Needing advice for a new lightweight rifle

I currently run a Bergara B14 in 6.5 Creedmoor, cerakoted but no fluting. I have a DPT Mk2 Suppressor on it and an Element Optics 2-16x50 scope.

I've recently weighed it in at 4.3kgs, which is well and truly on the heavy end of things for me. I love the way it shoots but I really want to be running a lighter gun. The majority of my hunting is bush based, with the occasional slip shooting.

Does anybody have any advice on how I can lighten this rifle up effectively, or if it's going to be better to start a new build? Ideally I want to end up around 2.8-3.2kgs. I'm open to running different calibers if a rifle change is recommended.

Thanks in advance.

Carbon stock
dump the scope and get a vx3 3.5-10

Comes down how much spare cash you have. That's with all light weight hunting gear:)

Perhaps easier to wait for a short bbl Tikka T3 or REM M7 to come up 4 sale. 308, 708, 260, or similar. They’ll all work very well for your hunting situation and good to 400+.

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Originally Posted by chainsaw

Perhaps easier to wait for a short bbl Tikka T3 or REM M7 to come up 4 sale. 308, 708, 260, or similar. They’ll all work very well for your hunting situation and good to 400+.

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or a Howa Lightweight jobby like Phil just sold perhaps

generally though more lighter = more lighter wallet!!

also more lighter generally more difficult to shoot well repeatibly.

The more variable a scope is, the heavier/more expensive it is.

Your most obvious options are as follows


Lighter stock (carbon fiber) probably loose half a kg here.
Lighter scope (2.5-8 or a 3.5-10) you can loose nearly half a kg here.
Shorter barrel, assuming you are currently running a 22 inch barrel, you could go to 18 inch and loose most of what you need to to get it over the line without upsetting the balance since you still have a DPT.

Or as chainsaw points out, buy a Tikka or similar, those lightweight Tikkas are surprisingly light. If you buy a new rifle, you have spent similar money to modding what you have, but you haven't thrown two wild cards at a rifle that currently shoots well. Keep the good heavy shooter for drive around farm hunting, or sell it.

By a kimber, job done

Doesn't get much lighter than a Howa mini after wingman's done his job on the barrel and it's dropped into the Elude stock. 6.5 Grendel shoots very well from a 14" carbon wrapped barrel.

Keep what you have,as it is and make something else do the bush n shorter range type work. Plenty of great rifles second hand for sale at fraction of new price.

Funnily enough was pretty much having same discussion with mate yesterday...the 6.5x55 wouldn't make a bad bush rifle and can be found cheap enough that hacking one up to suit won't make you cry with advantage of component sharing. But really what your saying is you want to buy a short n light 308 somehow I can't argue with that.

Scope: vixen 3-12 at 12 Oz and a Kimber.

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Originally Posted by Trav-6mmrem

By a kimber, job done

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I believe there are still some Kimber Hunter's in 6.5 Creedmore with the supplier (Pro Delsove Blak)

Doesn't sound like anymore will be coming in so if you like the 6.5 Cr and 5lb,7 oz sounds good to you that would be at the top of my list.

My newphew has a previous model, shoots ity bity clover leafs with factory ammo

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Originally Posted by SmokeyJason

Scope: vixen 3-12 at 12 Oz and a Kimber.

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What he says!

Bush hunting? Everyone has their scope preferences, but surely 3-9x would be plenty?

As for rifles, all the obvious options for a factory(ish) superlite rifle have been mentioned. The Howa Superlite that everyone seems to have fallen in love with is worth considering, but not all reviews are positive. Other contenders are the Howa/Elude stock and Kimber. Kimbers are not easy to track down though. I recently went through the same thing and ended up with a Tikka because it ticked most of my boxes. It's light enough at 2.6kg (16" barrel), but it doesn't compete with the other rifles in this respect.

One option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rx4uTfl3iY

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Originally Posted by MB

Bush hunting? Everyone has their scope preferences, but surely 3-9x would be plenty?

As for rifles, all the obvious options for a factory(ish) superlite rifle have been mentioned. The Howa Superlite that everyone seems to have fallen in love with is worth considering, but not all reviews are positive. Other contenders are the Howa/Elude stock and Kimber. Kimbers are not easy to track down though. I recently went through the same thing and ended up with a Tikka because it ticked most of my boxes. It's light enough at 2.6kg (16" barrel), but it doesn't compete with the other rifles in this respect.

