Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting What is your backpack rifle?

There's a lot of talk on this section about specialized equipment. That's fine. But now let's see what the backpackers are using for a lightweight rifle. So, state your make, model, caliber and scope setup. What game are you using the rifle for? Don't forget to give us the "field weight" of your rig.

I have two projects in making, but, cannot say with certainty what the exact weights will be. Here is what I'm currently working on.

Husqvarna HVA, factory steel bottom metal, Wisner safety, Brown Precision Kevlar stock, Weaver Grand Slam steel bases, Burris Zee rings, to be re-barreled with a Shilen cro-mo barrel in .338-06, irons to be decided on later.

I have it all together except the re-barreling and am not sure if I will get that done before next August when we go to northern B.C. for Elk, Moose, Stone's Sheep and so on. This is to be my main backpacking rifle for general hunting in B.C. and I expect to use a 4x Leupy on it; the overall weight should be about 7.25 lbs....for this round with 250 NPs loaded to 2550-2600, that's light enough for me.

I have a 9.3x62 planned on a Brno 21H action with Argy 1909 bottom metal, a Timney trigger and a Wisner safety; this will also be a backpacking rifle of about 8 lbs.

I am contemplating re-stocking my Dakota 76-.338 Win. with a Banser to get it down to a really light weight for this cartridge, but, the recoil may be a bit too much for me as I ain't as young as I once was.

I have others, but, this is where I am going at present; I discussed a CRF "Rambling Rifle" with Patrick Smith of Kifaru, but, I just don't want to spend maybe five gees Canuckbux for another rifle as I have too many now. I do think that the .338-06, in a light CRF action, is about perfect for the role of backpacking rifle in Grizzly country....bigger bullets bonk bruins!

I use mine for backpacking, but most wouldn't call it a backpacking rifle. Mines a stock Ruger MKII SS/Lam .338 Win Mag with a Simmons Aetec scope. The scope got quite dinged on Kodiak last year so it will be getting replaced with a lighter Leupold, just not sure which one yet. My rifle sans ammo and sling weighs 9#5oz. I've hauled it after elk, whitetails, mule deer, pronghorn, and Sitka blacktail. I'm hoping to get the weight down to 8.5#s this summer with the lighter scope, hollowing out some of the stock, and possibly lighter scope rings. I like the power of the .338 Win especially for larger game (elk and above) and will eventually add something quite a bit lighter and less powerful for smaller game. Still waffling on which cartridge, but it'll be something the in the '06 class from .264" to .284".

Mine is a Remington Ti chambered in 7mm-08AI. I had the shroud and firing pin assembly swapped out with a Gre-Tan light weight version (bye bye J lock) when I had it chambered. Also had the old bolt locking style safety put on. Also changed out the trigger guard for an alloy one.
Rings are Talley LW and scope is a VXIII 2.5-8. Ready to hunt, 3 in mag., it weights 6lbs 1oz. I know I could cut some more weight with a different stock and scope but 6lbs feels pretty good! I think I'll just start losing a little more weight off the waist band instead......cheaper too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Rem 700 SS mountain rifle in 30-06, and except for some serious scratches it is unchanged from the box other than bedding the action and first 2.75 inches of the barrel. Leupold 3-9 x 40 scope. Rings and bases came from an earlier rifle and I believe are Weaver. Homemade sling of light synthetic webbing with a dab of rubber cement on the inside where it passes over the shoulder. Don't know what the field weight is as I've never weighed it done up. When I bought it I weighed it in the store sans scope and it weighed 6 lbs. 4 oz. 22 inch barrel. I regret slightly that I did not swap the scope, which was a gift, for a 2.5-8 Leupold. This 40 mm scope rides too high to fit me perfectly with this stock. For years I had a 2x7 Redfield on it that fit super low and lined with my eye instantly at the touch of my cheek to comb.

I've practiced with many rounds but hunt everything with the 180 Swift A-frame when using that rifle.

