What’s your rifle weigh?

[Blandry]

IMO, balance, efficiency, and diminishing returns are things to keep in mind. My T3X .280 ai with a Leupold 3-9 and Talleys weighed right under 7.5 pounds…and I personally wouldn’t want it any lighter due to recoil! I’m a small guy 5’8” and 150# so that certainly should be factored but I can’t see the point of a lighter gun or heavier cartridge at that weight.

In fact, I’ve since added bottom metal, an Arca+pic rail, leather cheek riser/ammo holder, a barrel harmonics, and switched scopes to the Swarovski Z3 3-10x42 and I’m within an ounce or two of 8# and I like it. I can shoot that thing all day.

IMO, 7-9# is the sweet spot when married with the balanced cartridges in the .270 Win-30-06 realm(not Magnums but capable of decimating anything that breathes). Obviously, you can do whatever you want, it’s Murica; but I’m going to bet the consistency, accuracy, power, and platform that my one gun show achieves can pretty much do it all on any big game animal in this country inside of 500 yards.

In the weight savings department…I believe the race to the bottom really is too often the race to THE bottom.


I mean, 10#. Really?

A 5lb rifle soaking wet can get to 7.5 easy scoped and outfitted with a full magazine. That's why I prefer light(er) bows and rifles.

 

[ScottinPA]

My rifle is a Rem 700 with a 24" #3 douglas barrel chambered in 358STA. Fluted bolt, talley rings, Leup VX3 4.5-14, Bansner sheephunter stock, simple nylon sling. Ready to hunt with 3 rounds it's about 7.25lbs. Built it 20+ yrs ago for about $1200. Not sure what it'd cost to do now.

 

[pender1]

Tikka T3 stainless in 7mm-08, 22" barrel, factory stock, SWFA 10x42, Talley rings, Form 1 suppressor, full mag (3 rounds), with a sling weighs ~11 pounds.

I'm planning on cutting a few inches off the barrel and maybe adding some weight in the buttend of the stock for balance after whitetail season ends. I'm a southeast stand hunter, so I'm never walking more than about 1/4 mile and only carry my rifle and a chest pack. 11-12 pounds works pretty good for me.

 

[BigredRusch]

Thanks for the input, I was only really looking at magnum caliber rifles. But I’ll look into some other calibers as well now. Factory ammo availability is important since I don’t plan on reloading.

Going lightweight is all about playing the ballistic game. Magnums are cool but magnums in a 6.5 lb gun does not create excitement to hit the range and practice shooting. Speaking from experience. I would look at the intersection of affordability, shoot ability, and efficacy. I ended up at a .308… roll eyes.


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