Hunting & Fishing Using a HB rifle for hunting?

[txgolfer45]

Im on the fence about getting a HB bolt rifle in .308 for hunting scenarios. It seems the weight of a Remington 700 SPS Varmint or Tactical plus scope & rings would be somewhat of a pain to lug into the field any distance.

Do you guys go to lighter barreled rifle when you know you will be doing a considerable walk into the hunting area?

Clearly, the weight is no issue from the truck to the range. But, beyond that, wouldn't a lighter rifle make more sense?

Newbie needs your insight.

 

[oldgrayone]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

It depends on what you want to hunt and how versital you want your rifle to be. If I was going to be walking all day with hopes of shooting once or twice at a deer then I would go as lite as possible. If I have to walk a mile to get to a good coloney of prairie dogs then I am going with a heavy rifle. It is hard to get the best of both worlds with one rifle.

That is the excuse I give the wife when she starts counting.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

Fully outfitted my rifle is around 12.5-13 pounds as shown. It has the rock creek m40/m24 contour fluted so it weighs in a little more than a rem varmint contour would.

It really boils down to personal preference and your physical fitness level. I’m a jogger and hiker so lugging the rifle and related articles around the hills of Montana was not a problem and was rather enjoyable... but I sure not everyone would agree.

 

[Kells81]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

My Go to 308 is in the 12-15# range (never scaled it). I have found that a good sling makes a hell of a difference. I had the chance to go take a Management Doe before coming back to Iraq last month. Had to drag her about 1/4 mile before getting anywhere near terrain I could get my jeep to.
My wife has packed it on a hunt we went on in Jan, carrying it a couple miles with no complaints.

I have a couple rifle built light for hunting (EX. Mod 7 260Rem)but the 308 seems to get all the action. I think cause I shoot it Every Time I go to the Range and am very comfortable with it.

Specs,

Rem 700 XCR LR Tactical 308 26"
McM A-5 Sni fill adj. LOP and comb
Badger Bottom
Leup MK4 base
Leup MK4 rings
Leup MK4 4-14x50 Metric
Harris S-BRM
Sling is Tab or TIS have both but not sure which I use on this one.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

I learned that a compromise is something that does several things, and none of them especially well.

IMHO a hunting rifle needs to be a carry rifle, one which has smaller overall length and weight. Mine tend to be chambered in the larger non-magnum chamberings, i.e. .30-'06 or .280 Rem.

A match rifle will be heavier and longer, and will carry a chambering which is optimized more for accuracy and bore longevity, like .222/.223 Rem or .260 Rem.

I just don't see any point in carrying around mass that is better suited to stationary shooting, or in repeatedly subjecting an accuracy rifle to high energies.

Greg

 

[GardDog]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

If you have one rifle you practice with, heavy or not, you will be more comfortable making the shots count in the field.

FWIW, I tote my 14+ lb rig to the deer woods, because it's what I practice with the most.

 

[wjwill]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

For a long time all I had was one rifle. It had a 20" Hart barrel, McMillan Ruger R stock and chambered in 308. Total weight of the rifle including scope, bipod, and loaded ammo was 11.5 pounds. By using one rifle, I learned what it could and couldn't do. I knew every flaw of that rifle and had the dope on it memorized. I knew exactly where the cold bore shot was going to land from my POA as well as the next 10 shots that followed.

Owning 1 rifle has many advantages over owning many.

 

[carbinero]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

I carry my 26" SPS-V up and down, cross slope, rocky scree, etc. I don't particularly enjoy some hairy parts, so I continue to pester myself to have it cut down to 22 or 23". As said above, once you really know your gun, you hate to mess with it, and I'm in the relatively forgiving climate of Arizona. However, if I were in that kind of terrain in serious mountains like Colorado, with snow and ice mixed in, darn tootin', I'd cut it down. The length as well as the weight can work against you.

 

[tacgnut]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

I used my Tikka T3 Tactical with great success on this years Coues WT hunt. As long as the rifle is well balanced, the additional weight is a non issue unless your after mountain critters.

 

[Mendocino]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

I killed at cow elk on Monday (12/27/10) with my AW-suppressed in Colorado. It is heavy but really performed well.

 

[Woodlanddude]

Re: Using a HB rifle for hunting?

How far do you want to shoot, and what is the terrain like?
If you want to shoot a long, long ways, then heavy is better. A good mountain rifle is capable of game taking accuracy to 400-500 yards. How big of a boy are you(or girl in some ppls case). How old/in what shape are you are you? Several things to think about. Unnecessary torture is not a like of mine so I choose a reasonable weight for me, and save the Heavy barrel for long range cull hunts in easier terrain than I buck hunt in the mountains.