How heavy is too heavy for you?

[grassassin]

Here in the thick woods of the hills and hollers of the Ozarks, 95 percent of hunters don't walk more than a quarter of a mile from their truck to their tree stand where they will remain stationary for the rest of the hunt. Yet I see rifles getting lighter and lighter with carbon fiber wrapped barrels and skeletonized magnesium folding chassis.

My deer hunting buddy is obsessed with shaving weight off his rifle, or rather buying a newer lighter rifle every season. Nine different guns and corresponding optics over the past 10 years I estimate has cost him nearly $30,000.That is taking into account the fact that he sells off last year's ultralight rifle when buying this year's newest superduper ultra-extreme lightweight deer slayer, recouping at least some of the cost. Still, 30 grand is a chunk of change.

I suspect he has actually spent a lot more, which he seems to confirm. He is now looking at the gun magazines and watching reviews on You Tube, ramping up to again "upgrade" sometime before fall. Now, if all this makes him happy then great but he doesn't enjoy the process of setting up a new rig every single year. Rather, he ends up stressing himself to get everything put together and dialed in before the first day of the season. Without much time behind his new rig he fumbles around with it when a big buck shows up and ends up missing or wounding them.

Meanwhile, I've used the same 18+ lb. set up which has served me well for the past 8 or 9 years.

 

[Long Cut]

For me personally it’s a combination of overall weight, length and how the weight is distributed.

That sweet spot for me is around 7-8# (fully setup) with an overall length under 40” and the weight being a touch back around the action/stock.

I’ve spent a lot of money trying to find a gun to replace this CVA Scout, but nothing haas come close as of yet…

Tell your buddy to K.I.S.S.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Here in the thick woods of the hills and hollers of the Ozarks, 95 percent of hunters don't walk more than a quarter of a mile from their truck to their tree stand where they will remain stationary for the rest of the hunt. Yet I see rifles getting lighter and lighter with carbon fiber wrapped barrels and skeletonized magnesium folding chassis.

My deer hunting buddy is obsessed with shaving weight off his rifle, or rather buying a newer lighter rifle every season. Nine different guns and corresponding optics over the past 10 years I estimate has cost him nearly $30,000.That is taking into account the fact that he sells off last year's ultralight rifle when buying this year's newest superduper ultra-extreme lightweight deer slayer, recouping at least some of the cost. Still, 30 grand is a chunk of change.

I suspect he has actually spent a lot more, which he seems to confirm. He is now looking at the gun magazines and watching reviews on You Tube, ramping up to again "upgrade" sometime before fall. Now, if all this makes him happy then great but he doesn't enjoy the process of setting up a new rig every single year. Rather, he ends up stressing himself to get everything put together and dialed in before the first day of the season. Without much time behind his new rig he fumbles around with it when a big buck shows up and ends up missing or wounding them.

Meanwhile, I've used the same 18+ lb. set up which has served me well for the past 8 or 9 years.

You mentioned how 95% of the hunters in your area hunt. How do you hunt and what yardages are you expecting? 18+ pounds seems like a lot of rifle.

 

[cottonant]

A good friend sums up buying new guns with this statement: need has nothing to do with it

 

[Truck24hr]

Not very many long shots in the Ozarks in fall. 18lbs is a lot of gun for 150 yard shots, but 6 lbs is trying to do too much for a guy who goes 300 yards from the truck.

I hunt pretty far in even in the Ozarks, and don't consider weight myself. I shoot a 8.5lb + rifle much better than a 6 lb'er, so I stick to that no matter where I'm going

 

[Slick8]

I too have owned more rifles than I care to list, but have mostly broke even on the resale or made a dollar or two. I don't count the consumables spent on shooting as I love to do it.

I don't chase whores, gamble or drink to excess...but I love the smell of a hot cup of coffee and gun powder in the morning.

I've gone the gambit of rifles and tried a few of the UL versions. And while they're a pleasure to carry around the mountain, they're not a pleasure to shoot often which hurts your practice. They're also not as steady in the heat of the moment IMO.

I've settled on something in the 8 to 10 pound range. When I hunt out west and know I'm walking a lot it's strapped to my back pack. At this point a pound or two is barely noticed and ounces are certainly not.

I'm also of the opinion that I'd rather concentrate on loosing a few lbs. vs ounces of rifle weight. The weight loss is essentially free and pays off in much bigger dividends.

