Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Tell me about Featherweight vs. not

The problem with the weight of your rifle is in the stock and probably the glass, also keeping in mind they do not make a fwt 7mm rem mag barrel profile. I have multiple magnum rifles that weigh 8 pounds scoped. I'd also trust them to hit their mark very consistently out to 500 yards. I don't know where you hunt, but in most cases, the 8 pound all up will suffice 9 times out of 10. I have had some tags that I knew would require a rifle set up to reach past 700 yards with consistency, so I chose to go the 10 pound all up route myself. Higher magnification, better glass, AO's, and stronger internals so you can twist turrets reliably add weight. BTDT on all the above, but most times a nice 8 pound (all up) works just fine.

The funny thing is I have fwt rifles that weigh more than my magnums. It all boils down to stock choice on those rifles. These are model 70's of different era's.

Let's not even talk about Tikka's. A different subject altogether, but fun mentioning here. Have one that I'm selling to a buddy, that is 7 pounds all up and chambered in 300WSM. It's easily managed, generally shooting in the .6's. with the right yahoo behind it. My buddy is a SWAT member, but still shoots it in the .8's, or around 3/4". That's a different subject all together. But wouldn't it be nice to have a 7 pound all up model 70? Especially a magnum rifle. Now, that would indeed be a true "featherweight"..

No, the glass adds very little to the weight of this rifle, and it is far from a “problem”, as I intended it as a beanfield/antelope rifle. The main source of weight is the small .284” hole in a standard weight barrel, as well as the relatively heavy figured stock. The Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 adds a bit also. I’d not change a thing with it.