How much does the rifle you hunt with weigh? My 7wsm weighs right at 9lbs and I don't have any trouble packing it a few miles in the mountains. My new 6.5wsm weighs in at 11.25lbs and I'm a little nervous about how that extra 2.25lbs is going to treat me. My strategy for now is to shed the weight somewhere else.
Long Range Hunting Rifle Weight???
- Thread starter o2bwest
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mountainman56
Well-Known Member
My 300 RUM weighs 11.2lbs, my 7 mag weighs 11lbs even. Didn't like packin either one much (of course I'm gettin a little long in the tooth and gravity keeps getting stronger). Recently got an Eberlestock X1E pack and I don't even notice the extra weight. On top of that it is the least uncomfortable pack I have ever used.
264WM
Well-Known Member
My 264WM with 30" barrel weighs 12 lbs. without the scope and unloaded. Being 6'1.5" tall at 220 lbs. and 68 years young I still manage to pack it up and down mountains.
A bit off topic but if you are concerned about weight, you should consider the weight of all the other stuff you carry as well. What does your empty pack weigh? Are you carrying around spares of things you don't need? Go through all of your stuff and ask yourself, "When was the last time I used this item."
I used to backpack with a 40lb pack for an overnight. The last time I backpacked, my pack weighted 10 lbs including tent and sleeping bag. You might find that you can carry the 11lb rifle (probably the most important single item) and lighten up on a lot of the other stuff.
I used to backpack with a 40lb pack for an overnight. The last time I backpacked, my pack weighted 10 lbs including tent and sleeping bag. You might find that you can carry the 11lb rifle (probably the most important single item) and lighten up on a lot of the other stuff.
It's going to suck.. but the real question is: Is it worth it to you? How much better are you with the the heavier rifle? If the answer is to carry the heavy rifle you've got to figure out a way to carry it the most comfortable way...or deal with it. Most guys decide that's too heavy. But you need to do what you want.
Kennibear
Well-Known Member
You could make shorter hunts....
KB
KB
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Scopes and all mine weight from 10-12lbs, and I'm an old, fat, crippled up guy who's had 5 orthopedic surgeries in the last 15 months, 7 of them in the last thirty years.
It's the price you pay for a long range rig. All else being equal, heavier is steadier and steadier is more accurate.
If the wight bothers you look at one of the Eberlestock packs with a built in sleeve or if you aren't carrying a pack in the field look at the biathlon type slings that Len sells.
I have no idea what mine ways. It's a sendero with scope and bipod like most of the rest. I am guessing 10.5-12lb
I used to shoot a shorter barreled gun and was nervous about the switch to more weight also. I decided that to compensate for the added two pounds I would lose 2 lbs weight. Most of us probably wouldn't wine about 2 lbs more of eating at the dinner table so I figured 2 extra pounds weight on rifle was not a problem. Hahahaha. Just my way of talking myself into a new rifle probably. Lol
I used to shoot a shorter barreled gun and was nervous about the switch to more weight also. I decided that to compensate for the added two pounds I would lose 2 lbs weight. Most of us probably wouldn't wine about 2 lbs more of eating at the dinner table so I figured 2 extra pounds weight on rifle was not a problem. Hahahaha. Just my way of talking myself into a new rifle probably. Lol
Kennibear
Well-Known Member
If my shots are < 600 yards a light rifle is no problem. That being said the two average boltguns in the safe are a Rem 700/300WinMag and Savage/375Ruger both having 3X9 scopes. With slings and a mag full of rounds they both weigh within 1/2 oz of each other- 8lbs 12 oz.
So to lighten the load I don't carry as much as I used too. Lost the bone saw 30 years ago. Lighter hiking boots made more of a difference at the end of the day than the same amount lost from the pack. All clothing layers well with no excess. Bottled water is lighter than canteen water. Good Binoculars are a must but you don't need the 12X80's. You get the idea. When you carry a heavy long reacher plan your hunt to take advantage of the rifle's reach. No need to crawl through the alders anymore,
Unless that's where the elk are hiding.....
KB
PS My sympathies on the surgery Wildrose. A friend is getting stem cell injection in her bad knee to regrow the cartilage. If you saw her and her husband dance you would never know. If it works I think the left side grinder of mine is going in for an upgrade.
