My Best Advice Regarding Rifle and Pack Weight

[TaperPin]

Not on a pack. In your hand.

Exactly.

At least where I hunt mulies and elk, the odds of punching a tag goes up the more a rifle is in hand. Coming over a ridge, or peaking into a bowl, or sneaking up onto an elkish bench, I’ll have the rifle in hand ready to go. Even at my strongest, a heavy rifle tires out the hands and it ends up slung on the shoulder more than if it didn’t weigh as much.

 

[Marshfly]

Exactly.

At least where I hunt mulies and elk, the odds of punching a tag goes up the more a rifle is in hand. Coming over a ridge, or peaking into a bowl, or sneaking up onto an elkish bench, I’ll have the rifle in hand ready to go. Even at my strongest, a heavy rifle tires out the hands and it ends up slung on the shoulder more than if it didn’t weigh as much.

The buddy that missed those two opportunities in that story uses a sling always. That's part of what fumbled him up. LOL.

Most of my rifles don't even have front sling studs. They've been replaced with Pic rails for a bipod.

 

[TaperPin]

The buddy that missed those two opportunities in that story uses a sling always. That's part of what fumbled him up. LOL.

Most of my rifles don't even have front sling studs. They've been replaced with Pic rails for a bipod.

lol
I have a friend like that - he’s paranoid about taking short quick shots offhand or sitting, even though he can ring a 10” plate at 100 yards every time.

 

[Mk44]

Recently I met up with an old friend to do some upland hunting. I noticed he had put on “some” weight since I last saw him 2yrs ago. A couple of hours into the hunt he said he needed to stop and rest because his hips hurt due to the extra weight he has gained. He goes on about how he needs to loose weight.
But after the hunt we stopped at a deli for a sandwich. He also picks up a cherry pie.
(I thought to myself, maybe he was planning on loosing weight next year. Or maybe not.)

Being overweight and out of shape does effect your endurance.