Who hunts with a 12+lb rifle?

[seidersjoden]

seidersjoden:

The only issue that i have with it is that my Eberlestock is the small GunRunner, i believe. The rifle has a 26" barrel with a muzzle brake and it pretty long for the scabbard. It sticks out pretty far and sits really high on my back when inside the scabbard. It has not caused any problems as far as packing goes. Just feels a little weird to me sitting so high. I am not sure if all of the Eberlestock packs have the same scabbard length or not. If they make one with a longer one it might fit a little better. But it is the most secure way, of any I am aware of, to carry a rifle in a pack that way. I do not trust my Badlands "rifle holder" with that much weight hanging off the back of the pack. The Eberlestock holds it very securely and i have never had any issues with it shifting or sliding around. I can also get it stuffed in the scabbard with my bipod attached, which holds it in even tighter. They even offer a scabbard top to put down over the stock to keep it protected. Try on a few of their packs with the built in scabbard to see what fits you best and i think it will work out very well for you. I am sure its not an "off the shelf" rifle and you want to protect it as much as possible. I believe the Eberlestock is a great way to do that.

BJH,

Exactly, it's a custom 6.5 PRC from GAP. 26" also. Thanks for the advice, maybe I'll hit up shot show next year and give one a try.

-Joden

 

[lancetkenyon]

15lb 6.5 SLR used by my 14 year old daughter. 637 yards, mule deer.






14lb .300RUM used by my son-in-law (different daughter than above!), 432 yards, bull elk






Same 14# .300RUM used by my 11 year old daughter to take her 1st bull elk, 160 yards



Same 14# .300RUM used by my cousin, 200 yards, spike bull elk



Same rifle used to take a couple coyotes during elk season by myself 220 & 360 yards





Same rifle, two more coyotes @ 1365 yards feeding on a carcass of a dead elk on the far ridge...



And in all honesty, my favorite shot to date....1201 yard squirrel with the same rifle

 

[the hunter]

Thank god my 300wm-also my favorite rifle is 10lbs. with ammo scope and bipod, take off the bipod and I am down to 8.75 lbs

 

[WyoHunter1]

I must be getting old. I have a rifle coming that should weigh under 9 pounds with scope and bipod.
I just plan on practicing more not carrying more.

 

[Thatonekid]

ive been packing around a 16# rifle for years. but im also only in my 20s!

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I too, am getting a bit "older" at 71 y/o and I'm finding out that, the Mountain's ain't gettin', any smaller ! I ENJOY packing around my .270 WSM, Tikka T3, that weighs 7.7 pounds with, a 4X14 scope that, can "reach out" to 750ish on an Elk,.. if I do my part. I'll just have to walk/stalk,.. a little "closer" but, I can still do that ! Yup, I SOLD all my 10-12 Pounder's ! I love my "mid weight/ mid Range",.. Rifle !

 

[7magcreedmoor]

My rifle is 12.5 lbs w/0 bipod. Sadly, the elk quarter in my pack belonged to a buddy...

 

[ENGUNEER]

I too am on the older side of life (69 years), but my lightest rifle is 10.5 pounds and my heaviest is over 16 pounds. I personally build my rifles to shoot long and believe in big cartridges and heavier barrels. A look at a couple of them below. The elk was taken with a Stiller actioned 338 CheyTac (>16 pounds) at 1050 yards and the rifle on my back in the second picture (Stiller actioned 30-378 Wby at about 13 pounds) was used to take a mule deer at 829 yards. I love the big guns.....I just walk slower and rest more.

 

[Don A Parsons]

My Remmy LR in 30/06 tops off at 12 ish lbs when I'm plinking threw the summer,,, but this fall coming up the 0/6 will be in a Wild cat Composite stock to get it into the 9 to 10 lb range.

I like a heavy rifle when it comes to trigger time, but I'm able to work with lighter units as well.

Don

 

[Ty.338]

my rifle is around 18 LBS. AIAX chassis, defiance .338 lapua action, 27'' MTU Krieger barrel andNightforce BEAST scope. I have packed it a lot of miles on the last two rifle hunts just alternating shoulders no sling. I will be trying a KUIU backpack with the rifle carrying attachment this year as it is a heavy setup.

 

[Tonyw15]

This here is 12.5 with shorter Harris attached. I normally attach it to the pack or carry in my hand.

 

[trhall]

I would love to hear who carries a 12+ lb rifle around the mountains and what do you use to pack it around? Pics would be great. How much does your rifle weigh? I'm looking for some ideas for a upcoming hunt. Thanks

I pack a couple rifles that are right around 12 lb. Love my Kifaru gun bearer! Don't leave home without it!!!!

 

[backcountrymeats]

My custom .300wm comes in fully loaded at just over 13 lbs.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Wish I could post pics.
I have 2 rifles that are identical in weight 14lbs 6oz when empty. Both built on Rem 700 Sendero II rifles with 30" barrels, one in 264WM, the other in 300WM. Neither are fluted.
I hunt with both in mountainous country all winter here, we are NOT stalking with these rifles though, only spot and shoot at LR, we have no qualms packing them in or out, BUT, when you got 60+lbs of venison too, it can get very tiresome quick on the long haul back out.
I have much lighter rifles too, Win Model 70 EW's, Kimber 8400's in similar cartridges I use for stalking on farm fringe country, long shots are rare doing this.

Cheers.