Thread: How heavy should a hunting rifle be?

I'm thankful I weighed 115kg when I got sick. Or I would now likely be under 100kg, and that's an unpleasantly skinny weight for me. I have abs poking through at my current weight, which with my genetics means I'm getting to the point of underweight. I have a big set of thighs and a heap of muscle in my back from a few years of lifting (caused trouble with hospital procedures lol), and 110kg is about right.
But I think I'll be alright with a bit of recoil, even though I'm a newbie.

Originally Posted by Brad S

I'm thankful I weighed 115kg when I got sick. Or I would now likely be under 100kg, and that's an unpleasantly skinny weight for me. I have abs poking through at my current weight, which with my genetics means I'm getting to the point of underweight. I have a big set of thighs and a heap of muscle in my back from a few years of lifting (caused trouble with hospital procedures lol), and 110kg is about right.
But I think I'll be alright with a bit of recoil, even though I'm a newbie.

Hope you get yr health problems sorted Brads,bit of hunting to be done yet.

I have never really understood why rifles are weighed 'bare'....those that carry a bare rifle keep the rest of the necessary shit in their pack?

Originally Posted by Brad S

I'm thankful I weighed 115kg when I got sick. Or I would now likely be under 100kg, and that's an unpleasantly skinny weight for me. I have abs poking through at my current weight, which with my genetics means I'm getting to the point of underweight. I have a big set of thighs and a heap of muscle in my back from a few years of lifting (caused trouble with hospital procedures lol), and 110kg is about right.
But I think I'll be alright with a bit of recoil, even though I'm a newbie.

you can download with NO PROBLEMS at all....not even slightly hard to make lower recoiling loads...either drop powder charge of projectile weight or both....
its too easy to have a dual load set up..lighter loads for plinking or smaller stuff and some normal level loads incase something bigger pops out.
plenty of us do it all the time anyway.

Sounds like you are mitigating a bunch of the rifle weight with scope choice.

With your indicated by the time you have rings and a few round I'd expect. The carry weigh to be around 4.3 kg, which is heavy, but not crazily so. At that weight and at your size the recoil should be fine.

Lots of the fancy custom rigs you see here with carbon fibre barrels & stocks are still up around 4 kg. My own fancy lr rig is about 3.8kg all up.

Personally I love lighter rifles, and especially for a bush rifle as it is in you hand all day. The lighter gun is less likely to.get slung, and is just a pleasure in hand. My bush gun is 2.8 kg with suppressor, scope and a full mag. So nice to carry, and surprisingly accurate/capable.

Also, hunting is recreation, and we all make little choices which are often weight sacrifices to make the process more enjoyable. Could be a book, a pillow, real food etc. If the rifle brings you a sense of enjoyment, then it's worth an extra kg

Weight and caliber go hand in hand.. the less recoil the heavier the caliber can be, the more recoil the cartridge typically has, the more weight you will want, if you want to shoot consistently accurately that is. For bush stalking it doesn’t matter, go as light as possible because the rifle is always in your hands “ready to shoot”. I have a 7 prc that’s an ex 7 rem mag xbolt hells canyon. It’s borderline too light with a suppressor on it. Not that forgiving of a an average shooting position in the field, have to be fairly anal about getting setup behind the rifle or the recoil impulse effects the accuracy. Doesn’t help that it’s 20 inch barrel gives a bit of muzzle blast lol

Great thoughts here. I invested in a Sako carbon lite a few years ago, suppressed with Z3 Swaro scope. Weighs in at 3.1kg. Can carry it all day, whether in the mountains or bush hunting. Prefer the lighter kicking calibres, and the 7mm08 has been nice. I probably wouldn't want to go any lighter (rifle weight) to be honest, as the light stock and fluted barrel mean it will jump after fired. That's the thing with a lighter platform, but I'd much prefer this to carrying a heavier rifle in the mountains. I used to think a bipod was a waste of time, but on a light platform like this, I've found it really useful on long range shot set ups. Ironically I've gone 223 suppressed in a Browning Lever Action for the bush stuff, weighs in a 3.7kg. Can carry that all day, but boy the arms feel it toward days end. Love that rifle.

