Rifle length, weight, forgiveness. What is an easy to shoot hunting setup?

[Carey Farmer]

I am young, strong and tall if that matters and will gladly carry a rifle that is 2lbs heavier and 4" longer if I can extend my usable range by 200 yards (or what have you) but I dont know how well that translates. 10lbs scoped and 26" tube with a brake is probably the max? Less? Maybe I am missing something?

Upper body strength does indeed matter - but mostly for offhand shooting. Like Duckman11 says above, what probably matters most is recoil tolerance.

For similar recoil, a 15 lb (all-in, with scope and full magazine) magnum with a 30" barrel will indeed give you about 200 yards of additional high-terminal-energy range compared to an 10 lb (all-in) non-magnum with a 24" barrel.

I hunt deer in narrow fire breaks / shooting lanes in Georgia timberland, at distances up to 600 yards. If an animal I shoot runs more than 10 or 15 yards after being shot, it may take hours of stumbling around in trees, briars and poison ivy to find it. So I shoot a 28 Nosler with a 32" medium Palma barrel. That rifle is pretty heavy, about 16 lbs all-in. It took a few years of hitting the gym for a couple hours, three times a week, and an embarrassingly high number of practice shots at the range, before I could shoot that rifle offhand with enough accuracy to be confident with a 100 yard shot. I realize that sounds like WAY too much work. But if that 28 Nosler weighed 10 lbs all-in, I wouldn't want to shoot it at all - too much recoil. And I'd still be stumbling around in the woods looking for deer.

So I'd say pick your chambering based on what your max shooting range will be, what size animal you'll be shooting, and how quickly you need that animal to drop after being shot. Then make the rifle as heavy as it needs to be for the recoil not to bother you AT ALL. If it ends up too heavy to shoot offhand accurately ... hit the gym and range as needed.

 

[STNDBYnSNDIT]

I had a goal this year on a rifle 7lbs scoped because I was sitting at 12lbs scoped currently for the mountains. My main intent was to increase food. Sense I was just under 2lbs per day I figured dropping 5lbs gives me a decent amount of extra time. Though My problem is I wanted my NF NXS I have come to rely on because it's what my body and mind knowns.

I just broke my goal by a few oz, but I couldn't be happier. Even to the point the wife shoots it with ease and I think I need to build another one as she claimed it more or less

In the end, I really think it comes down also to compatibility with the shooter. This equation worked for me, much how OP's bow setup works for them. Though I know had this been a 7lbs 300PRC vise 6.5PRC the end result would have been a different story.

 

[Buckys]

Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.

Yeah, I don't want to jump them or shoot them at long but it's hunting and that stuff happens so I want to be prepared.

Here is a cheap and easy way that you can play with this concept with your existing scoped rifles.

There are lots of options on Midway, Amazon, etc. ... this is just one of the cheapest that I have used that is relatively free of issues:
Amazon product ASIN B00M3UAUC8
The concept is that under the stock pouch, the side touching your stock, is velcro material. These come with strips of velcro that allow you to adjust the height of the riser.

What I found is that I was instantly more comfortable when I was minimizing how much I'm leaning over to gain cheek weld. i.e., a very similar orientation to what is needed to keep my eyes level when I'm shooting my shotgun where I keep both eyes open.

Once I found that position, then I could choose a ring height that was naturally aligned to my right eye's pupil.

 

[Mark37082]

You are doing the right thing by handling rifles before making your decision. Each person has their own preferences and that is the only thing that really matters. If you are like many of us on this forum, you will get a rifle and before you have it dialed in, you will be looking at your next project. It's a sickness, but sometimes it is fun to be sick.

 

[180ls1]

Here is a cheap and easy way that you can play with this concept with your existing scoped rifles.

There are lots of options on Midway, Amazon, etc. ... this is just one of the cheapest that I have used that is relatively free of issues:
Amazon product ASIN B00M3UAUC8
The concept is that under the stock pouch, the side touching your stock, is velcro material. These come with strips of velcro that allow you to adjust the height of the riser.

What I found is that I was instantly more comfortable when I was minimizing how much I'm leaning over to gain cheek weld. i.e., a very similar orientation to what is needed to keep my eyes level when I'm shooting my shotgun where I keep both eyes open.

Once I found that position, then I could choose a ring height that was naturally aligned to my right eye's pupil.

Sweet. I was able to locate it once I quoted your post. Will something that cheap and flimsy work? I assumed I would need one built/bolted into the stock.

 

[180ls1]

Upper body strength does indeed matter - but mostly for offhand shooting. Like Duckman11 says above, what probably matters most is recoil tolerance.

For similar recoil, a 15 lb (all-in, with scope and full magazine) magnum with a 30" barrel will indeed give you about 200 yards of additional high-terminal-energy range compared to an 10 lb (all-in) non-magnum with a 24" barrel.

I hunt deer in narrow fire breaks / shooting lanes in Georgia timberland, at distances up to 600 yards. If an animal I shoot runs more than 10 or 15 yards after being shot, it may take hours of stumbling around in trees, briars and poison ivy to find it. So I shoot a 28 Nosler with a 32" medium Palma barrel. That rifle is pretty heavy, about 16 lbs all-in. It took a few years of hitting the gym for a couple hours, three times a week, and an embarrassingly high number of practice shots at the range, before I could shoot that rifle offhand with enough accuracy to be confident with a 100 yard shot. I realize that sounds like WAY too much work. But if that 28 Nosler weighed 10 lbs all-in, I wouldn't want to shoot it at all - too much recoil. And I'd still be stumbling around in the woods looking for deer.

