Lightest .270

Deerspotter

Hi Lads, I was out with my stalker buddies yesterday and they nailed a stag far from the road, so I carreid the rifles and they dragged the stag out.
At the end of the day my shoulder was wrecked from the CZ 6.5 x 5.5.
I am now thinking of getting a rifle and joining in with the lads.
I've seen the way the .270 hits the deer like a train and I think it would be my round of choice, but I know feck-all about rifle makes etc.
I'd be interested in what is the lightest .270 on the market, as I'd be doing a lot of trecking with it and my shoulder is wrecked from an accident years ago.
Also - what are the benefits of a heavier rifle versus a lighter one?

zlezlius

I'd say Tikka T3 lite would be hard to beet on weight. Heavier rifle would have slightly smaller kick-back and muzzle jump. And if it's a heavy barell would not heat up as quickly. But that's only if you shoot target or vermin. For stalking go as light as possible in my opinion.

Deer Hunter DL

i have a bad shoulder myself from an accident too and the last thing i would be wanting to shoot is a .270 unless your shooting off your good shoulder , a good quality light gun would be the Tikka T3 Lite

ejg

I recently bought an old 270 Remington ADL. This rifle does not have a
floor plate and saves some weight by doing so. Then again unloading is a pain.
A short action rifle 243/260/7-08/308 would be slightly lighter than a long action such as a 270.
Remingtons have fairly light actions. Choose a calibre that works well with a short barrel (20" for example)
such as 7-08/308 and bit by bit the weight goes down. Choose a light weight scope and rings, maybe even a lighter stock.
If Moderator then choose a light modell. Just beware very few moderators are actually light. Ask for the actual weight,
maybe even weigh it your self. Last add I saw for an ultra light mod actually weighed 3.5 times as much as the one I use.
If you are stuck on 270, maybe a Tikka T3 Lite would be the best bet.
Until you have a light set-up get yourself a rucksack style rifle sling.
edi

TriggerPL

ejg wrote: »

I recently bought an old 270 Remington ADL. This rifle does not have a
floor plate and saves some weight by doing so. Then again unloading is a pain.
A short action rifle 243/260/7-08/308 would be slightly lighter than a long action such as a 270.
Remingtons have fairly light actions. Choose a calibre that works well with a short barrel (20" for example)
such as 7-08/308 and bit by bit the weight goes down. Choose a light weight scope and rings, maybe even a lighter stock.
If Moderator then choose a light modell. Just beware very few moderators are actually light. Ask for the actual weight,
maybe even weigh it your self. Last add I saw for an ultra light mod actually weighed 3.5 times as much as the one I use.
If you are stuck on 270, maybe a Tikka T3 Lite would be the best bet.
Until you have a light set-up get yourself a rucksack style rifle sling.
edi

Def t3 lite but expect it to kick like a mule

323

Know how you feel, have busted both shoulders in the past.
But not so sure if going really light is the best approach, can lead to a rifle that is uncomfortable to shoot and very noisy.
Personally think your can't go wrong with a moderate weight .270 but get a good wide padded leather sling, like below, that distributes weight better than the nylon and neoprene ones.

2012-09-09 13.36.40 Slings.jpg

Rifle on right weighs in over 10lbs loaded and still comfortable on the shoulder after many miles hiking.

garv123

As everyone said a light .270 will kick like a mule which might not be good for your shoulder.

What you need to do is get the widest sling strap that will fit you which will take the weight off one point on your shoulder more so.

I started carrying my rifle muzzle down and it feels way lighter for some strange reason. You could also carry it african style which is muzzle down and forward on your opposite which allows you to get the gun up faster for a shot.

4200fps

The Sako 85 Finnlight be the lightest. Its approx 2.9kg where as the Tikka T3 Lite is 3.1 kg in .270 WIN caliber.

4200fps

Deer Hunter DL wrote: »

i have a bad shoulder myself from an accident too and the last thing i would be wanting to shoot is a .270 unless your shooting off your good shoulder , a good quality light gun would be the Tikka T3 Lite

You be on the same boat using a .308 aswell if you have a bad shoulder.

4200fps

My brother has a .270 in a Tikka Hunter. They are the same weight as the Tikka T3 Lite in the same caliber so if I was going for a Tikka i'd go for the Hunter but if you want lighter go for the Sako Finnlight

650gs

The Remington 700 mountain rifle in 2.70 comes in a bit lighter again then the T3 plus cheaper, its a real work horse and well known around the world for this Id give this the plus any day

Lullymore24

I'd go Tikka T3 Lite .243 if I had a bad shoulder and Recoil and weight was a problem.

