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I concur. Nothing wrong with exercise and getting in shape, and is important for sheep hunting. Also nothing wrong with ultralight rifles. The o.p. has a goal weight in mind for a rifle, fact/experience based information on how to help him meet that goal is what he is looking for. Giving him lifestyle advice, while not wrong, isn't really the point of the conversation. For that, go here -
I once owned an original ULA in .338 WM. No matter how I gripped it the trigger guard slammed into the knuckle on my middle finger. I cried a little when I sold it, but not as much as when it hit my hand.
This is very true, lol. My 300 WM is the same. I can only imagine with the 338. I've since learned to hold a little to the rear and anchor the grip with my thumb. It's a must and required a bit of adjustment on my part. I thought I broke my middle knuckle on my middle finger the first time I fired it. As bad as that sounds, the rifle is comfortable and confident to fire, even on the bench, albeit a bit difficult to keep steady and settled due to the light weight.
You need to think about the game as well. This is a person who does not have a sub 6# rifle. To just get one and climb a mountain to shoot a Ram? I don't think so. Climb a mountain with a 6# rifle and then take a quality shot to put the animal down is incredibly difficult. My comment is more to prepare for the shot when you are fully taxed and tired. A light rifle is not going to be the answer to this kind of hunt. Im not calling anyone out of shape but someone has to speak up for the animal. Also have hunted a Ram in Wa state where you get one in a lifetime. I fully understand what this person has in front of them. I carried a 8.5# rifle with pack and was very tired when we hit the 3/4 point. But when you get behind your rifle the adrenaline and heavy breathing you need some weight to help steady your rifle. We were looking at 400-700 yard shots. This kind of hunt is not for the unprepared.
To each their own. I have not sheep hunted. I have hunted out of a pack and climbed. In my experience, by day 3 that 2.5 pounds is noticeable. By day 7, yes, it's a huge difference. And all rifles are "novelty rifles" depending on perspective.
Weird. I've got a 338WM Kimber 84 and I find it pleasant to shoot. It's a much slower recoil than my 270.
I think we have one other choice too, exercise AND an ultralight rifle. That's my choice. I really don't get this argument, I hear/read it often, a lightweight rifle is still lightweight whether you work out or not. Even if a guy were to shed 20 pounds on his gut, the UL rifle is still lighter and easier to carry, even easier now that the extra 20 pounds is gone.
How many people can make a quality, long shot with a 6lbs rifle? Long beyond 400 yards. 90% of hunters would never take a shot over 350 yards with their 10# rifle. There is more to this equation than the weight of a rifle. This is where we need to think about the game as well. This is where the lightweight rifle becomes compromised. These are tough animals with a strong will to live. Heavy for caliber bullets in a 7mm wsm is one of the favorite choices for builders who build rifles just for this purpose. When you don't want to accept the recoil that comes with lightweight rifles in calibers needed to take these animal, the animal suffers.
This is the LRH site. A good number of the 10% are here (that shoot past 350 Yards). You are correct. To shoot a light rifle accurately at distance takes practice and dedication. Attention to detail in equipment and application almost to a fault. There might be a couple people around here that check the boxes, just sayin.
I have a HS Precision PHL (left hand) in 270wsm. I believe I could drop it off the side of a mountain and pick it up and it would hit whatever I aimed at. It is a shooter