So to lighten the load I don't carry as much as I used too. Lost the bone saw 30 years ago. Lighter hiking boots made more of a difference at the end of the day than the same amount lost from the pack. All clothing layers well with no excess. Bottled water is lighter than canteen water. Good Binoculars are a must but you don't need the 12X80's. You get the idea. When you carry a heavy long reacher plan your hunt to take advantage of the rifle's reach. No need to crawl through the alders anymore,
Unless that's where the elk are hiding.....
KB
PS My sympathies on the surgery Wildrose. A friend is getting stem cell injection in her bad knee to regrow the cartilage. If you saw her and her husband dance you would never know. If it works I think the left side grinder of mine is going in for an upgrade.
264WM
Well-Known Member
The surgery is no fun and that's a fact as I went through back surgery in 2010 and it took a good year to really feel normal again.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
LOL well it's just the price a guy pays for a life lived fully.
The point I was making is that it's all just part of the game and if you're going to have a rifle heavy enough to shoot accurately consistently beyond 600yds you're going to pay that price of added weight. Haul fewer things, buy lighter gear, have both a day pack and big pack to take in with you, but one way or another if the weight is a problem you just have to lighten the load elsewhere and have a way of carrying the rifle such that the weight is better distributed than just a typical single sling.
BTW the results of all the surgeries so far seems to be steady improvement.
We live in a wonderful time where modern medicine improving our quality of life along with our longevity in ways no one could have imagined fifty years ago.
The point I was making is that it's all just part of the game and if you're going to have a rifle heavy enough to shoot accurately consistently beyond 600yds you're going to pay that price of added weight. Haul fewer things, buy lighter gear, have both a day pack and big pack to take in with you, but one way or another if the weight is a problem you just have to lighten the load elsewhere and have a way of carrying the rifle such that the weight is better distributed than just a typical single sling.
BTW the results of all the surgeries so far seems to be steady improvement.
We live in a wonderful time where modern medicine improving our quality of life along with our longevity in ways no one could have imagined fifty years ago.
264WM
Well-Known Member
I agree with you 100% its all in what we enjoy and are willing to go the extra mile to finish what we start.
Blasphemy! The longer the better for me. I love putting miles between me and my wheels. I try to go light as much as I can, but I'm sure I can shave a couple pounds off my kit. Water is the booger. I use an Eberlestock J34 now. I have been thinking about switching to a Gun Runner. The J34 is heavy for a day pack.
Kennibear
Well-Known Member
o2bwest
I bought a Camptrails welded magnesium pack frame in 1971 to save a few ounces. They were $100 back then. Aluminum frames were about $30. Nailed four elk in Unit #43 in Idaho between four of us and packed one up to the trail where two horseman hauled that one out pro gratis for us. Thank you two guys!
The three of us remaining took three days hauling out the other three carcasses. On five total pack frames. I don't hunt that far in anymore without haulout provisions.
God bless you o2bwest for traveling to the unseen lands of Mordor! But for someone not skilled and experienced in long range backpacking with a heavy rifle/load I try to discourage them. Most beginners do not take enough water or provision to replenish it (filter or other). If you knock something down the fun is over and the real work begins. If the OP is upping the rifle weight to almost 12lbs he needs to learn to manage the load. Anybody can learn to do it but not smart to learn to drive at the Indy 500....
BTW, did my deep country backpack hunting with a 15lb 2oz 30/06. I know where you speak of....
KB
I bought a Camptrails welded magnesium pack frame in 1971 to save a few ounces. They were $100 back then. Aluminum frames were about $30. Nailed four elk in Unit #43 in Idaho between four of us and packed one up to the trail where two horseman hauled that one out pro gratis for us. Thank you two guys!
The three of us remaining took three days hauling out the other three carcasses. On five total pack frames. I don't hunt that far in anymore without haulout provisions.
God bless you o2bwest for traveling to the unseen lands of Mordor! But for someone not skilled and experienced in long range backpacking with a heavy rifle/load I try to discourage them. Most beginners do not take enough water or provision to replenish it (filter or other). If you knock something down the fun is over and the real work begins. If the OP is upping the rifle weight to almost 12lbs he needs to learn to manage the load. Anybody can learn to do it but not smart to learn to drive at the Indy 500....
BTW, did my deep country backpack hunting with a 15lb 2oz 30/06. I know where you speak of....
KB
