lightweight 45 or 50 cal. carbine.

[dans]

I would like to build a light weight carbine for rough country hunting. I have read of 6 pound rifles built on contender platforms. What are the particulars of these builds. What stocks, barrels, scopes would make up a 6 pound rifle or even lighter? I need a 13 inch pull and a barrel as short as 16 inches. Ranges will be short and .44 mag performance will be about right. Any help is appreciated.

[sw]

I have a H&R Handi Rifle , break open, 45-70 conversion, 20” barrel, youth synthetic stock. Weaver K4 (28 mm, fixed 4x) , AL low rings. 36gs VV110/knurled, annealed 165g CEBs/HLBS. Light, tiny, very accurate, good to at least 200 yards. This is a great choice!
CVA has 45-70 break opens that are somewhat similar.

[joelmoney]

I have been thinking of buying another CVA Hunter and removing an inch of barrel till I get the weight and feel I want then send it in and have a plug put in it and the muzzle crowned properly. 45’cal gives you lots of choices for bullet to bore and sabots.

[GMB54-120]

Henry and Traditions also have a 45/70 single shot that is smallish. Neither is stainless and more $$$s than the Hunter or Scout.

Outfitter G2 with a 22" Lothar barrel claimed to be 5.8lbs


Henry 22" but 6.8lbs...almost the same cost as a Scout at Cableas....around $380

[Rifleman]

I'd stick with the Handi Rifle , well made and strong action to work with.

[GMB54-120]

Thats great except that they dont make them anymore and used they cost about the same as the other ones new. There is a nice one on Gunbroker for $450 in SS with the TH stock.

[sw]

Here’s the HandiRifle. My grandson had asked of a different scope on it, so temporarily the Weaver Classic Extreme 1.5x4.5 is on it. It’s a bit “overpowering “.
The loads are endless. 10/45 VV110/4198 with a 195B is great. So is 36g VV110/165 CEB or 195B or 200SST. Possibly the best will be 8/45 VV110/4198 and a 225 Pittman AccuMax.
A knurled 250 BE/35g 4759 or 34 VV110 is great sabotless.
I have great smokeless 40, 3 other 45s and a 50 and will frequently take the HR when hunting heavier woods or still hunting.

[ourway77]

I have a VG contender 45-70 barrel 23"long and I was advised not to convert it. Maybe G-2 or Encore Anything you scope is going to boost the weight Good Luck

[Dave W]

Buy a Ruger Amercan ranch or compact centerfire.
Building a 6lb bolt gun sml will probably be expensive and tough to do with the barrel contours we build on. Lots of fluting and a premium lightweight stock.
Think Bestill has done a few Omegas in the 8lb range, a carbine version should knock some more weight off.

[GMB54-120]

Really makes you wonder how Melvin built the sub 6lb NULA m209s. I almost forgot about the Savage model 16 Lightweight Hunter.

Weight: 5.5 to 6 pounds depending on chambering

Looks like Buds has some left for under $500.

[Rifleman]

The Ruger American ranch, hmm that might be a pretty good idea ...

[dans]

What would it take to convert a Ruger ranch rifle in 450 bushmaster to a muzzle loader?

[dannoboone]

Dec 15, 2018 11:16:52 GMT -5 dans said:

What would it take to convert a Ruger ranch rifle in 450 bushmaster to a muzzle loader?

First off, you would need to cut off some of the barrel to use
in a full form .452 die.

[busta]

Dec 15, 2018 11:16:52 GMT -5 dans said:

What would it take to convert a Ruger ranch rifle in 450 bushmaster to a muzzle loader?

A full form sizing die to start. Center fire bore diameter (grooves) of .452", which would leave your land diameter at around .444"ish. No sabots offered in that diameter, and very few bullets without sizing.

I have both a Ruger American Ranch, and a CVA Scout V2 chambered in .450 Bushmaster, but have never slugged the bores.

The Ruger American Ranch is light because of the barrel contour and length, but I would and do choose the CVA Scout V2 over it every time.

If you are looking for an inexpensive rifle, the .45-70 CVA Hunter can be had for around $225ish. It has the proper bore diameter (.458"ish grooves,.451"ish lands) for shooting the .45 caliber sabots and .451"ish land riding bullets.

The barrel is 25" long, so that would have to be cut down to whatever length you would prefer, but that also gives you a drop for a full form sizing die.

The .45-70 CVA Scout V2 would be my choice to have converted. It comes with the quick takedown forend. The 23-3/16" barrel has a radial brake making it 25"overall. Stainless steel, and an excellent factory trigger. If you want it lighter, some of the barrel length would have to go. Then you would have a drop and a brake left over.

The Ruger American Ranch light contour barrel is very heat sensitive for shooting groups. CVA Scout V2 all day every day for me. In this case, "It's Just A Better Gun"!

[busta]

Danno beat me to the punch while I was typing my answer.

One thing to remember, the Ruger American Ranch only has a 16.12" barrel, threaded for a brake. The contour as it gets closer to the threaded portion increases in diameter a lot. They also offer the Ruger American .450 BM with 18", 20", and 22" barrels. The 22" with no threads for brake.


Get a .45-70, for conversion. Less headache, more options.

[GMB54-120]

Im not a fan of Traditions but i would love to see one in person. They claim its a Lothar barrel and the LW19 steel Lothar uses in their blanks aint bad at all. Supposed to be better than 4140 and more similar to 4340 in terms of strength. What i really want to know is the breach OD but no one stocks them locally. None of the reviews mention if the brake is removable either. Sure appears to be a good option for a really light weight conversion.

[gemihur]

Here's a couple of featherweights that'll knock down a buffalo

 GA-90 45 cal 20" Bbl

 GA-90 45 cal 16" Bbl

[booner22]

Dec 14, 2018 13:30:44 GMT -5 dans said:

I would like to build a light weight carbine for rough country hunting. I have read of 6 pound rifles built on contender platforms. What are the particulars of these builds. What stocks, barrels, scopes would make up a 6 pound rifle or even lighter? I need a 13 inch pull and a barrel as short as 16 inches. Ranges will be short and .44 mag performance will be about right. Any help is appreciated.

What about cutting down a scout? There are already proven for loads and performance. After having one done and seeing the way they shoot, can’t imagine loosing to much accuracy with cutting them down.

[sideshow]

Dec 15, 2018 12:40:53 GMT -5 GMB54-120 said:

Im not a fan of Traditions but i would love to see one in person. They claim its a Lothar barrel and the LW19 steel Lothar uses in their blanks aint bad at all. Supposed to be better than 4140 and more similar to 4340 in terms of strength. What i really want to know is the breach OD but no one stocks them locally. None of the reviews mention if the brake is removable either. Sure appears to be a good option for a really light weight conversion.

I have to agree with your thinking on this one . Even if the barrel OD is smaller a milder load rifle may be doable for the ranges the op is talking about . Surely bh209 would work . Every ounce counts in the wilderness or mountains . A Woodman Arms Patriot wouldnt be a bad idea either but its also more money . No conversion neccesary as well . Theyre even available with Brux barrels . When thats considered for a light gun the Patriot is the best one of them all .

[gemihur]

The rynite furniture on a contender platform with a short barrel will definitely result in a lighter than 6 lb. carry.
Barrel length would be the factor that limits the amount of powder pushing the projectile.
That's why I use my 20" bbl over the 16" bbl in the field.
Actually aside from muzzle fed shooting, a large bore handgun is my go-to for that.

14" SSK Bbl in .444 Marlin
For a lighter carbine assemblage I'd start with rynite furniture and use a 21" tapered barrel