New ultra lite bush build - your thoughts?

I don’t mind a bush rifle having some weight, I’m more concerned about having it short and easy to handle.

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Originally Posted by Bushline

I don’t mind a bush rifle having some weight, I’m more concerned about having it short and easy to handle.

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You are on to it Bushline- handling- the best I have ever used in bush was my old 742 Woodmaster in 308 - handled like a good shot gun- so many superlight just to light and barrel floats around trying to get onto target quickly

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Originally Posted by Stocky

Just get a dpt there's hardly any difference to an maniatis (both of my alpine lights weighed 285grams and the machining was average at best) in weight but Greg's a pain at times. If you suggest any product but his after you buy it he will reach out getting mad you did. A kimbers a nicer action to do it on in the smaller rifles. My hunter is 2.5kgs scoped with full length barrel a heavier scope than you have suggested. Short barrels lose less percentage wise with heavy projectiles until taken to the extreme and personally I think 308 in a short barrels overrated and definitely over rated in an uktralight. Personally it's hard to beat a 7mm08 or even creedmoor in a short barrel. But of which can be run with a heavy for calibre projectile with good BC at reasonable speeds (not too fast up close which is usually a bad thing) which makes them far more versatile. Also it saves a fair bit of recoil. My 7mm08 now (2 5kgs) is bloody lively and prone shooting its not that fun. That's why I brought a 6.5 Creedmoor which is an identical build but with a brake.

Edit: I don't run a suppressor on extra but am about to cut down the 7mm08 and suppress it.

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I have a Kimber Hunter 6.5CM and have been thinking about another Hunter in .308 cut to 16 inch.
So interested in what you are describing with the 6.5CM in a short barrel - do you think cutting my Hunter to 16 inch is feasible for deer out to 400m?
Sticking with the lightweight theme if I don’t buy another rifle then I got splurge on an Oceania Defence titanium suppressor or ??

Ive owned a few creedmoors now in various lengths so speaking from experience, if you cut them short it does hurt the velocity alot more than some other cals like .308, so if your wanting to shoot to 300+ that may play a factor depending on projectile choice.

My current bush setup is a tikka t3x in .308, cut to 16" with a hardy compact on it, & a leupold "creedmoor" reticle scope on top, Talley aluminium rings. Not sure what it weighs but its not heavy by any means and really nice to carry and use. It shoots 151gr Absolute Hammers at just on 2850fps & they are awesome killers. The reason for using the "creedmoor" scope - ballistics with the 151gr hammers line up pretty close with the creedmoor reticle, so i dont have to piss round dialing on any longer shots if i need to take them. Zerod at 100, next mark down is spot on at 200 & 3rd mark down is a touch low at 300. For the places i hunt with this rifle im not shooting any further than 300 so works perfect for my intended use.

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

Used to travel by horse and cart too. Better options these days though aye?

A bush rifle is carried heaps and shot little. Why not have something light and compact if you have the option.

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Yep, my Finnwolf was a lardy-arse lump to carry (still is) and I’d end up with an aching inner right elbow from carrying it while bush stalking but got the job done BUT I frequently pondered on ways to lessen its weight noticeably, back then all I could do was trim off the cheek piece (I’m left handed) and cut back the fore-end plus got the barrel trimmed a little, result? I couldn’t tell the difference.
These days I’d do it differently.

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Originally Posted by Staffnurse41

I have a Kimber Hunter 6.5CM and have been thinking about another Hunter in .308 cut to 16 inch.
So interested in what you are describing with the 6.5CM in a short barrel - do you think cutting my Hunter to 16 inch is feasible for deer out to 400m?
Sticking with the lightweight theme if I don’t buy another rifle then I got splurge on an Oceania Defence titanium suppressor or ??

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A 147 eldm @2500 is still doing over 2000 fps at 400 yards. They are good killers at those sorts of velocities. If you are regularly shooting those distances or need lots of bang flops go something bigger, but the occasional shot will work sweet.

I have a Tikka T3, cut to 14.5 inches, and DPT suppressor in top, Cerecoted in Black, about to change 3-9x50 to a 4-12x40

Great lil set up

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by HNTMAD

I have a Tikka T3, cut to 14.5 inches, and DPT suppressor in top, Cerecoted in Black, about to change 3-9x50 to a 4-12x40

Great lil set up

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

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What calibre are you using here?

