Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada How important is rifle weight to you?

There are many parts to this, so it's not a simple question.

Is weight more important than accuracy, or over all length? This might be hard to quantify. Long range hunters obviously care more about using an accurate rifle, given the distance to their quarry. Bush hunters may prefer short, handy rifles.

A lot of it is about where you hunt. Do you hunt from a stand, or walk around? Is the land you hunt flat, hilly or mountainous? Are you in good shape, or younger?

How much recoil does your cartridge generate? How you react to it? Do you like a short barreled rifle, or a longer one? Do you even care about barrel length?

Do you use many different rifles, or just a couple? For example, some folks use a 30-06 for everything.

I know there will be different answers because we have people from all over. Geography, game hunted and personal preferences are different.

In the end, it is all personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer. Just what makes you happy.

It's not just the rifle, it's the scope as well. I chuckle about guys talking about short action light rifles and mounting mini Hubles. I usually hunt with either of a couple of FN Mausers., with Bushnell 4200 scopes, 1.5x6 and a 2.5x10. Neither scope is light and the rifles are average.

Been pretty busy lately, huh?

Have four under 7.5 pounds, all plenty accurate. Scopes up to 18oz. Light is nice, not necessary. My heavier ones are a pair of .270s which are really more gun than needed. My crossbow weighs maybe 8lbs, and is pretty awkward to tote. Nothing I shoot kicks much. Since my “reason” for rifles is based on using them to hunt, I try to run through the rotation to some extent every season, but the crossbow has been the only thing that’s made meat for the past three seasons.

I’m old, a little pudgy, but exercise regularly, and heart and lungs work fine. Main issue is tired old joints, and muscles aren’t much help if the frame is creaky. My average run in and out to where I hunt is about two miles. My deer hunting is about 50/50 treestand/ground seat. Hunting from the ground, I carry a cushion, a stool, or a seat that straps to a tree at ground level. Since it’s public land, days when it’s safe to still hunt are limited, and lately hikers, birdwatchers, and dog walkers have gotten more common, so I generally walk in, park my butt, and wait a while.

Weight and length only matter to me when I'm still hunting (so far whitetails), since I'll be holding the rifle in my hands most of the day. I've come to appreciate shorter barrels, also shorter barrels make easier manuervering in a blind or treestand. I still use what would be considered heavy and long barrel guns like sako finnbear and wby markVs, I like them so the weight doesn't bother me even hiking the mountains if the rifle is mostly on my shoulder.

Absolutely. And the stock material too. I know what you mean about the light rifle/heavy scope crowd. I see guys at the range with these tiny rifles (every little bit helps, they say!), but with a satellite tracking scope on top.



You've no idea!

I agree about the weights, and would add that a lot is what you're used to. I don't think that I ever had a CF rifle that weighed less than about 7.5 lb. That's scoped and loaded.

I'll have to post my Pro Hunter and No 4 pix. Both are chamberd in 30-303. The Lee Enfield weighs 10 lb 3 oz. The Pro Hunter weighs 10 lb. 6 oz. So much for single shots being svelt. But I went stupid on the PH. It's a range rifle. A 26 inch bull barrel (1 inch dia,). It carries nicely though. It's slightly barrel heavy.

Oh yeah
P.S. I'm no youngster

Steve;
Good afternoon to you sir, I hope the day's a nice one out east and that you and those who matter to you are well.

It's in interesting series of questions you've asked and I'll attempt to actually stay more or less on point with my answers here.

Indeed for me weight is more important than accuracy, though of course if I can have both that's a plus. Overall length is likewise a very important criteria for me.

In the main I hunt mountainous terrain and game populations preclude stand hunting. I really don't know many people who successfully stand hunt here. I'm in excellent shape - last fall I walked a couple 20 something year olds into the ground - but no, nobody would call 59 younger I don't believe.

