ready to hunt rifle weight.

My 280AI weighs 7.9lbs, loaded and with sling and a Vortex Viper 3-15X42 scope. I hunt primarily in Ontario for deer and moose, but have hunted Alberta for Muleys and whitetail with this rifle. For me it is just about the ideal weight--light enough to cary easily for extended periods and heavy enough that it holds well when in various shooting positions.

I also have a Remington M7 in 308 that tips the scales at over a full pound lighter, and it is an absolute joy to carry, especially on full day excursions. It is however a little harder to hold steady unless I have a very good rest to shoot from.
 
boxhitch said:
Not sure if you've seen a Kifaru Gunbearer - type carrier and how easy they are to use and how easy they are to diy at home, but they sure make carrying any rifle a lot more comfortable one you get used to having the barrel up front. They work when on a atv also
With practice the barrel can also be a support when using the binos, bonus
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I posted this question (Rifle Carriers) back in the Spring or was it last Winter (??)

IIRC, the Kifaru one was the least favourite with the Exo Mount Gear K2/3/4 versions receiving better praises by members on here. I do have the OG K2 Exo one and it does work, although generally I’ve just strapped the rifle to the pack beit a daypack or full on frame pack if I’m hiking a fair bit. Which reminds me.. been wanting to upgrade to the newer Exo K4 version for a while now, better tend to that..

The drawback to any of them is.. ease of accessibility of course.

While it’s always in either of the two packs, I generally only use it for walking in or out well before/after legal hours (cased/trigger locked of course). It would probably see more use if I had something along the lines of #9+ setup say along the lines of a HB 700 or B14 Ridge/Wilderness etc. While I’ve done the 700P thing a few seasons ago, it’s not something I would do everyday and kudo/props to the guys that do carry #9+ everyday in the field.

At any rate..yes they’re useable, but definitely not for everyone or terrain in Canuck land.
 
A lot of my hunting rifles over the yrs were in the 7-8.5 lb range. Now that I be a skinny old bugga, I much prefer a short, sub 7 lb rifle
fer the woods ranges I shoot.

Me RAR in 450BM w/Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4x20 scope in Weaver classic rings. She weighs under 6.5 lb as set up+ 2 rnds loaded.
Me RAR 450 - 2.jpg
 
8.5# or less is about all I burden myself with. Something light would be great, but I've never invested in that. Diminishing returns at escalating cost. Although I did used to hunt with a simple rifle with iron sights when I was young. But so did most back then.
 
So I asked my wife tonight and her reply was... what do you mean carry??? All I care about when hunting is how far the seat goes back in the truck and what radio station is playing!!! I had a dumbfounded look on my face (apparently) then she reminded me that the last animal she got was a 2 year old bull moose that came out of 1 set of bushes and she literally got out of the truck, shot it and it went 200 yards and died in another set of bushes. It was the first moose we had seen in a couple of half days of hunting and it was season done.
 
Weatherby vanguard 300 win mag 26". 7.5lb.
Vortex diamondback 6-24x50 1.5lb
Leather sling 0.75lb
7 cartridges (3 in mag 4 in holder on stock), 0.5lb.
23" Bipod: 1lb

11.25lb for my long range setup. I'm about to put a 27" double telescoping bipod on it that'll increase by half a pound more. I also want to put it in a wood stock that'll increase weight.
 
regulate34 said:
I looking to see what your rifle weight is ready to hunt?
scope/sling/full ammo.

i put a rifle together for the wife. She thinks it’s heavy. i think it’s average and she needs tuffin-up lol.

it’s a savage 16 7-08 22” bbl
leupold 4-12x40 with alumina caps
leupold backcountry mounts
slogan outdoors rubber sling.

8lb 14oz with a loaded mag

it’s an average amongst my scoped rifles.

what do you think. should i buy her a Kimber/Christensen arms or gym membership.

😂
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4 kg is too heavy-
it needs to be around 3.2-3.3 kg up to 3.5kg total for a Women of typical stature.... scope choice plays a huge part in weight saving- if they need more than a 3-9x40 (4-12 at most) in most typical shooting scenerios then its getting into specialist shooting--- much larger heavier specialised scopes come into play.

rifles-- those compacts of any sort are typically a good start- if shes not compact- some of the plastic fantastics come into play.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
8.5# or less is about all I burden myself with. Something light would be great, but I've never invested in that. Diminishing returns at escalating cost. Although I did used to hunt with a simple rifle with iron sights when I was young. But so did most back then.
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it reminds me of guys that will drop 5000$+ to make three mountian sled 20lbs lighter. loosing 20lbs and being in better shape will do even more.

UL rifles are good for packing but i honestly don’t like shooting them.

in africa guys are packing 11lb CZ550s all over.
 
blargon said:
i have a savage LW Storm with a vx2 2-7 for my wife and daughter and they love how light it is. I'll weigh it tomorrow
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i’m interested to see the weight.

i have a old savage axis youth i put a regular stock on. it’s only 7.1lbs all in. but the wife wanted somthing a little bigger to hunt moose
 
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