Maverick223
Member
P.B.W., you definitely need a rifle on a diet for hunting...or get a wheelbarrow. 
Light weight hunting rifles
- Thread starter elktrout
- Start date
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P.B.Walsh
Member
Yea, sometime this week, my barrel will be going from a 26" down to a 20" with threads, but I'm adding a tiny other thing, a mag extender, so mabey after I do this my rifle will be perfectly balanced. 
I'm poor so this is my hunting/target/SHTF/possible HD/SD rifle.
I'm poor so this is my hunting/target/SHTF/possible HD/SD rifle.
flipajig
Member
Look at a TC Encor light and mine is verry accurat..
OP
OP
elktrout
Member
I have seen mixed reviews on the Kimber rifles. It seems that buyers either have no problems at all (and love them) or have issues that Kimber never gets right for them. Are current Montana models of more consistent quality?
Does anyone know if Winchester ever made the Featherweight in a 24 inch barrel 30-06 in the last 20 years?
Does anyone know if Winchester ever made the Featherweight in a 24 inch barrel 30-06 in the last 20 years?
Maverick223
Member
Can't say, but I do know that all they have now is a 22" bbl, which makes a .308 look like a better option (the '06 will waste the extra powder).
TX Hog Hunter
Member
I really like my Tikka T3 Lite .30-06, even though I have a fairly heavy Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40 mounted it's still pretty light. Shoots great with just about anything I put in it.
OP
OP
elktrout
Member
Well, today I took a look at some of your recommendations at a local gun store. Here are my impressions just from the initial gun counter handling and examination:
1. Tikka T3 (synthetic): Ultra smooth action when cycled. Stock fit excellent for me. Seemed very well balanced. Tang mounted safety was good sized and seemed positive in its position changes without being too stiff to move. Nicely finished and shaped recessed muzzle crown. Magazine retained tightly when fully seated in place and not readily subject to accidental release.
Questions for you Tikka fans:
A. Are the synthetic stocks pillar bedded?
B. The mounting rail on the received seemed thin. Any problems with it cracking during long term subjection to shooting?
C. Any failures to eject with the small ejection port?
D. Do the polymer magazines wear over time to the point where the retaining lever has less bite, thus affecting tightness and reliability?
E. How many spare magazines would you recommend?
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2. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight (wood stock): Very nicely finished. Deep dark bluing. Excellent wood. Smooth action. Seemed muzzle light (off balance toward butt end of gun) when held in shooting position. Excellent stock fit for me. Magazine floor plate has an unnecessarily small lip that engages the floor plate release button. It looked like it could easily be subject to fatigue and stress with an eventual breaking. It looked like it might have been 1/4 inch wide.
Questions for you Win Featherweight fans:
A. If yours have the same muzzle lightness, has does it seemed to affect the recoil compared to a more normal contoured barrel?
B. Do older Featherweights have the same smallish magazine floor plate lip on them? If so, any breakage or other problems with them?
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3. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Stainless synthetic: More balanced than wood model. Barrel is heavier, but fluted. Either the heavier barrel or lighter stock (or both) balanced the rifle more. The action seemed a little sticky when closing the bolt or pulling it back after first opening it, otherwise it was smooth. Excellent stock fit for me.
Questions:
A. Anyone have one of these and can advise how it shoots? Any issues you have had?
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4. Weatherby Vanguard (synthetic) $399 Special: Solid feel. Heavier than the Tikka or Win. Smooth action. More solid arrangement and feel to the dropping magazine floor plate. Excellent stock fit. Well balanced. Tang mounted safety seemed ok but not as positive (snug) when moving it.
Questions:
A. Is the stock pillar bedded? Weatherby website does not state one way or the other, so I assume it is not and will have guard screw issues later (not being able to tighten them snugly without crushing the stock material). Anyone know how to solve that problem on these stocks? I had one on a Mark V with the same problem.
B. Does the tang mounted safety get loose, making it suspect for staying in position during hard hunting conditions?
Thanks for all your input, guys. It is great to have forums like this one to get feedback from actual users.
1. Tikka T3 (synthetic): Ultra smooth action when cycled. Stock fit excellent for me. Seemed very well balanced. Tang mounted safety was good sized and seemed positive in its position changes without being too stiff to move. Nicely finished and shaped recessed muzzle crown. Magazine retained tightly when fully seated in place and not readily subject to accidental release.
Questions for you Tikka fans:
A. Are the synthetic stocks pillar bedded?
B. The mounting rail on the received seemed thin. Any problems with it cracking during long term subjection to shooting?
C. Any failures to eject with the small ejection port?
D. Do the polymer magazines wear over time to the point where the retaining lever has less bite, thus affecting tightness and reliability?
