Thoughts on rifle weight and hunting

[CTK]

To the point.
I hunt primarily with a Kimber Montana that is ~7lbs scoped and loaded. Even though it's light I can shoot it as well as a 9lb setup. Other lighter type rifles not quite so much. I have several T3's but I find them harder to steady.
A lot of thought should be given to stock design.........
this year I will likely pack a 9lb scoped McWhorter. For a change....
But.....I don't hike 10 miles back in the wilderness and start hunting. I may walk 5-10 miles per day.

agree that stock design matters and that the T3 stock is not the greatest.

 

[ejg]

I just like shooting with a S&B PMII, also like aics mags, like an adjustable cheek raiser, like Spuhr mounts, like a slightly thicker barrel, like to have a suppressor and Harris.
The best I could get to was a bit over 11lbs with this rifle. Experimental stock just a tad over 28oz and a Hardy carbon barrel.
Took around 25 deer with her last season.

With the 3-20x50 Ultra Short PMII

edi

 

[Deleted member 107666]

packed a 10.5lb 300wm last year...it was a bit light for me for getting stable when sucking wind. That and recoil for me was still a bit much to be confident at longer ranges. Ended up filling my tag at 100 yards so not really a factor.

This year, my range rifle is a 20# 6.5 PRC...dropping the weight kit (~5lb) and packing it this year on a hunt. Maybe i'm recoil shy, but I shoot a heavy rifle SO much better and the confidence that comes with that is worth the extra weight to me.

I'll lay off the sugar a few weeks before the hunt and easily shave that extra 5lbs from my body...my legs can't tell the difference between 5lbs on my shoulder or 5lbs in my belly.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Ejg- That is a pretty sweet setup there!

 

[ejg]

Ejg- That is a pretty sweet setup there!

Thanks.

 

[jonthomps]

The lightest loaded rifle/scope/bipod combo I've ever hunted with was 10lbs. My current rig is sitting at 11.5. I've always been able to shoot rifles on the heavier side better.

 

[DHBWA]

Guess I will quit worrying about using a 9lb McWhorter which I thought was a pig .....

what do you guys use to pack around 10-11lb rifles??

 

[memtb]

Guess I will quit worrying about using a 9lb McWhorter which I thought was a pig .....

what do you guys use to pack around 10-11lb rifles??

A pickup truck or a gun bearer! memtb

 

[FEENIX]

Guess I will quit worrying about using a 9lb McWhorter which I thought was a pig .....

what do you guys use to pack around 10-11lb rifles??

See #3.

 

[DHBWA]

Thinking I will try a safari sling

 

[Hand Skills]

I've never felt comfortable with someone else carrying my rifle for me

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I pack my 16# rifle over my shoulder with a sling...Or I pack it like a 2x4 horizontally across my shoulders

 

[DHBWA]

I pack my 16# rifle over my shoulder with a sling..

I haven't had that much energy for 20 years...

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Lol, yah I'm sure I wont here in 20 or so years, but I'm only 34 and 150# with 5% body fat, so I'm gonna do it as long as I can. I feel 100x more confident in my shooting ability with it out to 1200 yards over my 8# mountain rifle...