BackCountry Vs Mountain Vs Alpine is there a difference?
- Thread starter ShrtRnd
- Start date
I've definately dabbled in having mutliple firearms for different scenarios.... the bush rifle, the open country rifle, the treestand rifle, the target rifle ect ect. .308, 30-06, .303 , 7-08
In the end, I always seem to grab my ruger m77 mkii 7mm rm ..... she's not light by any stretch, she's a little long for the bush and treestand and the elements are beginning to take a toll on her stock ..... but she's my favorite rifle to carry in BC regardless. That said , I've been assembling components for a 19" barrelled bush/treestand rifle that I hope to have complete by spring.
In the end, I always seem to grab my ruger m77 mkii 7mm rm ..... she's not light by any stretch, she's a little long for the bush and treestand and the elements are beginning to take a toll on her stock ..... but she's my favorite rifle to carry in BC regardless. That said , I've been assembling components for a 19" barrelled bush/treestand rifle that I hope to have complete by spring.
Many years ago, the late, great Bob Hagel wrote some pithy words on the subject -- loosely paraphrased: "If you can't comfortably pack around an 8-1/2 - 9 lb scoped rifle, you sure as hell can't pack out whatever you're planning on shooting with it." Sage words.
Learn to hunt, Get closer , and that way you can savon weight by having a fix 4x scope, no bipod, no gizmos, and still be able to make 300m shots ethically on games! All the weight saved will give you place for a few more treats… hmmmm bacon
Ya I do that too.. It’s called the struggle stick aka Trad Archery lol
In all seriousness, I hear what you’re saying tho. 3-400yrds is a poke here in this province. While I’m confident at that range and do practice out to there, I generally like closer shots.
Was a time when I packed a Rem Custom Shop KS Mtn rifle in 338WM, was the lightest thing they had at Barotto's in 1991, had 9 guns on the counter, it was a clear winner, put a 3-9x40 Leupold on it, steel Weaver rings. At that time I packed a Kowa77 spotting scope also. But, I used to go every nite, all summer, with a 70lb pack over to the river and climb up and down the banks, ride my bicycle with it on back and forth to work as well. These days the light gun is a Merkel K1 in 7RM with a Zeiss Conquest MC 3-9x40 RZ600 on it.
To all the guys saying don't worry about your rifle weight, just lighten your back pack, or just lose weight, how will that help those of us who carry our rifle in our hands all day?
I climb into the alpine, and carry my rifle in my hands for several hours. If i'm not hunting the alpine, I am hiking other mountains. I don't carry the rifle on my shoulder or in a back pack scabbard. Rifle weight makes a huge difference to me. A fully outfitted Kimber that weighs 6.5 pounds total feels a whole lot better after a couple hours than a 7 pound 14 ounce Tikka or what ever.
If you are a road hunter in a truck, or on an atv, or you walk into a stand and sit all day, then rifle weight shouldn't matter, but to say if you can't handle packing a 9 pound rifle then you can't handle packing out what ever you shoot is a bunch of hogwash.
I climb into the alpine, and carry my rifle in my hands for several hours. If i'm not hunting the alpine, I am hiking other mountains. I don't carry the rifle on my shoulder or in a back pack scabbard. Rifle weight makes a huge difference to me. A fully outfitted Kimber that weighs 6.5 pounds total feels a whole lot better after a couple hours than a 7 pound 14 ounce Tikka or what ever.
If you are a road hunter in a truck, or on an atv, or you walk into a stand and sit all day, then rifle weight shouldn't matter, but to say if you can't handle packing a 9 pound rifle then you can't handle packing out what ever you shoot is a bunch of hogwash.
Well... backcountry is an area away from roads, mountain is mountains, alpine is in the mountains above treeline.
While there is no standard and all marketing... I would say the word backcountry is pretty much any hunting rifle, a mountain rifle is likely a weather resistant rifle that is modest in weight, and an alpine rifle is likely really lightweight.
But I am sure there are examples where this is not at all true.
While there is no standard and all marketing... I would say the word backcountry is pretty much any hunting rifle, a mountain rifle is likely a weather resistant rifle that is modest in weight, and an alpine rifle is likely really lightweight.
But I am sure there are examples where this is not at all true.
Yup. Doesn't matter how fit you are, you can be going faster and longer with less weight. Unless you are hunting with slow pokes or not going that deep into the bush, why would you not want the advantage?
I suppose we all reach a point where we say good enough and stop spending money, but a light rifle in the hand is nice.
True, but in the end you are better with a rifle that rift you, feels good and more importantly a rifle you can shoot accurately oh and I guess one you can afford lol.
If your rifle fill up all the boxes above then you are good to go, but if you can’t shoot it cause it’s too light then the weight saving ain’t worth it in my book. Also what is the point of getting a 5lbs rifle and putting a 2lbs scope on it. Again, learn to hunt learn to shoot and with a quality 2.5-8 scope at less than a pound you can reach out to 500m with out too much effort! To each there own I guess, but for me the sweet spot is 7.5-8.5 all in.
I have lighter but don’t seem to shoot it as good, need more practice with it, a little Merkel k5 30-06 at about 6.5lbs all in.
Bustercluck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fort McMurray
This isn’t rifle related… but I have a pair of Sitka “Mountain” pants that I’d never dream of bringing into the backcountry, mountains, or alpine. Maybe a day hike on a mountain but thats it.
