Lightweight Rifles

[HornPorn]

At what point is having a light rifle a liability?

Is cutting weight on your rifle really the place to be shaving ounces. Yes, you carry your rifle more than you shoot it, but isnt hitting what you are aiming at when you finally do shoot more important than you comfort leading up to that moment?

 

[Couescrazy33]

None of my lightweight rifles shoot terrible. Stay within the means of what the rifle will do and the rest is up to the shooter not the gun.

All about practice. If people dont want to become proficient with their rifle then having a heavier rifle wont help either.

 

[6.5x284]

I hear what you are saying. I used to pack a 12 pound rifle all up around. Then 10, then 9, etc... I have steel hung up around various areas where I get real hunting scenario conditions for angle, rest, canyon winds, etc...

Honestly I don't see a big difference between heavy and light rifles anymore for one or two hunting shots. While for PRS type shooting I would absolutely agree (I run a 25# rifle in 6 Dasher) staying on target on a wobbly barricade is critical, for hunting I don't think it is as big a deal as people make it out to be. I have a 3 shot group floating around on here with a 6 lb rifle at 1012 yards under 6". The last time I had it out, I made a 1012 yard 1st round hit on a 10" plate with my 5 lb Fieldcraft with a 10x max power NXS (in about a foot of snow, jacket for a rear rest, off a pack prone-ish). I'm still watching trace and impact over a few hundred yards on those light rifles.

I think more important than weight is cartridge selection, practice, and form. My light rifles are chambered for light recoil cartridges, once I did that I noticed I was much more capable with the lighter rifles. I've offloaded all my heavy hitters now. I'll own a 7PRC some day, but I'm more than content with my light rifles in mild recoiling cartridges.

 

[Drenalin]

I think your rifle needs to be comfortable enough to shoot regularly and proficiently. If it's light enough that the recoil means you don't want to spend much time with it at the range, that's too light. If it's light enough that you develop bad habits from shooting it and getting beat up, that's too light.

I do think there are other factors to consider, but I'm even rethinking this 8.5lb .30-06 because of the above two points. I've never felt the recoil shooting an animal, but it's no fun on the range. I'm either moving to a lighter recoiling caliber, or to a heavier rifle.

Edit to add: I know there are guys who will chime in that their 6lb 300 win mag is a tack driver. Congrats. I'm just saying that's not me, and it's probably not the norm.

 

[willfrye027]

Different tools for different jobs IMO.

I think it really depends on how far you want to shoot it and how much you’ve practiced with that rifle at distance. I have a 7lb all-in 30-06 that is pretty much relegated to still-hunting and expected shots less than 400 yards. I can shoot it OK at 600, but it’s hard to consistently see impacts and I don’t shoot it enough to be highly confident.

I also have an 11lb 25 creedmoor that is a dream to shoot and gets shot a lot. It’s what I bring when I’m expected to make 500-700 yard shots. I am extremely comfortable and confident with it, would not want it any lighter.

 

[BarCO]

I have .270 win Fieldcraft and a custom 6.5 prc , both under 6lb bare and they shoot great. Don’t see weight as an obstacle to accuracy

 

[dieselchessy]

For me the 7.5-8.5lb range is the best compromise and 8.5 to 9.5lb I tend to shoot better in field positions. Once I get over 9lb it gets exponentially more annoying to carry in the field. I've gone as light as 5.5 and I'm just no good off-hand or in field positions at that weight.

 

[Oregonmuley]

IMHO BarCO has it right. For anyone that is wanting a mountain/back country hunter type rifle there is no need to have a heavy rifle. Light rifles shoot just fine. I also like mine to be around 6 lbs naked so that they come in around 7.5lbs scoped and ready to hunt.

 

[TheHammer]

I started lightening up my 300wm and once I got under 9.5 lbs in real world shooting positions it became a conscious thought to take recoil into effect…not to get scoped,,, exc, adds more to the shooting process and made for hesitation, not ideal. Heavier scope and suppressor changed that. Back to 10.4lbs and I’m comfortable. I have 2 308s one 7.1lbs and the other 7.8lbs. Recoil is not a consideration and both shoot phenomenal. Those are my acceptable setups at my current representation of me.

 

[XLR]

This is kind of a weighted question too because it depends on the caliber in my eyes. Most shooters will shoot a 7 lb 6.5 PRC better than a 9 lb 300 PRC in field positions. It also depends on if you are hunting with other competent shooters or solo. For my personal rifles I stick with a 10 lb PRC so I have the ability to spot my own shots in any position. With a 10 lb rifle I am running a heavier scope and heavier rings. Those two components are what I see cause the most issues in the field so that is where I choose to beef up the rifle. Everyone has their own opinions on the weight and what their ethical distance is too. I am a younger and tend to shoot further than others so the heavier rifle makes sense to me.

 

[HuntHarder]

Depends on the intention of the rifle. I can accurately shoot my 8lb. all in 300 win. mag great out to some good distances. I take that rifle for a walk ALOT more than I actually shoot it. I have yet to actually have to shoot "long range" with it yet as all my kills have been under 500 yards so far with it. Now if I was shooting PRS, why not have a heavy rifle that barely moves and is easier to shoot? For hunting, I will go with as light as I can get and still maintain good accuracy to 7-800 yards.

 

[WeiserBucks]

It also depends on if you are hunting with other competent shooters or solo.

Care to expand on this? What does anyone else's experience have to do with the weight of your rifle?

 

[willfrye027]

For you guys who are accurately shooting light rifles: how far? From what rest? Do you go 10/10 on a vital sized target?

Honestly the more I shoot the more I realize how difficult it is to be truly proficient at distance, let alone with a lightweight rifle.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Care to expand on this? What does anyone else's experience have to do with the weight of your rifle?

See your own impacts?