With a very light Titanium Mod to cut down recoil more without sacrificing weight limits too much.

tac foley

Don't take this the wrong way, but if you have developed a 'glass shoulder' you might consider using a PAST recoil reducer insert on your shooting jacket.

A lot of folks think it's 'unmanly' to use a recoil pacifier until they try a shot with a 3kg .300Win Mag without one, and then with one.

A light .270 is going to sting you for sure.

tac

Deerspotter

Thanks lads, loads of great advice here. I will look in to the Tikka and Sako. I do like the look of the Tikka T3 Hunter.
I can shoot about 300 rounds from a shot-gun at clays before my shoulder is sore. Would the recoil on a shot-gun be less than a lite .270?
For some reason I can take a recoil, but the weight of the gun over rough ground wrecked it.
A wide leather sling would be the right thing too.
Price wise, what's good value these days?

zlezlius

4200fps wrote: »

The Sako 85 Finnlight be the lightest. Its approx 2.9kg where as the Tikka T3 Lite is 3.1 kg in .270 WIN caliber.

4200fps wrote: »

My brother has a .270 in a Tikka Hunter. They are the same weight as the Tikka T3 Lite in the same caliber so if I was going for a Tikka i'd go for the Hunter but if you want lighter go for the Sako Finnlight

Acording to Tikka website T3 Lite is 0.3 kg lighter than Hunter-20" threaded is only 2.7 kg;)

juice1304

If you want a really lite rig and are'nt stuck on the .270, You could get a 3030 lever action all shots would need to be kept to 150m in my opinion. But my winchester weighs in at a hair over five lbs with a scout rail, Aimpoint H34s scope and a M1907 sling.:D:D Recoil is manageable.
[IMG][/img] Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Another idea is to get an eberlestock bag, you can put your lunch and all your gear in it and there is a scabbard for your rifle too, you can still access your rifle while walking. And as you would have a lite rifle you can trough an extra jumper in the bag and won't notice. These bags distribute most of the weight onto your hips and are fully adjustable. They also do them in lots of different sizes and flavors hunting camo or tacticool. They are a bit pricy but come with a lifetime warranty. And they have extras like a rifle rest that clips onto the bag.
http://www.eberlestock.com/



I have the last one in ranger green.:) very high quality bag.

It wasn't me!

A light .270 won't be too bad in terms of recoil. If you're used to a 12 bore, you'll be absolutely fine. You'll find the noise pretty abrasive, and it's rather more aggressive than a shotgun, but it's not too unpleasant, and certainly for the handful of shots you'd fire in any given session it'll be fine. You can trade more noise for less recoil and go with a .25-06 too if you like. Hits deer plenty hard too, and while it performs like a .270, it definitely seems louder to me in the same 22" barrel. I'd go with the Tikka T3 Lite Stainless, or if you feel like spending the money, the Sako Finnlight (Personally, if you have the cash, I reckon it's worth the difference for feel's sake, but if not, the Tikka is just as much gun in terms of function, for less money). I'd add a lightish scope like a Swarovski AV or Z3 and a decent sling that you can use as a shooting aid. Forget mods and bipods. A .270, even a light one, won't kick you into next week and just practise with good hearing protection. Practise using the sling and shooting sticks and a backpack rest or whatever's handy. Light rifles like that are easy enough to shoot well once you put some time into them, and they're nice to carry.

4200fps

zlezlius wrote: »

Acording to Tikka website T3 Lite is 0.3 kg lighter than Hunter-20" threaded is only 2.7 kg;)

I'm going by a Beretta annual I have of every rifle made by Tikka and Sako. It says Tikka T3 Lite and Hunter .270 Win is 3.00kg approx with a barrel length of 510mm. It seems to show more information on the Annual about all their rifles than the actual site but according to the site I only can find the .270Win short mag which is different to the .270 Win. I don't know who's right or wrong on this.
I'm not having a dig at you zlezlius

4200fps

In relation to the Hunter VS Lite the Hunter is a way nicer looking rifle imo also the Lite has a free floating barrel where as the Hunter has a total free floating barrel. Not to mention the Sako Finnlight is a excellent rifle and its very light too but it be a favor for women hunters. The only thing I don't favor about stainless barrels is they glare alot in the sun

zlezlius

4200fps wrote: »

