Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Optimum .308 Rifle Weight

Recently started a thread on my search for a budget .308 bolt gun Budget .308 and finally decided on the Ruger American Go Wild, the reasons for which you can read on the other thread. In the process of deciding, one factor that kept coming up was rifle weight and since I just turned 60, things are started to get heavier .

In the budget category, the range seemed to be between 6 and 7 lbs. For my purposes, I wanted recoil absorption so lightweight was out (on price as well) but, didn't want a 10 lb tactical rifle either. Primary purpose would be whitetail hunting inside 300 yds from a fixed position.

What would you consider the optimum weight when trying to balance recoil and portability in a .308 rifle? I am adding a Vortex Viper HS and steel Warne rings which will add some mass as well.

I’ve never considered weight, if I like it, I buy it. I like the old heavy as hell L-61 Sako’s!

7.5-8 pds scoped up

6.5 to 7 lbs is ideal, certainly not more than 8 lbs all up.

This, for the most part any way. Been buying light ones in deference to my advancing geezerness, but it’s really about handling, subject to limitations regarding distance and terrain. A mile and a half is about as far as I walk on the WMA I hunt, plus back of course. Getting a deer out is more of a consideration than toting a rifle around. This is all day-hunting. No packing in for Grandpa!

I agree. No need for a big heavy azzed scope either. That just f's balance up

I shoot 7.5lbs total weight better than heavier or lighter but carrying less sure feels better.

My Ruger M77 MKII stainless/synthetic 308 scoped with a Cabelas Instinct 3-9x40 would likely be considered heavy, but it balances very well and is heavy enough to settle in for off hand shots even when I am huffing and puffing (which is more often than not the older I get). It is still light enough to carry for relatively long distances. It would not be my first choice for hunting mountain goats in the Rockies, but I am not up to that type of hunting any more anyway.

Around 9lbs.

To me it all depends on the intended purpose of the rifle.
I've got some 10lbs + and a couple that come in less than 7lbs.

For a rifle carried a lot less than it's shot, I can live with a 7 to 7.5 lbs 308 bolt gun.

I find the scoped weight of the Kimber Montana and Nula/fieldcraft to be ideal - light and trim.

Don’t know what this 308 weighs, but it’s handy to carry around. Bought from Roy, son has absconded it.
I bought a fifties model F, them 99’s sho shoot good!

Depends on the stock design. I had an Edge stocked M70 EW in 308 that was more obnoxious to shoot than my 1.75lb lighter Kimber Montana. All things equal however, I think 7.25 - 7.50 lbs "all up" weight is a good place to be. But equally important is where that weight is... I'd rather shoot a weight-forward rifle that is lighter than a butt-heavy one.

I don’t walk much here. My M77 Predator SS mag-contour laminate 2-stage is just so dang easy to shoot. It goes over 9lbs loaded and scoped, but isn’t bulky like a tactical/varmint rig. Great blueprint for where I hunt.

To me the weight of a 308 chambered rifle is not a consideration as it affects recoil. Anything over about 7 lbs would be heavier than I would want. Stock fit is more important as Brad said. If it doesn't fit, it's going to be uncomfortable to shoot.

Wreckster,

Warne makes burnt bronze-colored mountain tech aluminum rings that would match your rifle.

Much lighter than the steel warnes and rugged as heck.

I ran the low ones on a scout rifle. I was trying to keep weight down, because of the rugged, mountainous terrain I scramble around.

With aluminum rail, burris scout scope and rings, i was right at 14oz.

I run the steel warne rings on my ruger american, but wish they were the mountain techs.

But i wont put $100 rings on a $100 rifle, ha!

Most 308-sized rifles, I expect them to weigh no more than 6.5 lbs.

If the rifle is more than that, I always work them over to get the weight down.

Scope/rings/mounts: I expect less than 16 oz.

For me: Stock fit #1. Weight #2 @ 7.0-7.5 pounds, with a 24” barrel. I prefer some weight forward.

8 lb., all up, would be just fine. If you are not carrying it too much, nine pounds would be OK. I am just fine with an eight pound rifle and I carry my rifles a lot. Because I carry them a lot, and generally in one hand, the balance and the fit of the stock in my hand are important to me. As the years go by, carrying too much weight is uncomfortable due to arthritis in my hands so I do prefer to stay at 8 pounds or less. I like compact, lightweight scopes for the same reasons.
I have long felt, if I didn't have all these old, homemade rifles, a Kimber Montana in 308 would be the perfect all around hunter. Light, handy, and they fit my hand and carry well. GD

Can’t say it better than these gents.

8 to 8.5lbs is right for me, and I’m old!