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!

SAKOS and classy looking gals hanco you the man. My xs-7 Marlin 308 or my boat paddle 77 308 are damn near perfect whatever they weigh...mb

For Me a .308 Win bolt action should not weight more than 7lbs dressed with scope/mounts/sling....And anything less is even better 👍.....Hb

While I don’t worry too much over weight, a Kimber all up at well under 6.5# has felt recoil less than some I’ve had that were in the 8.5# range….just mainly due to stock design. 6.5# beats heavier, for carrying much, but if it balances and shoots well , I don’t worry about it until I notice it….which is somewhere around 9#. Tikkas are another that carry and shoot well, but are naturally lighter than many others.

Considering your age and that its from a fixed position, I'd say 8 lbs including scope (but no heavier, with 7 1/2 lbs the lightest). I have one that is 6 lbs including scope and also 7 1/4 lbs including scope. You will be able to shoot it nicely and the recoil won't be excessive.

+1!

+1!

Yeah, it's this in a nutshell.

Though an 8lb or 9lb rifle to carry to and fro a hunting blind isn't a deal breaker - that's why carry straps are made.

From a fixed position...with the addendum that the fixed position isn't a mountain side climb to get to.....then "the optimum weight" is whatever the .308 you like the best weights.

I like a lot of the light tactical rifles like Remington's older Light Tactical Rifle (LTR) and their Light Varmint Stainless Fluted (LVSF) in .308. They are a really good mix of shoot-able weight while still being portable.

One of these in a lighter stock is hard to beat.
I've put them in TI take-offs from a SAUM and it worked great.
My boy still has his in 7mm-08.

The RAGW .308 arrived today and I mounted the Viper HS 2.5-10x44 using Warne 513M steel rings (I appreciate the suggestion @mainer_in_ak). It tips the scales at 8lb. 7oz. including the 4 rds of Federal/Barnes 150g. I was expecting to be right at 8 lbs. which lightweight rings and a lighter scope could get it there. Will see how it handles and shoots if this heat will ever take a break.



P.S. the butt pad is softer than I've seen on a Ruger, similar to a Pachmayr Decelerator but it has no brand markings on it.

I bet that bugger is gonna be scary-accurate. Did it come with a thread protector, if a guy wanted to get rid of the muzzle brake?

Thats ah big ole target scope/ring combo atop of a thin/whippy barrel.

I had to add my binocs and 180 grain ammo to my scoped Ruger American, to get near that weight.

Optics in the hunting world are changing big time. Everybody seems to be going hubble telescope nowadays, even on little guns.

Yes, I’m perfectly fine with a 3-9x40 Leupold but this Vortex has crazy good glass and I wanted to give it a try. Simple duplex reticle, made for hunting, but the 30mm tube has it right at a pound by itself. The Vapor bronze rings would be nice but $140 is more than I wanted to spend on a “budget” rifle.

The rifle spec says 6.6 lbs but I didn’t weigh it by itself. The rings are 5oz. So I will check the math to see if anything is off. I’m told you can get a bronze thread protector from Ruger.

I’ll have to say the Fieldcraft standard SA weight. The 308 is a pleasure to carry and shoot.

I run Tikka T3 Lite rifles, Colt Light Rifles, Remington Mountain Rifles, Kimber Montana, Kimber Mtn Ascent (just purchased, have yet to hunt with it). The accuracy and reliability I get out of the Tikka rifles is just perfect for me. I could go weight them if you want, but should be able to get it off the website. I try to keep my scope under 16 oz, and use Talley Lightweights. They carry well, are pretty good with recoil (especially with the limbsaver pad swapped on to the big magnums).

My Tikka T3 SS in a McMillan Thumbhole stock, suppressor and 8x50 Kahles scope comes in at 8.5lbs...
I could put it back in the Forest walnut stock and it weighs 7.5lbs