Heavy Rifles

[Big Jon]

Well, I had the rifle built with a 1.25" 25"long bull barrel, and it ended up being quite a bit heavier than I intended. First time I had something built so I didnt know any better. My other go-to rifle has been problematic so Ive been using the "anchor" which is more fun than recoil to shoot

As far as the difference between a 8 or 9 lb rifle being too heavy to carry around the bush all day, do any of you actually shoot game and get out it out of the bush? Or do you take it out in individually wrapped steaks and roasts? Same goes to the quip about them only being for truck hunters.

I gotta say if your perspective is that 9 or 10 lbs is too heavy to carry, and that 10+ pound rifles are for truck hunters, am I talking to as bunch of little people on here? Any of you drag a buck out of the bush by yourself before or have to get a moose or elk in the back of a pickup with a friend? Im pretty sure the last game Ive moved was more than 10 pounds...

Of course people who prefer light rifles have had to pack game out of the bush. Have you ever heard of people quartering and deboning animals in the field....ahhhh nevermind....

 

[archie_james_c]

If you cant hit it at 500 yards with an 8 pound gun, you cant hit it with a 15 pound gun.

But if all you have is the 15 pounder...go for it. Better than shelling out 1500$ on a new rifle/scope combo.

 

[cody c]

I never claimed to be shooting at 500 yards free hand after running up a hill, did you read anything I posted? Nor did I say it was a superior hunting rifle to anything else out there. Edit: the terrain I go for elk or deer is mostly north of spirit river, and very different from logging roads and cut blocks. There isnt much for hills out this way, but the game I look for usually is at the edge of fields at first and last shooting light. It is alot different than BC hunting. I grew up near smithers BC and am familiar with that sort of terrain.

I was posting that I do actually have a heavier rifle, and do have experience with it.

I did post that it works well enough for hunting from blinds around fields and is pleasant to shoot, but I wouldnt drag it up a mountain although it isnt impossible.

Where is the experience of the "If you cant hit it at 500 yards with an 8 pound gun, you cant hit it with a 15 pound gun. " coming from? I'm guessing you've never use a heavier rifle before.

My point about moving game vs. rifle weight is simple, if the difference in weight between 2 rifles is a few pounds, and that makes using a heavier rifle completely insane and impossible. How do you explain the extra couple hundred pounds of dead weight you gotta drag out with you when you do get something.

This is my experience with a heavy rifle, and the reason I use such an anchor is explained above. This is actual experience for the OP over hear say, but good for you if you can run up a mountain and shoot 500 yards free hand to smack your game with your little rifle, you are a much better hunter than I.

Quartering and deboning is fine, but Id rather drag out a deer a few hundred yards, or take a quad for something bigger.

Edit: Im sorry Big John, but with a name like that I pictured you as having a Giant blue ox to accompany you with many large animals over your shoulder on the way home from hunting. Im kinda bummed out picturing you bone'ing out little a bambi for the march home.

 

[1899]

Built for target and hunting but came out much heavier than I expected, robably closer to 20 pounds.

You are just bitter....

 

[cody c]

You are just bitter....

Ya Ive had way to much coffee today, sorry.

 

[rral22]

My point about moving game vs. rifle weight is simple, if the difference in weight between 2 rifles is a few pounds, and that makes using a heavier rifle completely insane and impossible. How do you explain the extra couple hundred pounds of dead weight you gotta drag out with you when you do get something.

Just to be sure I have this right: you are arguing we should all carry around really heavy crap all the time, so that if we ever get a load of really heavy meat to carry, it won't feel so bad?

Or, is it that you think: because I don't want to carry excessively heavy guns all day, that I must, by definition, be too puny to handle any animal I might shoot with my toy gun?

Those ideas actually seem to follow the rules of logic to you?

Maybe hunting is supposed to be fun. Maybe carrying heavy stuff is just silly because carrying heavy stuff for no reason IS just silly and spoils the fun. Maybe, even though I don't really want to carry heavy stuff if I don't have to, I might just be capable of doing it anyway when it is necessary. Could it be like that instead?

 

[Rman]

Two of my long range rigs weigh 18 pounds each. I use a biathlon type sling that allows the rifle to be carried like a back pack. I do walk with it, but only a few clicks out, and a few back. It is heavy, but for the type of hunting I do, it works well for me.

R.

 

[1899]

Two of my long range rigs weigh 18 pounds each. I use a biathlon type sling that allows the rifle to be carried like a back pack. I do walk with it, but only a few clicks out, and a few back. It is heavy, but for the type of hunting I do, it works well for me.

