I need to add a feather/fly weight (5.5 lbs) rifle to my collection. A gun I will use where my high dollar rifles will not go. I first thought Kimber Montana or Assent but the price is a bit steep for a beater gun. The Savage Light weight hunter is a honest 5.5lbs gun in 308 and seems to have excelent reviews. I have a few Savages with the Accutrigger and all are extremely accurate. The Savage Lightweight hunter has a street price of $700.00 and that is hard to beat plus it has a wood stock that is more attractive to me. The Tika has a bit too much plastic feel for me. Is there any other 5.5lbs rifles I am missing???
Need a feather weight rifle. The Savage Light weight hunter is calling me.Any others?
- Thread starter Mystro
- Start date
Hard to beat the Model 70 Featherweight, I have two, one in 257 Roberts and one in 270 Win.
Mine are blued with wood stocks, I've hunted from Alaska to Wyoming in some of the most nasty weather you can imagine. Mine are still in premium shape.
I coat the metal in RIG, I don't baby them.
Most light weight featherweight rifles walk after they get warm, which normally isn't a problem for a hunting rifle but if you do any extended shooting, it does.
Not so with the New FN Models, they are free floated and don't suffer that problem
Mine are blued with wood stocks, I've hunted from Alaska to Wyoming in some of the most nasty weather you can imagine. Mine are still in premium shape.
I coat the metal in RIG, I don't baby them.
Most light weight featherweight rifles walk after they get warm, which normally isn't a problem for a hunting rifle but if you do any extended shooting, it does.
Not so with the New FN Models, they are free floated and don't suffer that problem
I like the Winchester Featherweights as much as any rifle made, but they are "featherweight" in name only. By todays standards they are a standard weight rifle. Although one of the best looking and well balanced rifles ever made. Scoped most will come in at around 8 lbs. About the same as anyone else's standard rifles. For an all around hunting rifle that has enough weight to shoot accurately, but not be too heavy they would be at the top of my list.
If you really want light weight performance the Kimbers are the way to go. My 308 weighs 5 lbs 15 oz including the Leupold 2.5-8X36 scope and mounts. I'm not sure on current prices on either, but the Kimber isn't that much more expensive. For a little more money you get a top quality lightweight synthetic stock that would cost $600 in the aftermarket, all stainless steel construction, a full 22" barrel vs 20", and a bulletproof CRF action. I wouldn't even consider the Savage between the 2.
If you don't want to spend that much there are a lot of options at just over 6 lbs. A Tikka is a VERY good lightweight rifle. You can still keep it under 7 lbs ready to hunt with if you choose your scope carefully. Cheaper than the Savage in SS with a quality synthetic stock instead of wood. Not as light as the Kimber, but about 1/2 the price.
If you really want light weight performance the Kimbers are the way to go. My 308 weighs 5 lbs 15 oz including the Leupold 2.5-8X36 scope and mounts. I'm not sure on current prices on either, but the Kimber isn't that much more expensive. For a little more money you get a top quality lightweight synthetic stock that would cost $600 in the aftermarket, all stainless steel construction, a full 22" barrel vs 20", and a bulletproof CRF action. I wouldn't even consider the Savage between the 2.
If you don't want to spend that much there are a lot of options at just over 6 lbs. A Tikka is a VERY good lightweight rifle. You can still keep it under 7 lbs ready to hunt with if you choose your scope carefully. Cheaper than the Savage in SS with a quality synthetic stock instead of wood. Not as light as the Kimber, but about 1/2 the price.
steveNChunter
New member
The Remington model 7 is a good one. The older ones are usually better shooters and a nice one can be found for around $400 if you look hard enough. IIRC they weigh in about 6 pounds. The remington 600/660 is 5.5 pounds and another good one but they are older and a little harder to find. They were the precursor to the model 7. I have a 660 in 6mm for my "lightweight beater" rifle and it serves it's purpose quite well. A model 7 in .243 is my wife's rifle. They are both great hunting rifles but I prefer the 660 for the nostalgia more than anything.
The H&R Handi-rifle Compact (don't laugh, just hear me out) is another one to consider if you can stand a single shot. It's a little heavier at 6.75 pounds but the overall length of the rifle is just under 37" and that's with a 22" barrel. They come in .243 and 7mm-08. You could have the barrel cut back to 18" and re-crowned without losing a ton of velocity in either of those chamberings. That would bring the weight down a little more and put your overall length just under 33".
Also consider what scope you will be using when trying to save every ounce of weight possible. A fixed power scope will usually be lighter. A 4x32 is all that's really needed for 95% of real-world hunting situations.
The H&R Handi-rifle Compact (don't laugh, just hear me out) is another one to consider if you can stand a single shot. It's a little heavier at 6.75 pounds but the overall length of the rifle is just under 37" and that's with a 22" barrel. They come in .243 and 7mm-08. You could have the barrel cut back to 18" and re-crowned without losing a ton of velocity in either of those chamberings. That would bring the weight down a little more and put your overall length just under 33".
Also consider what scope you will be using when trying to save every ounce of weight possible. A fixed power scope will usually be lighter. A 4x32 is all that's really needed for 95% of real-world hunting situations.
Ruger Hawkeye Compact weighs 5.75Lbs and has a street price of $600-650 and as much as I like Savage I'd choose the Ruger. It just has features I like better for hunting rifles, though I prefer the Montana out of all you mentioned. There is such a thing as getting them too light as well to where they don't settle well or the rifle is unbalanced.
