So I went on a bit of a search for a lighter deer rifle. It started when I saw a Howa super light for sale. I have been a Husky 1900 and Weatherby Vanguard fan for quite a few years. The weight of these rifles has only started to bother me recently, I have had many years of pulling on wrenches and I am awaiting some minor surgery that should alleviate some shoulder pain. I have one very nice wood and blued Husky 1900 and a few stainless and Cerakoted Vanguards in Bell and Carlson stocks[ one in 270 Winchester], all of these rifles will cause me some discomfort after a few kms of walking. In reading about the light Howa rifles; the trade off between accuracy and Weight comes up as well as some negatives about the removable magazines, plus I am partial to stainless rifles. I also researched and tried a few of the lower priced entry level rifles Ruger Americans, AB3 Brownings etc. I was looking at 6.5 Creedmoor as a choice as it seems to be the latest and greatest. In the end the journey took me all the way to my gun locker where my Wife's T3 7 08 sat in a Boyd's thumbhole stock, my Wife is very sensitive to recoil and the thumbhole stock helps, She has found that even the 7 08 bothers Her. So I swapped the Boyd's for the original synthetic' mounted a 2-7 scope and went off to shoot a few rounds. 270 Winchester and 7-08 have been my favourite deer rounds [not looking for a discussion]. I am hoping the lighter Tikka will cause me less discomfort, if not I will start saving for a lighter carbon stock. So at the end of this I will now be looking for a T3 in 243 to go back in the Boyd's', and I will stay with 7 08, 270 and 243 that I am already set up for. With rifles it is really the journey and not the destination that is enjoyable, even if the journey just takes you down the hall to the gun locker.
Lighter rifle
- Thread starter Milt Dale
- Start date
I still use mine occasionally when i am going into a particular area to still hunt
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Forget about the howa superlite. Find yourself a Kimber Hunter. They weigh 5 pounds 10 ounces, and if you think you want lighter, take the goo out of the stock and reduce the weight by about another 7 ounces. They are stainless, have a good detachable box magazine, and are very accurate. You're welcome.
While you are using smaller calibers and cartridges with less felt recoil, the standard Tikka T3 recoil pad is fairly hard. As a recommendation that will lead to even more reduced felt recoil, replace the factory pad with a LimbSaver pad. A recoil sensitive shooter, such as your wife will appreciate it, as will your injured shoulder.
I did this for my wife. She found the recoil of her Steyr Mannlicher Mountain rifle to be too much with the factory pad and 140 gr ammunition. She appreciated it once we swapped the recoil pad. Today, she has even reduced felt recoil further by getting a Browning X Bolt in 6.5 Creedmoor, after shooting and hunting with mine, with 130 gr ammunition. (This rifle weighs 7 lbs 10 oz with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36 in Talley one piece rings and bases.)
On another note, if the weight of the rifle is bothering the shoulder, the question would be, is from carrying the rifle or shooting the rifle?
If packing/carrying, can understand how you would appreciate a lighter scoped rifle package.
If is from shooting the rifle, keep in mind that a lighter rifle will not dampen the felt recoil of a cartridge as well as a heavier firearm. In this instance, finding the right balance will be key to meet your needs.
I did this for my wife. She found the recoil of her Steyr Mannlicher Mountain rifle to be too much with the factory pad and 140 gr ammunition. She appreciated it once we swapped the recoil pad. Today, she has even reduced felt recoil further by getting a Browning X Bolt in 6.5 Creedmoor, after shooting and hunting with mine, with 130 gr ammunition. (This rifle weighs 7 lbs 10 oz with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36 in Talley one piece rings and bases.)
On another note, if the weight of the rifle is bothering the shoulder, the question would be, is from carrying the rifle or shooting the rifle?
If packing/carrying, can understand how you would appreciate a lighter scoped rifle package.
If is from shooting the rifle, keep in mind that a lighter rifle will not dampen the felt recoil of a cartridge as well as a heavier firearm. In this instance, finding the right balance will be key to meet your needs.
Yea man I shoot a rifle that weighs 6lbs scoped and I will tell you that it takes a bit to get good at shooting lightweight rifles. Some people just can’t shoot them.
If you are able to wear a pack you could get one of those quick draw slings for your pack. If you do that correctly it will put the weight on your hips. We just make our own out of parachord and buckles. It takes me 4.5 seconds to get it off, chamber and shoot a round.
If you are able to wear a pack you could get one of those quick draw slings for your pack. If you do that correctly it will put the weight on your hips. We just make our own out of parachord and buckles. It takes me 4.5 seconds to get it off, chamber and shoot a round.
I have just sold a Barrett fieldcraft in 6.5 creed, an extremely well made light rifle,
only let it go as moved to NZ, and already had a kimber MT Assent .260,
Good mate bought it, it could really shoot, his groups at 300m are very impressive.
only let it go as moved to NZ, and already had a kimber MT Assent .260,
Good mate bought it, it could really shoot, his groups at 300m are very impressive.
Since switching over to the full carbon rifles for hunting 270win fierce, a 7mm backcountry fierce and a christensen Ridgeline fft 300win mag. It would be a hell of a fight to get me back into a steel barrel rifle even with a synthetic stock/fluted barrel. I highly recommend the fierce rifles. It takes a little bit to get used to but once you have its a game changer. Some guys will argue accuracy but they all shoot half moa or lower. As for amplifying recoil a brake and recoil pad will drop it significantly if it is more than expected.
apex survival
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Alberta
My hunting rig is 8lbs, 0.6oz without bipod/sling/ammunition. Not super light, but its not heavy either.
Big bore dinosaur
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NORT OF COW.TOWN.EH
Kimber gets my vote.. M.T. or the hunter versions are nice. 280ai is my cup of tea
yeah the kimbers r awesome, little model 70s on diets.
tikkas are awesome.... common , daily go to trucks.
everything else... farrrrk, dont worry too much bout em
I feel your pain about your shoulders, I too have old injured joints and while I love a heavy rifle at the bench, long days in the field can be painful. my current main big game rifle is a custom Defiance in an AG composites carbon stock and a #2 Benchmark stainless barrel, it weighs 7lbs 15oz with scope and ammo and sling--just about my max for comfort for an all day hike. I have another rifle coming that should be under 7lbs scoped with ammo, I am looking forward to trying it out, just waiting on CP to deliver it. One thing that has helped me tremendously is dropping a couple notches on my belt (I've lost 27 lbs so far) and hitting the gym working with a personal trainer.
I have read a ton about the Howa Superlites and have been tempted myself, if I find one in 7mm-08 it might come home with me. They seem to be shooters, lots of reviewers on YT touting their accuracy and there is a conversion kit to get rid of the detachable magazine if you desire.
I have read a ton about the Howa Superlites and have been tempted myself, if I find one in 7mm-08 it might come home with me. They seem to be shooters, lots of reviewers on YT touting their accuracy and there is a conversion kit to get rid of the detachable magazine if you desire.
wolf300H&H
CGN Regular
- Location
- Cabin in central Alberta
My kimber 308 is stupid light.
