Who hunts with a 10lb+ rifle?

[GoatPackr]

Hunting fields, deer often run back into the woods if they don’t drop in the field. I have had to track a few and being able to see where they entered woods after the hit is important. Much easier to watch in the scope with a light recoiling rifle vs the having to see what happened from a hard kicking gun.

Ya when you gotta put your hat back on and wipe the snot off your face you know your not going to see what way he went.

 

[waspocrew]

Finishing up a 300 PRC on a Kelbly Nanook. 8.5lbs as is, add about 2 more lbs for scope and rings.

 

[jscore]

It depends on where you you live/hunt. Midwest cornfields, its about a Harris that will get you above the stalks…..7”ish. Pastures, you’ll need to get creative, the big bluestem is several feet tall. Not constant, but enough to make a precision shot at >500 yds enough to make you think twice. Plan ahead…..2x4 and and some cheap plywood screwed together beforehand can make it all come together beautifully.

 

[General RE LEE]

Finishing up a 300 PRC on a Kelbly Nanook. 8.5lbs as is, add about 2 more lbs for scope and rings.

View attachment 821759

Wow, let me know if you ever have a garage sale lol. You probably got something I could use on the shelf back there.

 

[General RE LEE]

Evidently some people are freaking out over the weight of the new Tikka Game Ace. I bet its a stable platform.

 

[IChaseCoues]

Weight is a huge concern for some people and not a factor for others it seems.
I have buddies who won't carry anything more than a standard weight (~8.5 pounds) anywhere.
These guys freak out when I hand them my 15lb 6.5 PRC but they also freak out when I hand them a 5.5lb 308.
Just last night I was watching a video on the tube where they said something like "Now this rifle weighs 12 pounds so it's definitely not a hunting rifle but a match rifle". That statement cracked me up because the guy that said it is always talking about long range hunting.
The safe here has a variety of hunting rifles ranging from 5.5 to 16 pounds and I'm really wondering why I have so many lately since most never go to the field any more. I have 3 or 4 that have a real purpose.
A 7lb 7WSM is great for the steep and deep long adventures while the 16lb 6CM is perfect for stand or ridgeline hunts but most often I'll pick something in between those to carry around whether I'm in NM, AZ, MT or OR.
I guess I tend to prefer heavier rifles and most often carry a 13 pound 7-08 in my hand for hours at a time just because it is a great combination that tends to kill things when I need it to at most distances.
On the desk are the beginning components of a 9 pound 6CM so we'll see if that replaces the trusty 7-08.
In the end it just ain't right for a person to call someone an idiot for carrying a gun that's "TOO HEAVY" which happens often around here.

 

[Bowhunter46]

11lbs
Old pic, scope rings have changed to badger.
20” 300win CRB sendero barrel
Christensen arms mesa action
Trigger tech trigger
Nightforce nx8 2.5-20
Silencer co scythe-ti

 

[180ls1]

Weight is a huge concern for some people and not a factor for others it seems.
I have buddies who won't carry anything more than a standard weight (~8.5 pounds) anywhere.
These guys freak out when I hand them my 15lb 6.5 PRC but they also freak out when I hand them a 5.5lb 308.
Just last night I was watching a video on the tube where they said something like "Now this rifle weighs 12 pounds so it's definitely not a hunting rifle but a match rifle". That statement cracked me up because the guy that said it is always talking about long range hunting.
The safe here has a variety of hunting rifles ranging from 5.5 to 16 pounds and I'm really wondering why I have so many lately since most never go to the field any more. I have 3 or 4 that have a real purpose.
A 7lb 7WSM is great for the steep and deep long adventures while the 16lb 6CM is perfect for stand or ridgeline hunts but most often I'll pick something in between those to carry around whether I'm in NM, AZ, MT or OR.
I guess I tend to prefer heavier rifles and most often carry a 13 pound 7-08 in my hand for hours at a time just because it is a great combination that tends to kill things when I need it to at most distances.
On the desk are the beginning components of a 9 pound 6CM so we'll see if that replaces the trusty 7-08.
In the end it just ain't right for a person to call someone an idiot for carrying a gun that's "TOO HEAVY" which happens often around here.

