03-24-2021, 06:33 PM
Stinky Coyote Wrote:I have some updates, pulled the rail off the RAR, it's 2.5 oz, replace that with 2.0 oz Talley 1" low rings. I'm going with Trijicon 3-9x40 accupoint green duplex at 13.4 oz, i've weighed the rings/scope together at 15.5 oz. Kenton makes speed dial turrets for these also so dial ups can happen when needed.
I had my machinest give the mdt chassis a bit of a diet but mdt is on the game, he was only able to get 3.0 oz out of it for me. MDT is milling out a fair bit of fat from the get go now.
So in modified chassis, with trijicon 3-9x40/talley 1" lows, magpul moe-k grip and ctr butt stock, strike industries buffer tube with generic castle nut, a magpul 3 slot rail for the light laser and ermo m-lok rail covers over 5 slots, i'm exactly 8 lb 2.5 oz scoped rifle (no ammo, no sling) and i can add my streamlight tlr-8 light/laser for additional 2.5 oz.
10 rounds of ammo adds 6.5 oz and i like blue force vickers slings 4 oz. That'd get me loaded down the trail at just a hair under 9 lbs with light/laser, 8.8 lbs without. I'm building duplicates for the kids except they won't get the chassis diets nor the light/laser combos so they will weigh exactly the same.
My previous scope was leupold fxII 6x36 and was 9.5 oz, plus 2.5 oz weaver low rings, plus the 2.5 oz factory rail....total 14.5 oz. If you just ran that scope in talley's you'd only be adding 12 oz to the rifle instead of 14.5...as it is i was able to go up to a 3-9x40 illum. reticle scope with the talley's for a 1 oz penalty, grand total 15.5 oz for the combo.
If you're obsessive about weight you can keep the chassis builds reasonable. I think the only other avenue to pursue beyond what i'm doing would be to flute the moderately heavy barrel and flute the bolt body, possibly hollow out the bolt handle. The barreled action on these little guys is pretty stout. 4 lb 4 oz without action screws or the rail (68 oz exactly). I'd wager you could drop close to half a pound with the fluting/hollow. Then you'd need to re-cerakote the barrel though.
I'm ok with the weights however, it's a good weight to shoot them well, keeps recoil very pleasant.
A scope line worth of checking out are the new Leupold vd3-hd, they have revamped the lighter weight options that so many of us love like the 2.5-8x36 etc., biggest improvement is the cds-zl turret. Now if they could just add the fire-dot to that line as options then really be perking with lightweight and illum. reticle which is a rare combo to find period. I've gone trijicon accupoint 3-9x40 green duplex for this reason, it's about the lightest option going at 13.4 oz.
Another option to save a few ounces would be use a mission first battle link minimalist butt stock, there is lighter smoke composites carbon but fixed lengths (one for folding adapter and without) but i need/want the adjustability of the adjustable style. I prefer the magpul ctr as it still rides nice in hand when prone shooting and supporting butt stock with non-trigger hand, i found the battle link more open hook didn't feel right or ride a bag worth a crap, the ctr can ride a bag, it also adjusts easier and then locks, the battlelink is just a tighter fit so no lock but stiffer to adjust (about 2.5 oz saved with battlelink). So i could be under 8 lbs scoped with the mft battlelink butt stock.
Also note: If i didn't say before. The magpul ctr without any cheek risers is ideal for scope alignment with low rings. I measured to center of tube with rail/weaver low rings which i was running before and happy with and then when i took the rail off for the talley low rings it puts center of scope tube identical height. The trijicon 40mm objective has about 1/8" clearance over the barrel in low rings fyi and it's where the barrel is the fattest before the taper starts...it's ideal. You may be able to squeak a 42mm in low rings and if the scope is longer possibly 44 as the barrel starts to taper away but that may push you to needing medium rings then might want a 1/4" cheek riser on the ctr to line things up nice...all of which will start to add that weight.
Stay minimal and you can keep the chassis reasonable for hunting weights(sheep hunters mindset).