R.

What's with you Calgarians?

 

[hawk-i]

Come on Guys....if you can't carry 15 lbs afield stay on the couch and watch hunting video's.!!!! Really.... 7 lbs is nice but is double the weight really that much of a burden, if you can't take the weight because your shoulder gets sore then consider a double sling (biathlon type sling) to spread the enormous EXTRA burden to both shoulders...maybe "SOME" kids (if you're under 35) today, should revert to pumping iron instead of working out on video games. Not meaning to offend anyone but come on!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Jon]

I like to be pretty mobile when I hunt. I am not a super lightweight nut but there is no chance in hell I would pack a 15lb rifle around. Maybe if I was just going to walk a few hundred yards to a blind than sit there all day...but if I am putting on a couple to a few miles a day over varying terrain with a day pack on and carrying a rifle...anything over 9lbs is what I would consider silly. I too hunt the Peace/Smoky area and there is plenty of areas to experience more than just cultivated field hunting.

I don't generally bone out deer but have halved and quarterd them to get them back to the truck. Sometimes I shoot deer in places that would be just plain stupid to huff and puff with dragging it out...over stumps, logs, through draws etc. I also hunt on quite a bit of private land that the owners request no vehicular access of any kind. Period. I'm ok with that...as long as I don't have a boat anchor that launchs bullets attached to me anywhere.

If you are so hell bent on lugging your 15lb rifle around why did you even start the thread?

 

[Boomer]

Come on Guys....if you can't carry 15 lbs afield stay on the couch and watch hunting video's.!!!! Really.... 7 lbs is nice but is double the weight really that much of a burden, if you can't take the weight because your shoulder gets sore then consider a double sling (biathlon type sling) to spread the enormous EXTRA burden to both shoulders...maybe "SOME" kids (if you're under 35) today, should revert to pumping iron instead of working out on video games. Not meaning to offend anyone but come on!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if your tune would change if you had to pack 500 pounds of meat, 200 pounds of hide, head, and antlers across 8 miles of muskeg, and you had to carry the rifle both ways each trip because there were grizzlies or polar bears everywhere, and you're soaked in moose blood. Often in the fall, the top couple of inches freeze and hold your weight for a step or two, then you drop through up to your knees, then you break through for the next 3 or 4 steps, then it holds you for another couple. That kind of travel would be exhausting for an Olympian without any weight. Everyone's reality if different, and what might be possible for you might not be universally true for everyone.

 

[bUBs]

I am totally in agreement with the light rifle group. A "normal" weight hunting rifle at 7-8ish pounds that is accurate has an obvious advantage over a 15lb + gun.
If it is what you want or what you have then power to you.

If you really like the punishment of extra weight why not carry some rocks in your pockets or for a real challenge how about tying your shoe laces together?

Or maybe you can enlighten me as to the real benefit of a extra heavy gun for hunting instead of questioning the manhood of those who choose otherwise....

 

[Rman]

What's with you Calgarians?

We have lots of deer here, and wide open spaces. If I were back hunting in BC, I would have the lightest rifle I could find. I sure as hell wouldn't be packing 18 pounds of rifle for a 2 to 300 hundred yard shot.
It all about the terrain, and shooting distance.
A heavy rifle, will outperform a lighter rifle, all day, every day, when shooting longer distances. That's why they are heavy.

R.

 

[1899]

We have lots of deer here, and wide open spaces. If I were back hunting in BC, I would have the lightest rifle I could find. I sure as hell wouldn't be packing 18 pounds of rifle for a 2 to 300 hundred yard shot.
It all about the terrain, and shooting distance.
A heavy rifle, will outperform a lighter rifle, all day, every day, when shooting longer distances. That's why they are heavy.

R.

See, I don't think I agree with this in hunting situations - during competition, yes, but when you have to make only one or two shots out of a cold barrel, then no.

 

[hawk-i]

I wonder if your tune would change if you had to pack 500 pounds of meat, 200 pounds of hide, head, and antlers across 8 miles of muskeg, and you had to carry the rifle both ways each trip because there were grizzlies or polar bears everywhere, and you're soaked in moose blood. Often in the fall, the top couple of inches freeze and hold your weight for a step or two, then you drop through up to your knees, then you break through for the next 3 or 4 steps, then it holds you for another couple. That kind of travel would be exhausting for an Olympian without any weight. Everyone's reality if different, and what might be possible for you might not be universally true for everyone.

wow....700 lbs, 8 miles, in half froozen muskeg...do you do that in one trip???? is it up hill both ways???? All joking aside, in the senario you've described I'd have to say yes every extra pound would count...but also putting yourself in that situation would be kind of like Honestly, I've never met, knew, or heard of any one person packing 700 lbs of animal 8miles in the conditions you've described and I'll also add that if I ever meet this person I'll address them as SIR and I certainly won't argue with them!!!!
and here I was thinking packing an extra 7 or 8 lbs of rifle weight isn't a burden....silly me!!!