Originally Posted by Brad S

I have found a very cool old wood and blued rifle that I want to buy for my first centrefire. It's a 30-06 and weighs about 3.6kg bare.
Every one of my mates that I've sent it to has the opinion of "too big calibre and rifle too heavy"
Do I need new mates, or are they right? I have decent legs and thought I'd be alright with a heavier older rifle? This post is not about the calibre, it's about rifle weight.

Get a BSA CF2 in 270 then you would be able to lift railway iron much easier. Absolute pig of a rifle.

Originally Posted by Brad S

I should've searched this before posting. This subject has been beaten to death on here many times it seems. Apologies

No need for apologies, regardless of whether its been beaten to death in the past, a lot of us still enjoy reading the posts and offering advice. A Sako, with a 3-10 sounds about bloody ideal to me. And then chambered in 30-06 and i would say you have a lifetime rifle right there. Look forward to another post from you telling us you have it in your hot little hands, and how it shoots.

Originally Posted by Husky1600#2

No need for apologies, regardless of whether its been beaten to death in the past, a lot of us still enjoy reading the posts and offering advice. A Sako, with a 3-10 sounds about bloody ideal to me. And then chambered in 30-06 and i would say you have a lifetime rifle right there. Look forward to another post from you telling us you have it in your hot little hands, and how it shoots.

Thank you. I have not yet laid my hands on either the scope or the rifle. Will definitely post an update. Can't wait.

30-06 is awesome. And a bit of weight in will help you shoot well. I'm looking forward to the update.

My Savage model 16 in 22-250 weighs 4kg with a 3-9x40 scope, gunworks suppressor on a 20" barrel, magazine with 3 rounds (all it holds), bolt and sling. I don't consider it heavy.

Reading this thread made me go out and weigh a few rifles, all ready to go bang as it were. Bit surprised actually.
308's vary from 3.4 to 3.91 kg. 223's 4.878 for night hunting rig and 4.073 for my main 'work' rifle. The work rifle could do with going on a diet but it carries well over an 8-10 hour day and shoots real good, almost as good as my departed AR which was a joy to use. My favourite 308 weighs 3.776 kg, is great to carry but can be a bit lively to shoot. Apart from the night rig, which is badly balanced and a bit of a pig to carry, all my rifles carry in hand well. if they didn't they'd be history. I'm 181cm tall / 85 kg's weight and don't have a problem carrying any of my rifles in hand for extended periods and a bit of weight sure makes for a steady shot, especially offhand and 'blowing' a bit.
Having used a mates 30.06 quite a bit, which weighs about 4.1 kg's, I wouldn't want to go much lighter. It recoils with a bit of authority, especially with heavier loads.
I'm a bit set in my ways but if 4kg's or there abouts is too heavy, harden the fuck up or get fitter. Just my 2c.

Originally Posted by woods223

I'm a bit set in my ways but if 4kg's or there abouts is too heavy, harden the fuck up or get fitter. Just my 2c.

Haha thank you, appreciate it

@Brad S

Lighter rifles, to me, are like European binoculars; once you used them it’s hard to go back to lower grade gear.
Like Ryan alluded to in his great use of sarcasm, above, my personal bench mark is a factory Tikka T3. I prefer something even lighter, so most of my rifles have carbon fibre stocks.
I guess it comes down to how young and strong you are, all of us have most probably carried old wooden stocked heavy rifles around the hills, I just prefer light ones now.
For reference, I’m in my 50’s and have finishing paying for everything my kids do. So I’m happy to spend a bit more on a hunting rifle, I also hunt at least once a week so find it easy to justify the extra cost 😀