Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Preferred total rifle weight..

I am curious as to exactly WHAT all up rifle weight you backpack hunters prefer.

By "all up", I mean rifle plus scope ,mounts ,sling and /or bipod ,scope covers and full magazine of ammo.

And in a caliber /rifle combo you can use confidently kill uo to elk sized game from piont blank out to 500 yards .

I am after a WEIGHT- not rifle model or type ,catridge ,optics etc..but what weight you prefer to do the job in the back country.

This should be "enlightening".

Pardon the pun.

A few oz. either side of 8 lbs. works for me.

7.5-8 #. That's about 15# lighter than anything over 11#.

8 lbs give or take. Lighter is harder to shoot. Heavier is harder to carry.

For general hunting 7.5 to 8 pounds it about perfect. Serious backpack hunting my rifle is a 308 win at under 6.5. I'm talking miles, elevation, and multiple days. No concerns for me with elk to 500...done it at 450.

I never really think about it when pack-hunting. I just carry what ever rifle I want to hunt with. Last season it was my Mauser in 9.3X62 and that rifle weighs 10 pounds and 2 oz loaded and with the sling on it.

For summer trips not in bear country, when I am not hunting but want a rifle along inside the pack I like an AK47 with a side folding stock, or an AR15 taken apart.

In grizzly country I don't put my rifle inside the pack. I carry it as if I was hunting. The rifle I have carried a lot for such summer trips is my old M1 Garand loaded with 220 grain RN bullets and loads with 3031 powder, so the port pressure is within spec for the M1.

This

I agree with around 8 lbs for a bolt action.
That's a little heavy for those that prefer a light weight bolt action, but I hold the eight-pounders steadier.

There is only one exception for me on a light rifle that works... A model 94 with a 20 inch barrel is a delight to shoot... because of the way it is balanced, I hold it very steady, even though it is very light. Long live the model 94!

6.0lbs. is my preferred mountain rifle.

I have another that I’ll take on occasion that is 7.5 including sling (but not ammo). I’m willing to tolerate the weight for sentimental reasons only.

But to your question, I prefer 6-6.5 including ammo.

Whatever a Kimber 84 or Nula weighs. Have little interest in shooting to 500 yards, although I also have little doubt they are capable.

Also prefer 7.5-8lb all up.

Around 7.5lbs

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.

Five lbs when carrying, 10 lbs when shooting. All joking aside, I end up right between 6.5-7 lbs with my "mountain rifles." No big magnums and no ultra lightweights.

You didn't ask about caliber but I settled on the 280 Ackley for elk, with good 160 grain bullets.

Ain't that the truth.

I think most of you are underestimating the weight of slings and ammo

Hunters do a lot more carrying than shooting.

FWIW, Idaho regulations limit total rifle weight, including scope and all other attachments, to 16 lb.

Perhaps, but I don't guess when it comes to weights... but I wonder whether a couple of the posters here are not backpack hunters, but dayhike hunters?

Uncle Mikes Mountain Sling weigh's 3.5 oz's.
4 rounds of .308 Win w/165 weigh's 3.5 oz's.

Ideally < 6.5#'s all-up.

My version of perfection for when the going gets steep and the air gets thin.

Stainless synthetic 84M, 23” barrel just a little thicker than factory at .585” at the muzzle. 160gn bullet at 3050.

But to the question of weight: I’ve hunted with this in a lighter configuration (factory barrel), and heavier when wearing an 3-10 SHV scope, or 3-9 SWFA SS. Where it is now is a nice Mtn hunting weight, and balance.