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Yeah the Tikka route is definitely one that’s looking like it would tick a lot of the boxes. What are the downsides to a 16 inch Tikka?

I haven’t really shot much in the way of other calibres. I’ve only ever really used 6.5x55, 270 and 44mag. How would 308 be in the recoil department on a lighter rifle?

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Originally Posted by Newtothis

I haven’t really shot much in the way of other calibres. I’ve only ever really used 6.5x55, 270 and 44mag. How would 308 be in the recoil department on a lighter rifle?

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Not profoundly different to any of the calibres you have listed above, if you shoot heavier than 150gn unsuppressed you start to notice, but 150gn (and under) suppressed is quite comfortable to shoot.

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Originally Posted by Newtothis

Yeah the Tikka route is definitely one that’s looking like it would tick a lot of the boxes. What are the downsides to a 16 inch Tikka?

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Just the weight compared to those other rifles, but it's still a light rifle. I'd prefer a floorplate rather than detachable magazine, but that is personal preference and only a minor complaint.

Tikkas are good. I have a couple with vx3s on. Nice carry and shooting rifle. Be perfect rifle with a drop floorplate.

Wilsons whanganui and gunworks have some at old price.

This would be an option:

https://youtu.be/-rx4uTfl3iY

available in 6.5 creedmor or 308.

If shooting range is below 300 meters I would go for the 308, shorten the barrel to 16" and add a dpt.

Have a look at this thread for ideas: https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-rifle-101518/
You will see some builds with a lot of commonalities.

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Originally Posted by STC

This would be an option:

https://youtu.be/-rx4uTfl3iY

available in 6.5 creedmor or 308.

If shooting range is below 300 meters I would go for the 308, shorten the barrel to 16" and add a dpt.

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So.. “a DPT” is synonymous with a suppressor now ? And so it should be !
Like “a thermarest” and “a primus”.

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

So.. “a DPT” is synonymous with a suppressor now ? And so it should be !
Like “a thermarest” and “a primus”.

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thats okay but a rifle recommendation on here should not be a Tikka in 6.5 CDM just saying lots better or equal out there- well my cheek for the day-man I feel better

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

So.. “a DPT” is synonymous with a suppressor now ? And so it should be !
Like “a thermarest” and “a primus”.

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No.

dpt is a brand of suppressors that are light-weight. Hardy would be another option, but i prefer dpt due to being able to clean and it being modular.

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Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

thats okay but a rifle recommendation on here should not be a Tikka in 6.5 CDM just saying lots better or equal out there- well my cheek for the day-man I feel better

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The OP asked for recommendationa on lightweight rifles, not whether you disliked a particular brand (for reasons that are irrelevant)

If you have other options maybe let him hear about them?

If its for majority bush hunting, a M94 30-30 16-20" is a very good bush rifle, carries well and suitable to 200m with irons, or any other lever action in 30-30, .32 cal or 35 Remington.
I've got two light weight rifles, a highly modified Kimber and a Barrett, both in short action 6.5 cal, both under 6lbs scoped, but I also take the 30-30 regularly,
I've sold every hunting rifle I've ever owned, that was over 4kg scoped, about 7lbs is the sweat spot for shootable off hand, and weight.

how big is his budget - the world is his - if I had money to burn okay a Sako Forester or similar AV Sako action in a modern lightweight stock .308 /270 top quality barrel - fluted - 18.5 inch but thats me I choose those earlier Sako actions because of quality - or buy a fierce - cant find anything bad said about them - but he can buy lightweight specials what does he like - I just bite every time someone says Tikka in well enough said

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Originally Posted by 199p

Carbon stock
dump the scope and get a vx3 3.5-10

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That combo plus a DPT on a 16" T3 is sub 3kg.

Tikka just has the problem its action is long enough for a Rem Mag so not very elegant.
I believe CZ make a x39 sized action which would be fitting to the subsonic role.

Another review on that Howa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g36z...index=3&t=945s

Lots of Savage 110 lightweights out there.

Howa super lite 308, 14.5", DPT, Vixen 2-8x32 bdc. Under 2.4kg
Attachment 256546

Gun city just stuck on sale the browning AB3 and 308 and 7mm08 in a 17” barrel for $8/900 could be worth seeing what they weigh?