Weight into consideration?

[FOTIS]

Does anyone take weight into consideration when purchasing a rifle?

For instance, I adore senderos, the only Remington I trust for accuracy.
I would love to have one in every single caliber ever made. That said it is not a practical rifle.
I have a couple of sporter sakos but they weigh the same!!!! Same weight but different handling characteristics.

Anyway what are your thoughts?

 

[jmad_81]

Weight is an issue for me. I figure the lighter my gear the farther and harder I can hunt. I'm by no means a sheep/mt. goat hunter, but I hunt some pretty rough country. If I know I'm not going to be packing it all over the hills, weight is not an issue. My .243, and STW both top 12 lbs. but they see most of their use on the farm, not up in the mountains. I like to build my collection so I have a bit of overlap, but each rifle has it's own intended purpose.

My wife has figured out that I can do all I need with one rifle though :x So My perfectly sound rationel has turned into "just making excuses" and bartering material for her getting new boots and purses :wink:

 

[JD338]

Weight is also a consideration for me.
It depends on what I am going to use the rifle for.
A 8.5-9.0 lb limit for a bolt action rifle.


JD338

 

[DrMike]

Weight has seldom factored into the equation when I am buying a rifle. Handling characteristics and aesthetics are more important for me. If I make the commitment to purchase a rifle, then I'll start thinking about what has to be done to make it shoot.

 

[Thankful Otter]

Weight has seldom factored into the equation when I am buying a rifle. Handling characteristics and aesthetics are more important for me. If I make the commitment to purchase a rifle, then I'll start thinking about what has to be done to make it shoot.

+1 Dr Mike has stated this better than I will but,

How it handles and fits me, caliber, barrel length, action, stock, iron sights or scope, even which scope, aesthetics and game the rifle will hunt all are more important to me than weight.

 

[Anonymous]

As a hunter, I'm pretty dedicated to high mountains, open country and backpacks...so weight is definiately a significant issue in a hunting rifle for me.

It has to have good handling characteristics, but at some point it boils down to pounds and ounces. My .270 weight 9.5lbs w/o scope and shoots like a dream- but I'll never seriously hunt with it. I started several years back buying and building lightweight rifles. I've got several that are under 7.5lbs and they shoot and handle as good as anything I've got...no reason to lug an extra 2-3 pounds if I don't have to.

Some day, if my hunting style changes then I'll likely use my .270 and other heavier rifles- but not heading in 10 miles and up 7500'.

 

[FOTIS]

Well this is the one I have for all difficult terrain.
Tikka T-3 lite in 270 WSM. Leupold 4x12 AO VXII
With a compact Leupold 3x9 it was 7 lbs flat!

7 1/4 lbs ready to go! A joy to carry!

 

[Kodiak]

As the years tick by, I find myself studying my own weight as well as the rifle's.

Forty years ago, I really didn't care if a hunting rifle weigh'd 10# or so. Now, I really like a scop'd rifle in the 7.5 to 8# range. That almost requires a composite stock and a very slender barrel. My game hunted these days for the most part are deer and antelope in open sage-brush country. So a medium, non-belted caliber will do. A 4x4 thrown in for ease of travel is ok too, whether a machine or a horse.

Fotis' T-3 is a good example of my rifle requirements.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I can't hunt with a inaccurate rifle so I deal with the weight, most of the time weight and accuracy go hand in hand. Most of my rifles have a Sendero contour barrel on them but recently I have dropped down to a #5 barrel contour to see if I can keep the accuracy (or close) and drop the weight. Fully loaded with a #5 it usually runs about 10-10 1/4lbs. For me the gun has to shoot sub 1/2" 3 shot groups and I favor those that will shoot 3/8" or better. The bad side is I'm the only one to blame for a miss.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Yes Nathan I'd rather have something that is exceptionally accurate than being super light. That being said my 280AI comes in at 10.5-11 pounds fully outfitted. My 338-06 comes in at 9-9.5 pounds. I got one rig that is great for the open spaces and long shots and one that's better for tougher terrain. Like Mike said earlier this week with that guy with the 270WWSM that was unbearable. That to me makes no sense.

 

[Thankful Otter]

As the years tick by, I find myself studying my own weight as well as the rifle's.

Forty years ago, I really didn't care if a hunting rifle weigh'd 10# or so. Now, I really like a scop'd rifle in the 7.5 to 8# range. That almost requires a composite stock and a very slender barrel. My game hunted these days for the most part are deer and antelope in open sage-brush country. So a medium, non-belted caliber will do. A 4x4 thrown in for ease of travel is ok too, whether a machine or a horse.

Fotis' T-3 is a good example of my rifle requirements.

This gentleman makes several excellent points.

Being younger myself makes weight a non issue at this time in my life, but that could change. On the other hand Dr Mike has mentioned grandchildren and he is the only other one, that has posted so far, that doesnt include weight in his decision.

Kodiak also makes an excellent point in regards to how one hunts. We also use horses, canoes, 4 x 4, and snowmobiles as much as possible, so again the weight of the rifle is not an issue.

As this gentleman has stated the type of game and where he is hunting enters into the rifle needed and used. We never know when an unfriendly bear will show up, so we tend to be over-gunned for the game we are hunting.

