Light weight “chassis” style precision hunting rifle?

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H&Hhunter said:
I've had the last week free from work as I’ve I’m home after a knee surgery. All this free time has got me to thinking about the perfect long range, light weight mountain rifle. Now when I say “light weight” I am not a fan of micro light sub 5 lb rifles as they are tough to make and shoot super accurately. Something in the 6.5 to 7lb ish range would be good enough.

I found a rifle system from Master Piece Arms that they call the “light weight hunter”. Super cool but it only has one tiny little issue! It ain’t light weight at 9.4lbs with no scope. They also have a folding stock version.

So here is my idea, take that folding stock version which would be super handy as a pack in configuration on a mountain rifle. But knock the weight down to about 6.5 to 7lbs then scope it with something light like a Swarovski Z-3 the rifle comes in at about 8lbs or so. It’s 100% weather proof. The rifle is modular you can make it fit you or anybody else with the adjustable butt stock. And it should be wicked accurate given the technology used.

Is anybody building something like this? If not they should.
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The perfect light weight long range mountain rifle would have a lightweight synthetic stock, properly bed, and light profile or fluted barrel. There was a fellow on here with a very nice Model 70 EW w/ McMillan edge stock, Zeiss scope. Another option would be something based off of the excellent Kimber 8400/8400M platform. These are designed with minimal nominal specs to be lighter from the get go. If you ever get a chance line up a Kimber next to a Model 70 side-by-side to see what I am talking about.
Christianson Arms and Weatherby have some great options, the Weatherby will be heavier but not prohibitive, and certainly long range capable.
https://weatherby.com/rifles/mark-v/
 
mshootnit said:
The perfect light weight long range mountain rifle would have a lightweight synthetic stock, properly bed, and light profile or fluted barrel. There was a fellow on here with a very nice Model 70 EW w/ McMillan edge stock, Zeiss scope. Another option would be something based off of the excellent Kimber 8400/8400M platform. These are designed with minimal nominal specs to be lighter from the get go. If you ever get a chance line up a Kimber next to a Model 70 side-by-side to see what I am talking about.
Christianson Arms and Weatherby have some great options, the Weatherby will be heavier but not prohibitive, and certainly long range capable.
https://weatherby.com/rifles/mark-v/
Click to expand...

Well of course but that’s the boring efficient and effective answer. I’ve already got that.:evil:
 
Ya know, now I may have to add this idea to my short...uh...er list...
Deviant ultralight, Carbon barrel (was gonna say proof, but the more I shoot and hear about Christensens I'd probably try them first), chassis, carbine extension, taclite stock, and folding adapter aaaannnd some kinda light weight grip......
 
my Kimber 84L hunter in 3006 with a 2x7 leupold scope comes in a 6.4 lbs and shoots most any thing into 1.5" three shot groups or less, it has a 24" barrel and it likes a very firm hold, but I find the recoil is not to bad. my load is 55 grs imr 4350(not hot) with a nosler 165 gr nosler bt, that load shoots very good in all my 3006,s.
 

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rbernie said:
I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O0IOKOA?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I haven’t tried rolling them down the side of a mountain to see how well they hold up, but for my noncritical use - they do the job.

View attachment 868812
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Having the same consideration you mentioned, I typically epoxy pillars into composite stocks. Solid wood stocks are obviously safe from this, but drilling through composite shell stocks without reinforcement can be an issue. I had a friend crush an A3 of mine by overtightening the bolts with this type of riser, and I’ve always been wary of “dropping down the side of a mountain” and smashing the bolts downward through the composite shell, tearing the stock. Pillaring takes some doing, but it adds a lot of peace of mind for me.
 
H&Hhunter said:
I've had the last week free from work as I’ve I’m home after a knee surgery. All this free time has got me to thinking about the perfect long range, light weight mountain rifle. Now when I say “light weight” I am not a fan of micro light sub 5 lb rifles as they are tough to make and shoot super accurately. Something in the 6.5 to 7lb ish range would be good enough.

I found a rifle system from Master Piece Arms that they call the “light weight hunter”. Super cool but it only has one tiny little issue! It ain’t light weight at 9.4lbs with no scope. They also have a folding stock version.

So here is my idea, take that folding stock version which would be super handy as a pack in configuration on a mountain rifle. But knock the weight down to about 6.5 to 7lbs then scope it with something light like a Swarovski Z-3 the rifle comes in at about 8lbs or so. It’s 100% weather proof. The rifle is modular you can make it fit you or anybody else with the adjustable butt stock. And it should be wicked accurate given the technology used.

Is anybody building something like this? If not they should.
Click to expand...
I have a continuing question to this theme: What would you put on it for a bipod?
 
