Need something smaller and lighter!

H

huntingfish

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Yesterday we went scouting near our hunting spot. We started in a mature forest and travelling was going great, but we eventually went through a thick shrubbed swamp and lugging around the old cooey 60 I'm restoring was getting cumbersome.

I was carrying my cooey 60 along, in case we saw some grouse or other small game. Even though she's quite the shooter, I was dissapointed in how heavy she was to lug around. Unfortunately, I'm a computer programmer, so I don't get to lug around heavy stuff all day while at work hehe.

I was thinking of getting something small and light. Here's my chain of thought on this so far.

I'd love to get a lever (henry youth or carbine), but they're a bit expensive (250ish$ used). Love the idea of the Henry Survival, but way too flimsy. Papoose: Way too expensive (420$ new). Since you rarely need follow-up shots, a single-shot with a hammer you #### would be sweet. I've checked the Rossi's, but I don't feel like paying for a barrel I'll never use (22lr / .410 youth matched barrels) at 220$ new. I saw this beauty of a small shotgun: The Boito Hiker (190$ new). It looks PERFECT, if only it was a .22lr! Does anyone know if anyone makes something similar to the Hiker in .22lr?

Failing that, I was eyeing the Savage Cub as well (savagearms.com's price: 213$), really like the weight (3 something pounds), accu-trigger and peep-sight. No cow-boy style hammer :(, but I could live with that.

Anyone has suggestions on youth or backpack rifles I've not covered?

Cheers,

Fish
 
Not trying to be a jerk but I think you should just carry it more, you'll get used to it....unless you really want to spend the cash on something else.

Lightest 22's that I've owned were the 22 browning takedown (I have the norinco version) or a remington nylon 66
 
I have carried around my 10/22T with scope and that weighs a lot, it was a little awkward but carried it fine.

How were you carrying it? On the back via sling, on the shoulder via sling, one hand under the receiver? Just go for a walk after work with something a lot heavier than the gun in your hand. Then when you carry that thing it will feel like nothing.

Why spend more money when you already have a gun you like?
 
If you can live without the shotgun barrel, either a Nylon 66 or a Winchester Wildcat. Both around 4.5 lbs, cost in the $250 range. I own both and would choose the WW for hunting.
 
Pay a gunsmith to cut your barrel to 19'', reshape the stock to make it lighter and you will end with the rifle that you like but in more compact version. All for about 75$ and for the stock, winter is coming!!! So it's a good project for you! My 2cents
 
You people aren't really helping me at this whole "justifying a new purchase" thing. Really. :D

I was carrying the rifle on a sling, on my back. Although it kept falling back (barrel heavy I guess). I gave this more thought and I figured this is probably because I made a stock for it out of construction lumber, not hardwood, which is extremely lightweight. After I got fed up of always repositioning the rifle, I simply held it hand under receiver. Since we were slushing through a swamp and thick branches, it was hard going. I'm hoping that once I do a hardwood version of the stock, it's going to be much more balanced. What do you guys think?

Sametwinnie: I initially wanted to cut the barrel and use it for a project. It's a 23" barrel so removing 4 inches or so of steel would probably drop the weight a fair bit. But seeing as it's extremely accurate, I'm hesitant to cut it. I do have a friend that has a lathe that could do it for free too.

mmattockx: My father-in-law always brings a cooey 39 to keep at the camp while moose hunting, but it's so inaccurate it's ridiculous and the extractor doesn't work half the time if not more. I hate fumbling with .22 rounds...

Fish
 
cyclone said:
(1) Get a better Cooey 39 :p, and

(2) So, no single-shots? :confused:
Click to expand...

Well, I should clarify...going in and removing a spent case that failed to extract is a royal pain in the arse (in a cooey 39 anyways)! But if I had a nice (I'd settle for "working") extractor on a break-open action (like a Rossi youth .22 matched pair), then it wouldn't be a problem to simply reach in my pocket and reload it.

Fish
 
How about an Ithaca Mod 49? Lever action single shot with cowboy hammer;)
PM if you want one as I just happen to have one I'm going to sell:D
Kim
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I figured with a little modification it could become an ammo storage tube. It's already a light little gun and I imagine the forend could be slimmed down also to lighten it a little more.
Kim
 
Henry carbine in .22

I have a Henry carbine in .22 and it is fun fun fun to shoot its worth the money and smooth light to carry fun to move around the short barrel and I also have an Henry Hoo1 in .17 but a longer barrel but still fun to to shoot. But to help you out you may want to try a new sling its called "safari sling" the rifle hangs in front of you and your shoulders and neck take the weight, you can control the rifle with one hand and move branches with the other if required.
 
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