A threaded-barrel version is offered in the same chamberings. In the standard version, the rifle weighs just 5.2 pounds and is available chambered in 243 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 22/250 Rem., 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Win., and 7mm-08 Rem. BarrettД«arret may be best known for its military and law enforcement rifles, but the company also makes a fine lightweight hunting rifle called the Fieldcraft. Barrett Fieldcraft Weighing just 5.2 pounds, the Barrett Fieldcraft has a hand-laid carbon fiber stock which is said to be patterned after a Melvin Forbes design. Chamberings include the new, fast-stepping 6.5 Wby RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum) cartridge. Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Ti The newly announced Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Ti has a titanium action and, at 4.9 pounds, is the lightest Mark V rifle made to date. Although the gun comes with a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee, you will likely want to lighten up the trigger pull if you want to realize the rifleвЂ™s potential. Triggers are adjustable, and thatвЂ™s a good thing because the rifles ship with a trigger pull weight setting of 3.5 вЂ“ 4 pounds.

The rifles have factory-installed muzzle brakes and Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pads to moderate recoil. The Mountain AscentвЂ™s stainless steel action is pillar-bedded to the stock, and it has a Model 70-type wing safety and a Mauser claw extractor. Stocks are made of reinforced carbon fiber and have a Gore Optifade Open Country soft-touch treatment (other versions have a moss green or subalpine camo finish).

Unlike some other companies to offer mountain rifles, Kimber doesnвЂ™t sacrifice barrel length with these guns-they measure 22 to 26 inches-but the stainless barrels are rather thin and can heat up quickly. The rifle shaves weight by use of fluted barrels, bolts, and bolt handles along with a hollow bolt knob. Kimber Mountain Ascent With rifles as light as 4 pounds, 13 ounces, the aptly named Kimber Mountain Ascent is about as light of a production rifle as youвЂ™ll find today. If youвЂ™re willing to pay the price, here are 14 production rifles that will get the job done without weighing you down. There can be a steep price to pay for many of these rifles-in terms of both cash and increased recoil-and many people canвЂ™t shoot lightweight hunting rifles as accurately as heavier, more stable platforms. The list gets shorter when you limit weight to 6 ВЅ pounds-and even shorter if you want a factory rifle weighing about 6 pounds or less. Now, virtually every major manufacturer offers a hunting rifle weighing less than seven pounds. To appreciate just how much todayвЂ™s production rifles have slimmed down, itвЂ™s worth remembering that one of the original lightweights, the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight, weighed around 7 ВЅ pounds when first introduced. Over time, better options in factory lightweight hunting rifles appeared, thanks to advances in materials and manufacturing techniques.

The long dark hunting rifle