What rifle is NOT too heavy to hunt ...

Otokiak

Otokiak

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Edmonton, AB
I read alot in this hunting section and the "Hunting & sporting arms" section about guys walking thru bush or up mountains and across fields, etc ... hunting on foot really with gear ... so my question is what rifle do you think/feel is NOT too heavy for such hunting? I have used my snowmobile, my ATV and my boat for most of my hunting so I don't carry a rifle really ... however, for a few yrs in a row I went over to Baffin Island to hunt with a friend there ON FOOT and we would walk anywhere from 5 - 10 miles over huge rolling hills and I carried my M14 on those trips ... I never really thought it was heavy ... but that's me ... :D Let's hear your opinions, thoughts, comments and even see pics of your rifle that's not too heavy to hunt with!!! ;) Cheers my fellow CGNers,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet,NU
CANADA
 
I use a Rem. 7600. With the scope ect, it's not the lightest gun, but not bad.

My PH #4 that I started with was lighter, but I prefer the pump and the stock on the 7600.

I've walked a bit with my M-14. With the scope and mount, IMO it would be too heavy to comfortably walk long distances.
 
My custom bull barrel 1886 Winchester will put your leg to sleep if you sit with it across your lap.
The weight is no issue if I'm hunting from a stand, and I have carried it for many miles when I was younger.
Today, It's a stand gun for me primarily, but If I need to I'll still pack it on a long walk.

When moose hunting, 15 to 20 miles is fairly normal over the course of a day.

If I'm walking bush, I'll take the '94 Winchester, or '92 Winchester (deer). The longer stuff, I take my 88 in 308.

7 to 8 pounds is fine with me, and for that matter, up to 10. The 1886? I really should weigh it, likely around 15lbs loaded.
 
I have a couple of lightweights for the longer treks, or when I must climb mountains.
One is a 6mm, the other a much more "persuasive" chambering.
Most of my general hunting rifles weigh in excess of 8lbs with optics, and I'm OK with them if I do not have to carry them too far.
Regards, Eagleye
 
Steyr Scout 308 with a 2.5 forward scope, very light and accurate,or if you go whitetail my Trapper 44 mag 1.5X4 Leopold very handy in the thick... JP.
 
I bought a Remmington Model Seven in .308 for my new mountain gun. I usually have a P1917 30-06 with a longer barrel. The weight was never a huge burden but with a 16-18 hour day of hiking, everything makes a little bit of difference. My favorite place:

The starting point is the far part of the cutblock in the foreground
39676_453518850708_514755708_6729267_6151313_n.jpg


looking for mountain goats :D
270859_10150282299835709_514755708_9609012_2753122_n.jpg
 
My Savage 10 xp is around 12lbs with the scope, ammo and a sling. I use it mostly for Coyote hunting so usually walking is minimal but there are times I go on a fair hike with it.

It is about as heavy as I would want to carry but you get used to it and I find it makes my deer rifle feel much lighter by comparison.

Truth be told, I'd much sooner carry a heavy rifle than a bow, don't know why but I have yet to find a decent way to carry my bow for long walks.
 
Price, not weight matters most. I won't lug a gun worth more than my car through muskeg, rivers or salt chuck. Perched on a roundbale or outcropping where I'll need the distance, then the pretty ones get to come.
 
The best answer would be whatever you're able to put up with. If you can put up with carrying a Norinco M305 all day then go for it. Not everyone is the same, and your tolerances may be higher than others.
 
For me if the balance is right I'd rather carry a rifle that is a few pounds heavier than an awkward one that is lighter. I certainly notice the difference with my Handi-Rifle but carrying a full-stocked No.4 with a scope all day is so.k. with me
 
Surrey Boy said:
Price, not weight matters most. I won't lug a gun worth more than my car through muskeg, rivers or salt chuck. Perched on a roundbale or outcropping where I'll need the distance, then the pretty ones get to come.
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^^^x2....I have a 15 lb Rem 700 heavy barrel that I throw in a Eberlestock pack to walk from coyote stand to coyote stand. I also will use it for some long range deer setups this fall. If I'm walking through a ####ty swampy, heavy bush the old reliable 303 comes out
 
42MTD said:
^^^x2....I have a 15 lb Rem 700 heavy barrel that I throw in a Eberlestock pack to walk from coyote stand to coyote stand. I also will use it for some long range deer setups this fall. If I'm walking through a s**tty swampy, heavy bush the old reliable 303 comes out
Click to expand...

Most of the large commercial farms I hunt yotes on have winter wheat planted which means no atv, sleds or trucks. So its walk in only. With a 10-12lb rifle, Ghillie, Binos, decoy, ecaller and water, the Eberlestock Gunslinger makes it an easy walk for sure.
 
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