LIGHTWEIGHT RIFLES ARE FOR EVERY HUNTER

Lightweight rifles are often thought of as expensive and only for those who hunt far from the road. But thanks to advancements in materials and manufacturing, gun companies are making more affordable models that are easy to carry and extremely accurate, so every sportsman should look at hunting with one.

Whether you hunt backcountry or closer to the road, are an adult or youth hunter, there’s no need to lug a heavy rifle around these days, thanks to modern materials and manufacturing processes. There are plentiful options from big-name companies and custom gun makers.

PART I OF III ON LIGHTWEIGHT HUNTING RIFLES

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JASON BROOKS

Climbing to the ridgeline, the altitude was making my lungs burn but the pinch on my shoulder is what hurt the most. Like most new hunters, when I was a kid and on my first deer hunt, I was using a rifle that was handed down to me. Turns out this rifle was a Remington Model 141 in .35 Remington. The all-American steel pump-action rifle, topped with a fixed 4-power Weaver scope and loaded with 200-grain roundnose bullets was a bit too much back when I was 10 years old.

Even now, nearly 37 years later, I still detest carrying that heavy rifle into the backcountry. Luckily, since the Model 141 came out 85 years ago, gun companies have shaved the weight off rifles, making them much more comfortable to carry afield.

Scaling miles of steep hills through all kinds of weather, from hot and sunny to freezing cold, a rifle will be on our shoulder or in our hands through it all. So why is it that most hunters don’t think about the weight of that rifle when purchasing a new one? Maybe it’s because it’s all the rage to shoot a country mile, or because of some new caliber that only comes in a few base rifles. More than likely,

it is because hunters often get too excited over features such as a superlong barrel, compensators, laminated stocks, bipods or a scope with megamagnification. All of this adds a lot of weight to a rifle, which is mostly unnecessary for normal hunting conditions.

Thanks to the popularity of backcountry hunting in recent years, gunmakers are now offering quality rifles in ultra-lightweight configurations that meet the demands of all hunters, from those who prefer to hike miles into the high country to those who would rather return to the camper for a midday lunch. Whether you’re a hunter on a budget or you can afford a high-end custom firearm, there is a lightweight rifle for you.

WHEN MY OLDEST son started deer hunting, I made sure that I did not force him to carry a heavy piece of steel around. Instead, I opted to buy a rifle that would suit him as a young hunter in recoil, fit and ease of carrying in the mountains. With my son being left-handed, I thought this would be impossible to do, but this was in 2011, which just happens to be the year that Browning introduced the X-Bolt Micro-Midas at SHOT Show. The quality-built rifle has a shorter length of pull and is lightweight, but it has features that an adult shooter would prefer, such as a detachable magazine and rock-solid construction. The rifle is chambered in 7mm-08, weighs just 6.1 pounds and comes in both right- and left-handed versions. It was not only my son’s first rifle but also my introduction to lightweight hunting rifles.

The next year I began my own search for a lightweight backcountry rifle. Many mainstream

Author Jason Brooks packs out a backcountry mule deer while carrying the light and accurate Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in .300 WSM.

The Savage 110 Lightweight Hunter is not only budget-friendly but a beautiful rifle that is lightweight. It is also offered in a stainless steel and composite stock version, but the author prefers his wood stock and blued model in 7mm-08.

manufacturers offer lightweight rifles, such as the Browning Micro-Midas, Winchester Featherweight and Savage Lightweight Hunter, plus there’s the budget-conscious Mossberg Patriot. Specialty firearms companies offer even more options at a bit higher price, but they are well worth it; these include the Kimber Mountain Ascent and Montana series, as well as the Christensen Arms Ridgeline and Summit TI models.

Settling on the Savage Model 11 Lightweight Hunter, again in 7mm08 and weighing a scant 5.5 pounds, the rifle accompanied me on several high-country deer hunts. The 20inch barrel, spiral-fluted bolt and skeletonized stock are topped with a Leupold VX-III 2-8x36mm to keep the overall weight to a minimum. The rifle has even accounted for three elk to go along with the many mule deer that were all taken in the backcountry.

Regardless of which make or model of rifle you choose, manufacturers are making them lighter through modern milling and materials. One weightsaving technique is carving out the bolt handle knob, fluting the barrel and making it pencil-thin. Another option is using a stock made of carbon fiber and an internal box magazine. Those that sport wood stocks are shaved down and non-use areas, such as under the forearm, have wood removed. Some rifles are so light that even small calibers can kick a bit, so it’s worth the extra few ounces for the muzzle brake and a good recoil pad.

A high-country Idaho mule deer taken with a sub-6pound Savage Lightweight Hunter Model 110 in 7mm08. Steep mountains like in Idaho’s River of No Return Wilderness are where the light rifle shines most. A FEW YEARS ago, I was able to get my

hands on a Kimber Mountain Ascent in .280 Ackley Improved. Unlike the Savage and the Browning, each sporting a 20-inch barrel, this rifle has a full 24-inch barrel and is still only 5 pounds, 6 ounces. It quickly became my backcountry elk rifle, only to be handed down to my youngest son as his first rifle, which he has since used to take two elk and numerous other game, including a black bear.

Needing another lightweight elk rifle, the choice was easily made: the Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in .300 WSM. This rifle, again sporting a 24-inch barrel and weighing just over 5 pounds, meant heavy recoil. All of Kimber’s Mountain Ascent line of rifles come with a threaded barrel and muzzle brakes. They also have fully adjustable triggers and guaranteed MOA accuracy.

When it comes to the upper end of the spectrum for lightweight hunting rifles, the hunter has several options for a custom firearm. One such manufacturer is Oregon Mountain Rifle Company out of Corbett, Oregon. Lee Freeman is the owner and makes every firearm, one at a time. When you call the company to discuss a lightweight rifle, you will be talking to Lee himself. Utilizing his own handmade carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels – which is how the company started, by retrofitting your action with a new barrel – he now builds an extremely accurate and lightweight rifle on a modern bolt platform. The Lonerock Ti Chassis Rifle’s action is a mere 18 ounces and the overall rifle weight is insanely light, depending on your requests. This is a true custombuilt rifle to your liking and can even include a folding stock to make it easier to load into a pack when bulk is a consideration.

Last fall, Lee and I were hunting the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in central Idaho. Flying in by bush plane meant bulk and weight were high on the priority list. When we landed, Lee pulled out a Lonerock Ti in 6.5 PRC that weighed right around 5 pounds. The week prior, he had it at his long-range testing area and was hitting a 12- by 16-inch steel plate at 1,115 yards. Turns out you can have your long-range and lightweight backcountry rifle after all.

There really is no reason to lug around a heavy rifle on your next hunt. Instead, lighten the load with one of the many lightweight rifles, either a custom one or one right out of the box from your favorite gun company. 

The Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine in .300 WSM topped with a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x50 is just under 8 pounds with ammunition and makes for a light and accurate rifle that is practical for hunting elk in any terrain.

Lee Freeman, owner and gun builder of Oregon Mountain Rifle Company, shoots a Lonerock Ti chambered in 6.5 PRC that he built at his Corbett, Oregon, gun shop. This rifle weighs right around 5 pounds. OMRC makes some of the lightest and most accurate rifles on the market.