I've taken it for all kinds of western deer, elk, moose, sheep, goat, caribou, cougar, black and grizzly, though I haven't shot all of them. It's on the light side when you are in big bear country, and if all I hunted was elk, it would be bigger, or if all I hunted was deer it would be smaller. It truly is the middle of the road bore and cartridge for N. America. Boringly efficient, so that I am almost embarrassed to admit that I hunt with so plain a Jane.

I'd love JimF's ultralight rig, .284 as I recall, for deer and sheep etc.

Right now I am surprised only slightly to find myself joining kutenay in a quest for a 338-06 as my all around.
Started checking with a gunsmiths and a dealer or two a month ago to find the best way for me to acquire/build one.

Rem LH 700 BDL scalloped and lightened with the barrel lathed down it's chambered in 7mm Rem mag. Wears a Leupy 2x7 compact and an uncle mikes nylon sling, buttstock shell holder and a MPI stock. It weighs 7 lbs. 4 oz. with 3 in the belly and 3 in the buttstock holder.

Just a midweight by todays standards but I did the work on it over 10-11 years ago when there weren't as many lightweight choices, just ULA and Rifles Inc. and I couldn't afford a $3000 dollar rifle. I've got about $1200 in it, it balances well, shoots well and I love it.

Would like to try a real flyweight someday, but if it never happens I'm able to work with what I have. LH choices are few and far between.

I have a NULA in .30-06 with Leupold 4-14X40 with B&C reticle. I am exstatic with the function/weight (6.5lb) and accuracy.
Don

Doc, does the NULA hold four in the magazine?

REM 600 with a 20" featherweight barrel in 7mm-08. Restocked/bedded with a "Old Classic 102" from Richard's Microfit Stocks in semi-fancy walnut. I trimmed down the stock and hollowed out some of the butt to keep it light. On top is has a Leupold VXII 2-7x33 in Leupold mounts. It is just a shade over 6lbs.

BTW, Those "microfit" stocks advertised as 96% need to be relisted at 80%! I enjoy the work but they need to get real.

RH

Kimber Montana 308 Win. Six pounds, one ounce with a Zeiss 4X now in Weaver Quad Lock rings and Warne bases. Sling not shown is a Uncle Mikes Mountain.

The recoil from this rifle shooting 150's over 2900 is so light that it's a sea change as compared to other guns. I attribute it to the stock design with it's high comb and soft pad.

I shoot Ballistic Tips for practice and will hunt with Accubonds. I will test the new Accubonds when they come out in 165 gr along with some MRX's.

.300 Win mag, Sako a3 reciever, Shilen match grade 24" barrel, gentry mussle break, in a brown precision kevlar classic stock, leuopy 2-7, weighs a little over 7 lbs even.

I hate to tell you but I pack a 30-378 Weatherby ss with a 26in barrel. It has a 6.5-20X50 vari-x lll. It weighs inbetween 11 and 12 pounds. I use it for bear and deer. Branden

That's all right Branden, at least you backpack. Savage 99 doesn't but has an ideal rifle for it... maybe you guys could swap <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

My backpack gun is a thompson encore with a custom 280 ackley barrel. Not having the conventional action, it is shorter and lighter than the other guns in the safe. I even have two custom sisk guns that never get used.

It is topped with a 4x12 seedler scope

Thompson Center 7mm-08 or TC 30_06

Just three down, but that's enough for me. I had a two down Bansner's once in 7mm WSM, and I just couldn't fall in love with it because of that.
Don

Thanks Don, three's plenty for sure.

BA

Don
What accuracy are you getting with the NULA?

I have a custom built on a rem ti action in 7-08 , 24 in lilja bbl , jewell trigger with talley tnt rings and a swaro 3x9x36 6.4 ready to hunt. I'll hunt anything accept or near big bears with it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/4evrwild/Sask%202005/15.jpg

I have one group at 200 yards of 180gr Barnes Triple Shock (Federal Factory) into less than 1". I was really tickled to find the NULA shot this load this well. I promptly took it to Alaska and took two wolves and a Dall, all at over 200 yards.
Don