One rifle is a 6.5x55 and the other a .308 Norma. They are both relatively light and I'd say neither is pleasant to shoot really. I do not enjoy shooting either one for extended periods or many rounds. I'll make sure they're still sighted, but prefer to shoot cartridges that don't beat me as effectively. In the Swede it's a 21" barrel and the .308 Norma is a 24". I much prefer hunting thicker stuff with the Swede - I can notice those extra 3" of barrel length - but that said, a .308 Norma needs at least 23" of barrel length to be "all it can be" in my experience.

For big game hunting, I only use the two rifles, they're a known quantity for me and as I've built them from the action forward - had a gunsmith install the barrels and did the rest of the work myself - rust blue, bedding, stock on the Norma, painting and modifying the stock on the Swede. The Norma has not had the point of impact move in about 10 seasons now - that's a real confidence builder for me.


This is built on a between the wars Mauser roll marked 98 action, modified Swedish military barrel installed, Timney trigger, Buehler safety, Wolfe mainspring, FN commercial extractor, Wildcat Composites stock - it weighs 7lbs 4oz as it sits there with 5 cartridges. It's slightly muzzle heavy and for me, is set up to point and shoot like a well balanced shotgun.



This is built on a Ruger 77 Liberty Model action, Parker Hale barrel, modified factory trigger, stocked with a Claro semi inletted blank for Richard's Microfit. It now has a 6x42 on it - that's different and it weighs about 8lbs 8oz loaded if memory serves. If anything, it's even faster to snap shoot for me than the Swede. I've hit a few things running with it over the years so the ability to swing and point is tantamount to my hunting style.




Hopefully that all made sense Steve and is close to the spirit of the thread.

All the best to you all this weekend.

Dwayne

My two centerfire elk and deer rifles are a Rem 700 and a Win FW.. But the rifle I've used most is a Hawken cap lock replica. From using that rifle so much, I think shape and balance may be more important than weight. My scoped rifles are 30-06 and 308win so recoil is negligible. I am sensitive to recoil and would shy away from too muck octane in too little weight.

Both of my bull barrel target rifles are long gone with no regrets and won't be replaced with anythin similar.

Carrying a Stevens SxS 311 all day is a chore. If I was a shotgun hunter, I'd opt for lighter.

I have also opted for a handgun for weight savings a few times.

For me, I can say I like lighter rifles, but I don't place a lot of importance on lightness.
My lightest hunting rifle is a Lee Speed-"ish" 303 I made on a 1900 Irish action, which weighs only 6 pounds 7 oz. My 6.5X54 Mannlicher is just 7-1/2 pounds, and I hunt with that sometimes too.
My heaviest rifle is an AR15 in 6.8 SPC with full steel free float sleeve and GI handguards, fixed stock and a mid weight barrel it weighs 12 pounds and 11 OZ.

I like them all.

I enjoy hunting with iron sights and so most of my game is killed with lighter guns because with the lack of a scope, mounts and rings, they are just lighter then what many carry.
But I have also killed many head of game with my M1 Garand, (Just last year for the M1 in fact) a few FALs I have owned and a 12 pound 50 caliber Sharps 1874 in the past too. So even shooting with irons I don't always end up with a light rifle.

I hunt with what I will have fun with that day or on that hunt, and don't concern myself with many other details.

I guess if I were pushed to place a figure on top weight I would put 13 pounds as the most I'd use. Not that I can't carry one heavier, but I have no reason to. Most of my scoped bolt actions weight in the 9-10 pound range except for one very light 25-06 I made that comes in at 7 pounds,13 OZ scoped, loaded and with the sling, and 30-06 Scout carbine is also quite light at 8 pounds loaded, scoped and with sling attached.

When going to the woods to bag a 4 to 500 lb elk, I don't care what my rifle weighs.

Well, as a lever action afficianado, I can say this. Weight matters.

I mean, if you have a 6 1/2 pound 1894 Marlin in .44 Magnum, you know that this is right in the Goldilocks zone. Neither too heavy nor too light.

