Colt Light Rifle

J

JLC0311

Beginner
Aug 1, 2012
84
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I've been out of the loop for a while and while I've been gone I've been thinking alot about a new rifle. I had decided on a Steyr ProHunter Blued 24" in 30/06, but after spending a few months look for one that is either new or used I've decided that maybe I might want to find something more common.

Does any have any opinions/experience with the Colt Light Rifles made by Saco? I'm thinking 30/06, and just putting in a Jewell trigger.
 
I'm not sure about the whole idea of a CLR being "more common" than a Steyr ProHunter, but that's for you to decide. You could contact Mark's Outdoors in Vestavia Hills, AL regarding a Steyr. They run a lot of them through the shop. Good folks.

As for the CLR, I have one in 30-06. Great rifle, and easy to carry. If you buy one, be sure to get the factory supplied Talley ringmounts with it, or you'll be spending a lot for customs. Also, know that you'll be limited a bit in terms of scope by both the mounting length (not too limiting, but some scopes won't fit) and by the bolt handle clearance. Some scopes that won't fit for sure are the Zeiss Conquest, Meopta MeoPro, Nikon Monarch, and possibly others. Anything with a 39mm or smaller ocular outside diameter will very likely fit, though. Minox, Bushnell Elite, Burris FFII, and Leupold will all fit, I'm pretty sure.

My rifle is highly accurate. Shots 7, 8, and 9 during my first load workup did this:

7fa669f3.jpg


That's 59gr H4350 under a 168gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Started at mag length, never worked anywhere with it, since it was pretty darned good like it was. I've repeated that "half-MOA" grouping several times since, and can make that rifle print under 1MOA in field positions (prone, off sticks kneeling, off sticks standing) on command, out to 300yds prone or kneeling, and beyond 200yds standing, so I'm pretty comfortable out to 300 with this rifle.

I'd strongly suggest you contact Melvin Forbes about a trigger upgrade, rather than trying to make a Jewell fit. Melvin is a nice guy, very personable and a straight shooter. He'll do a trigger job and put a Forbes stock on it, swap out the striker spring, and generally set up the rifle for you, for something like $650 or so? It'll knock about a pound off the weight (making that -06 a 5.5lb rifle before being scoped) and give you an excellent adjustable trigger. Worth considering, and I'll be upgrading mine if I can get to it sometime.

The Forbes would be a great option, for sure. I think the barrels in the CLR may be better than those in the Forbes, though. Neither is wearing the Douglas barrel that the NULAs wear, unfortunately.
 
Thats a possibility, budget is also a concern right now. A Like NIB Colt with a Jewell installed is going to run me a little more than half what the 24B will.
 
Dubyam, Thats exactly why I've been thinking about a Colt. Yes, it is easier to find in 30/06 than the Steyr. I've spent the past few months looking. When I first started I passed on a used one at Cabelas for $599 because I'd like to find a new one. Well a week later I found out that unless I wanted a 20" Barrel or Stainless there were no new or used ones out there.
 
I'm sure the ergos are great on the Styer, I just don't like the looks of the stock however. If you get a CLR call Melvin Forbes, I think there are some ugrades he will do to the rifle free of charge to bring it up current. I'm not sure what they are but he'll stand behind that rifle which is saying a lot about his character.
 
I really like the Steyr SBS 96 action.... I've had several Steyrs and all have been flawless performers.
 
I hadn't seen the used one before. The one I waited on at first was in the same condition, from Cabelas, with a Vari-X III on it for $599. I want one but the same goes for the secnd from Wholesale Hunter. They are asking too much. If I can walk into Guns Galore in Killeen Texas, right outside of Ft Hood, where they are known for high prices, and get a brand new SBS, blued, 24" barrel, in every caliber but 30/06 for $729 I'm not buying used for more and I'm not buying the same rifle for $250 more. Yes it may be a hard to find caliber for some reason, I just don't think either of those are deals.
 
JLC,

I have a Colt Light Rifle 30-06 NIB for sale you might consider. Dubyam taught me me alot about this rifle. PM me if Interested. Brian
 

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I bought a CLR in 30-06. The trigger is a little creepy but It's such a simple setup that I simply honed the contact surface and it's under 3 lbs. I like a little creep in some rifles. The accuracy I'm still working on but it will be under one inch for sure. It holds tight groups at 50 yds while I'm working on velocity loads where I'm not trying for accuracy. I like it. The stock is plain and I shimmed the recoil lug just to see how it affected the accuracy. It did a little. I painted the stock flat olive drab and it looks nicer. I like how it's working out.
The length of pull was a little short but I added a decelerator pad and now it's perfect.
 
The colt light was a great rifle. I worked on a couple and they were tackdrivers. If you can find a newish one for 600 get it.
 
HeathSexton":3rn2yads said:
A store here has a .270, .30/06, 7RM and .300WM for $399 each NIB, I guess I should look into them.
Click to expand...

WOW There you go. that is a no brainer.

Do not know what I would pick though. Probably the 7 maggie.
 
brianwyo":mm9bau9d said:
JLC,

I have a Colt Light Rifle 30-06 NIB for sale you might consider. Dubyam taught me me alot about this rifle. PM me if Interested. Brian
Click to expand...

Brian, I am very interested, my PM is still sitting in the outbox though. Tell me more.

Jimmy
 
G'Day Fella's,

JLCO311, I'm not familiar with the Colt Light Rifle but they do look similar to the Kimber Montana rifles, and the model 84L are available in .30-06.

Hope that helps

Doh!
homer
 
Greg Nolan":3ughcjuc said:
I bought a CLR in 30-06. The trigger is a little creepy but It's such a simple setup that I simply honed the contact surface and it's under 3 lbs.

The length of pull was a little short but I added a decelerator pad and now it's perfect.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention honing the trigger - I did the same thing, ever so mildly.

I'm curious about the Decelerator. I'm assuming you used a grind-to-fit? Any trouble attaching it to the factory stock? I've wondered about it, but never taken the time to remove the factory pad to see if it was workable. I might like to add an inch or so worth of spacers to the stock and then a nice Decelerator pad, so I'm wondering if I could rig that up appropriately. I have some ideas but would appreciate your input.
 
dubyam,
I used the grind to fit and it snugged up real well even with the slight arc the stock has. I did have to drill one new hole in the pad to match the screw holes in the stock. I fired 12 rounds of ammo thru it working up velocity loads and got no shift. If I notice any movement I'll glue a stabilizing box onto the pad like the factory did.
Good Luck
Greg
 
I am seeing alot of these CLR's on GB. They don't seem to be unreasonably priced either..
 
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