Best .223 rifle for packing light

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Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by dustin » 23 Feb 2014, 4:19 pm

G'day,

Putting together a list at the moment for an ultra-light pack for days out by myself.

Varminting only, .223 is as good as anything so happy with that calibre (no suggestions required).

Gotta be accurate, but lightest weight possible is huge key here.

Suggestions?

Thanks.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Member-Deleted » 23 Feb 2014, 7:07 pm

Price, stainless, blued, fluted, timber or synthetic? You have to give us something to work with.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by tom604 » 23 Feb 2014, 7:24 pm

not a howa, mines a heavy bugger
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by dustin » 23 Feb 2014, 9:39 pm

Not fussed about blued,stainless,fluted,timber or synthetic. Open to any of those at all.

Weight is the priority. Whatever combination of the above does makes for the lightest rifle is what I want.

Not spending a fortune or something custom, other than that open to any off the shelf suggestions.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Member-Deleted » 24 Feb 2014, 9:39 am

My tikka hunter fluted feels very light, I seen something the other day that was just on 7.1 pounds. I think it was a a-bolt.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Humir » 24 Feb 2014, 10:09 am

Tikka Lite is one of the lightest I've felt.

If you *really* want to cut down you could consider an option with irons sights to instead of a scope.

Save yourself a few hundred grams without a lump of glass on the top of it.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Carter » 24 Feb 2014, 11:33 am

Getting a light weight fluted action and ordering a Boyds Featherweight would always be an option too for taking some weight off a factory setup.

TBH though I think the T3 Lite is about as light as they get. e.g. the synthetic stock on them is actually lighter than the Boyds Featherweight stock.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Techc » 24 Feb 2014, 1:38 pm

Jaso wrote:My tikka hunter fluted feels very light, I seen something the other day that was just on 7.1 pounds. I think it was a a-bolt.


Browning A-Bolt is 7 pounds 3 ounces in their 22" barrel models.

7 pounds 11 ounces for 26" barrel models.

According to their site...
.223 Remington Savage Model 12 FV
.308 Remington 700 SPS tactical
Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40mm
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by bawoog » 24 Feb 2014, 1:42 pm

Not available in .223, but the Remington Ti is only 6 pounds in a short action rifle.

25-06 Rem is smallest calibre it comes in. More puff than .223 obviously but not hardly excessive.

Just an option considering weight.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Member-Deleted » 24 Feb 2014, 4:04 pm

Image
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by dustin » 24 Feb 2014, 4:53 pm

Picture not showing for me Jaso?
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Member-Deleted » 24 Feb 2014, 5:28 pm

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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by dustin » 24 Feb 2014, 5:55 pm

Showing now.

Thanks mate.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Member-Deleted » 24 Feb 2014, 6:32 pm

I found that link while I was looking for info on my x-bolt before I ordered it. Nice bit of info
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Grrzrr » 25 Feb 2014, 2:12 pm

Hit the gym, it makes them all light ;)
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Monty » 26 Feb 2014, 7:45 am

Personally I find balance a little more important than weight.

Having a lighter, front heavy rifle swinging around is more awkward than a slightly heavier balanced one which doesn't. (Same goes for actually shooting it).

With a few light-weight options in mind go down and have a feel of all of them, not just the lightest one. For the sake of 100-200 grams you might prefer the heavier one.

In my opinion anyway.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Oldbloke » 01 Mar 2014, 8:40 pm

Marlin produce a 223 bolt action. About 61/4 lb. I can vouch for the 3006 that a purchased 3 yrs ago as a good shooter.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by bawoog » 02 Mar 2014, 7:43 am

Oldbloke wrote:Marlin produce a 223 bolt action. About 6 1/4 lb. I can vouch for the 3006 that a purchased 3 yrs ago as a good shooter.


Ooow. That has to have some kick in a 6 lb rifles doesn't it?
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by dustin » 12 Mar 2014, 2:47 pm

I see that a few of you guys have had your LGS swap the Tikka action you want for the stock you want. That sounds like a plan to me.

I'm going to call around and find someone who'll Fluted barrel in the Lite stock.

Thanks all.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by Chronos » 12 Mar 2014, 8:23 pm

Have you thought about a lever action in 22 magnum. Pretty light weight.

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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by dustin » 14 Mar 2014, 10:48 am

Nah. I get what you're saying for the weight but I'm set on the .223.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by yoshie » 14 Mar 2014, 4:34 pm

Check out a Savage 25
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Re: Best .223 rifle for packing light

Post by reddog » 14 Mar 2014, 5:19 pm

Something different ? Kimber Montana 5lb 6 in .223
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84m I know the prices are in US , makes the Tikka look like a heavy varmit :D
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