Besides mtn hunting & youth models I like a rifle with some beef at least 7pnds.Why do whitetail hunters want rifles that are hard to shoot offhand and punish you when you shoot them.The worse rifle i ever owned was a Kimber 7mm/08 it was 5.5 pnds.Shot and handled terrible.If you look back at the classic rifles Win 70,Rem 700,Savage 110,Sav 99 all had a little beef.I want a rifle no lighter than 7pnds.I think alot newbies need to be educated on this.I just dont get it for hunting whitetails. You will always shoot a heavier rifle better offhand if you dont blieve me try two of your guns and find out.
Why Lightweight
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I walk up and down A LOT of hills in my area and it really sucks to lug around an 8lb+ rifle. This is why I like my Ruger 77/44, it's a short lightweight carbine. The gun itself weighs 5.25lbs + a Leupold 2-7x33 scope + steel Ruger rings so it's around 6.25lbs loaded.
99.9% of the time you are just carrying your rifle
The reason for the movement toward lighter rifles is that shooters realize that all most all of the time with a rifle is carrying it. I agree with you that firing standard cartridges 270, 308, 30-06 in something less than 7 pounds is not alot of fun. My Win 70 Featherweight in 30-06 with a laminated factory stock weighed ~7 pounds then I added a Leopold 1.5x5 VXIII and a nylon 1 1/4 sling. I think the current weight must be around 7 3/4 pounds. This rifle doesn't kick hard in my opinion. My brother in laws Ruger Ultra Light M77 in 30-06 started at 6 pounds, adding a Leopold 2.5x8 VXIII and a leather sling still has it ~7 pounds. The 3/4 pounds does make a large difference when you shoot the two rifles. I think that the Ruger American is listed at 6.5 pounds adding a scope and sling should make it into the weights where recoil will not be punishing. I would recommend reloads on the light side and bullets using 150gr instead of 165 or 180.
Karl
The reason for the movement toward lighter rifles is that shooters realize that all most all of the time with a rifle is carrying it. I agree with you that firing standard cartridges 270, 308, 30-06 in something less than 7 pounds is not alot of fun. My Win 70 Featherweight in 30-06 with a laminated factory stock weighed ~7 pounds then I added a Leopold 1.5x5 VXIII and a nylon 1 1/4 sling. I think the current weight must be around 7 3/4 pounds. This rifle doesn't kick hard in my opinion. My brother in laws Ruger Ultra Light M77 in 30-06 started at 6 pounds, adding a Leopold 2.5x8 VXIII and a leather sling still has it ~7 pounds. The 3/4 pounds does make a large difference when you shoot the two rifles. I think that the Ruger American is listed at 6.5 pounds adding a scope and sling should make it into the weights where recoil will not be punishing. I would recommend reloads on the light side and bullets using 150gr instead of 165 or 180.
Karl
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8,459 Posts
The biggest thing is today's shooters are no where near in the same physical condition hunters were back in the 40-60's. Sorry but it's a fact. We sit behind computers don't exercise very well and complain a lot. I just don't see the argument with the weight carrying advantage of a 6.5 lb rifle package over a 8 lb one. I've hunted Colorado, and PA and Southern Ohio so I have at least some experience in Mountains and up and down terrain and never thought my gun was too heavy. In fact the Savage 99 is just about the best deer rifle I've ever hunted with. If I wanted a light weight rifle it would have to be something like a 22 hornet, 260 rem, 222 rem, 223 as the caliber recoil matches the light weight rifle. Just my humble opinion.
My CZ in 30.06 weighs 8 lbs before the rings,bases and scope. I use it stand hunting in NC with 165 gr cartridges. I am 6 ft and 245 lbs. I don't notice the recoil and have no problems carrying it. I also use it in my home state in NY and after going up and down the mountain I still don't mind it on my shoulder.
Amen we can all learn alot from Hm.You may not like this post but this is the truth.There are no benefits if you can walk ten miles you arent gonna notice the extra 2 pnds.A long time ago i learned to just listen to the old woods real hunters rather than the so called experts.:goodposting:
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788 Posts
The other issue is that so many of these rifles sold today are either safe-queens or range-queens. In the field, shooting at live game in the moment, I have never felt the recoil of my rifle. I'm just too jazzed to be out hunting and having an opportunity for some game. But take the same rifle to the range and try to sight in a scope with 20-40 rounds from a .30-06.... even that is punishing, let alone these .300 WinMags or super-short magnums everyone is hyped on. We spend too much time at the the range, and that develops a flinch in people who expect that kind of recoil.
Take them out in the field, and shoot at game sized targets in game hunting situations and the recoil isn't so much apparent. But a super-light rifle at the range becomes punishing.
Take them out in the field, and shoot at game sized targets in game hunting situations and the recoil isn't so much apparent. But a super-light rifle at the range becomes punishing.
I think it is kind of funny. My .270 is short and everyone who handles it says, "wow this is so small and light". However it weighs 8.4 pounds with scope and sling. It must be a psychological thing. I find it to be pleasing to carry and shoot. With 140 grain rounds, the recoil is about like my .243.
It is a Rossi Wizard with a 23" barrel. The over-all is only 38.5" though. The break action makes it short. The recoil pad helps tame down the felt kick as well. It is the same idea as the TC Encore, but with the more traditional break design.
I am also a fan of Single Shots
I have a Ruger No 1 International(manlicher stock version) in 30-06. I too like short and handy Rifles. The only problem is that when the chamber is empty they are truely empty. Getting them into action takes longer than just working the action on a bolt action with rounds in the magazine. I used to worry about the slow second shot on a Single shot rifle, but I finally learned that you just need to make the first shot your only shot required.
Karl
I have a Ruger No 1 International(manlicher stock version) in 30-06. I too like short and handy Rifles. The only problem is that when the chamber is empty they are truely empty. Getting them into action takes longer than just working the action on a bolt action with rounds in the magazine. I used to worry about the slow second shot on a Single shot rifle, but I finally learned that you just need to make the first shot your only shot required.
Karl
To me that is one of the good things about single shots. Once that gun goes off, I know for sure that it is safe. I teach my kids gun safety using single shots then progress to repeaters. I've met some adults who should still be using single shots. They are real careful until after they pull the trigger and then their adrenaline gets the best of them and they tend to forget where that barrel is pointing.
It takes longer to chamber a second shot in a break action, but it is faster to load than most empty bolt actions. I hunt with the rifle empty in my truck. If I see a target while driving through the woods I can stop, get out of the truck and load my rifle faster than my hunting buddies who are still pushing rounds down into the drop box.
One shot is all you get most of the time, and is really all you should need. It helps keep you "honest" when choosing your shot. For protection during a hunt I carry a S&W .357 magnum on my hip so I don't need the extra rounds in the rifle for that.
Just my opinions...
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