I’ve decided to buy or have built the lightest hunting rifle I can find. I hunt in Texas, shots will always be inside 300 yards, typically in the 75-150 yard range. I want something with a shorter barrel and minimal weight. I am not recoil adverse, grew up shooting an old 7 mag that was a real bruiser. I’m thinking something along the lines of a 6cm, 6.5cm, 243 win, possibly 6.5 PRC to compensate for mv loss (could settle for 308 if need be but not a fan). I want a short and light rifle, Rem 700 action or Bighorn for building or other suggestions. Open to any suggestions on light factory rifles, I know savage makes a 110 with cf barrel because there is one for $1050 at my local gun store but the barrel is too long for my use. I had a Model 7 threaded in 308 that kicked worse than my 300 WM but was a dream to handle and move in the box blind. I loved the 16” barrel and would like to stick with the 16.5” or 18” barrel. I know there will be mv loss but like I said close range shots so should still have sufficient energy for expansion. I see Kimber makes a 5 pound rifle but my previous experience with the pencil barreled Remington wasn’t great accuracy wise. I was thinking a Proof CF barrel but the prefit barrels for the bighorn are all longer than I’d like. NSS has tried Remington actions so I could go that route and get a proof blank in the desired length but then pay gs for install and be at the price of a bighorn. Stock would be a stocky’s VG2 or M50, possibly a G.A. composites stock. BDL bottom metal and factory Remington trigger or timney. The building option seems both more expensive and heavier than most lightweight factory options but as long as it’s within a few ounces and a few hundred dollars I’d rather go custom. Price range is $1200-2000 for the entire build not including glass. I’m new to the community of custom and nicer guns so any critiques or questions are welcome. I do not reload or do any of my own gunsmithing other than simple trigger adjusting, scope mounting, or swapping stocks. Some older threads helped guide me to this point but I figured I’d seek further counsel, thanks in advance.
