Is a 9lb rifle too heavy? Opinions?

[ZAK13]

Nope, not heavy at all. I carry a 9.5lb. 300WM in the backcountry. Could I go lighter? Probably, but recoil increases with the lighter weight.

 

[gator378]

Hey guys I had a recent post on my new rifle build, and I wanted to get everyone's opinions on whether they thought a 9lb rifle was too heavy. When I built this rifle it was intended to take out west on a elk hunt or similar. I have not physically had the scope and mounts off of the rifle to get bare weight, however leupold s website says the scope weights about 22.8oz and rings are 3.9oz. Do you all think a 9lb rifle scopes and loaded is too heavy for tree stand/ground blind/truck hunt? No excessive walking, no more than 200 yards to and from my hunting location.

with 9 lbs I hope you have a good sling. Slings and heavy rifles go together. What caliber? a 9lb 308 heavy. a 91b 338 not bad. a 9lb 458 Winchester. Good. I do not like light rifles they hurt. my heavy Sendero in 2506 is a delight to shoot. all day.

 

[Lapuatom]

Hey guys I had a recent post on my new rifle build, and I wanted to get everyone's opinions on whether they thought a 9lb rifle was too heavy. When I built this rifle it was intended to take out west on a elk hunt or similar. I have not physically had the scope and mounts off of the rifle to get bare weight, however leupold s website says the scope weights about 22.8oz and rings are 3.9oz. Do you all think a 9lb rifle scopes and loaded is too heavy for tree stand/ground blind/truck hunt? No excessive walking, no more than 200 yards to and from my hunting location.

Have a McMillan TAC 338 w5.5x22NF,bipod, fully loaded,14lds+-,carried in Wyoming for elk. Steep terrain, slow and steady ,took lots of breaks, but when I got to my hide, owned the canyon!

 

[Muddyboots]

Sounds like a light build rifle! My Sendero weighs a lot more and I refuse to weigh it that way I can say it probably weighs 7.5 lbs.

 

[shooter7]

My light rifle comes in at 9.1 lbs including optic and ammo. I don't have any desire to go lighter. Maybe if I was chasing sheep or goats above treeline, but for elk and mulies in western MT, 9 is fine.

 

[Ronald W Schaefer]

I took a 9.5 Lb .300 Wby Mag to Africa and had the "opportunity" to stalk a group of Eland 12.5 miles one day...that rifle got heavy. Using it in the stands and short walks has always been A-OK in the past. On that particular stalk, aint gonna lie, wish I had the 7 Lb CT Carbon Edge!

 

[Tangent]

My preferred rifle weight is 10 - 11 pounds. I typically walk/hike 3 - 15 miles a day. I'm not a particularly big dude and I'm easily in the worst shape of my life (although I'm still in the green of a BMI chart, haha). But the 11 pound rifle has never been a problem.

Lightweight and long range just don't mix all that well.

 

[codyadams]

Hey guys I had a recent post on my new rifle build, and I wanted to get everyone's opinions on whether they thought a 9lb rifle was too heavy. When I built this rifle it was intended to take out west on a elk hunt or similar. I have not physically had the scope and mounts off of the rifle to get bare weight, however leupold s website says the scope weights about 22.8oz and rings are 3.9oz. Do you all think a 9lb rifle scopes and loaded is too heavy for tree stand/ground blind/truck hunt? No excessive walking, no more than 200 yards to and from my hunting location.

Lol. I packed a 14 lb rifle on an 8 mile round trip deer hunt that included 5,000 ft elevation either up or down and a boned out deer coming back out with us. My "easy" mule deer hunt is usually a minimum of 6 miles round trip that includeds 1,000 ft elevation change. 200 yards max? I wouldn't sneeze at carrying a Barrett that far.

I did recently build a 9 lb 1 oz rifle for taking on those hunts though. But ya, if I was only going 200 yards, I would put my rifle in the 10-14 lb range, heavier guns may be harder to pack, but they are easier to shoot.

 

[Greyfox]

Back in the 80's when I went to Africa I brought a 375H&H Whitworth Express rifle, and a 500-450 H&H Double Rifle, each weighing +10 pounds. Those rifles were carried all day for several days at a time in temperatures as high as 90 degrees. initially, it seemed like a radical increase from my Sporters, and for sure my lever carbines, frequently used in the wooded areas of the Northeast. Slung, with a straight arm support, with hand inverted under the butt, there was no shoulder pressure.. After a couple of days adjusting, rifle weight became un-noticed, and has never been much of a factor for me since. For me, well balanced rifle weight aides in shooting stability.

 

[Mram10us]

My hunting partners and I all have 10+ lb rifles up to 13 and pack in on our backs. All high country, rocky, steep crap .... that we absolutely love Only you know your limits. If you can shoot a 7lb 338 edge as well as a 12lb one, more power to you

 

[Mram10us]

Hey guys I had a recent post on my new rifle build, and I wanted to get everyone's opinions on whether they thought a 9lb rifle was too heavy. When I built this rifle it was intended to take out west on a elk hunt or similar. I have not physically had the scope and mounts off of the rifle to get bare weight, however leupold s website says the scope weights about 22.8oz and rings are 3.9oz. Do you all think a 9lb rifle scopes and loaded is too heavy for tree stand/ground blind/truck hunt? No excessive walking, no more than 200 yards to and from my hunting location.

Ps, if you are western high country hunting, you should be able to pack your hunting partner 200 yds

 

[mnoland30]

I hunted for years with a 10 lb. rifle. I still can, but when I had a little extra money I invested in a Browning Ti 7mm WSM. It weighs 6-1/4 with scope and sling. A joy to carry, and I load it down so it is also fine to shoot. It will do everything my Rem 700 did. If you're hunting out west, I recommend walking with a pack to get in shape. If you have to track one, you'll be glad you did.

Invest in a Safari sling. By far the most comfortable way to carry a rifle. It does require perfect muzzle discipline. I don't let newbies hunt with me with safari slings. I don't know how far you intend to shoot, but a Leupold 3.5-10 has always worked for me. I shot an elk at 340 yards, using a 2-7x. I hate heavy scopes.

 

[Mram10us]

I hunted for years with a 10 lb. rifle. I still can, but when I had a little extra money I invested in a Browning Ti 7mm WSM. It weighs 6-1/4 with scope and sling. A joy to carry, and I load it down so it is also fine to shoot. It will do everything my Rem 700 did. If you're hunting out west, I recommend walking with a pack to get in shape. If you have to track one, you'll be glad you did.

Invest in a Safari sling. By far the most comfortable way to carry a rifle. It does require perfect muzzle discipline. I don't let newbies hunt with me with safari slings. I don't know how far you intend to shoot, but a Leupold 3.5-10 has always worked for me. I shot an elk at 340 yards, using a 2-7x. I hate heavy scopes.

Why get a 7wsm then load it down?

 

[mnoland30]

I was torn between a 7mm-08 and 7mm WSM. I went with the WSM in case I everI needed more velocity. I haven't ever needed more velocity, so I would have been just as happy with the 7mm-08. Americans are magnum happy, and the 6.5CR is demonstrating that it isn't necessary. Maybe if you're shooting at 1000 yards, but I don't.