HOW LIGHT IS TOO LIGHT?

patrickb41 said:
I understand that but if I can shave a pound or two off im going too. For sheep hunting doing 15-20km a day up and down mtns a lb or 2 can make a massive difference. Not only that but if you can shave weight off of everything you can shave you total weight from 70lb to 60lb
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If you start with 70lbs there rifle ain’t the problem. My my total weight is no more than 55lbs and that is with an 8lbs rifle. The rifle for sure can save you some weight but I would try to shave 10-15lbs of your 70lbs before I look into buying an other rifle.
 
DGY said:
If you start with 70lbs there rifle ain’t the problem. My my total weight is no more than 55lbs and that is with an 8lbs rifle. The rifle for sure can save you some weight but I would try to shave 10-15lbs of your 70lbs before I look into buying an other rifle.
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How are you guys getting out with 55-70 pound packs? How many days? How many guys in your group?

I wish.
 
patrickb41 said:
I understand that but if I can shave a pound or two off im going too. For sheep hunting doing 15-20km a day up and down mtns a lb or 2 can make a massive difference. Not only that but if you can shave weight off of everything you can shave you total weight from 70lb to 60lb
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That's all fine and good, IF, you can learn to shoot it without flinching.

Some folks can, but most just tell themselves they can. When reality hits at the end of a 20 klik hike up a mountain slope, and you need a steady, very likely offhand hold, that little bit of extra weight is very noticeable.

You know your limitations and have put some thought into this. So your choice is likely right for you.

I gave up Sheep hunting because it's brutal, hard work, getting to the sheep, and it doesn't get any easier after you shoot it.

Same with Goats. One of each was enough for me. I used a Remington Model 7, when they first came out, chambered for the 257 Roberts. It was good for two repeatable shots before the group opened up. I rebarreled that rifle with a heavier/longer tube after I decided not to hunt those magnificent creatures any longer.
 
Bustercluck said:
How are you guys getting out with 55-70 pound packs? How many days? How many guys in your group?

I wish.
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2 guys, 4 days, sheep or caribou hunt, mainly August so rarely below freezing at night. Mostly home made dehydrated meals, only one spotter, one tent, one cooker, one first aid kit, pretty much no doubling on that kind of gear.
 
This coming august I will be going on a mountain caribou hunt and my plan is to have a pack weight including rifle of less than 45lbs
 
Oldroostman said:
A shooter that understands the fundamentals of recoil management ,can make light rifles shoot small groups.But it’s way harder to do consistently.
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I’m not hugely concerned about group size, but I do try and bring my rifle out as often as possible and shoot milk jugs at obsene distances in strange places just to see what I’m capable of. It’s alot different shooting from a sturdy bench or concrete pad than a road, or field, or whatever. Even my range has somewhat predictable wind, it quite often comes in from the same direction and you get a sense of what the flags look like compared to what the bullet does.
 
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Bustercluck said:
How are you guys getting out with 55-70 pound packs? How many days? How many guys in your group?

I wish.
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two guys but everything is shaved down alot. Also not really having any snacks throughout the day just one piece of jerkey. Only running one spotting scope and tripod for two guys. I have sig 16x image stabalized binos so that system works good. Stone glacier bag is only 2lb. Exo k4 pack is only 5lb empty my tatonka is about 10 estimate so that brings you down like 5lb. Going up I would like to be under 17 for fourteen days two guys. Last time I did it I was 80 but I have a lighter pack and this rifle will be 2-3lb lighter than my 300WM.
 
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cam1936 said:
Your pack is more than 70 lbs? How? I can go for 7 days solo at 50-55 lbs.
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There’s no way I’d get down that low unless I gave up alot of comfort. I usually pack for 9 days and just about any weather that might hit us because we’re a long ways from the truck. I had a bit of a sciatic problem a couple years ago so I lightened things up alot and cancelled out all of the doubles we were packing. Last year I rode my bike and left a bunch of clothes and food with with my bike which was alot nicer.

I think hunting bc is alot different than Alberta. Most of the guys I talk to in bc can start hunting in the morning and are seeing sheep and goats in the afternoon. Access and area in Alberta is alot different.
 
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patrickb41 said:
two guys but everything is shaved down alot. Also not really having any snacks throughout the day just one piece of jerkey. Only running one spotting scope and tripod for two guys. I have sig 16x image stabalized binos so that system works good. Stone glacier bag is only 2lb. Exo k4 pack is only 5lb empty my tatonka is about 10 estimate so that brings you down like 5lb. Going up I would like to be under 17 for fourteen days two guys. Last time I did it I was 80 but I have a lighter pack and this rifle will be 2-3lb lighter than my 300WM.
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Yeah I need to eat more than that 😂
 
First week of August up here looking for sheep you can go from 30c to -10c in the same 24hr period, include rain and high winds and if you pack too light you can become a casualty! I’m 55 and I don’t like suffering much anymore lol.
 
I'd love to get back up in the mountains like that, but I'm sure the government has upped the law of gravity as it applys to seniors.
 
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I've hunted ultralights since the 80's, it was the better part of $1000 a pound to drop below 9lb rigged out weight, in those days.
Balance is a very important consideration. Stock fitment paramount to mitigate recoil. Long barrels are easily dealt with via Rhodesian carry.
Two factors I have not seen mentioned. One, the requirement for a very light, quality trigger and time to get proficient with one. Also, top tier DUTY optics, as UL's eat lesser scopes at inopportune times.
A featherweight needs to be of higher standard in components and assembly than a standard weight contemporary, but can perform as well as match rifles in the right combination.

For 27 years my goto working gun has been a 7lb 7oz rigged(7 cartridges, sling and heavy optics(2.5-10x45 LPS)) PGW Ti18 in .338RUM (pre-release) with 26" #3 FLUTED bbl and 2" of brake. Shoots 3/> .75MOA with 250gn Swift A-Frames @ 2943fps, 8.3SD. Points like an English 28 gauge, gentle to shoot and pulls you up steep mountains.
*A special thanks the Steve/Ross for the decades of pleasurable hunting.
I have other UL's that weigh less, but enjoy DRT at distance performance of the PGW, with little weight penalty. Especially when something may be disagreeable being poked.

Tsavo
 
patrickb41 said:
I am building a 280ai rem 700. I got a 24" stainless barrel no muzzle break on it. I am looking at stocks for it. A bell and Carelson is about 1.8-2.2 lb. Is it worth to spend double the money on a stock that is 1-1.3lb. Also if you have one of the lighter stocks how do they feel to shoot?
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yes i'm building a 280ai too !! waiting for the barrel and the bottom metal.
Which barrel contour did you choose ? why don't put a muzzle brake on it ? (at least just for recoil management)
 
Pack weight is always s fun consideration when ya pack 22lbs of food for 2weeks..
More sqauts in the off season

Sleepy joe. I like a
Pencil barrel with a break is ideal.
As far as load development and shooting goes. Fussy thin barrels heat up quick.
I Like to use my lead sled, an 2 packs of 2shot groups for load development. Keep things cool.. always starting cold and clean barrel for the first shot.
Cold fouled for the next shot

Cold bore shots in the fields is my focus with sheep rifles
 
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