Weight of your rifle support gear?

[hereinaz]

I am curious what the weight is like for other hunters. I feel like my load of 4 pounds for tripod and bags is reasonable for most backcountry hunts. Everything gets a second and third use for me too.

What is your total weight for anything you carry for supporting the weight of your rifle for a shot?

Include tripod, bipod, trekking poles, shooting sticks, bags, etc. if you don’t ever use your tripod, please still include it.

Do not include your pack, but mention if you use it. Include other items that have dual uses like trekking poles, game bags, or tripod.

Tripod with ball head, 3 lbs 14 oz
Trekking poles 1 lb
Triple S Pillow 7 oz
2-5 ultralight 2.5 oz
I use my pack for front and rear support.

Total 5 lbs

 

[huntnful]

I carry a light rear bag that is 4oz. and have a hatch outwest bipod that I believe is 20oz.

If I have to take a long seated shot, I can use my bipod fully extended, with my glassing tripod in the rear. My glassing tripod is 3.5lbs.

 

[huntsd]

running a light weight rear bag for the first time this year. its 5ish ounces. Was nice to have at the range so i hope its worth the weight investment in the field

 

[huntnful]

running a light weight rear bag for the first time this year. its 5ish ounces. Was nice to have at the range so i hope its worth the weight investment in the field

My buddy and I both killed our bucks prone, using my rear bag on our last hunt. It’s nice to have. The whole hunt comes down to making a shot. No need to cut corners for when that opportunity comes IMO.

 

[JohnJohnson]

RRS TFCT-34L w/ Anvil: 5 pounds (plus another half pound for pan head for glassing if we're counting that?)
Pint-Size Gamechanger with Git-Lite fill: 1 pound
Bipod: Ckye Pod Single Pull: 1.5 pounds but I'm very likely leaving it at home from now on

So very likely 6 pounds total moving forward. I'm not nearly as hardcore, hunting style-wise, as most people around here though.

 

[madcalfe]

I don't think id ever take a dedicated rear bag on any hunt.
rolled up rain jacket/ pants work.
puffy jacket that rolled up into its stash pocket works.
bins harness works,
I even have smaller dry bags that I keep electronic or medical supplies in that will also work.

I only take my tripod which is 2lbs 13oz which is mainly used for my spotter but have a spartan adapter if i want to shoot off it
and a spartan 300 bipod which is 10oz

 

[Hnthrdr]

Probably excessive, but I take a primos trigger stick tripod which acts as 1 trekking pole. Tripod with tricer bc head and a rear bag ( cross tac), and magpul or Harris bipod, I’d guess about 6lbs haha but I enjoy using my trigger sticks for binos and have a dedicated tripod for a spotter, bipod usually just acts as a kickstand for my rifle but someday I’ll get that prone shot I always dream of haha those trigger sticks have saved my butt on standing shots a few times including my biggest buck to date

 

[hereinaz]

I don't think id ever take a dedicated rear bag on any hunt.
rolled up rain jacket/ pants work.
puffy jacket that rolled up into its stash pocket works.
bins harness works,
I even have smaller dry bags that I keep electronic or medical supplies in that will also work.

I only take my tripod which is 2lbs 13oz which is mainly used for my spotter but have a spartan adapter if i want to shoot off it
and a spartan 300 bipod which is 10oz

I have used my puffy and other things as support bags. Definitely works. For the 2.5 ounces, I like having it there, easy to grab and consistent. I also use it to kneel on a lot.

Do you take a glassing pad to sit on?

 

[madcalfe]

I have used my puffy and other things as support bags. Definitely works. For the 2.5 ounces, I like having it there, easy to grab and consistent. I also use it to kneel on a lot.

Do you take a glassing pad to sit on?

no I've never taken a glassing pad.
if the grounds wet rain pants go on and sit on my siltarp or tent foot print that's folded up in my bag.

 

[madcalfe]

I have used my puffy and other things as support bags. Definitely works. For the 2.5 ounces, I like having it there, easy to grab and consistent. I also use it to kneel on a lot.

Do you take a glassing pad to sit on?

I also try to cut as much weight as I can. if something doesn't serve a dual purpose it doesn't come.
I'm even down to taking peak meals out of original packaging and then vacuum sealing them to save weight and space.

 

[Taudisio]

About 216 pounds (weighed at the Dr. office last week). And I use my pack but you said don’t include it in the weight. Only support I use (outside of my pack) is what the lord giveth me. Arms/legs/rocks/stumps/trees. I’ve shot more animals off hand unsupported than with a support. I have a slik tripod and arca rail on one rifle, but it’s more of a hinderance with my style of hunting. I shot a bear last fall off one leg of my buddies tripod. First and only time I’ve used one for a kill. Out to 200 yards, I’m comfortable shooting off hand (I’ve done it more than twice). Past that, I’m looking for something to lean or lay on.

 

[huntnful]

I don't think id ever take a dedicated rear bag on any hunt.
rolled up rain jacket/ pants work.
puffy jacket that rolled up into its stash pocket works.
bins harness works,
I even have smaller dry bags that I keep electronic or medical supplies in that will also work.

I only take my tripod which is 2lbs 13oz which is mainly used for my spotter but have a spartan adapter if i want to shoot off it
and a spartan 300 bipod which is 10oz

I used to do the same thing. After having a few high hits in the field at longer ranges, I nail it down to a weak/soft rear support. Which was the catalyst for carrying a dedicated rear bag now.

But yes, all those things definitely work and are better than nothing!

