Lightweight precision build

[ocabj]

My most recent completed project - https://www.ocabj.net/precision-rifl...t-rifle-build/

Goal was a (relatively) lightweight rifle that is precise that can handle sustained strings of fire (compared to an off-the-shelf pencil barrelled rifle).

• Defiance Machine anTI short action, .480" bolt face, nitride finish, Guardian cut
  
• Proof Research carbon fiber wrapped barrel, 22" length, 1:8" twist, 6.5mm Creedmoor Defiance Pre-Fit
  
• TriggerTech Special 2-Stage Pro Curve
  
• MDT HNT26 chassis, Cobalt Green, Arca rail, non-folding
  
• Area 419 Hellfire Match muzzle brake
  
• Defiance Machine 20 MOA aluminum scope base
  
• Spuhr SP-5001 35mm diameter, 30mm / 1.18" tall mount
  
• Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm TREMOR3
  
• RRS SOAR 240mm Universal Arca rail

6 lb 3 oz - rifle only

8 lb 6 oz - rifle with optic

8 lb 11 oz - rifle with optic + RRS arca rail (read the article on why I added this)

11 lb - fully configured rifle with MDT CKYE-POD triple pull

[deckhandmike]

Damn, that’s nice!!

[Mute]

Nice! I've been wanting to get a lightweight for hunting.

[isntzen]

Really Nice. Your rig will impress.
I can see cost wasn't your first consideration, so why not 6.5 PRC?
What are you going to use it for?

[bigbossman]

8 pounds+ is lightweight?

[deckhandmike]

8 pounds+ is lightweight?

The rifle is light. The rest is removable for a hunt. I?d go with a lighter scope and mount though.

[bigbossman]

The rifle is light. The rest is removable for a hunt. I?d go with a lighter scope and mount though.

Yes, but ready to hunt with that scope it is 8lbs 6oz. Don't get me wrong, it is an exceptional rig. But 8lbs 6oz is regular weight hunting rifle. My Winchester 70 weighs about the same.

[sigstroker]

Those scopes are fairly light. Spuhr mounts are generally very heavy. On a PRS gun, more weight is better. Not needed on a hunter. Same for the ARCA rail and bipod, easy enough to remove for a hunt.

[Mute]

Yes, but ready to hunt with that scope it is 8lbs 6oz. Don't get me wrong, it is an exceptional rig. But 8lbs 6oz is regular weight hunting rifle. My Winchester 70 weighs about the same.

The rifle by itself is only 6lb 3 oz. The only thing you absolutely must have on it are the scope/rings and a sling. If you choose wisely, you can keep the entire thing in the mid 7lb range (or less) easily.

[ocabj]

To make it clear, I built this rifle as a lightweight precision build using NRL Hunter Open Light as the ceiling. It wasn't necessarily meant to be a hunting rifle per se, but I figured at 6 - 3 it is about as light as it gets, especially with a carbon wrap barrel and not a pencil barrel.

That being said, I wanted to build something that should be relatively consistent compared to your standard pencil barrel rifle and can shoot 10-round strings in a relative short amount of time without accuracy falling apart.

The scoped weight at 8 - 6 seems to be heavy according to feedback. I will take that note, however, for my purposes, I do want a scope that has a tree reticle and external turrets and options are limited in that regard. I think the Vortex Razor HD LHT might be lighter, but I'm not a fan of that scope.

I will concede that the Spuhr mount at 8.4 oz is heavier than rings and if I wanted to, I could go to rings. However, the rings I would go with are about 5 oz so that's not much savings there.

So yes, I agree that if I wanted to, I could get the scoped weight down under 8 lbs.

[MeatyMac]

My most recent completed project - https://www.ocabj.net/precision-rifl...t-rifle-build/

Goal was a (relatively) lightweight rifle that is precise that can handle sustained strings of fire (compared to an off-the-shelf pencil barrelled rifle).

• Defiance Machine anTI short action, .480" bolt face, nitride finish, Guardian cut
  
• Proof Research carbon fiber wrapped barrel, 22" length, 1:8" twist, 6.5mm Creedmoor Defiance Pre-Fit
  
• TriggerTech Special 2-Stage Pro Curve
  
• MDT HNT26 chassis, Cobalt Green, Arca rail, non-folding
  
• Area 419 Hellfire Match muzzle brake
  
• Defiance Machine 20 MOA aluminum scope base
  
• Spuhr SP-5001 35mm diameter, 30mm / 1.18" tall mount
  
• Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm TREMOR3
  
• RRS SOAR 240mm Universal Arca rail

6 lb 3 oz - rifle only

8 lb 6 oz - rifle with optic

8 lb 11 oz - rifle with optic + RRS arca rail (read the article on why I added this)

11 lb - fully configured rifle with MDT CKYE-POD triple pull

Nice build, please give us a range report when you can.

Mac

[ocabj]

Nice build, please give us a range report when you can.

Mac

It's already in the write-up - https://www.ocabj.net/precision-rifl...t-rifle-build/

[deckhandmike]

What barrel profile did you get? I’m waffling between sendero lite and sendero.

[ocabj]

What barrel profile did you get? I?m waffling between sendero lite and sendero.

Sendero. I don't know of a Sendero Lite option for a Proof carbon wrap Defiance Prefit.

[MeatyMac]

It's already in the write-up - https://www.ocabj.net/precision-rifl...t-rifle-build/

Missed that on my first go around, thanks for the link.

Expand on this a little please,

Note that I did ponder 6.5 PRC but I felt that I would have needed to go with an intermediate action length to really get a benefit out of that cartridge.

You’re concerned about bullet seating depth for jump concerns? Weight as well, I’ll assume.