'm looking for a light weight pack able rifle. I would like a 7mm if possible would consider a .308 .300 also.

The savage 11/111 light weight Hunter is at 5.5 lbs without scope and 40.25" in length in a .308. I would change the stock just because I don't like wood stocks.

Not looking to go custom on this rifle and price range is about $1k

Any thoughts?

Thanks
 
libidilatimmy

libidilatimmy

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Oct 22, 2013
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Wyoming
If you plan on swapping the stock out anyway, you might look at their 16/116 FCSS. Depending on what stock you wanted to get, you'd probably be adding weight to the LWH by replacing the stock and come out money ahead if you could settle with the stock on the FCSS. I bought a FCSS in 7-08 last fall and so far have been impressed.

Another option for you might be the Tikka T3. I've never shot one but have heard some good things about them. I know there's some people on the forum that use T3's so maybe they'll chime in.
 
buckbull

buckbull

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Jun 20, 2011
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I'd give the howa alpine mountain rifle a serious look. I'm pretty sure its a sub 6lb rifle.

I have a Tikka T3, very accurate and not bad to carry. It does weigh more than 6lb. Lots of options if your willing to tote something in the 6.5lb range.
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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Light as possible for this one. I'll look into the stock weights. I may have to live with the wood one if I go with the savage.
 
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Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
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Oregon
I use the Tikka T3 lite in 270 a bunch, great gun but a little over weight for you, the consistent accuracy it delivers is very impressive. The Howa mentioned above has a similar 20" whippy barrel as my older Rem M7 SS, great gun, but my M7 is very picky on ammo and a challenge to shoot way out there vs a heavier rifle. The Howa I have, I love it, similar to the alpine it has a light 20" barrel #1 contour I think, but is a 223, and it is picky on ammo. My guess is the extra weight in the Tikka is almost all barrel, vs the Howa Alpine. If you want consistent accuracy or to reach out much past 350, in a factory light weight rifle, you may be happier with a bit more barrel trade for likely more consistent accuracy. If you hand load, less of a concern. I do not know anything about the Savage, but would pay close attention to barrel contour. Those #1 contours are picky ones in my experience. You can save weight with a set of Talley lightweight rinds/bases and a lighter type scope.
 
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stevevan

Active Member
Mar 22, 2014
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Michigan's Upper Penninsula. South central in Delt
If you can go a little extra on the $ amount you may want to check out the FORBES rifle. They're a CNC version done by a company in Maine. This rifle is being built with the help of the name sake Melvin Forbes whose custom rifles are in the $3500 ballpark. This new version doesn't lack too much from the full custom but goes for a lot less. Reed's in Northern Minnesota is a dealer and the real world cost from them is + or minus $1300. Now for the amazing part. The model 20 (chambered in 7-08) comes in around 4 3/4 lbs. including the Talley rings which are included. The barrel length of the Model 20 is 21" so you have a ready to go set-up that meets your needs right out of the starting blocks. There are options such as stock color, SS barrel, etc. Reason I know this info. is I've looked into it darn hard to get one for myself chambered in .260 Rem. Oh, one more thing to tempt. They are known from all reports to be darn accurate.
 
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shootbrownelk

Veteran member
Apr 11, 2011
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Wyoming
stevevan said:
If you can go a little extra on the $ amount you may want to check out the FORBES rifle. They're a CNC version done by a company in Maine. This rifle is being built with the help of the name sake Melvin Forbes whose custom rifles are in the $3500 ballpark. This new version doesn't lack too much from the full custom but goes for a lot less. Reed's in Northern Minnesota is a dealer and the real world cost from them is + or minus $1300. Now for the amazing part. The model 20 (chambered in 7-08) comes in around 4 3/4 lbs. including the Talley rings which are included. The barrel length of the Model 20 is 21" so you have a ready to go set-up that meets your needs right out of the starting blocks. There are options such as stock color, SS barrel, etc. Reason I know this info. is I've looked into it darn hard to get one for myself chambered in .260 Rem. Oh, one more thing to tempt. They are known from all reports to be darn accurate.
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I've heard the same things about the Forbes rifle. Under 5 lbs. in a short action..and in .260 Remington, that'd be sweet. I heard they were around $1,200..or about $400 more that the Savage LWH.
 
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Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
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Oregon
shootbrownelk said:
I've heard the same things about the Forbes rifle. Under 5 lbs. in a short action..and in .260 Remington, that'd be sweet. I heard they were around $1,200..or about $400 more that the Savage LWH.
Click to expand...
That sounds very tempting to me too. Forbes knows how to do lightweight rifles with skinny barrels that shoot.
 
Boehunter

Boehunter

Member
Mar 26, 2014
146
0
Wyoming
I have a savage lightweight hunter in a 243 shoots great. Shoot 95 grain federal fusions groups are touching at 100 yds. Also have a 300 win nosler patriot little heavier then your looking but great gun shoot accubonds 1/2 inch groups.
 
Boehunter

Boehunter

Member
Mar 26, 2014
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Wyoming
I should add i got the nosler for 1200 normally sell for 1700 but friends all were looking at them two we bought 5 so we got them at dealer price.
 
Colorado Cowboy

Colorado Cowboy

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Jun 8, 2011
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Dolores, Colorado
Remington had a great gun many years ago for light weight fans. I bought my son a Model 600 in .243 40 years ago that including scope weighed in at #6. The short action was based on their bolt action pistol (the name escapes me right now). My son up dated it a few years ago with a composite stock. Still shoots MOA and is a dream to carry. Remington made them in 6mm, .306 and their .35 mag. They originally came out as a Model 660 that had a ventilated rib, which disappeared into the sunset very fast and showed up later as the new M 600
 
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Blockcaver

New Member
Apr 13, 2011
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British Columbia
The XP100 single shot pistol was first Remington with the short(est) action, dog leg bolt and vent rib (first offering was in .221 Fireball back in the early 1960s). Then the M600 rifle (vent rib, dogleg style bolt handle) came out using the action but equipped with a magazine. It was succeeded by the M660 (no vent rib, but dogleg style bolt handle), and finally replaced by the M7 with the 700 style bolt handle and no rib) and still available today as far as I know. FYI a M7 bolt is about 3/8" shorter OAL than a M700 short action which is about 13/16" shorter than the long action M700. What is really interesting is that in stock magazine configuration the M7 allows a slightly longer case OAL than the M700 short action.
 
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Joseph

Active Member
Jan 25, 2014
221
109
Creston BC Canada
I hunt with the Tikka T3 lite in 270win s/s and love it. Easy to pack all day in the mountains, unbelievable accuracy, durable, everything I require in my mountain rifle. Weighs in at 6.5lbs unscoped/unloaded so with scope and ammo(plus extra in pack) I'm right around 7.5-8lbs. I'm including 10 extra rounds in the pack, some might say that's excessive but I'd rather have too many than too few. It's been on a number of back pack hunts and I find it a good weight.
 
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