In relation to the Hunter VS Lite the Hunter is a way nicer looking rifle imo also the Lite has a free floating barrel where as the Hunter has a total free floating barrel. Not to mention the Sako Finnlight is a excellent rifle and its very light too but it be a favor for women hunters. The only thing I don't favor about stainless barrels is they glare alot in the sun

Well, synthetic will always be lighter vs wooden. Have to agree on the looks-Hunter is the winner there:)

ejg

What is the difference between a free floating barrel and a total free floating barrel?
Sounds a bit like "a little pregnant":D

Maybe a 7-08 would be a good compromise and have the barrel cut to 20".
....and make sure she is really free floating.:p
edi

4200fps

ejg wrote: »

What is the difference between a free floating barrel and a total free floating barrel?
Sounds a bit like "a little pregnant":D

Maybe a 7-08 would be a good compromise and have the barrel cut to 20".
....and make sure she is really free floating.:p
edi

Well on my brothers Tikka Hunter I can slide a piece of paper all the way up to the end of the barrel where on my Tikka Lite it doesn't go all the way up. Goes a little over half way up so that doesn't make it total free floating I guess

4200fps

zlezlius wrote: »

Well, synthetic will always be lighter vs wooden. Have to agree on the looks-Hunter is the winner there:)

I also thought synthetic would always be lighter. Well my brothers Hunter feels to be the same weight as my Lite and I think the Beretta annual is right about the weights

Cass

Deerspotter wrote: »

...... CZ 6.5 x 5.5.........

I'm assuming it's the CZ550? The rifle is about 7.5-8 pounds. That's only a pound heavier. in the grand scheme of things not a huge difference. I would look into different methods to more comfortably carry the rifle.

Such a sharkshin sling, and gunslinger rifle hook. No slippage, and the rifle is secured on your back.



I changed to this setup, and the Remmy which used to slip of my shoulder now sits there with no hands. It has no effect on weight, but when i can move unimpeded it makes it seem easier.

I also wouldn't change simply to gain back a pound. The 6.5x55 round is great. There is not a deer in Ireland that would stand up to it. It also has better penetration than any other caliber in the same bullet weight. Yes the .270 has more impact energy, but with a well placed shot a .243 will knock any deer.

Deerspotter

Okay so, went to the buddies and weighed the rifles. the CZ is 5kg's unloaded with no bolt. The .270 which I though was lovely and light was 4kg's unloaded with no bolt. So there was a kilo in it.
The major difference I see now is the sling and the over-all balance of the gun. The .270 seems light and sporty where as the 6.5x55 just seems a bit too heavy and the balance is off. The fellow says it is due to the scope having to sit more forward than it should as he has a short neck!!! He's used to it and loves it.
I think the Hunter is smashing looking.
I will see what the dealer has for me to try, so I can get a feel for the rifles and decide if one feels right for me.
I know the balance and the weight of the set-up has less to do with the caliber - but was just labelling them so you'd know which gun I was writing about.
None of the rifles have mods or bi-pods. I'm not sure I'd need either.

tomcat220t

Deerspotter wrote: »

Hi Lads, I was out with my stalker buddies yesterday and they nailed a stag far from the road, so I carreid the rifles and they dragged the stag out.
At the end of the day my shoulder was wrecked from the CZ 6.5 x 5.5.
I am now thinking of getting a rifle and joining in with the lads.
I've seen the way the .270 hits the deer like a train and I think it would be my round of choice, but I know feck-all about rifle makes etc.
I'd be interested in what is the lightest .270 on the market, as I'd be doing a lot of trecking with it and my shoulder is wrecked from an accident years ago.
Also - what are the benefits of a heavier rifle versus a lighter one?

Hi Deerspotter, as most of the hunting guys are suggesting get a Tikka Lite in .270 .Shorten the barrel down to 20", with a PSE stock and good recoil pad . Put a light weight can on ....maybe a Roedale ultra light sound moderator.
Now you have a well balanced light weight stalking rig .
It would leave your current 6.5x55 set-up in the dark ages if you went for .270,,imo;)
P.S,Last thing you need is too much penetration on irish deer ,imo.
Regards ,Tomcat.

It wasn't me!

If you know what you're getting into in terms of a .270 then it's as good a round as is out there for my money, and easy to get ammo for too. 4kg is about 9 lbs, which is certainly not light, and 5kg is a monster for a hunting rifle!

Personally, I'd want a .270 to come to around eight pounds max. If I were building one from scratch, I could get it to around seven and a half with a trim stainless and synthetic build and have it handle nicely. If you want to go down that route, that's possible too, but I reckon you're better off with a factory gun and a big stack of ammo for now.