E. How many spare magazines would you recommend?
=======================================================
2. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight (wood stock): Very nicely finished. Deep dark bluing. Excellent wood. Smooth action. Seemed muzzle light (off balance toward butt end of gun) when held in shooting position. Excellent stock fit for me. Magazine floor plate has an unnecessarily small lip that engages the floor plate release button. It looked like it could easily be subject to fatigue and stress with an eventual breaking. It looked like it might have been 1/4 inch wide.
Questions for you Win Featherweight fans:
A. If yours have the same muzzle lightness, has does it seemed to affect the recoil compared to a more normal contoured barrel?
B. Do older Featherweights have the same smallish magazine floor plate lip on them? If so, any breakage or other problems with them?
========================================================
3. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Stainless synthetic: More balanced than wood model. Barrel is heavier, but fluted. Either the heavier barrel or lighter stock (or both) balanced the rifle more. The action seemed a little sticky when closing the bolt or pulling it back after first opening it, otherwise it was smooth. Excellent stock fit for me.
Questions:
A. Anyone have one of these and can advise how it shoots? Any issues you have had?
========================================================
4. Weatherby Vanguard (synthetic) $399 Special: Solid feel. Heavier than the Tikka or Win. Smooth action. More solid arrangement and feel to the dropping magazine floor plate. Excellent stock fit. Well balanced. Tang mounted safety seemed ok but not as positive (snug) when moving it.
Questions:
A. Is the stock pillar bedded? Weatherby website does not state one way or the other, so I assume it is not and will have guard screw issues later (not being able to tighten them snugly without crushing the stock material). Anyone know how to solve that problem on these stocks? I had one on a Mark V with the same problem.
B. Does the tang mounted safety get loose, making it suspect for staying in position during hard hunting conditions?
Thanks for all your input, guys. It is great to have forums like this one to get feedback from actual users.
Buy the Sporter version in walnut. Bone stock, mine seems capable of 1/2" groups with my handloads and a cold barrel.
As an added bonus, it's not so damned UGLY!
Or get the Back Country version, which could be my next rifle, unless I get a 70 Featherweight or Mark V Ultralight.
Heck
Member
I'm not sure if the Tikka is pillar bedded or not but they are dang accurate. Both my father and my father in law shoot a T3 lite in .30-06, one blued and one in stainless. They are two of the most impressively accurate guns I have personally seen. Who knows what they would do with something other that Core Lokts or cheap Winchester ammo.
Some have reported that their scopes have moved in the factory rings on a Tikka. Never known of any problems with the rings having problems. I replaced my factory rings with Talley lightweights which mount to the drilled and tapped holes on the receiver just like on any other rifle. I never had a single problem with the factory rings, just liked the looks of the Talleys better.
The detachable mags on the Tikka's function perfectly and I have never heard of anyone having the 1st problem with them. Finding replacements is like looking for the Holy Grail however. They are never in stock, even listed on several websites on the net and about $50-$70 if you can find one. I broke down and bought 1 just in case I ever lost my original. This is the biggest complaint with the Tikka. When you consider it shoots better than many $1500 rifles you do not feel quite so bad paying $50 for a magazine that should be $15.
The small ejection port is not a problem at all. In fact many feel that it is what makes the action more rigid and may help make the rifles so accurate. I have heard some complain that it makes single loading at the range a problem. Never understood that one. Just leave an empty mag in the rifle and throw a round into the ejection port and close the bolt.
The Tikka uses a completely different recoil lug setup it does not have a lug attached to the receiver, just a steel plate that fits into a grove in the receiver and into the mortise in the stock. Looks flimsey, but it works.
The Tikka is a shooting machine,but the Winchester just plain feels and looks better to me. That is personal preference and what you are willing to pay for.
The detachable mags on the Tikka's function perfectly and I have never heard of anyone having the 1st problem with them. Finding replacements is like looking for the Holy Grail however. They are never in stock, even listed on several websites on the net and about $50-$70 if you can find one. I broke down and bought 1 just in case I ever lost my original. This is the biggest complaint with the Tikka. When you consider it shoots better than many $1500 rifles you do not feel quite so bad paying $50 for a magazine that should be $15.
The small ejection port is not a problem at all. In fact many feel that it is what makes the action more rigid and may help make the rifles so accurate. I have heard some complain that it makes single loading at the range a problem. Never understood that one. Just leave an empty mag in the rifle and throw a round into the ejection port and close the bolt.
The Tikka uses a completely different recoil lug setup it does not have a lug attached to the receiver, just a steel plate that fits into a grove in the receiver and into the mortise in the stock. Looks flimsey, but it works.
