#3308972 - 12/20/22 10:43 AM
How Heavy is Too Heavy?
|
Predator Master
Registered: 09/04/21
Posts: 68
Loc: So. Idaho
|
So, I've got a Remington 700 in .223AI, Krieger heavy 24" barrel, custom Holland setup, McMillan Lazzaroni thumbhole stock, and shoots light out with 40-60 grain pills. And I mean those pills are smoking on the way to the target/fur. I set this up for handing out frequent flyer miles to rockchucks here in Idaho which I have done hundreds of times.
These days being what they are, I want to use this rifle for fur busting coyotes and I now shoot suppressed on everything I own. Bolt guns are alot cleaner than gassers when shooting a can as you all know.
With scope, this pig weighs 11 lbs. I know the modern field rifle thinking is light is right? $$ money wise I have a lot invested, and don't want it to be a closet queen. I am an old man and ride my side by side to within a few hundred yards of the killing fields so weight isn't terrible but, noticeable.
How heavy is too heavy for a field rifle? Do you think a 11 lb. rifle is too heavy to tote around?
_________________________
Live every day like it's your last.
Turning coyotes into jigsaw puzzles with every trigger pull.
Kill something everyday just to maintain proficiency.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308974 - 12/20/22 11:02 AM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
PM Junkie
Registered: 12/04/06
Posts: 16235
Loc: okla
|
I'm 73 and probably the worst one to comment as almost all my rifles are heavy barrels. My main problem is not the rifle, its all the other crap I think I need when going afield.
_________________________
Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308976 - 12/20/22 11:05 AM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: pyscodog]
|
Predator Master
Registered: 09/04/21
Posts: 68
Loc: So. Idaho
|
Exactly !!! That's why I drive a KRX side by side 
_________________________
Live every day like it's your last.
Turning coyotes into jigsaw puzzles with every trigger pull.
Kill something everyday just to maintain proficiency.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308978 - 12/20/22 11:08 AM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: pyscodog]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 12/22/13
Posts: 2763
Loc: so.mn
|
I'm 62, good to 11 lbs and snowshoes, lighter is better with the shoes. Most of my walks on shoes are over 1/2 mile from truck. I don't carry the ecaller as much.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308982 - 12/20/22 11:20 AM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
PM Junkie
Registered: 04/21/01
Posts: 17233
Loc: Missouri
|
I like responsive rifles that I can swing and maneuver on a responding coyote as it weaves its way through the timber or cover as it approaches. An 11 pound rifle wouldn't handle right for me. Also, I walk miles over rough country making stands as I go and the weight would be a no go. You don't have that issue as you ride motorized from stand to stand, I get that. My ideal weight for a rifle or shotgun is somewhere between 6.5 - 7.5 pounds all up. And, it has to have feel and balance, good handling qualities. Some guns feel like a pig on the end of a shovel handle and I have zero use for them.
_________________________
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308988 - 12/20/22 11:38 AM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: GC]
|
Predator Master
Registered: 09/04/21
Posts: 68
Loc: So. Idaho
|
I like responsive rifles that I can swing and maneuver on a responding coyote as it weaves its way through the timber or cover as it approaches. An 11 pound rifle wouldn't handle right for me. Also, I walk miles over rough country making stands as I go and the weight would be a no go. You don't have that issue as you ride motorized from stand to stand, I get that. My ideal weight for a rifle or shotgun is somewhere between 6.5 - 7.5 pounds all up. And, it has to have feel and balance, good handling qualities. Some guns feel like a pig on the end of a shovel handle and I have zero use for them. I totally get that. I'm in high desert where I can see for miles, I rarely have to swing and shoot. I usually see them long before a shot and do my best impression of slo-mo getting ready.
_________________________
Live every day like it's your last.
Turning coyotes into jigsaw puzzles with every trigger pull.
Kill something everyday just to maintain proficiency.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308990 - 12/20/22 12:02 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 01/04/15
Posts: 3244
Loc: Southwest Virginia, USA
|
I think for the type of hunting you’re doing, using the side by side to travel most of the way, and considering you already own the rifle, I’d keep using it. If you were doing more walking, or covering steep/rough terrain in the distances you’re currently going on foot, I’d opt for something lighter.
_________________________
Rich man rolls the dice, Poor man pays the price!
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308991 - 12/20/22 12:12 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 2134
Loc: SW Wisconsin
|
I never in a million years would have thought that I would carry a 12 pound plus gun and like it.... My night time gun is an AR, and all decked out, weighs in at 12 lbs 6 ozs. Luckily, I don't typically carry it much over 400 yards, so I soldier on. My calling guns generally I prefer to stick to 8 lbs or so. But those have been outfitted with bullet proof scopes, rings, and bases, so I'm willing to pack the extra for absolute reliability. I have put several bolt guns on diets through the years. I had two 24" Krieger Varmint barrels fluted in the past, with the 2nd being pretty aggressive, taking a full pound off. Switching out McMillan stocks, scopes, rings, & bases, I trimmed over 3 pounds off it. My lightest calling gun is 7 lbs 5 ozs, which is a peach to carry.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308993 - 12/20/22 12:24 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 12/07/11
Posts: 2733
Loc: Pacific NW
|
Something to consider; Since you're shooting it with a suppressor which is putting you well over 30 inches of total barrel length with it screwed on, have you given any consideration to shortening the barrel?
