Heavy sporting rifles
- Thread starter Buckmastr
- Start date
Me too. If I ain't gonna be walking really far or over rough terrain I really like the weight of say a Winchester 70 Sporter. Pre 64 or New Haven classic.
They're just under 8lbs, before scope/ammo/sling? Comfy to shoot and stable. A full size, long action Rem. 700 with a non-lightweight scope, sling and ammo in it is probably 9lbs too.
They're just under 8lbs, before scope/ammo/sling? Comfy to shoot and stable. A full size, long action Rem. 700 with a non-lightweight scope, sling and ammo in it is probably 9lbs too.
Hell, yes!, unless it's a .458, then 10 lbs is just right.
I have a Winchester Featherweight model 70 that's around 7 1/2 lbs scoped... that's a nice weight to carry. A 6 1/2 lb model 94 is a delight. Anything over 8 1/2 lbs, and I start to wonder why I'm carrying the damn thing, unless it's a hard kicker. If it is a hard kicker, I start to question whether I really need that much gun for what I'm hunting.
On a hunting trip, you could spend all but 30 secs not shooting it.
Those 30 seconds can make or break your hunt.
Fisherguy55
Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
Bulk of the little hunting I do is in and out of a tin boat anyways, 10lb rifle sounds fine to me if it's in the right places and stable. My trips to the mountains include skis not schnee's and marketing plays less and less into my purchases as I age. Not actively shopping for an ultralight any time soon.
Chuck my new T3X. Roughtech. 6.5 PRC with a Leupold VX3I 4.5-14 x44. 30mm CDS - 8 lbs .RJ
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No it’s Feel pretty Good Joel Shoots Nice Too - 3000 fos with 143 ELDX - RJ
Well, that would depend on the scenario really..
A Sheep/Goat hunt at high elevation, I would want a UL-LW rig in the #6.5 to #7 range
Backcountry Elk - as long as it’s a reasonable/sane distance of up to 400yrds max probably #7 to #8.5
Hardwoods Whitetail - beit treestand or a standing watch, somewhere in the #8.5 would work, yet something along the lines of a M7 or Tikka Compact would/could bode equally as well.
Logging Cut/Open Country Moose - i’ve seen guys carry up to #11 here in Ont. most of them are just pulling up on an ATV to a spot and set up shop so weight doesnt become a factor really. If you have to walk to your spot and then set up, then that #10-#11 rig gets cumbersome for sure moving through the slop, stumps and stuff. That and those heavier rigs aren’t really conducive to those unexpected or quick shots that present themselves more oft then not.
For me personally as I age, I find a LW setup in the #6-3/4 to #7.5 in a 22-24” bbl with a max of #3 profile barrel range works best for my style of hunting which is covering ground/walking/hiking.
I do bring a heavier setup both in Cal and weight, if i’m going to be sitting in an open cut and needing to cover distance for the day. Admittedly I don’t enjoy carrying that #10 or so getting to my spot, but the trade-off is the weight stability for those longer shots. So an even draw there.
Lots of factors to consider for sure.
My 458wm is likely around the 10lb mark. My 2506 with 13"-24' bipod and giant barska scope weighs more I'd bet. I also use 3 different chassis type rifles which support heavy optics. Nf and forge.
The only time gun weight ever really mattered to me was carrying a dead turkey or few Canada geese back across a large field while carrying one of my 10ga guns. Sxs or bps neither are lightweight.
My rifles are generally slung over my back but when carrying a shotgun 6.5 to 7lbs seems about right
The only time gun weight ever really mattered to me was carrying a dead turkey or few Canada geese back across a large field while carrying one of my 10ga guns. Sxs or bps neither are lightweight.
My rifles are generally slung over my back but when carrying a shotgun 6.5 to 7lbs seems about right
