How heavy would you go?
- Thread starter MartyK2500
- Start date
john-brennan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
I agree I have a 243 in a T3x 7.3lbs all in.
My 458wm is around the 10lb mark. Never had an issue carrying it even for 20km walks down logging roads. It does have a sling. I also hunt with a couple 10ga guns. My double is 11lbs 6oz empty. My other is a browning bps stalker that has to be around 10lb mark. I carry the double over my shoulder by the barrels and sling the bps. Never really slowed me down but i rarely carry them over a km each way. My coyote rifles are both over 9lbs one is a 2506 the other is 223. When i coyote hunt i only move 2/400 yards before sitting again so the weight isnt an issue. Balance is more important. If it balances between the hands the weight doesnt seem as much.
I did everything I could to get my Cooper to 10 lbs . And I just love shooting it. If it gets heavy on a hike, I can sling it over my shoulder (that’s what slings are for) ... and then I can change shoulders.. or maybe sit down. So why worry about a few extra ounces? Mind you, if yer not in shape, a good way to save weight is by not bringing any ammo ... because you likely wouldn’t be able to drag out yer game anyway.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
In a perfect world, 7lbs or less, loaded with a scope for any rifle i am spending a lot of hours hiking with
Sorry to be that guy, but for deer sized game at 50-100 yard off hand shots, the win 94 or 336 are already perfect weights..
If your also thinking 400 yard shots off a bipod or over a backpack, as well as standing shots, 7.5 pounds is a good target. Go with a lighter barrel profile and get it fluted. And shop for scope mounts and scope by first figuring out magnification range you want and then pour over the options while looking at weights.
If your also thinking 400 yard shots off a bipod or over a backpack, as well as standing shots, 7.5 pounds is a good target. Go with a lighter barrel profile and get it fluted. And shop for scope mounts and scope by first figuring out magnification range you want and then pour over the options while looking at weights.
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
My .250 savage AI weighs a hair under 8 lbs, 22-inch barrel, Burris 3-9 FFII scope.
Abundant power for your needs and it's an accurate rifle.
Really, given your shot distances, any standard-weight sporting rifle will do nicely, as will most centrefire cartridges.
Abundant power for your needs and it's an accurate rifle.
Really, given your shot distances, any standard-weight sporting rifle will do nicely, as will most centrefire cartridges.
OP - I'm guessing you are making your debut at hunting. I think once you "get your feet wet", you'll find that "bush" hunting tends to yield 50-100 y shots at deer, and 100 to 300 y shots at coyotes. For some folk, that would mean different rifles, based upon technique - spot and stock deer (30 cal lever action with a red dot), stand calling for coyotes ( 22 to 26 cal sporting rifle with mid-power scope). Some folk would split the difference and go with a mid-caliber rifle, and a low power scope. None of these scenarios require a heavy, precision-grade gun. I tend to walk alot when hunting (eg 5-7 km/day). In my younger days, rifle weight was not a consideration. These days, if I can get the job done with a lighter rifle and scope, that rifle gets the nod. 7-8 lbs is my limit. In addition, a shorter barrel (19 inches) makes dogging easier.
Final comment - for bush hunting, too much scope is a big liability. Simply put, the ability to get on target is affected by FOV. In most cases, rapid target acquisition trumps target magnification. At our deer camp, 3-9 is waayyy too much.
Final comment - for bush hunting, too much scope is a big liability. Simply put, the ability to get on target is affected by FOV. In most cases, rapid target acquisition trumps target magnification. At our deer camp, 3-9 is waayyy too much.
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I don't understand why people are so concerned with the weight of their rifles, its a boom stick that turns us into apex hunters.. a few extra lbs, one would speculate, is of little concern. I recognize that weight is good for bench shooting and not so good for hauling around all day, but isn't the trade off worth it? I'm not trying to be bright, just asking the dumb question instead of assuming the answer.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
It depends.
If you are in a tree blind over bait barrel for trophy black bear probably not. Or a goose blind your favorite Long Tom beside you.
However if you have been tramping over hill & glen all day long and at 4:15 PM the largest buck of your lifetime pops up at 40 yards maybe yes.
Maybe yes to a six pound 30-30 or Remington Model 7 in this instance.
Well - What does the extra 3 pounds get you?
Shooting a 10+ lb rifle freehand? Getting said gun off your shoulder and on target reasonably quickly? Last fall, a fella from the gun club showed up at the deer camp to make his debut at hunting. He brought his target gun, Mossberg MVP LC with 4-12 scope and bipod, no sling. He lugged that thing around for a few days, missed a shot at a deer at 50 yards ("all I saw was fur, then it was gone"). Reasonably encouraged, he immediately went out after the season closed and bought a CZ 557 carbine in 308 c/w Leupold 1.4-4 scope (and sling, no bipod).
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Some free advice from someone that has done this. I got rid of an accurate .223 Stevens with a 3x9 for a super accurate Winchester heavy barrel with a 5x15 scope on top. It was a gorgeous rifle and shot ridiculously well, it was also ridiculously heavy and I came to resent it in the field. I love wood and bluing and classy looking rifles, but I make one exception now. My varmint rifle will always be a lightweight synthetic stocked jobby with a 3x9. Currently it’s a ruger American which I have no attachment to but it shoots well and meets the weight cut off for comfortable carry. All of my big game or my crossover/coyote deer rifles are around 8lbs ish scoped with the exception of one. And it’s the one that sees the least carry. I don’t do heavy barrels, heavy components or heavy scopes for field guns. Just one mans opinion!
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