Care to elaborate how that applies to your effective range? I haven't played in the rifle world much.


I have played with bows a lot - ultra lite to long and heavy + everything in between. My current hunting bow is 39" ATA with long stabilizers. It probably gains me 15 yards over the light bow and always goes with me, despite the size/weight.

 

[huntnful]

Care to elaborate how that applies to your effective range? I haven't played in the rifle world much.


I have played with bows a lot - ultra lite to long and heavy + everything in between. My current hunting bow is 39" ATA with long stabilizers. It probably gains me 15 yards over the light bow and always goes with me, despite the size/weight.

It’d have to just be dispersion. Just like with the bow. Heavier rifle = better shooting in all positions. Be tough to quantify to actual killing distances though for sure.

I think once you get to the distances where the smaller groups would matter, there’s a lot of other factors at play. So it’s tough to say “I’m limited to 500 yards with this 8lb rifle, but I’m good to 700 yards with the exact same rifle that weighs 12lbs.


A bow is freaking night and day and you can shoot right in your backyard side by side and see it in 10 arrows.

 

[OverInfinite]

11.5 to 12 lbs seems to be where I gravitate to most of the time. I've ran the 8-9lbs setups and just dont care for the lack of stability and I am just not good enough of a shooter to be able to watch any impacts.
The 15lbs 6.5CM was my all time favorite for a couple years. Especially when solo, watching impacts becomes my top priority. Over time and practice, ive been able to drop weight. But depending on the unit, I am putting together a 16lbs 6 CM that i think will be perfect for next year. The only ultra light rifle ill run is either 6arc or 223

 

[JackButler]

I bought a Remington 700 police in 308 and mark4 M5 scope a long time ago as a do all varmint target deer rifle as my first “real” rifle. It’s a little over 11lbs. I’ve bought many rifles since, and when it comes down to it, this one still gets the nod every time. Just killed a 350” elk with it.

 

[streamerfish]

I've never hunted with a hunting rifle setup over 8lbs, at least that I am aware of...

I am planning on building/setting up some kind of 6.5 with a KGB Bravo or some kind of similar style stock (this place is a bad influence already lol), I am guessing its going to land somewhere in the 9-10LB range when done(no bipod).

I am a little concerned about weight, as my elk hunting is primarily thick/dark timber hunting, carry the gun in hand, short range, quick shots.

However, I have no love for recoil, and I plan on this being my everything gun for now, and my deer hunting usually is more open country.

I think I am willing to pack the extra weight for shooting a more forgiving system, and one that i can get adjust to better fit.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Just shy of 10 with bipod and can on a few set ups. My light set up is about 8lbs with a can, my heavier rifles are all so easy to shoot and spot shots with

 

[khuber84]

I've never hunted with a hunting rifle setup over 8lbs, at least that I am aware of...

I am planning on building/setting up some kind of 6.5 with a KGB Bravo or some kind of similar style stock (this place is a bad influence already lol), I am guessing its going to land somewhere in the 9-10LB range when done(no bipod).

I am a little concerned about weight, as my elk hunting is primarily thick/dark timber hunting, carry the gun in hand, short range, quick shots.

However, I have no love for recoil, and I plan on this being my everything gun for now, and my deer hunting usually is more open country.

I think I am willing to pack the extra weight for shooting a more forgiving system, and one that i can get adjust to better fit.

If you're building off a bravo, prepare for a notably heavier rifle, they're 1.5# heavier than a standard carbon fiber stock.

 

[Newbutold]

9.8 # "Woodmega" SML

 

[stormthelab20]

Around 10.5#, I run a silencerco omega sometimes as well which adds almost a pound.