[QUOTE="19elkhunter51, post: 1972652, member: 14169......"I guess the parameters of what is going to be done with the rifle dictate what the rifle will weigh. I believe that the "long range" moniker means different things to different individuals, shooting different animals, metal or other competitions.....If you are only shooting varmints, antelope, deer and metal at a competition, sure those "lightweight" rifles shooting less than thirty caliber are fun to carry. Shooting at a metal plate is far different from shooting at an animal that deserves our respect and should be taken cleanly and humanely............But are they a true "long range rifle" for taking shots at elk, caribou or moose?.....I am old, 69, overweight and not nearly as strong as I once was. My favorite long range hunting rifle is a custom Remington 700 with a 30" barrel with a muzzle brake 338 Edge shooting 280 grain Barnes bullets. The barrel is varmint weight contour, fluted but not skinny. This rifle wears a Leupold 4.5 X 14 scope that is not the lightest scope around. When I bought the rifle, I told the smith the only criteria was for it to shoot itty bitty groups. It does and I have NO problem carry that rifle all day. Granted my days of strolling up and down Mt. Everest a in the past but I truly believe that if the weight of the rifle is a limiting factor, maybe it is time to go sit in the "bean field" and take those tasty deer. By the way, I personally don't have any derogatory thoughts about sitting on the edge of a "bean field" or any other field for that matter if that is how I want to fill my tag.........[/QUOTE]
....Covered it pretty well. I'll be hunting with a 16 lb 4 oz rifle this year, carrying it is out of the question. I'm having days that make it from the bed to this chair.
....I'll continue to do what I can while I can, with no apologies.