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Originally Posted by Nick-D

A 147 eldm @2500 is still doing over 2000 fps at 400 yards. They are good killers at those sorts of velocities. If you are regularly shooting those distances or need lots of bang flops go something bigger, but the occasional shot will work sweet.

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Thanks Nick-D appreciate your personal experience with the 6.5CM in 16inch barrel. What suppressor (if any) are you using?

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Originally Posted by Staffnurse41

What calibre are you using here?

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308

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Staffnurse41

Thanks Nick-D appreciate your personal experience with the 6.5CM in 16inch barrel. What suppressor (if any) are you using?

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Just a dpt muzzle forward on that rifle

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Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Yep, my Finnwolf was a lardy-arse lump to carry (still is) and I’d end up with an aching inner right elbow from carrying it while bush stalking but got the job done BUT I frequently pondered on ways to lessen its weight noticeably, back then all I could do was trim off the cheek piece (I’m left handed) and cut back the fore-end plus got the barrel trimmed a little, result? I couldn’t tell the difference.
These days I’d do it differently.

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It must be possible to make a carbon fibre stock for one but I guess the acction weighs a bit.

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Originally Posted by HNTMAD

I have a Tikka T3, cut to 14.5 inches, and DPT suppressor in top, Cerecoted in Black, about to change 3-9x50 to a 4-12x40

Great lil set up

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

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Ditto ish....

T3 308 - 16 inch, DPT, carbon stock, talleys, fluted bolt and VX3i 3.5-10x40.

Sub 3kg (empty) ready to rock and roll.

I went down this path with a bush rifle where I bought a tikka .223 and replaced the stock with a carbon fibre stock, shortened the barrel, put on a suppressor but on reflection with the cost of the rifle and carbon fibre stock I should have just bought a kimber montana in .223 at the time.

Ironically I do have a Montana now but in 7mm-08 for the kids which is extremely lightweight with or without suppressor and we happily use it out to range.

If you’re thinking .308 then you could also look at a Remington Model 7 as there great see rifles where I really liked the older, earlier models.

As for scopes, I used a Leupold 1.5-4x20 for a few years and loved it, not only the weight savings when compared to a bigger scope but I never noticed any diminishing in light transmission even though there will be but most of my hunting wasn’t right on dark where light transmission mattered. My longest shot with that scope was just over 300 mtrs and it worked fine.

I’ve also tried red dot sights but found some form of magnification even in the bush helps as a shadow, shape can quickly be confirmed as to what it is and not be misidentified.

You could also look at the Leupold 2-7 or 2.5-8 powered scopes if your after something with a bit more magnification than a 1-4

I have a Kimber Montana 708 shortened to 16" with a Hardy can, Talley one-piece rings and a Swaro Z6 1.7-10 x 42 with a Xmas tree. Also had a half-cock fitted. And a SnipePod.

Cant really fault it, used to have a March 1-10 x 24 but low light performance was a bit shabby. They have a 1.5-15 x 42 now which looks awesome. But under 400 a Xmas tree is better IMHO.

Shoots 120gn Barnes like a laser. Unfortunately when they got scarce went to 150 Sierra Gamechangers which I am unsure about - seem a bit hard and you have to go for shoulder shots.

I like the lightness, the good glass, the quiet, the stopping power and the half-cock. Also the blind mag is one less thing to worry about.

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Originally Posted by Seventenths

I went down this path with a bush rifle where I bought a tikka .223 and replaced the stock with a carbon fibre stock, shortened the barrel, put on a suppressor but on reflection with the cost of the rifle and carbon fibre stock I should have just bought a kimber montana in .223 at the time.

Ironically I do have a Montana now but in 7mm-08 for the kids which is extremely lightweight with or without suppressor and we happily use it out to range.

If you’re thinking .308 then you could also look at a Remington Model 7 as there great see rifles where I really liked the older, earlier models.

As for scopes, I used a Leupold 1.5-4x20 for a few years and loved it, not only the weight savings when compared to a bigger scope but I never noticed any diminishing in light transmission even though there will be but most of my hunting wasn’t right on dark where light transmission mattered. My longest shot with that scope was just over 300 mtrs and it worked fine.

I’ve also tried red dot sights but found some form of magnification even in the bush helps as a shadow, shape can quickly be confirmed as to what it is and not be misidentified.

You could also look at the Leupold 2-7 or 2.5-8 powered scopes if your after something with a bit more magnification than a 1-4

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the "Mighty Mouse" if my memory serves me right....