The Tikka is a shooting machine,but the Winchester just plain feels and looks better to me. That is personal preference and what you are willing to pay for.
OP
OP
elktrout
Member
Can anybody give some reports on the Browning X-bolt?
Is it pillar bedded in its synthetic stock? How does it shoot? Is the rotary magazine reliable? Are spare mags available and how much do they cost?
Is it pillar bedded in its synthetic stock? How does it shoot? Is the rotary magazine reliable? Are spare mags available and how much do they cost?
Maverick223
Member
Yes it is pillar and glass bedded. I imagine the X-bolt is as accurate as a A-Bolt (but don't know for sure...never shot) and my old A-Bolt was about 1/2 MOA...I have seen similar promising reviews. Don't know about the mag, and not my favorite design, but I see no reason that it would cause problems. As far as pricing...if they are anything like a A-Bolt mag they rape you, at about $50-60 for the extra 3 rounds (I would not do it over again).
Uncle Mike
Member
I'll say it again.... Savage 116/16, lighter or as light as the others, probably more accurate, cost, well, I'll leave that one alone and mags are $25 for the 4 round 30-06 and 308's.
1stTankerSki
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2009
- Messages
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["After some years of lugging my 7mm Wby Mark V up and down the mountains in my home state, I am considering a light weight "mountain" rifle (whatever that really is) for deer and elk.
My initial specs would be: 1) Rifle/scope combo weighing around 8 pounds total; 2) 30-06 caliber; 3) synthetic stock; 4) scope either a straight 6x Leupold FX or reputable brand 3-9x variable.
What make and model rifle would you recommend and why?"]
I've hunted for over forty-five years, in Central N.J., Eastern Penn., in Central Ill., in the low & high deserts of Central Ariz., in the Bishop area of Calif., and the N.W. forests/mountains on the Olympic Peninsula, Wash.
With everything from a 12 ga. to a .25-06. to .30-06, and a .50 cal./209 Blackpowder rifle, to a 70# compound bow.
And 95% of the time carried a 20-35 lb. knapsack in the field. And the older I get, I too am thinking lighter!
When you pick-up a hunting rifle in your hands, and cycle it's action, you just know it's built right, when you fire off it's first three rounds and see a tight group. It's the rifle you've been looking for. A Marine Corps buddy, let me shoot one he just obtained awhile back. (It's 7.1 lbs.)
I'm sold on the Mossberg 4x4, bolt-action, his was the .338 Win.Mag. and it's a tack driver right out of the box. At 75 yds. I fired three rounds at a sight-in target, with open sights and held a 1" group, with a sandbag rest. We proceded to install his scope open-rings and scope, an Alpen 3-9 x 40 wide angle, Kodiak model, and both our groups were under 1", that is what sold me !
Before this hunting season, I'll own two 4x4 Mossberg's, a .338 W.M. and one chambered for .25-06 Sprig. (6.7 lbs.) for the price of one high dollar rifle, that looks good in the gun cabinet, in the den.
When you have one in your hands, you will know what I mean.
Semper Fi !
Ski
My initial specs would be: 1) Rifle/scope combo weighing around 8 pounds total; 2) 30-06 caliber; 3) synthetic stock; 4) scope either a straight 6x Leupold FX or reputable brand 3-9x variable.
What make and model rifle would you recommend and why?"]
I've hunted for over forty-five years, in Central N.J., Eastern Penn., in Central Ill., in the low & high deserts of Central Ariz., in the Bishop area of Calif., and the N.W. forests/mountains on the Olympic Peninsula, Wash.
With everything from a 12 ga. to a .25-06. to .30-06, and a .50 cal./209 Blackpowder rifle, to a 70# compound bow.
And 95% of the time carried a 20-35 lb. knapsack in the field. And the older I get, I too am thinking lighter!
When you pick-up a hunting rifle in your hands, and cycle it's action, you just know it's built right, when you fire off it's first three rounds and see a tight group. It's the rifle you've been looking for. A Marine Corps buddy, let me shoot one he just obtained awhile back. (It's 7.1 lbs.)
I'm sold on the Mossberg 4x4, bolt-action, his was the .338 Win.Mag. and it's a tack driver right out of the box. At 75 yds. I fired three rounds at a sight-in target, with open sights and held a 1" group, with a sandbag rest. We proceded to install his scope open-rings and scope, an Alpen 3-9 x 40 wide angle, Kodiak model, and both our groups were under 1", that is what sold me !
Before this hunting season, I'll own two 4x4 Mossberg's, a .338 W.M. and one chambered for .25-06 Sprig. (6.7 lbs.) for the price of one high dollar rifle, that looks good in the gun cabinet, in the den.
When you have one in your hands, you will know what I mean.
Semper Fi !
Ski
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