Just back this morning from another 4 hr bushwack walk in a river bottom with my 11 pound rifle and 25# of safety backpack. The recoil from 7# 338 etc. is not something that I want to deal with.
How heavy is your rifle hunt ready?
- Thread starter emerson
- Start date
Just back this morning from another 4 hr bushwack walk in a river bottom with my 11 pound rifle and 25# of safety backpack. The recoil from 7# 338 etc. is not something that I want to deal with.
WTF is a is "#25 Safety backpack"
25 lbs of stuff to keep me functioning if I break my leg and have to wait for the cavalry.
I do most of my hunting on foot, in either very hilly or mountainous terrain.
Walking rifle is a Kimber 84M 7mm-08 6lbs all in.
My mountain rifle is a custom 700 in .280AI 7lbs all in.
When I am out hunting with my three year old son and his Grandpa we're in the truck, and I grab a scoped Enfield #5 thats gotta be close to 10 pounds. Feels like 20 pounds after carrying a Kimber!
i just weighed my #5 with 5 rounds in my pocket comes out at 7.3lbs no scope tho
- The M305/14 in 260 is a great idea - I would do that to an L1A1, if I could shoot it...
I'll defer to your expertise on what gets said in ### bars but out here a rifle is just one piece of equipment going up the hill and weight is a consideration.
black powder
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saint Hippolyte
10lb rifle in the left hand, 10lb upland gun in the right...high-rep alternating bicep curls as you're stalking. Be sure to cut the sleeves off your jacket so you can admire your arm pump, and fill your hydration bladder with a protein recovery shake.
Who are these p*ssies that strive for lightweight gear manufactured at some ### bar!
One important consideration is the balance of the rifle.
Too many rifles now are barrel-heavy at the gun counter. I think the Tikka is one of them - with a tiny plastic stock that isn't long or high enough for consistent weld.
Regardless of the overall weight, the balance has to be adjusted properly. Heavy barrel means heavy stock, whether or not the manufacturer felt like it when designing a 700-dollar rifle.
That being said, the total weight depends on type of hunting, type of cartridge, and accuracy/distance that you're expecting to shoot. IMHO, a 10-pound rifle in 458 Lott is pretty goddam light for example, but on the other hand I'd hate to have to swing a 25-pound rifle into action at a charging lion.
Basically I'd go from about 8 pounds minimum for a 45-70 SBL (iron sights) up to 20 pounds for a precision long-range medium-big bore. But I'm a large-caliber kind of guy. More is better. Even in a .22, I'd go for a fat barrel and more accuracy rather than lightness and convenience.
Too many rifles now are barrel-heavy at the gun counter. I think the Tikka is one of them - with a tiny plastic stock that isn't long or high enough for consistent weld.
Regardless of the overall weight, the balance has to be adjusted properly. Heavy barrel means heavy stock, whether or not the manufacturer felt like it when designing a 700-dollar rifle.
That being said, the total weight depends on type of hunting, type of cartridge, and accuracy/distance that you're expecting to shoot. IMHO, a 10-pound rifle in 458 Lott is pretty goddam light for example, but on the other hand I'd hate to have to swing a 25-pound rifle into action at a charging lion.
Basically I'd go from about 8 pounds minimum for a 45-70 SBL (iron sights) up to 20 pounds for a precision long-range medium-big bore. But I'm a large-caliber kind of guy. More is better. Even in a .22, I'd go for a fat barrel and more accuracy rather than lightness and convenience.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Give me an MOA rifle that is 7-8lbs, all up, and I'm a happy camper.
Then again, I do a lot of sheep and elk hunting, so I want a light rifle. I carry the darn thing 99% of the time, and shoot it 1% of the time, so I'll sacfricie 1/2MOA in order to shave a couple of pounds off the rig.
Then again, I do a lot of sheep and elk hunting, so I want a light rifle. I carry the darn thing 99% of the time, and shoot it 1% of the time, so I'll sacfricie 1/2MOA in order to shave a couple of pounds off the rig.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I had to go weight it cause I read this thread and was curious. Apparently it isn't a little boys gun, it comes in at 15lbs, SA
No Deal Buddy. I'm ex-infantry, A ten pound rifle is nothing. I prefer everything on foot. If a ten pound rifle bothers anyone, they should take up knitting, not hunting. Its got nothing to do with swinging a club as others have suggested, its got everything to do with a decent rifle that can do its job. I weigh 165 lbs on a wet day, If a decent rifle is too much on your shoulder, get a wider strap and stop being a wimp.
Sako 75 Hunter in 300WM loaded with 6x Leupold and leather sling=10lbs. It's great for the thick stuff and prairie....and I imagine a few other settings as well. I'm only concerned about the weight, length, cartridge, etc...when I'm on the internet; when I'm actually hunting, it's just a great hunting rifle.
