Best Lightweight Hunting Rifles of 2023

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. Barrett

The Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Ti has a titanium action and, at 4.9 pounds, is the lightest Mark V rifle made to date. Chamberings include the new, fast-stepping 6.5 Wby RPM (Rebated Precision Magnum) cartridge. *Weatherby*

By Mike Dickerson / Field & Stream

At a time when rifles are made with such lightweight materials as kevlar, titanium, and carbon fiber, it’s easy to forget that not too long ago, high-quality lightweight hunting rifles weren’t all that easy to find. Now, virtually every major manufacturer offers a hunting rifle weighing less than 7 pounds. The list gets shorter when you limit weight to 6.5 pounds—and even shorter if you want a factory rifle weighing about 6 pounds or less.

There can be a steep price to pay for many of these rifles—in terms of both cash and increased recoil—and many people can’t shoot lightweight hunting rifles as accurately as heavier, more stable platforms. If you’re willing to pay the price, here are 14 of the best lightweight hunting rifles that will get the job done without weighing you down. CONTINUE READING