 

[hereinaz]

I used to do the same thing. After having a few high hits in the field at longer ranges, I nail it down to a weak/soft rear support. Which was the catalyst for carrying a dedicated rear bag now.

But yes, all those things definitely work and are better than nothing!

Yes, a consistent rear bag makes a difference at longer ranges. I found that 100% true for me too.

 

[Watrdawg]

Trekking poles with Wiser Precision Quick Stix adapters. Turns my poles into a bipod I can rest my rifle on. A bit over 1lb total.

 

[hereinaz]

About 216 pounds (weighed at the Dr. office last week). And I use my pack but you said don’t include it in the weight. Only support I use (outside of my pack) is what the lord giveth me. Arms/legs/rocks/stumps/trees. I’ve shot more animals off hand unsupported than with a support. I have a slik tripod and arca rail on one rifle, but it’s more of a hinderance with my style of hunting. I shot a bear last fall off one leg of my buddies tripod. First and only time I’ve used one for a kill. Out to 200 yards, I’m comfortable shooting off hand (I’ve done it more than twice). Past that, I’m looking for something to lean or lay on.

What sort of terrain are you hunting in?

I am not as confident/comfortable off hand, but so could. Funny that my two closest shots on game, inside 100, still were off a tripod, but the situation put me there. For one, I ran into about 350 and set up on my caribou but they kept feeding closer. I was already seated with my gun on the tripod, lol. The other I used it standing as a mono pod.

 

[hereinaz]

Trekking poles with Wiser Precision Quick Stix adapters. Turns my poles into a bipod I can rest my rifle on. A bit over 1lb total.

Nice, I think there are definitely hunts where that makes sense.

I have been looking at blacktail hunting, and seems like some areas I would leave my tripod and big glass at home.

 

[Wrongside]

Weighs whatever my pack weighs the day of. Plus the pound or so for carbon trekking poles.

For certain hunts I’ll pack a 33 oz tripod that’ll work as a rest, in a pinch. But really only bring it for sheep or elk, and it’s mostly for glassing.

 

[Taudisio]

What sort of terrain are you hunting in? I am not as confident/comfortable off hand, but so could. Funny that my two closest shots on game, inside 100, still were off a tripod, but the situation put me there. For one, I ran into about 350 and set up on my caribou but they kept feeding closer. I was already seated with my gun on the tripod, lol. The other I used it standing as a mono pod.

From the Oregon coast to the eastern Montana badlands and all over in between.

 

[TaperPin]

What’s the MOA penalty on target for not using a rear bag?

I’m one of those weirdos that doesn’t use a rear bag or much of anything usually, other than the pack. I don’t fault those that do, and if a rear bag works for someone I’m all for it, but it comes with a time penalty.

Added weight: 0.0 ounces.
Added time to get set up for the shot: 0.0 seconds.

Even trekking poles that might be strapped on the pack aren’t used - at least for me, holding the poles with a few fingers while sitting does almost as much harm as good on target, plus it takes eyes off the target and has a time penalty. Past 300 yards is beyond my range sitting without a tall bipod (you’ll never see me hunting deer or elk with a bipod), so after 300 it’s all prone over a pack.

Guys should shoot enough to know what the MOA penalty is from not using a rear bag. For me it’s about 1/2 MOA. In other words, a 1 MOA rifle fired over a pack without a rear bag will usually group 1-1/2 MOA.

If a shot only requires 2 MOA, is a rear bag needed at all? I’d say no.

If a shot requires 1-1/2 MOA, and I’m shooting a 1 MOA or better rifle, I’d also say no.

If the shot is way out there and actually requires 1-1/4 MOA, I can either use a rear bag with a 1 MOA rifle OR go without a rear bag if shooting a 3/4 MOA or better rifle. That’s why I’ve always justified accurate rifles - the accurate rifle is less complicated and faster.

 

[huntnful]

What’s the MOA penalty on target for not using a rear bag?

I’m one of those weirdos that doesn’t use a rear bag or much of anything usually, other than the pack. I don’t fault those that do, and if a rear bag works for someone I’m all for it, but it comes with a time penalty.

Added weight: 0.0 ounces.
Added time to get set up for the shot: 0.0 seconds.

Even trekking poles that might be strapped on the pack aren’t used - at least for me, holding the poles with a few fingers while sitting does almost as much harm as good on target, plus it takes eyes off the target and has a time penalty. Past 300 yards is beyond my range sitting without a tall bipod (you’ll never see me hunting deer or elk with a bipod), so after 300 it’s all prone over a pack.

Guys should shoot enough to know what the MOA penalty is from not using a rear bag. For me it’s about 1/2 MOA. In other words, a 1 MOA rifle fired over a pack without a rear bag will usually group 1-1/2 MOA.

If a shot only requires 2 MOA, is a rear bag needed at all? I’d say no.

If a shot requires 1-1/2 MOA, and I’m shooting a 1 MOA or better rifle, I’d also say no.

If the shot is way out there and actually requires 1-1/4 MOA, I can either use a rear bag with a 1 MOA rifle OR go without a rear bag if shooting a 3/4 MOA or better rifle. That’s why I’ve always justified accurate rifles - the accurate rifle is less complicated and faster.

I don't know what the accuracy penalty is. But I'd guess it isn't much when compared to laying the rifle across the entire width of a pack. If you're using a bipod, with no rear support, it'll be worse though.

I got a "22 Creedmoor Project" I'm going to do a bunch of random shooting and documentation with. That would be a good one. 10 round group with bipod and rear bag and 10 round group laid over a pack. I bet it's within 1/4 MOA honestly.