I might also mention that I prefer to keep recoil to a minimum without using a brake, and again the extra weight helps accomplish that. And the accuracy mentioned by a couple of fellows is definitely another consideration.

I was typing when nvbroncrider was posting-- + 1 sir

p.s. dont worry guys, I just had a day off work, I will be to busy to post so much tomorrow LOL

 

[Guy Miner]

I've never weighed my rifles, but yes, I sure can tell the difference between hiking the ridges with my "Green Machine" vs the CDL... Particularly when the Green Machine is in the McMillan stock, it's a fairly heavy piece of gear to carry around. The CDL feels like a wand in comparison! Then there's the laminated stock Model 70 - it's a little chunky too... Nice rifle, and I've carried it even on backpacking hunts, but it's no flyweight.

Sometimes a heavy weight rifle isn't a problem - such as when hunting from a stand or blind where significant walking isn't required. Sometimes the weight can be a real problem, wearing a hunter down over time.

Slim Remington:

Chunky Remington:

Nothing else I've got is as handy, hunting through thick cover, rifle in hand, ready to be snapped to the shoulder - as the lever gun. Light & handy and very good in that role.

Guy

 

[.300winmag]

I prefer a heavier rifle, simply because of stability while shooting and I'm still capable of carrying them without too much hindrance. Most of my rifles are 9-11lbs, mainly due to heavy contour and long barrels, but my .300 probably weighs in at 15lbs or so. I've packed this rife for miles up and down mountains of Colorado in search of the elusive Wapiti, and it was a bit heavy but with an eberlestock backpack with a case built in, it wasn't too bad. If I were to carry that rifle on a sling however, it would be too much. I imagine down the road I'll have to invest in a lighter rifle.

 

[gerry]

I prefer a gun that weighs around 7.5-8 lbs all ready to go since I live in the mountains and even hunts in the valley bottoms can be pretty rough. My new 35 Whelen weighed in at 8 lbs with a Leupold 6x36 on the kitchen scale we just bought recently, it is slighty muzzle heavy in it's Mcmillan Edge stock but points at handles very well. I hate butt heavy guns.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Weight has seldom factored into the equation when I am buying a rifle. Handling characteristics and aesthetics are more important for me. If I make the commitment to purchase a rifle, then I'll start thinking about what has to be done to make it shoot.

+1 Dr Mike has stated this better than I will but,

How it handles and fits me, caliber, barrel length, action, stock, iron sights or scope, even which scope, aesthetics and game the rifle will hunt all are more important to me than weight.

I am with both of you on this topic. How the rifle shoots and its aesthetics are the bottom lines for me also. I have owned some light rifles that I did not want and like. I only have one really light rifle (a CZ 527) and it is for varmit hunting.

 

[Polaris]

I do. I don't like light whippy rifles. Goes with my hunting style I guess. I hunt a lot of open hardwood/conifer woods for whitetails. I like to catch them in these open areas when they're going to or from heavy cover. I'm not shy about taking shots on moving game, and I seldom have time to take a rest or solid shooting position. Most shots are offhand or sitting at best. I've found heavy, well balanced rifles to work best for me. They swing better on moving shots. I'm also hunting relatively close to the truck, within 1 mile. If I hunted farther out, I might opt for lighter. I also shoot a lot of as-issued military rifle matches, so heavy rifles are what I'm used to. I guess I'd just rather pack a couple extra pounds of rifle and feel confident with it on my shoulder than save some weight and have a whippy ultralight in my hands. I tend to save weight on other items. And yes, aesthetics count also. Below is the "death ray" my .280 all purpose rifle. Loaded it weighs about 11 lbs, but it's such an old friend, it never feels heavy to me.

 

[SJB358]

I guess I really like my rifles in the 8-8.5lb range. My laminates may weigh a little bit more, but I haven't weighed them all up and ready to hunt.

I recently hunted the hardest I have hunted in awhile with my Pre64 Alaskan.. I still need to weigh it to be 100% accurate, but it is absolutely the best handling rifle I own, outside of my 45-70 Guide rifle. It handled so well, that I am really having a tough time wanting more rifles.

Most everyone of my others rifles is set up identical to this one, so maybe I am subliminally doing it, without thinking about it!

Wife's 25-06

35 Whelen

264WM, 7mm WSM, 270 WSM

You can probably kinda tell how much I love that 338! It really does take pictures pretty well, and I can carry it all day in my paws, which, I think is what it takes. I have slings on my rifles, but I rarely ever put it over my shoulders unless I am climbing or ascending something so steep I need to use both hands.

 

[DrMike]

I have slings on my rifles, but I rarely ever put it over my shoulders unless I am climbing or ascending something so steep I need to use both hands.

That is my situation as well, Scotty. I like to have my rifle at hand as game is always close by.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I use the sling around my left elbow in order to stabilise the rifle butt on my left hip while still hunting. This way, most of the weight is on my hip and not my arm or hand.

 

[SJB358]

I actually carry the rifle right on the floor plate at my side. It's pretty quick to get into action and offers a good balance point. I will also wrap my hands around the receiver under the scope. After hiking awhile, I change up grips every so often.