Who hunts with a 14-16lb rifle?

LRshooter6mm · Aug 27, 2024

Curious to hear who hunts with a 14-16lb rifle?

Getting a new barrel spun and my chassis, bipod, trigger, action, scope and rings weight 9.7lb. Want to use this for NRL hunter as well. I can get a match heavy Palma barrel for $335 shipped so I’m leaning towards that cut to a 24” which would put the build at around 15lb. Would prefer a medium Palma but the heavy Palma is too good a deal. When hunting in Wyoming the rifle will be packed in an Eberlestock with a scabbard so the weight is on my back. Is this a terrible idea?

Also, is a 24” for a 6.5CM going to be detrimental to accuracy with factory ammo? I could go 26” I guess. Talk me into/out of it

Thanks I’m advance

reelserious · Aug 27, 2024

One of my go to rifles is 15lbs. 22 inch straight taper at 1 inch in a foundation stock

LRshooter6mm · Aug 27, 2024

reelserious said:
One of my go to rifles is 15lbs. 22 inch straight taper at 1 inch in a foundation stock

For hunting correct? How is it packing around?

NateVA · Aug 27, 2024

My hunting rifle is at 14.5# right now with everything (including bipod) on it. It has a 22" 6.5CM barrel you'll be fine. I just strap it to the side of my Stone Glacier via their quick detach system. I wouldn't go on a sheep hunt with it but for coues/antelope it's good. It's fine for day hunting but if I was backpacking 6+ miles into a place, camping the whole hunt, and coming out with everything I'd try to lighten it up.

KYAggie · Aug 27, 2024

Depends.

Are you talking mountain backpack hunt? Terrible idea.

Driving around in some sort of vehicle until you find something to stalk, terrain not much of an issue, then only taking the gun, knife, and a little water for the stalk? It could work.

24” vs 26” will have zero affect on the accuracy of a rifle or lack there of.

Supersubes · Aug 27, 2024

I think its a terrible idea, but many here claim they do it. I want my pack with rifle to weigh sub 40 lbs(for 4-5 days out), and I wouldn't even come close to that with a 15 lb gun. My rifle weighs 8 and a few ounces suppressed and ready to hunt.

A 16” barrel would not be detrimental to accuracy, pick what you like.

stello1001 · Aug 27, 2024

I hunt with rifles that weigh as much. But my hunting is different than yours. How far do you have to travel on foot with it. I don't think I walk more than 1 to 2 miles in flat terrain.

LRshooter6mm · Aug 27, 2024

Game taken would be for cow elk and deer. Deer hunting wouldn’t be much more than a few miles trekking. Elk would be max 6.5 miles and max of 1700 elevation gain/loss. We don’t backpack in, just hunt for the day and go back to camp on the side by side. Packing elk out is always us going back to the side by side, ditching our gear except bear guns and frame packs, then hiking back to haul the game out

LRshooter6mm · Aug 27, 2024

Supersubes said:
I think its a terrible idea, but many here claim they do it. I want my pack with rifle to weigh sub 40 lbs(for 4-5 days out), and I wouldn't even come close to that with a 15 lb gun. My rifle weighs 8 and a few ounces suppressed and ready to hunt.

A 16” barrel would not be detrimental to accuracy, pick what you like.

My pack including the rifle would weight about 35-40lb

NateVA · Aug 27, 2024

LRshooter6mm said:
Game taken would be for cow elk and deer. Deer hunting wouldn’t me much more than a few miles trekking. Elk would be about 6 miles with 1700 elevation gain/loss. We don’t back pack in, just hunt for the day and go back to camp on the side by side.

For day hunting I think it'll be fine if you're in alright physical shape. Because that means the rest of your pack won't be horribly heavy.

cas6969 · Aug 27, 2024

Sometimes a 16lb rifle, but I thinking of it more as shooting (or waiting,watching,ambushing) rather than "hunting".

Secant · Aug 27, 2024

I've had as heavy as about 13.5 pounds for hunting. I now favor the 10 - 11 pound range including scope, bipod, suppressor, and mag, which means about a 7 pound bare rifle set-up. That's about the best compromise for me between packability and shootability.

If 14+ pounds is your only option, then use it, but it's sorta shitty to intentionally plan for that in my opinion. Also, the eberlestock bags that I've used (pretty limited) were not good. I'd definitely look at other options. Maybe newer ones are better, but you might look at Exo or Stone Glacier or something (lighter and better IMO).

