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Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. jk16 #14609131 02/26/20
Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,076 Banana Belt, Montana M Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna
Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna M Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,076 Banana Belt, Montana	My favorite mountain rifle, whether for backpacking or day hunts, is a NULA .30-06, which weighs 6.5-7 pounds depending on the scope used. (7 is with a Nightforce SHV 3-10x42.) Add another half pound for ammo and Mountain Sling. Back when I first started building and using lightweight rifles (which I define as 7 or under, scoped), experimented with how light I could go, and ended up with at least one NULA around 5.75. Killed quite a bit of game with it, but it was not as easy to shoot at longer ranges as the NULA .30-06, because the .30-06 has a 24" No. 1 contour Douglas barrel, which is pretty darn steady, especially when the SNV is used. Together they put the balance point noticeably farther forward than on many light rifles. “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck

GB1

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Mule Deer #14609251 02/26/20
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 46,021 Colorado S smokepole Campfire 'Bwana
smokepole Campfire 'Bwana S Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 46,021 Colorado	That's just about how my two NULAs are set up. Not the lightest barrel he offers but close to it and not the lightest scope I could put on either. I wasn't trying to get down to 5 1/2 lbs, but to use the scope I wanted and stay under 7 lbs., with a little better balance than an ultralight. It's good to know that great minds think alike! A wise man is frequently humbled.

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. jk16 #14610911 02/26/20
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 920 Colorado starsky Campfire Regular
starsky Campfire Regular Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 920 Colorado	Think mine run around 8-8.5 or so. Seems like a good balance of shootability and carry-ability.

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. TX35W #14611207 02/27/20
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 17,170 Northern California Hammerdown Campfire Ranger
Hammerdown Campfire Ranger Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 17,170 Northern California	Originally Posted by TX35W 8 lbs give or take. Lighter is harder to shoot. Heavier is harder to carry. True that. Randy NRA Patriot Life Benefactor

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. jk16 #14611883 02/27/20
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana D Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana
Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana D Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana	No one has mentioned balance. To me, forward heft really helps with steady holding. If most of the weight is in the butt stock, as with some pencil barreled rifles, I don't like it. I like a Hunters Edge, very light stock with the weight in the barrel. Now, if you guys were young studs like Don Jr. you'd be packing this kinda "mountain rifle". Seemed to work for him. Looks like he's a NF fan. Don't ya reckon that big ole gun weighs at least 15#'s...? DF

IC B2

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Dirtfarmer #14612273 02/27/20
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,481 Calgary, AB, Canada Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter
Jordan Smith Campfire Outfitter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 14,481 Calgary, AB, Canada	Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer No one has mentioned balance. To me, forward heft really helps with steady holding. If most of the weight is in the butt stock, as with some pencil barreled rifles, I don't like it. I like a Hunters Edge, very light stock with the weight in the barrel. Now, if you guys were young studs like Don Jr. you'd be packing this kinda "mountain rifle". Seemed to work for him. Looks like he's a NF fan. Don't ya reckon that big ole gun weighs at least 15#'s...? DF I reckon he probably had a sherpa.

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Jordan Smith #14612445 02/27/20
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana D Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana
Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana D Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana	Probably. I'd hate to pack that big ole gun up and down those ridges... Bet it shot good once he got it there. DF

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Dirtfarmer #14612806 02/27/20
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263 Brad Campfire 'Bwana
Brad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263	Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer No one has mentioned balance. I did... Originally Posted by Brad Backpacking rifle (all-up): 6.50 - 7.25 lbs max with a weight forward bias. 6.75 lbs is around my ideal, again, with a weight-forward bias. “Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. TX35W #14613406 02/27/20
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,884 Deer Park, Tx R Reloder28 Campfire Ranger
Reloder28 Campfire Ranger R Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,884 Deer Park, Tx	Originally Posted by TX35W 8 lbs give or take. Lighter is harder to shoot. Heavier is harder to carry. Agree. Except I don’t have any trouble shooting lightweights. My 280 AI comes in under 7 lbs & my heaviest at 8.5 lbs. That one is a 7 Wby so a bit heavy is fine. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Reloder28 #14613529 02/27/20
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 13,354 Florence, Montana M MontanaCreekHunter Campfire Outfitter
MontanaCreekHunter Campfire Outfitter M Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 13,354 Florence, Montana	Originally Posted by Reloder28 Originally Posted by TX35W 8 lbs give or take. Lighter is harder to shoot. Heavier is harder to carry. Agree. Except I don’t have any trouble shooting lightweights. My 280 AI comes in under 7 lbs & my heaviest at 8.5 lbs. That one is a 7 Wby so a bit heavy is fine. It isn't a matter of having a problem shooting a lightweight. Fact is everyone shoots a heavier gun better. If they didn't you wouldn't see guys shooting heavy rifles in matches. Last edited by MontanaCreekHunter; 02/27/20. Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.

