Recommendations to lighten my Elk Rifle

[wapitibob]

You can only get so light and still use your preferred accessories.
I shoot off a bipod and use a can as well. I wouldn't go back to shooting off my pack for love or money. And with permanent hearing damage, I'll likely never go back to using a brake. I'll gladly pay the weight penalty for those two items.
I got lighter by spending a bunch of money:
new stock
new barrel
new bipod
new scope
And as mentioned, it would have been way cheaper to just buy a new Tikka, but then I'd have a Tikka.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

1- pound saving. Carbon fiber stock ( I use Peak 44).

0.5 pound saving. Employ a quick release fitting on bipod (I use Hatch bipod) and carry bipod in pack.

Total weight reduction is 1.5 pounds.

 

[DLIP]

Sell rifle, buy tikka.

 

[35WhelenAI]

No point in dropping the bipod if only to replace it with shooting sticks…weight is weight. You are just shifting it around. Unless of course, shooting sticks weigh significantly less.

The op openly says his bipod weighs almost 14 oz, what shooting sticks would remotely weigh that much based on your experience?

My shooting sticks weigh 4 or 5 oz. Pretty hard to justify a bipod that almost weighs 14 oz. That would be a no-brainer for dropping almost well over a half pound without even having to ask.

 

[BreechFace]

How is removing a bipod and storing in a pack effectively reducing weight?

On the rifle, yes. On the person, no.

I guess I look at cutting weight holistically. Getting my rifle down in weight makes it easier to handle off the sling or pack mount which is advantageous, but the goal is to get the overall weight off my feet, hips, knees and shoulders.

So while I cut weight on my rifle, I certainly am cutting weight everywhere else. I limit myself to a minimalist pack so as to really judge and scrutinize what I bring and a bipod is not one of the items on most hunts for me as my pack, a tree or rock with a jacket will suffice.

 

[Marble]

I like the idea of ditching the suppressor and bi-pod. I typically carry my bi-pod in my pack (if I take it, just depends on where/what I am hunting) and put it on when I need it.

I know "weight is weight". But carrying in my hand or shouldering my rifle is more comfortable the lighter the gun is.

I've always had great succes shooting off of my pack.

My other elk rifle was 11.2 lbs also. I don't recall if that included the Harris bi-pod or not. But I have a Tricer bi-pod now. Just not too sure how much I like it yet.

I have weighed my current rifle. Maybe I will today just to know.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

 

[30338]

No one ever says how can I add weight to my custom rifle. A lesson learned early was that most 2 contours shoot really well and don’t need fluting. Good luck to the OP.

 

[Fogalo]

Curious if the guys saying ditch the suppressor and just use earplugs have seen the
difference in how animals react to shots with/without being suppressed?

I shoot an 8 lb kimber in 300 wm, without a brake and I tend to forget to put my earplugs in.

I usually can see animal reaction in the scope and follow up quickly. I’m sure it’s not as perfect as a target rig but I haven’t had problems.

I’ve also shot hundreds of 300 wm rounds. It takes practice.

 

[mt terry d]

How is removing a bipod and storing in a pack effectively reducing weight?

On the rifle, yes. On the person, no.

Pull the loaded mag out and put it in your pocket
And a quick detachable scope mount and put the scope in your other pocket
Easy couple pounds savings

 

[BAKPAKR]

My shooting sticks weigh 4 or 5 oz. Pretty hard to justify a bipod that almost weighs 14 oz. That would be a no-brainer for dropping almost well over a half pound without even having to ask.

What shooting sticks are you using, and how do they work from the prone position?

 

[Ucsdryder]

I’ll go a different route. Your weight isn’t bad. If you have a good setup for carrying it, the extra 2 pounds are probably not even noticed. I strap mine to my pack during nonshooting hours and I use a kifaru gun bearer during shooting hours. I have a sub 9 pound suppressed rifle and an 11.5 pound suppressed rifle with a tricer bipod. Neither is an issue unless I’m had holding. Then the big rifle gets heavy fast.

Oh and you can’t beat a bipod. Sure, use your pack if that’s all you have but it’s not a bipod, period. Especially a bipod that lets you sit. Then put that pack under your armpit and you just doubled your versatility.

 

[35WhelenAI]

What shooting sticks are you using, and how do they work from the prone position?

Older pair of Underwood shooting sticks. Not for prone flat on the ground, if I need that I use my pack. For everything else they have been on my side for 25 years.