Need help on shaving some weight

I agree with shaving weight off of other things. That is easy to do hear and there and it all adds up.

I was at a Porsche club event. My buddy told the mechanic that he would like to lose 75 lb off of the rear end of the car because he though it would handle better. He had already lightened up everything on his car. The mechanic told him it would be cheaper if he went on a diet and was the one to lose 75 lb and not try to take it off the car. If he took 75 lb off the car it would cost him $5000 and in the end it might not be what he wanted.

My point is take the weight off other things if you want to get out to 1000 yards. I believe the extra couple of pounds of gun weight will be good to you when it really counts. But that's just my humble opinion.

In my previous reply I mentioned taking some weight off your gear and not your rifle, some agree and some don't.......that is what makes this fun!

You mentioned you plan to go with Kifaru gun bearer system. When you do, when properly adjusted you will have ALL the weight of your rifle on your hips. A properly adjusted and fitted pack will put the weight on your hips with very little or none on your shoulders. With a heavy rifle it may take some time and experimenting to get everything just right. I actually turn my rifle with the scope facing forward rather than backward. The large scope bell does not fit well under my arm and the weight of the scope makes the rifle want to twist when I am climbing. What I am saying here is not to do it my way.......but to experiment with all kinds of things to find what works best for you and the rifle you carry.

Further on the subject of your pack and gear. I have switched most of my (pack type) hunting gear to backpacking / mountaneering gear. (You don't need camo to shoot a critter at 1000 yards!) Patagonia, North Face, Mountain Hardwear are a few of the brands. Their packs and clothing is often much lighter than typical hunting gear from Cabela's. You may shave 3 or 4 pounds off the pack itself. Clothes are a commonly overlooked item. I have some synthetic down layering jackets and pants that weight almost nothing, but are very warm. That extra jacket or rain gear can add several pounds to a pack if not selected with care.

I sort through my gear and weigh everything, and I am always on the lookout for other options of the gear I always carry that might be lighter. Chose your gear with care, and if that don't get you there, like a previous post talked about.............you can always go on a diet and lose a few pounds!!! LOL!

meichele said:

I know of one other shooter that had the same experiance in the same caliber. Most everybody else that I know of has not had that issue. At least not that anyone has claimed.

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Was this in .284? What was the barrel make and length?

RDM416 said:

In my previous reply I mentioned taking some weight off your gear and not your rifle, some agree and some don't.......that is what makes this fun!

You mentioned you plan to go with Kifaru gun bearer system. When you do, when properly adjusted you will have ALL the weight of your rifle on your hips. A properly adjusted and fitted pack will put the weight on your hips with very little or none on your shoulders. With a heavy rifle it may take some time and experimenting to get everything just right. I actually turn my rifle with the scope facing forward rather than backward. The large scope bell does not fit well under my arm and the weight of the scope makes the rifle want to twist when I am climbing. What I am saying here is not to do it my way.......but to experiment with all kinds of things to find what works best for you and the rifle you carry.

Further on the subject of your pack and gear. I have switched most of my (pack type) hunting gear to backpacking / mountaneering gear. (You don't need camo to shoot a critter at 1000 yards!) Patagonia, North Face, Mountain Hardwear are a few of the brands. Their packs and clothing is often much lighter than typical hunting gear from Cabela's. You may shave 3 or 4 pounds off the pack itself. Clothes are a commonly overlooked item. I have some synthetic down layering jackets and pants that weight almost nothing, but are very warm. That extra jacket or rain gear can add several pounds to a pack if not selected with care.

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Thanks for the tips on the gunbearer. I can cut a few corners on stuff I carry, but not a whole lot. A couple pounds won't be much of a problem. I like to hand carry my rifle when hunting and the heaviest rifle i currently have is about 11 lbs, and I hate carrying that thing! If the Kifaru thing works and is comfortable, then it might be a non-issue really. I've just never had a rifle near the weight of this build, and didn't want to have a 14lb rig, but I think I'm starting to realize that what I want and what I need to shoot 1k aren't necessarily the same thing .

Coues Sniper said:

Was this in .284? What was the barrel make and length?.

