Lightning a Howa sporter 308

[big G]

Hi Team.
Recently landed a Cheap blued Sporter Howa 1500 308 Win in a synthetic stock for a walk around hunting rifle to shoot out to say 400 yards MAX,plan to shoot 120-130 grain projectile most of the time unless I'm after big brown deer.
It weighs 3.403 kgs bare.
22" barrel in # 2 profile.
Looking at trying to knock off 300-500 grams in weight off,apart from the obvious of shortening the barrel back to 18 inches .Fast burning powder (2206h) in place of 2208 May remedy velocity loss with shortening .
Any easy and cheap stock,barrel or action ideas guys.
Cheers G

[Flip]

Hollow out the stock and fill it full of Helium.................



Flip

[mick_762]

Throw the scope away,
glue a thumb tack on the front of the tube,
and have go at sighting it shotgun style?

Apart from that mate, I wouldn't know where to start prior to docking the barrel.

[zook60]

Get the barrel and bolt fluted.

[TexNAss]

I was going to say similar as Mick-
- peep sights/fibre sights vs scope/ mounts is a large saving,
-a few inches off the barrel,
-I don't know how much lighter the "flash" stocks are- but I can't see them being much lighter than the default Hogue unit- I could be wrong though,
- light weight poly-webbing sling with plastic/alloy swivels&studs.

After that- you need a lathe, a mill, and a drill to start making sunlight.

Tex.

[big G]

Get the barrel and bolt fluted.

Any idea how much weight will be trimmed off by a standard flute job.?
BigbG

[big G]

Throw the scope away,
glue a thumb tack on the front of the tube,
and have go at sighting it shotgun style?

Apart from that mate, I wouldn't know where to start prior to docking the barrel.

Thanks, I think.
Big G

[Camel]

Get the barrel and bolt fluted.

Any idea how much weight will be trimmed off by a standard flute job.?
BigbG

With a number 2 profile barrel, I doubt that the flutes would go in deep enough to make any significant reduction in the weight department. I wouldn't go below 20 inches in length as it will be plenty blasty even at 20.

I really don't know how much would be taken off if you did all the tricks, hollow bolt knob, docking barrel, fluting, slimming down the stock, though if its plastic I don't know how you would go about that, unless its solid, then I spose you could get stuck into it with the sand paper, slimming down the butt and fore end.

But saying all that, maybe all that added up will take off a reasonable bit of weight.

Just be warned though, seeing as it will end being a semi-custom job, you wont get your money back when you sell it.

[bigfellascott]

Sell it and buy a Tikka T3 Lite or start lifting weights to help with ya muscles

[Flip]

Try strapping 3 or 4 KG more to it, then just before your about to head off an a long walk take it off.

Will be light as a feather.

[Ol 55]

Go on a diet
Ol 55

[mn1863]

Maybe reprofiling and shortening the barrel.

Ive got an 18.5 inch 308 barrel and don't find muzzle blast objectionable but I don't shoot without earplugs or muffs.

[big G]

Get the barrel and bolt fluted.

Any idea how much weight will be trimmed off by a standard flute job.?
BigbG

Just be warned though, seeing as it will end being a semi-custom job, you wont get your money back when you sell it.

Yea I know Camel.
If you read carefully.
My build platform is a right handed bolt action in Howa, not a Semi trailer Zastarva.
So should be worth $400 -$500 all tricked up after I invest $2000. :

[curan]

Hi Big G,

If you take the stock off the Howa and weigh it, I don't think you'll find anything much lighter. My 7-08mm stainless ultralight came in just under 3kg bare rifle, but that is a thin barrel.

I reckon reprofiling, docking or fluting are your only options.

Personally, I think I'd be happiest fluting it, which would only take off about 160gms (my guess). But docking it by 2 inches will only take off about half of that.

But fluting keeps some stiffness and I like the look........

Truthfully, for what the smithing would cost, I would personally consider selling the 308 and buying an ultralight, except I think they only come in 7-08 stainless, so you might prefer to stick with the 308.......?

cheers, curan.

[big G]

Hi Big G,

If you take the stock off the Howa and weigh it, I don't think you'll find anything much lighter. My 7-08mm stainless ultralight came in just under 3kg bare rifle, but that is a thin barrel.

I reckon reprofiling, docking or fluting are your only options.

Personally, I think I'd be happiest fluting it, which would only take off about 160gms (my guess). But docking it by 2 inches will only take off about half of that.

But fluting keeps some stiffness and I like the look........

Truthfully, for what the smithing would cost, I would personally consider selling the 308 and buying an ultralight, except I think they only come in 7-08 stainless, so you might prefer to stick with the 308.......?

cheers, curan.

Sounds like a plan,thanks Curan.
Cheers BignG