Questions about bolt gun weight.

[greg vess]

Thanks guys. I was kind of thrown buy some of the heavier rifles being used. I haven't looked at the Tikka Lite rifles because of the real thin taper barrels. So all I have to do now is make up mind to use this one or just buy another to have options.
I have mainly used a Remy 700 BDL in 30-06 or the old faithful Marlin 30-30 so those weights I am use to. I just needed some input on what others consider heavy or two light. looks like both ends are used equally. Appreciate gentlemen!

 

[300_whisper]

11-12 pounds is seriously the sweet spot for a hunting rifle. Get a good brake or a can to keep it on target.

I use my PRS rifles for hunting so they are all around 16 pounds. I have an 8 pound 700 ADL in .30-06 and that recoil is a little stout.

 

[GFB]

Thanks guys. I was kind of thrown buy some of the heavier rifles being used. I haven't looked at the Tikka Lite rifles because of the real thin taper barrels. So all I have to do now is make up mind to use this one or just buy another to have options.
I have mainly used a Remy 700 BDL in 30-06 or the old faithful Marlin 30-30 so those weights I am use to. I just needed some input on what others consider heavy or two light. looks like both ends are used equally. Appreciate gentlemen!

Tikka lite barrels are fine for hunting.

 

[GFB]

How are you hunting? Ground blind, box blind, ladder stand, climber, sit under a tree? I have rifles that are on the hefty side and those on the lighter side. I am glad I have both.

 

[greg vess]

Tikka lite barrels are fine for hunting.

O yeah! The one shot wonder rifles. I like to do some range work with my rifles so it will to be a dual purpose gun. Or a 6.5 PRC Enduro rifle if you will. 🤣🤣

 

[GFB]

O yeah! The one shot wonder rifles. I like to do some range work with my rifles so it will to be a dual purpose gun. Or a 6.5 PRC Enduro rifle if you will. 🤣🤣

Is that based on your experience?

 

[atscott]

I hunt in extremely hilly terrain mostly in box blinds but occasionally in tree stands. Most of my shots are inside 100 yards with a few exceptions. The older I get the lighter and shorter I want my rifles. 8# is about the max I want.

Aluminum rings and mounts save a lot of weight without sacrificing much.

 

[GFB]

I hunt in extremely hilly terrain mostly in box blinds but occasionally in tree stands. Most of my shots are inside 100 yards with a few exceptions. The older I get the lighter and shorter I want my rifles. 8# is about the max I want.

Aluminum rings and mounts save a lot of weight without sacrificing much.

I was hunting out of a small elevated box blind. I turned my head and there was a deer to my 180. I had my heavy 280, which is a rifle I love. However, getting myself turned around with my rifle in that box, I thought I would make enough noise to raise the dead. That was probably the precise moment I decided to get at least one rifle on the lighter side.

ETA - Probably mostly in my head because I got the deer.

 

[cmshoot]

It’s relative. Physical fitness, what you deem to be heavy, terrain, etc.

The first year I hunted with my Weatherby 307 .280AI, it weighed 11lbs empty; rifle, sling, scope/rings/base, and suppressor with cover. I had no issues toting it up and down the hills and ridges of central Montana for 5 days or so.

For the last 2 years, I’ve been using a Nightforce
NX8 F1 4-32x50mm on that rifle instead. The old scope weighed 19oz, and the new one weighs 28.6oz. Slightly taller rings, that’s an ounce or two (both sets are Nightforce Ultralite Rings). So, I’m probably close to 12lbs now, if not over. Again, no issues hunting with it in Montana.

 

[howl]

"Remy 700 BDL in 30-06 or the old faithful Marlin 30-30"

I bet a dollar a large percentage of the annual GA deer.harvest is done with those or very similar. No point in reinventing the wheel. I know I've never killed a deer that couldn't be taken with them and I've killed several every year for thirty years. I've got bucks on the wall from multiple states.

Once you have a, as in one, decent rifle with top shelf scope and binoculars, money spent on more guns is wasted. Get on a better lease or take a trip.