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No. It was another 300 RUM. Rock liner @ 28"

Being as it was on my mind I went and got out the cheek piece screws. Surprise!!! They are metric!! M5 -20 0.8 pitch. The weight is all in the head so you could just grind it down.

I just stopped by my smiths shop and weighed my 338 Lapua Ack Imp (40 degree) and it is going to be around 11.5-12 lbs w/o the scope

Phoenix action w/lug
HS bottom metal
Phoenix 40 MOA base
Lilja 30" 1.350 for two inches and then tapered to .870
Holland Radial brake
Mcm A5 with adj cheek
Basix trigger and safety
NF (Baer) Aluminum rings

I see two major areas to cut weight.

1. Go to a Manners stock in the lightweight version under 3 lbs. Saves at least 1-1.5 lbs. Add the Defensive Edge cheek piece if you do not like the Manners or want to save more weight and money.

2. Go to a radical taper barrel after the breech instead of a straight taper. Will save at least 1.5-2 lbs over a straight taper LV or HV.

Mine should be finished at Custom Gunsmithing in 2-3 weeks and then off to be melanite coated for the action, bolt and barrel while the stock is dipped.

It will be the #3 in the "Snake" series.

Picked up #1, the "Sidewinder" (1000 yd LG in 300 WSM) today. #2, the "Mamba" (300 RUM w/Russo A5) is getting its stock dipped coated now. Pics posted soon.

BH

PS Joelene

I do not care what you say, I do not think you should do that in a tree stand w/o a good safety harness! Hell of an obituary.

Forth on the list for me. I get a kick out of guys that want alight rifle for hunting and complain about having to pack the weight of a heavy(er) rifle. When they themselves are 15 to 30 pounds (or more) over weight. Loss the extra weight. That makes the biggest difference. When i hunt I pack a rifle and ammo. (we all do if its rifle season) Then a take a day pack with the rest of my gear like binoculars, range finder, knife, and LR needed gear, enough food to last a day in the woods or hills. I have been known to eat a lot. Also enough fluids to last the day. 32OZ of water along with a one or more 32 OZ Gaturades. Bad spelling....

You're going to have an awfully hard time coming up with a rifle you can shoot sub MOA at 1000yds in a light format.

All else being equal, heavier is steadier and steadier is more accurate.

NEMTHunter said:

Forth on the list for me. I get a kick out of guys that want alight rifle for hunting and complain about having to pack the weight of a heavy(er) rifle. When they themselves are 15 to 30 pounds (or more) over weight. Loss the extra weight. That makes the biggest difference. When i hunt I pack a rifle and ammo. (we all do if its rifle season) Then a take a day pack with the rest of my gear like binoculars, range finder, knife, and LR needed gear, enough food to last a day in the woods or hills. I have been known to eat a lot. Also enough fluids to last the day. 32OZ of water along with a one or more 32 OZ Gaturades. Bad spelling....

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3-5 days of high activity in rough country will take care of most of the excess weight. One thing I used to love about my annual fall training trip was that I was guaranteed to lose 15-30 pounds over the first three weeks and then put about half of it back on as pure muscle by the end of the 6-8 week trip.

Horse Manure, a heavy rifle doesn't help you shoot better, it may help you hold better, but you don't need a 16 lb rifle to make 1 or 2 shots on a game animal.
Why do you have a large axle shaft contoured barrel ? are you shooting a 10 round rapid fire group on game ? What you need is a lighter rifle and more practice at long range with that light rifle.

If you can't hold it steady you'll never be accurate hank. Heavier is steadier, and steadier is more accurate.

It's simple physics. It takes more force to knock you off target with a heavier rifle than a light one. That is why military sniper rifles don't weigh six pounds.

By the way Hank the heaviest Rifles I own are Sendero profiles other than one AR-260 with a straight 1" dia 24" barrel.

Most of the rifles I own are Model 70 stainless classics that all come in around 7-8lbs.

Don't make assumptions based on nothing but anger.

Um... Guys, this thread is 8 years old. I think the OP built his rifle and burned out the barrel by now.

i almost went with option c, but rather went with D and decided to make a note to maybe start working out. heavy is heavy, shave some weight off but if your ruck is heavy....12lbs or 14lbs is eh.
Also to the post above ^ LOLZ