Hunt · Aug 27, 2024

Pounds = pain. As I get older, I want lighter.

LRshooter6mm · Aug 27, 2024

Secant said:
I've had as heavy as about 13.5 pounds for hunting. I now favor the 10 - 11 pound range including scope, bipod, suppressor, and mag, which means about a 7 pound bare rifle set-up. That's about the best compromise for me between packability and shootability.

If 14+ pounds is your only option, then use it, but it's sorta shitty to intentionally plan for that in my opinion. Also, the eberlestock bags that I've used (pretty limited) were not good. I'd definitely look at other options. Maybe newer ones are better, but you might look at Exo or Stone Glacier or something (lighter and better IMO).

I use the gunslinger 2 for packing and (plan on using) the mainframe f1 for packing out. I have no complaints with the gunslinger especially with the scabbard. We do a lot of spot and stalk. I plan on getting some padded hip belt and shoulder straps because that’s currently the only downside

Secant · Aug 27, 2024

LRshooter6mm said:
I use the gunslinger 2 for packing and (plan on using) the mainframe f1 for packing out. I have no complaints with the gunslinger especially with the scabbard. We do a lot of spot and stalk. I plan on getting some padded hip belt and shoulder straps because that’s currently the only downside

I don't own and I bet I haven't used the Gunslinger 2. If I remember right, I had a LoDrag. My rifle would easily slip from side-to-side as I was walking, and it would push the backpack portion far enough away from my body to be noticeable (compared to other backpacks with the same contents). And a metal grommet was placed right were a muzzle would ride. And the scabbard was low enough (or my legs are short enough) that I would occasionally kick the bottom of the scabbard. A buddy had a Team Elk (I think), and I had similar complaints. I think I looked over the previous gen of Gunslingers and had similar thoughts.

Similar to my thoughts regarding the rifle - if that's what you already have then use it. But, for example, the 2,200ci Exo K4 is 2 pounds lighter, and I can all but guarantee that their frame/suspension will ride nicer compared to that 2,200 ci EB. Lots of preferences with backpacks, but I'd say a high quality/properly fitting backpack is second only to high quality/properly fitting boots when it comes to hunting - at least where and how I hunt.

Regarding factory ammo, the most recent lot of ELD-X that I've bought had a 20-shot muzzle SD of 14 fps, an average MV of ~2,670 fps from a 22" barrel, and a temp sensitivity of just under 1-fps/degree (looked at 10 - 30 shot averages at 20-, 29-, 35-, 39-, 56-, and 86-degrees). That same lot of ammo out of a different 18" barrel had an average MV of 2,523 fps, and a 20-shot MV SD of 9.7 fps. Precision from both barrels was ho-hum, but all things considered that ammo is definitely fine for shooting big game out to about 600-yards (longer depending on your risk tolerance).

If you aren't married to 'traditional' hunting specific marketed ammo, the latest batch of Lapua loaded 136 Scenars that I bought had a 10-shot group of 0.675 MOA, with a 20-shot MV SD of 12.9 fps. Some of the offerings from Berger or Federal loaded Bergers have also shot well and had good SDs & temp sensitivity. Lately, the ELDMs that I've shot have generally been decent in terms of precision (multiple barrels), but have had terrible SDs (over 20-fps for 20+ rounds).

Good luck on the hunt.

Taylorbok · Aug 27, 2024

Depends on the type of hunting you do. Long trek/ backpacking hunts I would do something lighter. Short walks ya go hard. Personally my Hunting rifle is 10 lbs ready to go but it gets used for every type of hunting.

Hecouldgoalltheway · Aug 27, 2024

Hunt said:
Pounds = pain. As I get older, I want lighter.

Every time I hunt in the mountains, I come home and buy a lighter piece of gear. When I was in my 20's I didn't even notice the weight, and I carried around boat anchors. Now in my 40's, my mountain rifle is just over 8lbs including ammo, optic, suppressor, everything, all in. If I could figure out how to get it down 2 more pounds, I'd do it..

sloporsche · Aug 27, 2024

browning 300 win mag with scope 8.5 pounds gets heavy at the end of the day for me but i am old

Hecouldgoalltheway · Aug 27, 2024

I'd also like to point out that you don't need to shoot a 22" barrel in a hunting rifle. I started shooting suppressed a handful of years ago, and before that, my rifles were 24" or even 26", since I had a thing for weatherby mark V rifles. My barrels keep getting shorter and shorter, and animals just keep dying. A 6.5cm in a 16" barrel is lethal to all reasonable hunting ranges. Step up to a short mag, and you can stretch it even further.