My 223AI is built on a SA Rem700 with a fluted 9tw Hart Varmint/Sendero contour finished at 22. It wears a NF NXS 3.5-15x50 and always has a TBAC 223P-2 screwed on the end so mine is certainly no featherweight either. Unloaded it's just shy of 11 lbs and loaded it's a little over 11 lbs. The only thing I would do different is have it built with a 20in barrel instead of the 22 it currently wears. If mine wasn't fluted, it would have had 2-2+ inches lopped off of it years ago.
One of my favorite guns is my 22-250, also always shot with a suppressor on it. My 22-250 started life with a 24in Brux barrel but I had 6 inches lopped off of it a couple years ago so it's 18 plus suppressor now and I couldn't be happier. Does it shoot a little slower because of it, absolutely, but it is sooooo much handier now then before and I've yet to meet a coyote that could tell the difference between 3900 and 3700.
I think if you had the barrel shortened up to 20 inches, not only would you instantly lose almost a pound off of the tip of your rifle which with a suppressor screwed on is already front heavy, but it will become so much more mobile to use, especially, when using it in a side x side. My dad has a Honda Pioneer 1000 all done up up with hard doors and full hard cab, it's really nice, but nearly all of his rifles are 24-26 barrels and they are far from convenient, honestly they're kind of a PITA actually, to use in his SxS. I've had numerous non fluted barrels shortened up and every single one of them shot just as well, if not, better than they did before they had a few inches lopped off the end.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308994 - 12/20/22 12:35 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 2134
Loc: SW Wisconsin
|
For reference.....
I just had a Krieger 25" 6mm Remington Varmint barrel cut back to 18" and threaded.
That stub, at 6 3/4" long, weighs 16.3 ozs.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3308995 - 12/20/22 01:54 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: alf]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 12/07/11
Posts: 2733
Loc: Pacific NW
|
For reference.....
I just had a Krieger 25" 6mm Remington Varmint barrel cut back to 18" and threaded.
That stub, at 6 3/4" long, weighs 16.3 ozs.
Curious, since having it shortened up to 18 does it feel a lot lighter to you than what the scale actually says it is? When I had my 22-250 chopped down to 18 the balance, especially with a can on it, was so much better it made it feel like it was pounds lighter but the scale said it was less than a pound difference.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3309002 - 12/20/22 02:40 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: B23]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 2134
Loc: SW Wisconsin
|
For reference..... I just had a Krieger 25" 6mm Remington Varmint barrel cut back to 18" and threaded. That stub, at 6 3/4" long, weighs 16.3 ozs.
Curious, since having it shortened up to 18 does it feel a lot lighter to you than what the scale actually says it is? When I had my 22-250 chopped down to 18 the balance, especially with a can on it, was so much better it made it feel like it was pounds lighter but the scale said it was less than a pound difference. It does feel more "lively" after shortening, at least here in the house. This was a gun I sold 3 years ago that was put together as just a LR plinker. Unfortunately, the buyer died, and I ended up buying it back from the widow a couple weeks ago. I had an 18" carbon barrel on order, but when this opportunity developed, my plans change to shorten this barrel for my can use, & set it up as a night time gun, & possible sell the carbon when it came in. My can weighs 15 ozs, so it's a wash in raw weight. Of course, snow, cold, & wind has now arrived, & put a damper on getting it set up to shoot. I sold it with 100 rounds loaded with 108 ELD-M's, and I received the majority of them back, but I wanted to find a load with 70's for the speed.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3309012 - 12/20/22 04:32 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: alf]
|
Die Hard Member III
Registered: 12/07/11
Posts: 2733
Loc: Pacific NW
|
I wanted to find a load with 70's for the speed. I shoot 70gr Nosler BT's in my 20in Proof Research barreled 6CM w/RL16 and it's one of the most accurate guns I own.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3309028 - 12/20/22 08:56 PM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
Seasoned Member
Registered: 02/01/18
Posts: 387
Loc: Kentucky, US
|
No way I would carry around a calling rifle that heavy but I do a lot of walking. In the end you are the only one who can really say if it's too heavy.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#3309041 - 12/21/22 12:26 AM
Re: How Heavy is Too Heavy?
[Re: Tf282]
|
Moderator
Registered: 10/16/04
Posts: 1790
Loc: USA
|
So I'm 50 and I don't mind the weight at all. That extra weight is what makes them easier to shoot accurately. One thing that will make that rifle feel a lot lighter is how you carry it. I use an eberlestock pack and honestly a 12lb rifle vs a 8lb rifle is hard to tell the difference when doing reasonably short walks into stands.
_________________________
Been there, done that many times and have the DD214 to prove it....
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|