Deerspotter

Those weights included the scopes, just to be clear! Both of them are Zeiss scopes.
I will have a good time with this and try plenty out before I settle. Thanks to all for the advice.

It wasn't me!

If you can get a rifle that comes in at about six and a half pounds bare, add a 13 oz. scope (Like a Swarovski AV or Z3 3-10x42) and load it, add a sling and you'll be about seven and a half pounds, which is perfect to my mind in a .270. Make sure you get strong, lightweight mounts too and get the scope low to the barrel. Now me, I'd build it a little differently (Longer barrel, lighter slimmer stock) but those are personal thoughts. The Tikka is a cracking gun and you certainly won't be disappointed.

4200fps

It wasn't me! wrote: »

If you can get a rifle that comes in at about six and a half pounds bare, add a 13 oz. scope (Like a Swarovski AV or Z3 3-10x42) and load it, add a sling and you'll be about seven and a half pounds, which is perfect to my mind in a .270. Make sure you get strong, lightweight mounts too and get the scope low to the barrel. Now me, I'd build it a little differently (Longer barrel, lighter slimmer stock) but those are personal thoughts. The Tikka is a cracking gun and you certainly won't be disappointed.

Not being smart but why would you go for a longer barrel?

It wasn't me!

4200fps wrote: »

Not being smart but why would you go for a longer barrel?

Slightly less muzzle blast and the balance being a little bit forward makes the gun easier to shoot from field positions. I'm not saying I want a lot of weight forward, that's why I dislike mods. I'd go 24" for something like a .270 win. If I were building from scratch and going lightweight, I'd go for a McMillan Edge stock, a light action like a Remington 700, with a floorplate, a 24" barrel with a lightish profile (muzzle around .600") and a scope something like the ones I listed above. Weight should be around seven and a half pounds, balance should be perfect (Light stock and a little bit of meat in the barrel is nice) and once the components are right, it'll shoot tight groups. After that, it's just a question of how well you can shoot it from practical positions, so off a rucksack or a log, sitting, kneeling, prone, standing, with sticks, without them, with a sling maybe, under time pressure, on moving animals, so on and so forth, but the bit of weight forward in a setup like that helps it hang on target and makes shots easier.

4200fps

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Slightly less muzzle blast and the balance being a little bit forward makes the gun easier to shoot from field positions. I'm not saying I want a lot of weight forward, that's why I dislike mods. I'd go 24" for something like a .270 win. If I were building from scratch and going lightweight, I'd go for a McMillan Edge stock, a light action like a Remington 700, with a floorplate, a 24" barrel with a lightish profile (muzzle around .600") and a scope something like the ones I listed above. Weight should be around seven and a half pounds, balance should be perfect (Light stock and a little bit of meat in the barrel is nice) and once the components are right, it'll shoot tight groups. After that, it's just a question of how well you can shoot it from practical positions, so off a rucksack or a log, sitting, kneeling, prone, standing, with sticks, without them, with a sling maybe, under time pressure, on moving animals, so on and so forth, but the bit of weight forward in a setup like that helps it hang on target and makes shots easier.

Thats a good reason. If you were using a mod you wouldn't i'm sure. There is huge muzzle flash out of the .270's

It wasn't me!

4200fps wrote: »

Thats a good reason. If you were using a mod you wouldn't i'm sure. There is huge muzzle flash out of the .270's

I don't like mods really. They're a big lump of metal out at the end of the barrel. They're not well balanced and distributed weight, they're just a lump. I'm plenty familiar with muzzle flash. I have a 22" .25-06, and I assure you, it's every bit the flare gun any .270 is. Has the same problems of being noisy. It's not a kicky gun though.

Lullymore24

ejg wrote: »

What is the difference between a free floating barrel and a total free floating barrel?
Sounds a bit like "a little pregnant":D

Maybe a 7-08 would be a good compromise and have the barrel cut to 20".
....and make sure she is really free floating.:p
edi

I'd like to try out a 7mm-08.
Almost as Flat as a .243 with a little more punch.

And nice and mild recoil in a 20" barrel.
I do think that what you suggest is best suited to a man that says he has a weak shoulder.

With a Titanium mod on it would be like shooting a .22 wsm unmoderated and well balanced.
Ideal for the hill or forrest
I'm nearly talking myself into getting one :pac::pac:

Hunterjohnb

Hello Deerspotter,Why not look at the new Ruger American.They seem to be an excellent rifle for the money. Weight is advertised as 6.6 lbs for the .270