HerCoStarNTheBeaverPictur · Aug 27, 2024

I’m of the opinion you'll make compromises when trying to build a rifle for 2 different purposes and end up with something that is mediocre at both.

Ledzep · Aug 27, 2024

Did it one time on a walk-in antelope hunt. Ended up taking a fricken 200yd shot anyway. Won't do it again that way. From near a vehicle or a road, sure, but if you gotta hike in it's no problem until you get a pack full of meat and then screw all of that.

Punkur67 · Aug 27, 2024

I was told by several hunting buddies that my 15# 300wm would be way too heavy. I did an elk hunt back in November and hiked 16 miles in 2 days with that rifle and a full size RRS tripod. I had no issues with the weight. In fact the second day I carried my dad's 12# gun too because the hike was taking a toll on him. My only complaint was the rifle was balanced in front of the mag like most my rifles in didn't want to hang on the sling like an ass heavy rifle would.

LRshooter6mm · Aug 27, 2024

Punkur67 said:
I was told by several hunting buddies that my 15# 300wm would be way too heavy. I did an elk hunt back in November and hiked 16 miles in 2 days with that rifle and a full size RRS tripod. I had no issues with the weight. In fact the second day I carried my dad's 12# gun too because the hike was taking a toll on him. My only complaint was the rifle was balanced in front of the mag like most my rifles in didn't want to hang on the sling like an ass heavy rifle would.

View attachment 8489240

That will look close to my set up. I have a KRG whisky 3, Curtis Valor, Leupold mark 5, Gunwerks bipod, and now just thinking about the barrel. What contour is that?

sierracharlie338 · Aug 27, 2024

Carried my MRAD on a couple hunts and it was weighing north of 17lbs if I remember correctly as pictured here. Drove to a general area then walked .5-.75 of a mile to where I sat. Not terrible, not great. Length of rifle is 50ish inches for reference. Big stinky bastard.

smacha538 · Sep 5, 2024

Punkur67 said:
I was told by several hunting buddies that my 15# 300wm would be way too heavy. I did an elk hunt back in November and hiked 16 miles in 2 days with that rifle and a full size RRS tripod. I had no issues with the weight. In fact the second day I carried my dad's 12# gun too because the hike was taking a toll on him. My only complaint was the rifle was balanced in front of the mag like most my rifles in didn't want to hang on the sling like an ass heavy rifle would.

View attachment 8489240

How did you carry your rifle? What sling? What sling attachments?

moosemeat · Sep 5, 2024

I have and will continue to hunt with my 17# rifle. I have walked 10 miles with it in a day, but I go home every night. Most days a mile or two is about it.

Punkur67 · Sep 5, 2024

smacha538 said:
How did you carry your rifle? What sling? What sling attachments?

Over one shoulder, QD swivels on the chassis

hlee · Sep 5, 2024

Shit, my prs rifle only weighs 15lbs and I didn’t want to lug it into the bathroom to weight it.

For hunting, “light is right, and lighter is righter…”

sgtsmmiii · Sep 5, 2024

A couple of my coyote rifles are in the 13-15 pound range. Usually only have to hike 1/2 to 1 mile for setups. I use the 2 shoulder Biathlon sling - makes it easy and pretty comfortable.

sloporsche · Sep 5, 2024

my browning 300 win mag comes in 8 ish but used to get heavy by the end of the day....i wish it weighted 15 pounds when i have to zero it at the range

sirhrmechanic · Sep 5, 2024

Culling hogs from a blind… who cares what it weighs?

Sirhr

sloporsche · Sep 5, 2024

sirhrmechanic said:
Culling hogs from a blind… who cares what it weighs?

View attachment 8495447

Sirhr

yeah woodchuck hunting the same way very little walking

wvfarrier · Sep 5, 2024

I often use a Winchester 1886 in 45-70 with a 24" octagon barrel. I am not sure of the exact weight but she is a heavy bi!##

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