But, if you have a Henry Big Boy Classic brass at 8 1/2 pounds in .44 magnum, the thing is a brick. A beautiful brick, but way too heavy.

A Marlin 336 in .30-30 at 7 1/2 pounds seems just right too me, although 7 pounds would be okay too.

The various stubby 1895 Marlins seem just way too light for the bone-crushing loads that people shoot in them.

But the 22" version is more realistic.

I'm not overly concerned with the weight. My heaviest is an older 700 remington 338 win mag with 4x leupold. Layne Simpson said it well in an article years ago. People fuss about rifle weight but aren't concerned about the 20 extra pounds they carry above thier belt. I've seen a lot of " light " 300 win mags get sold,traded or put in the safe. And some were owned by big men.

Weight vs Balance

I had a rifle that weighed 8lbs 3oz loaded with sling, it balanced so well that most people guessed it's weight at just over 7lbs.

It was easy to shoot in the field .

Yes, Weight is important, Too much for the recoil produced, and carrying the thing afield is drudgery.
Too light for the recoil produced, and confidence and consequently accuracy Suffer.
Witness the comments ref 300 mags, great killing power and reach, but not usually heavy enough to attenuate that sharp impulse. I never found 338s all that brutal, but I’m mostly using much lighter caliber ( 280, 280 Improved )

In between those xtremes are a bunch of nuances. Trigger weight, let off, Pistol grip, fore end shape,
Butt angle, width, pad etc. Etc . Optics, Cheek alignment

All elements are important , producing a synergistic whole for the intended purpose

Reminds me of discussions about shotguns for Grouse hunting in the bush vs pheasant or sharp tails out on the prairies. Skeet vs Trap

My usual go to deer hunting rifle is a lightweight 30-06 husqvarna.
The hunting around here is pretty much.....hike up to the higher ridges for mule deer so it is good to cut down on weight if you can in any way possible.

If I'm moose hunting then I'm packing a 300wm or a 338wm, I like them just as they are, heavy. In my youth it never bothered me much to carry them for endless miles, but not so eager to do so now. I find the length of the rifle more cumbersome than weight, but that is likely due to my style of hunting.

If I am packing a heavier rifle I just keep telling myself....what if I get into a static with a grizzly or two....that also helps.

Those 4200s are my grail, which reticle are you using in them ?
Mine are the simple duplex, but I’ve wondered about the 3-2-1

Just the Bushnell version of duplex.The 1.5x6 has moved from the 338-06 to a 358Norma. The replacement 3x9 3200 might be a bit lighter.They had stopped making it, I had to buy it used, where it came off a 375 H&H.

For me, I am Firstly a sheep hunter. Sheep hunters are famous for trimming weight off all their gear.
Secondly, I am always horseback, so that influences what I choose as a rifle. I do like compact rifles, but not extreme lightweights and as I get older non synthetic style rifles.
I am using a BROWNING B78 these days, ir weighs in at around 8 lbs, but is very compact and its compact scope has detachable rings.
I also use another Browning takedown ( levergun) with a scout scope.
The jack handle/ all weather model 700 works and shoot well but....but just seems far to common.

Dwt2 Any issues with eye relief ? I never tried a 1.5-6x36 on a heavy kicker for that reason, but more lately I’d like to try one on a lighter 338’06 The 3.3” eye relief was the knock on those 4200s Not sure if that spec was the same on the 2.5-10s, never had a problem with the ones I’ve used.

Sorry for the derailment, but it is relevant to weight and recoil attenuation and ultimately to the panache of a low mounted scope on an 84L .338’06 that I’ve been cogitating. 20-22”

Is there anything more appropriate for bush hunting for Moose, Elk and incidental defence from their apex predators ?

I had a B78 with a 26” octagonal barrel, quite light , at least I never felt it was overweight.

Trigger was a bit of a struggle to get tuned. Not like the more adjustable ones on the 1885

What mods have you made to lighten yours ?