 

[camping1601]

Lighter the better for me but it's nothing to do 10 mile day. On the flip side I have a heavier custom rifle for sitting areas with long shots.

 

[Halligan]

Personally I’ll echo what others have said, but I like my center fires in the 7-10 lbs range depending on caliber/muzzle device. This is a generality.
I like this range because while I do engage in stand hunting like the op mentions, there are still days out here in the east, where I put 5-12 miles on the boots, especially in the blue ridge.

 

[Macintosh]

18 lb is a tank, perfect weight for a chassis rifle for range games imo, but imo not helpful for a hunting rifle that’ll get carried a lot and used a little, and at short range. Your average off the shelf scoped rifle will be 8-9lb, I think that is a great weight for general purpose use. 7.5-8 is pretty easy without a ton of effort if you like it lighter for still-hunting or carrying in hand a lot.

 

[PAcondor]

Just my opinion but a light weight rifle demands a lighter recoiling caliber. Nothing worse then getting pounded by a heavy recoil in the heat of the moment causing you to not preform properly.
We chase in the mountains of pa and most guys use old 760 pump guns. Clubs as I like to call them. After a full day we can walk anywhere from 8-10 miles. the light weight gun in your hand is by far the best thing I’ve purchased in the past few years. All those who carry 10 plus pound guns are whipped from there guns hanging on there shoulders and holding them.

 

[grassassin]

Yes, I am part of that 95 percent. I now realize I didn't explain why I think lightweight rifles are not suited for this kind of hunting.

Pre-season, scout where the deer are coming and going. This part is where the most moving about will be, but as this part is during pre-season, no gun is carried. Eventually, after hopefully locating the game trails and learning the movements of deer in the area, an "ambush location" is chosen and a tree stand or other hide method is established. Sometimes one or two additional locations are chosen.

Once the season starts it is just a matter of going straight to the pre-determined location which is usually no more than a half mile from a camp or vehicle access point. So carrying a light gun is not crucial. I will just settle in to my hide before sunrise and stay there until late morning or afternoon when the deer are no longer active. Otherwise if I am lucky and a shot is eventually taken, it will almost certainly be from this fixed position. In this situation, whether in a tree or set up on the ground, I find a heavy rifle advantageous because it is so stable. Yes, with the woods being relatively thick, distances are not far although active areas are often at the edge of outcroppings so distances can approach around 200 yards but more likely within 75 yards. Even at such close range, an easy shooting heavy rifle balanced ahead of the mag where you are most likely to support it makes an accurate, quick kill shot nearly assured. It is possible that one may stumble upon an unexpected opportunity while moving in or out from the stand or hide location when a light rifle would be best for a more dynamic or offhand shot, but not likely.

30 years ago or so, we would hunt deer moving around, trying to spook them from wherever they might be so we could take multiple offhand shots while they were on the run. Obviously this resulted in a lot of wounded deer, which were often lost. The lever action 30-30s we all used, being light and fast, were suited to that kind of hunting.

Even though the methods have mostly changed, it seems most are still stuck on the idea of having lightweight rifles good for hiking around all day and comfortably taking offhand shots. A few still carry Winchester 94s or Marlin 336s, but most are turning toward bolt guns. Most just settle with standards like Ruger Americans or a Savage Axis. Some like my friend are obsessed with the lightest possible, spending ungodly amounts on custom guns more suited to Western mule deer

I think he is nuts and he thinks I am nuts because I've become partial to my big long heavy barrelled PRS type rig. More and more I have come to believe such a gun is very well suited to hunting in the Ozarks. I don't encounter many who agree and look forward to hearing if any one else approaches whitetail the same way. Also would like to understand what others think who think 18 lbs is crazy. What I really would like to know is if anyone likes even heavier chunky ones in the 20+ category. I really don't see why not

 

[Teodoro]

After dropping to a lighter recoiling rifle, I decided to dress it in a lighter stock for next year. Carrying it in the hands for miles makes me tired, and being tired makes me too slow to capitalize on fleeting shot opportunities. Excited to see how it goes.

 

[S-3 ranch]

The larger the caliber the greater the weight, with a maximum of 11lbs on my 375 ruger, I am in the 7-8 lbs club with my main deer hunting rifles
2 Winchester m70 featherweights
1 Remington m788 308win

Light weight rifles usually get a muzzle break ( which I hate and deem ridiculous) because the shooter can’t handle the recoil,

 

[West.mass.hunter]

Meanwhile, I've used the same 18+ lb. set up which has served me well for the past 8 or 9 years.

