Best Lightweight Factory Rifle

510-Gem · #1 02-08-2013, 11:35 PM

I'm in the planning/saving stages of putting a lightweight rifle together in 7/08, and have narrowed down what I think are the lightest (and most common), factory rifles available. The Finnlight seems to be the tried and true option; the Savage 111 Lightweight Hunter seems to be the cost effective option; and if I could find one in 7/08, a Weatherby Ultralight would be my first option.

Does anyone know of a place that can get a Weatherby in that calibre? My experience with the big stores is you ask them, they flip through the catalogue and tell you what you already know if you had read it yourself....

Jordan Smith · #2 02-08-2013, 11:59 PM

Kimber 84M Montana

hardy · #3 02-09-2013, 12:00 AM

My model seven is 7mm-08 and has a wildcat stock. The rifle weighs 4lbs 15oz before scope and rings. They are shorter then most rifles though and you might want the ballistics a longer barrel can give you.

coppershot · #4 02-09-2013, 12:01 AM

For a good lightweight rifle you could also look at a Kimber Montana just over the 5lb mark and control round fed, or a forbes 24b. It's around the same weight but push round fed, not sure if that matters to you.

jackwyatt08 · #5 02-09-2013, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 510-Gem

I'm in the planning/saving stages of putting a lightweight rifle together in 7/08, and have narrowed down what I think are the lightest (and most common), factory rifles available. The Finnlight seems to be the tried and true option; the Savage 111 Lightweight Hunter seems to be the cost effective option; and if I could find one in 7/08, a Weatherby Ultralight would be my first option.

Does anyone know of a place that can get a Weatherby in that calibre? My experience with the big stores is you ask them, they flip through the catalogue and tell you what you already know if you had read it yourself....

Check out the Tikka T3 Lite... Deadly Accurate and only 6 pounds!
I leave Champion Bi-pod legs folded on it and it is still maybe 7 pounds!
So light it feels like it might be a tad flimsy, but it isn't at all.
Comes in alot of calibers... Even 7mm-08
I got a new 308 win in that Tikka and it's a pleasure to shoot.
Same price as that savage, minus the scope.
Ajustable trigger single stage trigger. Cool feature is you push it forward gently before a bench shot and it turns into a hair trigger, if thats your thing.
It comes with a factory SUB MOA guarantee @100yds. And it ain't BS!

Hotwheels81 · #6 02-09-2013, 12:31 AM

Weatherby i am told is actually pretty good at building to order... I would think there wait time might be measured in years tho?

Given any thought to a T3 lite in 7-08? Not a bad rifle aside from the cheesy plastic stock.... Should come in around 6lbs

Hotwheels81 · #7 02-09-2013, 12:32 AM

Huh... You beat me to it!

pikeslayer22 · #8 02-09-2013, 07:45 AM

Remington TI mountain light

bulletman · #9 02-09-2013, 07:55 AM

The Tikka T3 is our go-to light rifle. Some places charge 70 bucks more for the 7-08 though.

510-Gem · #10 02-09-2013, 08:24 AM

All good info, thanks. I've got more time than disposable income at the moment, so maybe a custom order through Weatherby is practical.

PoppaW · #11 02-09-2013, 08:28 AM

Weatherby website shows 7-08 for the ULW. I really like the small six lug Weatherby action. I have one in 338-06 and it is a dream to carry. Right at 7lbs with scope sling and 5 rounds of ammo. If i do my part it is sub moa off the bench. Its a lively gun to shoot.

Pathfinder76 · #12 02-09-2013, 08:50 AM

The new Forbes rifle looks to be a very viable option.

510-Gem · #13 02-09-2013, 08:57 AM

It does, but where would you find one, and whats with the blind magazine? The Nosler TGR has this feature (or lack of..), as well.

double gun · #14 02-09-2013, 09:09 AM

I am a sako guy, but the finnlight is not a true lightweight.
I personally wouldn't own the savage (just a personal thing no need to attack my comment).
I had 2 weatherby ultralights (280, and 338-06)and really really liked them, especially how they come right out of the box. However I think all the non-magnum calibers use the same action length. So I would skip the 7-08 and buy one in 280.
As others have mentioned you can cut weight and end up with a really light Remington fairly easily.... And aftermarket options for them are limitless.
While the kimbers are light, I wouldn't own one - again just a personal thing.
I would like to handle one of the new Forbes rifles, but I'm not holding my breathe. I am worried about the er shaw barrel, and having flashbacks of the colt light rifle in regards to cheesing out.

double gun · #15 02-09-2013, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 510-Gem

It does, but where would you find one, and whats with the blind magazine? The Nosler TGR has this feature (or lack of..), as well.

To me features is where the weatherby's shine. They come with a 24" barrel that isn't a pencil, A truely scaled down long action, floorplate, and a heavy stock n they still weigh 5 3/4 lbs. Most other lightweights will have a short or super thin barrel (or both), will be based on a short action, and often blind mag.

That said I sold mine and have a Remington for my personal lightweight.

TomCanuck · #16 02-09-2013, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

Remington TI mountain light

X 2. Mine in 7-08 shoots great and is as light as anyone would want.

Smokinyotes · #17 02-09-2013, 10:08 AM

tikka T3 lite gets my vote. Have 3 and all are a pleasure to pack.

Ryry4 · #18 02-09-2013, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

Remington TI mountain light

X2, as long as you can find one.

Stinky Coyote · #19 02-09-2013, 10:48 AM

step up from the tikka t3 lite (which is a great option of the above for the lower price range) is the sako a7...the tikka has one action length so my vote there is go .270 win to take advantage of that but the sako a7 has a way nicer feeling/shaped stock, you get short action with short action cartridges, wicked accurate and enough features/pizazz over a tikka to justify extra cost, its lighter than the finnlight

my .270 wsm came to me a 5 lb 15.5 oz naked, since i had it pillar bedded its now 6 lb 0.5 oz....and mine is an early one with the lighter more plasticky stock, sound like they added a few ounces and beefed the stock up a bit and changed its feel but i haven't checked one out...eitherway, light, accurate, slick handling/cycling, beat it up in the bush or on the mountain great rifle

i bet demand for the forbes rifles will be high....even higher if the early reports are what people are expecting them to be

Camp Cook · #20 02-09-2013, 07:40 PM

Another option would be going with a single shot actioned rifle.

Last fall I bought a stainless steel, camo synthetic stocked T/C Prohunter in 7mm mag I traded the 7mm barrel for a 28" s/s 30-06 Prohunter barrel and also purchased a 28" s/s 375H&H Prohunter barrel I had both barrels shortened to 22".

With Leupold one piece scope base/rings and Leupold VX3 2.5-8X36mm scopes the overall weight of the rifle with the 30-06 barrel is 7.7lbs and 7.5lbs with the 375H&H barrel.

Overall length of the Prohunter with either barrel is 4" shorter than my 20" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 30-06 = this is a short fast handling rifle that I wouldn't hesitate to take in after any kind of game.

Bonus is for the same kind or even less money than you will be putting into a more expensive rifle you get two rifles.

Stinky Coyote · #21 02-09-2013, 11:24 PM

I went that route and built that takedown carbine 7-08 from a prohunter and neat little gun but for me I was trying to build an affordable blaser k95, the itch never went away, sold it and bunch of other stuff, loving that k95...5 lb 7 oz with 23 5/8" barrel in 270 win, iron sights, takedown, same vx3 2.5-8, scoped its 1 oz over 6 1/2 lbs