Thread: So when is a rifle too heavy?

Originally Posted by tetawa

It matters who the manufacturer is.

That goes without saying..... and that applies to heavy rifles and to light ones

I think its horses for courses - if you bush hunt then short/light with suppressor is a big advantage & most shots are off hand, so as others have stated balance is important. If you're only shooting 100 - 200 yds max then "sub moa" accuracy is not essential, 2 moa will do the job as the deer cullers proved with ancient 303's.
But if your hunting takes you into open tops & you want to reach out to 600 - 800 yrds (or more) then different factors come to play. A balance of calibre choice, weight of rifle & scope, shooter ability to handle recoil and most importantly accuracy. No point humping a big heavy (or light) magnum around the hills if the rifle &/or shooter cant regularly achieve sub moa & first shot cold barrel accuracy is essential if you want to harvest animals at range. Light weight magnums for some people can be very challenging for accuracy.
Personally - being an old buga - i never want to carry more weight than needed, especially if its a multi day trip - every ounce saved across the total kit helps. Choice of scope here is equally important here.
I have 3 x 7mm's (284, 280AI & SAUM) that are less than 6lb bare rifle and weigh in 7&1/4 - 1/2 lbs with scope and rings etc. All shoot 0.5 moa or better off bipod so long as i do my bit. 284 is short barrel so it wears a DPT suppressor (balance is superb), the 280 & SAUM are shot without suppressor or brake no issues. I do all load dev without either, although hearing protection is a must. These are great all round rifles for bush to 6-800 yrds.
Magnums - 7mmRM & 300wsm (24 - 26 in bbl) weights with scopes etc are around 8.5 - 9.3 lb (26 in bbl). As above all load dev done without brake or suppressor and getting 0.5 - 0.7 moa. On the hill I usually carry a can to save my ears & avoid disturbing game as much or take ear plugs. Had one 300wsm that was a 6.5 lb bare rifle and for me the recoil and muzzle jump although tolerable was less than pleasant when putting 12 - 16 rounds down range. Adding can or brake helped considerably but felt like a bit more weight was a good thing.
Achieving accurate & light can be done but may require time, $ and some level of customization - quality stock & bedding are must haves for me. And you might get lucky and get a factory rifle that's capable of doing the job.

I like the K .I. .S.S way, I`v a Marlin lever in 3030, 16" barrel for bush bashing, I can shoot it like a pistol one handed around a tree. I`m already carrying metal in my hip and no helie pilot would let me fly in with my Sharps that's for sure.

question.............So when is a rifle too heavy? = when your balls hit the floor!!!!!!!!!!! lol
sorry mate could not resist that one!!

A rifle is too heavy when you would rather leave it at home and go tramping instead...

I was always under the impression that it doesn't matter what weight the rifle is, you'll always be wanting something lighter. Bit like ya miss's, there's always something better around the corner

Originally Posted by Rusky

I was always under the impression that it doesn't matter what weight the rifle is, you'll always be wanting something lighter. Bit like ya miss's, there's always something better around the corner

so your rifle and your Mrs will be a lot more "user friendly" when you get your head into the correct space...they ARE the ideal weight/perfect for you/beautiful/you dont want anything else as what you have is perfect for you.

old saying ,,,,beware the man who owns but one gun,he probably knows how to use it.

Ha it's to heavy when you fall off a bluff get hit by the hind that you where carrying out and then get snotted by the old 303 that got hung up half way down some of those trips into the kaimias I don't miss

When I was younger weight never worried me as I only had a basic unsuppressed 200m max distance rifle and would carry it to the ends of the earth without a complaint. Now with carbon fibre and titanium it would make my heavy long range Sako 75 Finnlite a lot lighter to carry during the 4-7 weeks off for the roar or Alpine top trips when I'm already carrying crampons, ice axe, rope, heavy duty tent etc. It doesn't help having a heavy 56mm objective Nightforce scope on top but I'll take the bomb proof reliability over a lighter scope. I only really notice the weigh after day 5.

I'm just in the throws of getting a new 'ultra light' Custom built rifle, to tote around the tops (long range hunting!) With carbon fibre stock, carbon wrapped barrel, complete with scope, rings and bipod, she tips the scales at 11lb (5kg)!

Originally Posted by .300 RUM Guy

I'm just in the throws of getting a new 'ultra light' Custom built rifle, to tote around the tops (long range hunting!) With carbon fibre stock, carbon wrapped barrel, complete with scope, rings and bipod, she tips the scales at 11lb (5kg)!

My god man, what components have you used? What profile and length barrel?

Ive just put together a Rem 700 LA (only mods is spiral fluted bolt) in a Hi-Tec CF stock with a factory Rem 26" 300 RUM barrel with a T2 brake on it, bare without rings or scope it weighs 6 Pounds 10 ounces, which is dead on 3kg.

I'm pretty sure (well in my case anyway) when the ageing thing starts to kick in you seem ti like less weight across the arm,shoulders or where ever.
When I was doin a lot of walking,climbing etc back when bla,bla I was far from alone when it came to rifle weight.
30's were heavy = cut down etc. Most smaller calibers .222 for example were within the not so heavy to lug around group and as mentioned above, depended on the manufacturer.
For example the early BSA lightweights were on the cards for sure, early Majestic's,Hunter models even Monarchs.
The Sako vixens were like gifts from heaven to many,ok'sh weight and nice to use lol. I carried a BSA Hunter, then a Monarch,they did the job. I ended my bla'bla days using a Brno Fox, chasing around after the Thar.
I guess when ones arse is literally dragging on the ground in later life then it may be time to own something light weight..that's my take on it.

Damn, what's the action and scope

well...just made up a rough n ready superduper lightweight stock for my wee .223 just for grins n giggles...took stock weight from 1.2kgs down to close to 500grms...havent reweighed it since changed buttplate and added two coats of stain/poly to wood to waterproof it.
only time will tell if it stays on or hardwood one goes back on...balance,yeah it definately feels better without suppressor.....will see.
one thing is for sure....when I find rifle getting too heavy,taking bull barreled ,laminate stocked 22-250 for next trip puts things back into perspective.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

well...just made up a rough n ready superduper lightweight stock for my wee .223 just for grins n giggles...took stock weight from 1.2kgs down to close to 500grms...havent reweighed it since changed buttplate and added two coats of stain/poly to wood to waterproof it.
only time will tell if it stays on or hardwood one goes back on...balance,yeah it definately feels better without suppressor.....will see.
one thing is for sure....when I find rifle getting too heavy,taking bull barreled ,laminate stocked 22-250 for next trip puts things back into perspective.

What did you use Balsa or Cedar?