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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Why does my long range rifle have to weight 12lbs +?
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<blockquote data-quote="Mike 338" data-source="post: 887458" data-attributes="member: 41338"><p>Personally I think all this is less about the total weight your humping up and down the mountains, and more about that long hunk of metal on the end of your arm. An extra 4 pounds on your back isn't a deal breaker but stick it on the end of your arm for several days while doing calisthenics the whole time and that's another story. My rifle is constantly in a state of motion and balance. Side-hilling finds my rifle constantly being held away from my body. Lowering my profile, stalking, walking through brush, glassing... you name it, all require the rifle to be manipulated in a way that stresses you arm, shoulder and even your legs need to compensate for that unbalanced situation. </p><p></p><p>You can help a lot by removing the bipod. It makes your rifle nose-heavy and unwieldy and every piece of brush grabs at it. Leave it in your pack or leave it at home and practice using your pack as an improvised rest. Securing your rifle to your pack when you know you won't be using it like walking to your spot before first-light or back to camp after dark will give your arm/shoulder a break and keep the weight stationary and next to your body. Trekking poles may help when grinding up hill when your rifle is stowed (experiment). Get into better shape by climbing off trail with a full pack. Control your speed downhill. By lowering your weight down slowly with each step, you'll build strength and endurance which will make the difference on day 5. Include carrying a long (50" or so) weighted 2x4 without any fancy handle. Your hand is fairly open when carrying your rifle which is a lousy grip. That puts more stress on your forearm so your arm should be used to that. You can wrap the 2x4 with duct tape to make your grip wider and even more miserable. If your heavy rifle feels a lot better to carry, you've done it right. I don't carry my rifle when getting into shape because I don't want to drop it or fall on it. </p><p></p><p>For me, the difference between a 9 lb. rifle and a 12 lb. rifle is that the lighter one, I don't need to do anything at all to prepare for but the slightly heavier one beats me half to death if I don't get my body ready a little bit before I take off to hunt.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mike 338, post: 887458, member: 41338"] Personally I think all this is less about the total weight your humping up and down the mountains, and more about that long hunk of metal on the end of your arm. An extra 4 pounds on your back isn't a deal breaker but stick it on the end of your arm for several days while doing calisthenics the whole time and that's another story. My rifle is constantly in a state of motion and balance. Side-hilling finds my rifle constantly being held away from my body. Lowering my profile, stalking, walking through brush, glassing... you name it, all require the rifle to be manipulated in a way that stresses you arm, shoulder and even your legs need to compensate for that unbalanced situation. You can help a lot by removing the bipod. It makes your rifle nose-heavy and unwieldy and every piece of brush grabs at it. Leave it in your pack or leave it at home and practice using your pack as an improvised rest. Securing your rifle to your pack when you know you won't be using it like walking to your spot before first-light or back to camp after dark will give your arm/shoulder a break and keep the weight stationary and next to your body. Trekking poles may help when grinding up hill when your rifle is stowed (experiment). Get into better shape by climbing off trail with a full pack. Control your speed downhill. By lowering your weight down slowly with each step, you'll build strength and endurance which will make the difference on day 5. Include carrying a long (50" or so) weighted 2x4 without any fancy handle. Your hand is fairly open when carrying your rifle which is a lousy grip. That puts more stress on your forearm so your arm should be used to that. You can wrap the 2x4 with duct tape to make your grip wider and even more miserable. If your heavy rifle feels a lot better to carry, you've done it right. I don't carry my rifle when getting into shape because I don't want to drop it or fall on it. For me, the difference between a 9 lb. rifle and a 12 lb. rifle is that the lighter one, I don't need to do anything at all to prepare for but the slightly heavier one beats me half to death if I don't get my body ready a little bit before I take off to hunt. [/QUOTE]
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Why does my long range rifle have to weight 12lbs +?
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