IC B3

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Dirtfarmer #14613558 02/27/20
Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,076 Banana Belt, Montana M Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna
Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna M Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,076 Banana Belt, Montana	DF, "Nobody has mentioned balance." Did you read my post? “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Brad #14613688 02/27/20
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana D Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana
Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana D Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana	Originally Posted by Brad Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer No one has mentioned balance. I did... Originally Posted by Brad Backpacking rifle (all-up): 6.50 - 7.25 lbs max with a weight forward bias. 6.75 lbs is around my ideal, again, with a weight-forward bias. Whoops! Thought I’d read everything. Great minds?? Ha! DF

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Mule Deer #14613708 02/27/20
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana D Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana
Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana D Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana	Originally Posted by Mule Deer DF, "Nobody has mentioned balance." Did you read my post? Missed yours and Brad’s. Must be slipping. Happens when one reaches senior status. Ha! DF

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. jk16 #14613746 02/27/20
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State roundoak Campfire Outfitter
roundoak Campfire Outfitter Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State	It is apparent in this thread, that if there was no pic, it didn't happen. Ruger 77 7x57 "all up" 8.47 pounds. The second part of killing an elk at 500 yards with it, not me but maybe somebody could. Last edited by roundoak; 02/27/20. You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. roundoak #14613779 02/27/20
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263 Brad Campfire 'Bwana
Brad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263	Originally Posted by roundoak It is apparent that if there was no pic, it didn't happen. True dat! I solo backpack hunt, so nothing more than dead critter shots. 8lb rifles need not apply “Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Dirtfarmer #14613781 02/27/20
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263 Brad Campfire 'Bwana
Brad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263	Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer Originally Posted by Mule Deer DF, "Nobody has mentioned balance." Did you read my post? Missed yours and Brad’s. Must be slipping. Happens when one reaches senior status. Ha! DF When does this “senior” thing you speak of happen? “Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Brad #14613806 02/27/20
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana D Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana
Dirtfarmer Campfire 'Bwana D Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 37,071 Central Louisiana	Originally Posted by Brad Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer Originally Posted by Mule Deer DF, "Nobody has mentioned balance." Did you read my post? Missed yours and Brad’s. Must be slipping. Happens when one reaches senior status. Ha! DF When does this “senior” thing you speak of happen? Gradually. Then one day...! You realize. You’re an old fart. 🙈 DF

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Dirtfarmer #14613819 02/27/20
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263 Brad Campfire 'Bwana
Brad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263	Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer Originally Posted by Brad Originally Posted by Dirtfarmer Originally Posted by Mule Deer DF, "Nobody has mentioned balance." Did you read my post? Missed yours and Brad’s. Must be slipping. Happens when one reaches senior status. Ha! DF When does this “senior” thing you speak of happen? Gradually. Then one day...! You realize. You’re an old fart. 🙈 DF I’ll be 59 in June... guessing I’m not a senior yet “Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. jk16 #14613830 02/27/20
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263 Brad Campfire 'Bwana
Brad Campfire 'Bwana Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 30,263	Not exactly day-hiking... “Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Re: Preferred total rifle weight.. Brad #14613881 02/27/20
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 20,808 outside the burgh B battue Campfire Ranger
battue Campfire Ranger B Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 20,808 outside the burgh	Some here are firm believers that if you have a problem carrying a heavy rifle, then losing 10 pounds off of your waist is the best answer. Haven't seen any pics of you lately, but last I remember you didn't have 10 pounds on your waist to lose. Sooooo, maybe you should think about shooting smaller Bulls, which would knock more than 10 pounds off rather quickly. Then you could carry a heavier rifle, that will allow you to shoot better, which will allow you to kill them deader than those in the pics. Us day-hikers are up on the logistics of rifle weight.... Last edited by battue; 02/27/20. laissez les bons temps rouler

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