If a partner is present, then go light as can be as they can call your shots.

If solo: 1) record your shot and go light as can be, 2) go heavier to call your own shots, 3) just shoot and figure it out after the fact, etc

 

[Pony Soldier]

When I first got started with my 7RM I saw guys shooting their new rifles (7RM) at the range with coats between the rifle butts and their shoulders and had tears in their eyes from the pain.

My rifle was cheap, light and used and didn't have any noticable kick. I guess I differ in fighting over ounces in that I think a major issue to be considered is the fit and the stock. If what you have beats you up you likely won't consistantly shoot it well. You will twitch at the pull in anticipation of the pain.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

For you guys who are accurately shooting light rifles: how far? From what rest? Do you go 10/10 on a vital sized target?

Honestly the more I shoot the more I realize how difficult it is to be truly proficient at distance, let alone with a lightweight rifle.

It is not the weight. If it was, you and every other manly WKR would be unable to accurately shoot the super scary Cricket rifle which so many "frail and wimpy" children are often taught to shoot with.

Folks' recoil tolerances tend to not align with what they believe them to be. Folks would be better served to embrace (at least accept) the recoil rather than fight it. But all of us would be well served by having less recoil and there's a ton of ways to accomplish that.

Still am waiting for an enlightened individual to tell me why you have to shoot a 5# 22 LR one way, an 8# 7mm-8 a different way, a 10# 300 WM yet another way, and a 12-15# 338 WM yet another way.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Still am waiting for an enlightened individual to tell me why you have to shoot a 5# 22 LR one way, an 8# 7mm-8 a different way, a 10# 300 WM yet another way, and a 12-15# 338 WM yet another way.

Nobody has to do any of this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

People need to shoot a rifle that doesn't kick them so hard that they close their eyes and jerk the trigger in anticipation of getting their teeth knocked out, then they can work on the fundamentals of executing the shot correctly.

 

[6.5x284]

For you guys who are accurately shooting light rifles: how far? From what rest? Do you go 10/10 on a vital sized target?

Honestly the more I shoot the more I realize how difficult it is to be truly proficient at distance, let alone with a lightweight rifle.

I think your question should really just say rifles and remove the word "light." For me I practice way further than I hunt, and wind is a massive decision maker on how far I shoot at an animal. I practice out to about 1400 yards. While hunting I am extremely confident to 600 yards. The weight of a rifle to me doesn't matter regarding a miss. I have an exact range, and can reliably dial my elevation to exactly match that range. The rest and wind are what seem to matter. With a good rest a light or heavy rifle both hold the crosshairs on the target. Spotting impacts is much harder with a light rifle on improvised hasty rests IMO (turn your scope power down!). But the bullet still goes where I want it.

I have MOA steel targets hung all around and practice from tripods, off packs prone, extreme elevation, kneeling, etc..., off stumps, trees, pretty much anything I can drum up. Once a barrel passes the ~150 round mark and velocity and vertical spread have stabilized, misses are generally wind driven for me. If the crosshairs are not steady on target, I adjust/rebuild my position. While hunting, wind can reduce my 600 yard range, or extend it. The field rest I can setup can reduce it or extend it, etc...

There are lots better shooters than I, but the weight of a rifle has never been a factor for me regarding accuracy at any range. I've watched lots of guys drill a 600 or 800 MOA gong repeatedly with a factory Tikka. A 1" gun with quality ammo and a scope with reliable turrets are pretty deadly.

All of that said, my farthest shot to date is still a bull at 489 with factory Tikka T3 and a Burris 3-9 scope. Since then, I've built lots of long range hunting rifles for specific hunts and my longest elk taken with them is 351 and ~380. I'd like to be able to harvest the big one if I see him at 600 though, so practice for that occasion.

 

[goat73]

To the OPs original questions, I can only think of a couple issues with a light rifle.

First possible issue is whether the shooter can properly shoot the rifle without exhibiting any bad habits (closing eyes, or flinching). This will become a tool you're too scared to properly use.

Second possible issue is expense. You typically pay more for lighter weight. If you can afford it, great.

I don't personally have what I consider a 'light' rifle. However, my brother has a Kimber .243 (I believe a mountain rifle model) that's about 6lbs with the scope. On a few occasions, I've carried this in the field & it's a dream. However, it has a stainless barrel & is tough to hold 1" groups during shooting sessions because the material walks around & moves.

Hope this helps.

 

[Wildone]

Just my opinion on a hunting rig. 32 years ago on my first elk hunt in the Selway Bitteroot I toted a 9+ lb 7 rem mag. That one experience was enough for me to decide that I did not want to repeat it again. I went home from that trip planning two builds. One to be used for apline back pack trips and another for fly out or pack in moose and elk. The results were a sub 6lb all up 7-08 and a 7lb 4 oz 300win mag. They are light, accurate, fast to point, a pleasure to carry and shoot. Both will cover whatever I need to do in North America. Sure you can carry something heavier but why would you want to especially when every ounce counts. In nearly 50 years of hunting I have only "had to" take a shot beyond 500 on game 1 time but I practice for it. Getting in close is my prefered meathod because I have difficulty judging the quality of game at long range and I don't want any ground shrinkage. Nothing wrong with wanting to shoot long at all and I'm not bashing anyones prefered method. Your pack is your fried with light rigs. I regularly practice out to 800 in field positions. I would not call myself any better than anyone else because there are guys that shoot at distance alot more than I and are LR experts. I'm just a working guy that likes to hunt and shoot. Knowing the gun, load, drops how to dial your dope and reading the wind are critical. Practicing is everything . Small miscalculations or poor shooting technique become magnified the longer the distances are. When practicing don't ask yourself what did I do wrong rather ask what did I do and pick that apart. It's addicting once your comfortable with it all though. Best of luck to ya