Right now I've got Model 70 .30-06 stainless extreme that I restocked in a McMillian edge. It is scoped with Leupold 2.5x8 VX III with a custom built Kenton CDS style dial on top. It shoots Hornandy Superformance 165 Gr GMX into a nice .75" cluster and chrono's at a hair over 2900 FPS. The rifle weighs in at just over 7 lbs scoped. That is probably the only light weight high country totally capable rifle I'll ever need. The thought with a super light weight chassis rig that folds would be to improve upon this for portability and overall capability. I think that might be a pipe dream but its fun to try. My brother has an LAW 704 in .260 and another in .308 both of those rifles are stupid accurate and light weight. But not enough more accurate or light weight than what I've already got in the safe.

The folding stock thing was what peaked my interest. It would make packing a rifle long distance through the trees on your back a bit "cleaner". With the super good rifle carrying systems that many hunting packs offer today it's probably a mute point.
 
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Since helping others spend their money is almost as much fun as spending mine (without the consequences), I'll try to keep this going.

What about a Manners folder. Not a skeletonized chassis, but they have the mini chassis with the shape of a traditional stock, with adjustable cheek piece and folding buttstock

Including all the features you're looking for, weights range from 3.1lbs to 5.3lbs depending on model.

https://mannersstocks.com/folding-stocks/

Just a note about Manners. Be prepared to spend ~$1,200 and wait ~8 months to get one.
 
Varminterror said:
The MDT LSS chassis is made lighter than the MPA.

My personal “fast and light” mountain build has been assigned double duty as my son’s first centerfire. It’ll be a Manners Gen 2 Compact stock (telescoping butt plate and adjustable cheek riser), Defiance Deviant action, Proof carbon fiber barrel. Thinking of having two bolts made for 6.5 PRC and 6 Dasher, two barrels.

If Seekins starts selling their Element actions, then duplicate the same above, but with the Aluminum Element action at its core instead of the Defiance.

The Manners compact stock is a bit heavier than the MDT LSS, but I prefer a proper stock more often over a chassis.
Click to expand...

http://www.lonepeakarms.com/fuzion-ti
 
Now, this may be a stupid idea.....

what about having a stock that has a 1/4 turn threaded shaft that slides into a receiver. Twist and lock?

just seems like a folder a would be wide and maybe hard to pack unless the stock is thin
 
mshootnit said:
So the idea is you snap it on just before the shot?
Click to expand...

The idea would be to transport it broken down. When you get to base camp, or spike camp you snap it together and go hunting.

The situation I would want this rifle for is one that you are hiking in for 15 or 20 miles in serious country or even riding in on a horse. Light and portable yet retains “shootability” and extreme accuracy.
 
H&Hhunter said:
The idea would be to transport it broken down. When you get to base camp, or spike camp you snap it together and go hunting.

The situation I would want this rifle for is one that you are hiking in for 15 or 20 miles in serious country or even riding in on a horse. Light and portable yet retains “shootability” and extreme accuracy.
Click to expand...
I used to ride a horse for a living. I never tried hunting off one though. I would think a scabbard would be the way to go. That way if you take a spill, your rifle would be more or less OK.
 
mshootnit said:
I used to ride a horse for a living. I never tried hunting off one though. I would think a scabbard would be the way to go. That way if you take a spill, your rifle would be more or less OK.
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You don’t hunt off of a horse, well maybe you could once. ;)You use it to transport yourself to an area where you hunt off of foot. I’ve been using horses for hunting transport for decades. While a scabbard under the leg isn’t the end of the world, one that carries a short rifle vertically off the canals in front of your leg, or tied down across your saddle bags behind you makes for a nicer ride. Shorter overall length makes for easier carry. Thus the folder or break down idea.
 
H&Hhunter said:
The idea would be to transport it broken down. When you get to base camp, or spike camp you snap it together and go hunting.

The situation I would want this rifle for is one that you are hiking in for 15 or 20 miles in serious country or even riding in on a horse. Light and portable yet retains “shootability” and extreme accuracy.
Click to expand...

The Spartan 300 tripod can be folded such that it can be transported on the rifle. Their Javelin Original, Lite and Pro Hunt models are carried off the rifle and attached immediately before use. The legs can't be folded parallel to the rifle bore, so they would be impractical to carry attached to the rifle.
 
MrCleanOK said:
The Spartan 300 tripod can be folded such that it can be transported on the rifle. Their Javelin Original, Lite and Pro Hunt models are carried off the rifle and attached immediately before use. The legs can't be folded parallel to the rifle bore, so they would be impractical to carry attached to the rifle.
Click to expand...


Have you used the Spartan and if so what were your thoughts on it?
 
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