Re: Coming Soon The "Meat Stick"
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BALLISTIC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For a hunting rifle, I would say no brake, no adj. stock, and a barrel less than 22in. </div></div>
Exactly what I was getting at.
Brakes on hunting rifles is for girly-men. There's really not going to be any advantage in the field except banging ear-drums. "Meat sticks" aren't target rifles for pounding 100 rounds a weekend on steel with.
I've been down the road with hunting rifles and have gone from heavy barrels with lots of length for velocity. I didn't kill any more animals and ended up tired and had to fight the rifle the whole way.
Then I went with medium weight barrels at medium lengths. I ended up tired and had to fight the rifle the whole way.
Finally, I went back to my routes per se, with a normal sporter contour barrel cut "short". 20" for short action calibers is more than enough and 22-24" for long action calibers is more than enough. Guess what? I do kill more animals now because I'm not nearly fatigued and its much easier to get into position in trees or make long stalks. A lighter package is much easier for snap-shots.
When going hunting, I do realize the small, light rifle may not be ideal for long-range shooting, but most game is taken within 100 yards----I could do that with a .223 with irons. When I do hunt and may be in a place where a long shot is required from a fixed position, I take rifle up for that task. I've only ever used a long-range gun on game for three kills, while my sporter weight rifles have racked up dozens.
All you guys seem to be all about the adjustable cheek. As I understand it, the option adds 1 lb+. Odds are if you "need" the adjustable cheek, you've got the wrong scope on it anyway. A ten pound "meat stick" is very heavy, especially when you throw a 2 lb scope on it so big it needs an adjustable cheek.
Before you guys give the typical "man up" or "hit the gym" response, mind you a pack weighs much, much more than the rifle and if you'd like to post videos of yourself taking off-hand shots or out of position shots with a 14 lb rifle package while wearing a 60 lb pack, then be my guest.