So I'd say pick your chambering based on what your max shooting range will be, what size animal you'll be shooting, and how quickly you need that animal to drop after being shot. Then make the rifle as heavy as it needs to be for the recoil not to bother you AT ALL. If it ends up too heavy to shoot offhand accurately ... hit the gym and range as needed.

Thats very helpful. Thank you.

My bench is around 300, squat and deadlift are both 400ish. I don't train like I used to but would still consider myself strong. I would be hesitant to go back to counting macros, tracking lifts and having 1 dozen eggs for breakfast. It was a lot of work.

I am just a western hunter so trying to find a nice balance seems ideal. That is certainly a unique scenario you have.

 

[180ls1]

Is it leupold in general or specific models? I don't know a lot of guys running the 6 but many comp guys running the mark 5. I know they are different to a degree but I've not any leupold issues in the last 5 years that stand out. Just personal experience I've run this scope 3 years and around 5000 rounds fired. Shoot 500-1200 the most and occasionally out to 1600. Only issue with this model is 38 moa plus 20 reticle. Limits me 1500-1600 depending on where I shoot. It has never lost zero and I've never had an issue truing. It's my go to scope for hunting for sure. I put a 5 on my long range pistol and it's been solid too. Not a big fan of the wind plex reticle that's in it tho.

It was with the VX models. 3, 5, 6.

If you google search "LHT vs Vx-5hd" or "V4 vs vx-3hd" you can probably pull some of that up. I know people come to the internet with their problems though and lupo is very popular so there is some sampling bias but there was enough to scare me.

 

[BrentM]

It was with the VX models. 3, 5, 6.

If you google search "LHT vs Vx-5hd" or "V4 vs vx-3hd" you can probably pull some of that up. I know people come to the internet with their problems though and lupo is very popular so there is some sampling bias but there was enough to scare me.

Understood. I think if you want to get data to support a certain choice you can. I've had several vortex scopes for example. I have zero left. I don't dislike the brand really, just seen enough issues personally it's not a first choice. Good luck and I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever choice you make.

 

[Carey Farmer]

My bench is around 300, squat and deadlift are both 400ish.

You weren't fibbing when you said you were strong. If you can overhead press 10 reps at 150 lbs, you will have no trouble shooting a 15 lb rifle offhand.

 

[vancewalker007]

I had a goal this year on a rifle 7lbs scoped because I was sitting at 12lbs scoped currently for the mountains. My main intent was to increase food. Sense I was just under 2lbs per day I figured dropping 5lbs gives me a decent amount of extra time. Though My problem is I wanted my NF NXS I have come to rely on because it's what my body and mind knowns.

I just broke my goal by a few oz, but I couldn't be happier. Even to the point the wife shoots it with ease and I think I need to build another one as she claimed it more or less

In the end, I really think it comes down also to compatibility with the shooter. This equation worked for me, much how OP's bow setup works for them. Though I know had this been a 7lbs 300PRC vise 6.5PRC the end result would have been a different story.

View attachment 381054

So do you love your Defiance action? I have a 6.5 PRC build on the older Deviant UltraLight with a 26in Proof screwed on. Its been the most accurate rifle I've ever owned or shot.

 

[JakeC]

You weren't fibbing when you said you were strong. If you can overhead press 10 reps at 150 lbs, you will have no trouble shooting a 15 lb rifle offhand.

Wait, why in the name of Barney the dinosaur is he asking about rifles? We put all this effort in with advice and all he needs is a rock. He could throw a spear as far as I shoot. Get him a 6' piece of black pipe with one end filed sharp and he can hole punch them animals form 230.

 

[STNDBYnSNDIT]

So do you love your Defiance action? I have a 6.5 PRC build on the older Deviant UltraLight with a 26in Proof screwed on. Its been the most accurate rifle I've ever owned or shot.

So far I do. I have only thrown 26rnds threw it myself right now due to finding ammo up duh'nord here. The weight/cost savings vs titanium definitely was nice. I do find its not as slick as I thought it would be, still butter, but take into account this is coming from being a Blaser R8 guy and forgetting to lift then pull.

 

[vancewalker007]

It was with the VX models. 3, 5, 6.

If you google search "LHT vs Vx-5hd" or "V4 vs vx-3hd" you can probably pull some of that up. I know people come to the internet with their problems though and lupo is very popular so there is some sampling bias but there was enough to scare me.

You're shopping for an off the shelf rifle. You are playing roulette right off the bat with accuracy potential starting with the rifle. You have a much higher chance of issues with the off the rack rifle than a Leupold scope. Plus one of the VX6's or other brand's equivalent is going to run more than most of the rifles you discussed earlier and maybe that's your plan, spend more on the optic than the rifle.

 

[180ls1]

You're shopping for an off the shelf rifle. You are playing roulette right off the bat with accuracy potential starting with the rifle. You have a much higher chance of issues with the off the rack rifle than a Leupold scope. Plus one of the VX6's or other brand's equivalent is going to run more than most of the rifles you discussed earlier and maybe that's your plan, spend more on the optic than the rifle.

If I am being honest, I don't know if I can outshoot a $2,000 setup. Or at least not yet, while I am in real-world hunting scenarios. I figure the next step would be reloading and really fine-tuning before I throw more money at a setup.