 

[cody c]

I like to be pretty mobile when I hunt. I am not a super lightweight nut but there is no chance in hell I would pack a 15lb rifle around. Maybe if I was just going to walk a few hundred yards to a blind than sit there all day...but if I am putting on a couple to a few miles a day over varying terrain with a day pack on and carrying a rifle...anything over 9lbs is what I would consider silly. I too hunt the Peace/Smoky area and there is plenty of areas to experience more than just cultivated field hunting.

I don't generally bone out deer but have halved and quarterd them to get them back to the truck. Sometimes I shoot deer in places that would be just plain stupid to huff and puff with dragging it out...over stumps, logs, through draws etc. I also hunt on quite a bit of private land that the owners request no vehicular access of any kind. Period. I'm ok with that...as long as I don't have a boat anchor that launchs bullets attached to me anywhere.

If you are so hell bent on lugging your 15lb rifle around why did you even start the thread?

I didnt start the thread, just stirring the pot.

My other post was kinda outta line, what you say does makes sense. I hope it was taken with a sense of humour.

 

[MTM]

wow....700 lbs, 8 miles, in half froozen muskeg...do you do that in one trip???? is it up hill both ways???? All joking aside, in the senario you've described I'd have to say yes every extra pound would count...but also putting yourself in that situation would be kind of like Honestly, I've never met, knew, or heard of any one person packing 700 lbs of animal 8miles in the conditions you've described and I'll also add that if I ever meet this person I'll address them as SIR and I certainly won't argue with them!!!!
and here I was thinking packing an extra 7 or 8 lbs of rifle weight isn't a burden....silly me!!!

Ever hunted northern B.C. from a river boat. Deboning and packing great distances is how it happens. We have no boat so get dropped off 4-5 hours up river. Set up base camp on the river but hunt outa spike camps 6-10 km up in the hills. Once you pull the trigger the funs over. Rifle wieght is a consideration, my flywieght (8 1/2 lbs) 416 Rem was about right as was my 340 WBY at about the same wieght.

 

[hawk-i]

Ever hunted northern B.C. from a river boat. Deboning and packing great distances is how it happens. We have no boat so get dropped off 4-5 hours up river. Set up base camp on the river but hunt outa spike camps 6-10 km up in the hills. Once you pull the trigger the funs over. Rifle wieght is a consideration, my flywieght (8 1/2 lbs) 416 Rem was about right as was my 340 WBY at about the same wieght.

Actually yes I have hunted northern BC from my river boat...I've done the Kechika, Muskwa and Prophet rivers and although I have to say that I haven't yet had to pack any animal 10 kms I still don't see a problem with an extra 7 or 8 lbs.... I've also hunted and shot Sheep in the alberta rockies carrying a bull barrel Remington which with big Swarovski scope and bi-pod weighed in at around 15 lbs...ha, I ended up carrying two rifles up the mountain as my brother inlaw succumbed to the burden of his light weight 700 adl in 270...so i guess I'm saying its what you condition yourself to do....happy hunting!!!

 

[Rman]

See, I don't think I agree with this in hunting situations - during competition, yes, but when you have to make only one or two shots out of a cold barrel, then no.

My point was more towards the distance that one is shooting in their individual hunting conditions. Like I said in my previous post, if I were hunting in your neck of the woods again, I certianly wouldn't be packing an 18 pound rifle. Here, I do, as the shots are quite long.

R.

 

[Big Jon]

Actually yes I have hunted northern BC from my river boat...I've done the Kechika, Muskwa and Prophet rivers and although I have to say that I haven't yet had to pack any animal 10 kms I still don't see a problem with an extra 7 or 8 lbs.... I've also hunted and shot Sheep in the alberta rockies carrying a bull barrel Remington which with big Swarovski scope and bi-pod weighed in at around 15 lbs...ha, I ended up carrying two rifles up the mountain as my brother inlaw succumbed to the burden of his light weight 700 adl in 270...so i guess I'm saying its what you condition yourself to do....happy hunting!!!

Anyone else smell something?