Standard size bolt guns: benefits?

[philthygeezer]

Seems that the 7.25 pound, 24 inch barreled sporter is or used to be the standard rifle in standard calibers. Perhaps the reasons are:

-not too heavy to carry
-recoil is more comfortable than the same gun with less weight
-standard barrel contour doesn't move as much
-holds a little steadier than the pencil barrels
-24" barrel gets optimized velocities

What else?

Would you say these attributes still make a standard sporter a good choice? Would you say that 'standard' has changed? Why?

 

[mikeyb]

I think the standard sporter is still the ideal size. For me, anyways. I can shoot a 7-7.5 pound .30-06 all day long, and I prefer 24" barrels in most cases. Throw a decent 3-9x scope on it and call it boring, but done.

But there's different tools for each job - if I'm sitting in a tree stand I can get away with a heavier, longer barreled rifle with a heavier, higher magnification scope. If I'm going to be walking around a lot then a thin 22" barrel or less with a synthetic stock and lightweight scope is just the ticket. If I'm just going to "play the day by ear" then either of those two will work in a pinch, but the sporter will do fine all around. A Remington Model 7 isn't my first choice in the deer stand, not is a Weatherby Accumark my choice for pushing bush, but a Model 70 Sporter would do both reasonably well.

 

[cam1936]

Standard length cartridges tend to cycle smoother than shorter cartridges, especially when compared to the short magnums.

 

[martinbns]

Seems that the 7.25 pound, 24 inch barreled sporter is or used to be the standard rifle in standard calibers. Perhaps the reasons are:

-not too heavy to carry
-recoil is more comfortable than the same gun with less weight
-standard barrel contour doesn't move as much
-holds a little steadier than the pencil barrels
-24" barrel gets optimized velocities

What else?

Would you say these attributes still make a standard sporter a good choice? Would you say that 'standard' has changed? Why?

You pretty much covered it, all in at 8.5 pounds is just about the maximum weight I enjoy carrying all day. Generally when I am using short action or mild recoiling cartridges such as a 308 or 6.5 swede, I go about a pound lighter. I carried a Sako AV 300 win mag for several years, with a 24" barrel, Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 it weighed 8.75 pounds.

 

[philthygeezer]

I wonder if bigger scopes are pushing people to lighter barrel contours?

What's better if both weigh just under eight pounds, a 6.5 pound mountain rifle with a 3.5-10x40mm or a 7 pound 4 ounce sporter with a 10 ounce 6x36 or 9 ounce 4x33?

 

[blargon]

Recoil is reduced a lot with heavier configs, especially with magnum cartridges. Also depends on how you hunt. For moose, my rifle is slung mostly, for deer its in my hands most of the time so I prefer light weight for that.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I think that "Standard" will always be the standard. A standard bolt rifle is the right balance of weight, length and portability for the majority of hunters. There are places for short rifles, a place for lightweight rifles and a place for beanfield rifles but the heart of the matter is that the middle of the bell-curve si the biggest markey and that market is for a 7.25lb 24" barrelled 270 or 30-06.

 

[RememberTheSomme]

I think that "Standard" will always be the standard. A standard bolt rifle is the right balance of weight, length and portability for the majority of hunters. There are places for short rifles, a place for lightweight rifles and a place for beanfield rifles but the heart of the matter is that the middle of the bell-curve si the biggest markey and that market is for a 7.25lb 24" barrelled 270 or 30-06.

Good points big ugly, the human anatomy doesn't change a great deal over time, so if Standard works all day in the field 60 years ago, it still works today.

I like 22" for standard, more efficient calibers, and 24"-26" on the overbore calibers.
They just look right and feel right. I like carbines as well for timber use, as it feels its part of your kit , and less like it requires much attention to maneuver the longer pole. Psychological? Maybe.

 

[Dogleg]

Gun makers produce what they can sell the most of at a price people will pay.

The buyers look for the performance they want, at a recoil level they can put up with, with a weight that they are willing to carry, the quality they want at a price they are willing to pay.

Turns out that 8-8.5 pounds dressed plus or minus 1/2 a pound and 24" barrels plus or minus a couple inches, and $100 a pound plus or minus a few bucks seems to please most people.

The quality guys can usually find someone to give them more gun for more money, and the price only guys can find less gun for less money.

 

[bogie]

This is a pattern that has developed as a standard after nearly a hundred years of making bolt action rifles. The manufacturers know what works and they want to make sure a product sells. Boring yes but effective and reliable.