Plus if you pay attention you can pick up a Montana for less than $1000 if you aren't too picky on the cartridge choice. There is a .270 WSM for $850 on gunbroker right now with no bids and no reserve. That would make a pretty awesome mountain deer, elk, sheep, and goat rifle.
Plus if you pay attention you can pick up a Montana for less than $1000 if you aren't too picky on the cartridge choice. There is a .270 WSM for $850 on gunbroker right now with no bids and no reserve. That would make a pretty awesome mountain deer, elk, sheep, and goat rifle.
Starting in 2001, Remington offered their Model 700 "Titanium Ultimate Lightweight", a bolt-action rifle having a titanium receiver, a spiral cut breech bolt and an "ultra lightweight carbon fiber Kevlar reinforced stock". The catalog claimed the rifle weighed 5 1/4-5 1/2 pounds. I don't think it's being made anymore and they were always pricey (probably even more so now if it has been discontinued) but it might be considered the ultimate factory (non-custom), lightweight, centerfire, bolt-action, sporting rifle.
FrankenMauser
New member
Skip the Swiss-cheese and butt ugly Savage. ...Honestly, until they announced that rifle, I didn't think a Savage could get any uglier. 
Pick up a Ruger American Compact for 1/3 the price, and be happy. (Or the new "All Weather Compact" for half the price of the Savage.)
Pick up a Ruger American Compact for 1/3 the price, and be happy. (Or the new "All Weather Compact" for half the price of the Savage.)
steveNChunter
New member
I just saw the RAR All-Weather on ruger's site last night. At 6 pounds even that would be a good choice for the OP. I want one but I'm gonna wait and see if Boyd's starts making stocks for them. The All-Weather won't be in stores till March anyway.
They also added .223 by the way
They also added .223 by the way
FrankenMauser
New member
Even if I didn't care about the looks, there's no way I'd choose the Savage LWH to be, "A gun I will use where my high dollar rifles will not go."
To me, that means unfriendly terrain and vegetation.
The 'speed holes'* will snag on branches, collect debris and snow/rain, and be a pain to keep clean. In addition, the stupid 'speed holes' in the fore end will let all kinds of crap, like pine needles, get into the barrel inletting.
It's a rifle that, without modification, you would have to constantly disassemble, to make sure nothing had gotten stuck in the inletting and to let the fore end dry out if it got wet. The last thing you want is for a twig to be stuck between the barrel and the fore end and throw the POI off for the one shot opportunity you managed to get on your hunt.
*It's a Simpsons reference.
To me, that means unfriendly terrain and vegetation.
The 'speed holes'* will snag on branches, collect debris and snow/rain, and be a pain to keep clean. In addition, the stupid 'speed holes' in the fore end will let all kinds of crap, like pine needles, get into the barrel inletting.
It's a rifle that, without modification, you would have to constantly disassemble, to make sure nothing had gotten stuck in the inletting and to let the fore end dry out if it got wet. The last thing you want is for a twig to be stuck between the barrel and the fore end and throw the POI off for the one shot opportunity you managed to get on your hunt.
*It's a Simpsons reference.
I want to stay in the 5.5lbs or under range if I get a fly weight. This year I took my Pre64 M94 in the clear cuts. It worked great and I probably don't need a fly weight rifle but I do have a hole in my collection. I will say that M94 was very easy carrying all day climbing up and down the sides of the mountain.
Well, if you don't mind paying a premium price, NULA is always an option. http://www.newultralight.com/
Personally I'd go with the Savage and be done with it.
Jimro
Personally I'd go with the Savage and be done with it.
Jimro
Yeah I thought about that. The Kimber mountain ascent is actually 4lbs 13oz. If I go all in, I will get the Kimber Ascent but that's ALOT of coin for a beater gun. That's what makes the 5.5lbs Savage attractive and it has a awsome adjustable trigger out the box. I'll put a Leupold VXR 3x9 firedot on it and I'm done for around $1000.00
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steveNChunter
New member
Whew, I wouldn't want anything much bigger than a .243 in a rifle that light. I hope they don't chamber that in a large magnum
Just looked, it says it only comes in .308 and has a muzzle brake. Guess thats not too bad
Dragline45
New member
Cant beat this IMO, 5.75lbs in .308
http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeCompact/models.html
Or this, 5.25lbs but in .44 mag. Personally I would take the .5lbs and go with the .308
http://ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine7744/models.html
http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeCompact/models.html
Or this, 5.25lbs but in .44 mag. Personally I would take the .5lbs and go with the .308
http://ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine7744/models.html
The Ruger only has a 16.5" barrel so thats where the weight is being trimmed on the Hawkeye. That's gonna take the velocity down quite a bit on a 308 from the typical 22" barrel. On the Assent, the muzzle break is even removable and comes with a thread protector and also has a 22" barrel. The Savage Light weight Hunter at least comes with a 20" barrel at 5.5lbs. There is obviously no free lunch with recoil and weight reduction. The 308 is a light caliber and should be good with all rifles mentioned.
This is a good thread and topic. I suspect others have been flirting with a fly weight rifle.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84m/mountain-ascent
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11LH
This is a good thread and topic. I suspect others have been flirting with a fly weight rifle.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84m/mountain-ascent
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11LH
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