I'm curious what rifle you're carrying that weights 18lbs?

 

[Jethro]

18 lbs? Next time your buddy is selling his lightweight set up, you should buy it.

Shots from 75-200 yards, I don't think it matters if the rifle is light or heavy.

 

[Mish-pop]

Yes, I am part of that 95 percent. I now realize I didn't explain why I think lightweight rifles are not suited for this kind of hunting.

Pre-season, scout where the deer are coming and going. This part is where the most moving about will be, but as this part is during pre-season, no gun is carried. Eventually, after hopefully locating the game trails and learning the movements of deer in the area, an "ambush location" is chosen and a tree stand or other hide method is established. Sometimes one or two additional locations are chosen.

Once the season starts it is just a matter of going straight to the pre-determined location which is usually no more than a half mile from a camp or vehicle access point. So carrying a light gun is not crucial. I will just settle in to my hide before sunrise and stay there until late morning or afternoon when the deer are no longer active. Otherwise if I am lucky and a shot is eventually taken, it will almost certainly be from this fixed position. In this situation, whether in a tree or set up on the ground, I find a heavy rifle advantageous because it is so stable. Yes, with the woods being relatively thick, distances are not far although active areas are often at the edge of outcroppings so distances can approach around 200 yards but more likely within 75 yards. Even at such close range, an easy shooting heavy rifle balanced ahead of the mag where you are most likely to support it makes an accurate, quick kill shot nearly assured. It is possible that one may stumble upon an unexpected opportunity while moving in or out from the stand or hide location when a light rifle would be best for a more dynamic or offhand shot, but not likely.

30 years ago or so, we would hunt deer moving around, trying to spook them from wherever they might be so we could take multiple offhand shots while they were on the run. Obviously this resulted in a lot of wounded deer, which were often lost. The lever action 30-30s we all used, being light and fast, were suited to that kind of hunting.

Even though the methods have mostly changed, it seems most are still stuck on the idea of having lightweight rifles good for hiking around all day and comfortably taking offhand shots. A few still carry Winchester 94s or Marlin 336s, but most are turning toward bolt guns. Most just settle with standards like Ruger Americans or a Savage Axis. Some like my friend are obsessed with the lightest possible, spending ungodly amounts on custom guns more suited to Western mule deer

I think he is nuts and he thinks I am nuts because I've become partial to my big long heavy barrelled PRS type rig. More and more I have come to believe such a gun is very well suited to hunting in the Ozarks. I don't encounter many who agree and look forward to hearing if any one else approaches whitetail the same way. Also would like to understand what others think who think 18 lbs is crazy. What I really would like to know is if anyone likes even heavier chunky ones in the 20+ category. I really don't see why not

For your situation I see why you carry such a heavy setup. There really is no need for the lightest possible and it probably is to a person's detriment to go light. However, it sounds like any good factory and rifle and scope setup would work for the situation. Does your friend ever plan to go West someday where the lighter setup would be helpful?

 

[Skerhunter]

That 12-14lbs range is the cut off for me. 20+ years ago all my rifles were identical and fell into this range. Never bothered me carrying them for standard Midwest hunts.

Now that we have more options my guns fall into that 8-10lbs range. Stocks and barrels are lighter, but better optics and suppressors add weight back.

 

[PaulB84]

Anyone ever notice that somehow a 7lb rifle is a wand while a 5lbs bow is a boat anchor?

At any rate, mission drives the gear. I walk about 4-500 yards to my blind on private land, and sit for the rest of the day. So I have no problem toting my AR in 450 Bushmaster that, while I don't know off the top of my head, has to be in the 13-14lbs range or so. Nothing I would carry out west, but works fine in the Michigan woods

The other thing I'll mention is that on a "real" hunting trip aka camping so everything is on your back, there is more than one way to skin a cat. You can have a 9 lbs gun vs a 6lbs one if say your bag and tent are ultralight, since it's really the total load out that matters, not any individual piece


YMMV

 

[Wrench]

18# is not even legal in Idaho. Hopefully you mean 8#.

 

[Wrench]

Where the rifle balances is far more critical than the overall weight. If two 8# rifles are the same with the exception one balances at the front of the bottle metal and the other at the rear action screw.....there's a huge difference in how they'll handle, both shouldering and recoil.

I always ask, what's the budget, what do you want it to weigh using what parts and where do you want it to balance......many times the recipe ends up with a silly barrel length or contour to meet those goals.