Weight for a hunting rifle

[MVF]

Is lighter always better?

I was looking at a Tikka T3 Lite and was told that, at 6 1/2 lbs. it was awful light for a .30-06, and that recoil would be bad.

I am also considering a CZ 550- but 8 lbs. without a scope seems awful heavy to be carrying much. The CZ does seem to shoulder better for me and I like Mauser-style action.

This will be my first (& maybe only) dedicated hunting rifle and I have no experience hunting. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[W.E.G.]

Of course recoil will be "bad."

So is changing a water pump on a Malibu.

How many times are you going to actually shoot it?

An overly-heavy rifle on a hunt that requires lots of carrying, and little shooting is "really" bad.

So, bad is not that bad.

 

[glockman19]

My Remington 700 CDL in .30-06 is 7.5lbs. and that's why I got it light enough to carry all day and powerful enough to take down game with one good placed shot. The recoil is not as bad as you might think.

If you like the rifle get it. With the adreniline pumping ona hunt you won't notice the recoil. Even practicing with 50-60 rounds your shoulder won't be hurting that much.

 

[ACP230]

I have hunted with rifles that weighed over eight pounds. Didn't seem too bad when I was younger. I got older and started looking to carry less weight.

Now my favorite deer rifle is a Ruger M77RL (lightweight) in .250 Savage.
It weighs around six pounds with scope and sling, but unloaded.
Much easier to carry all day, and very accurate for the first three shots. After that the barrel heats up and the group shifts, but by then the action is over anyway.

Most of the deer I've killed with that rifle fell on the spot. I have a lot of confidence in that short, light, rifle.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

What kind of hunting will you be doing? A lot of hunting here in Texas takes place from a stand, so the weight of the rifle isn't much of a factor.

And if you'll be hunting game that isn't too big, try Remington's Managed Recoil ammunition. It really cuts the thumping you'll take, and it's very effective; I've killed half a dozen deer with as many shots.

 

[aspade]

Justifying an unpleasant gun as acceptable because you only shoot once hunting is missing the point. If a gun is painful you won't practice with it and if you don't practice with it you won't shoot well which is all the more important when hunting.

That said, a 6.5 pound gun is closer to 8 scoped and slung with 5 in the box and that's not unreasonable at all for a 30-06 with a decent pad.

 

[Sunray]

Depends on the kind of hunting you do. As mentioned, if you're in a stand, the weight doesn't matter. However, if you're elk hunting in mountains or walking and glassing, you'll find even a 6.5 lb rifle gets heavy at the end of the day.
Felt recoil can be tamed with a recoil pad or system and the ammo. Heavy bullets will have more felt recoil than lighter bullets. Fortunately, you don't need heavy bullets for most game in North America. 165's are plenty. The .30-06 loves 'em too.

 

[GunTech]

Last year I carries a 17 lbs rifle. This year I'm down to 11 lbs. It's what you are used to and how you carry it. A good carry system or sling makes a huge difference.

 

[Charles S]

My Remington 700 CDL in .30-06 is 6.5lbs.

That is unusual, the Remington CDLs I have handled felt heavier than 6 1/2 pounds and Remington catalogs them at 7 1/2 pounds. (That is 7 1/2 before bases, rings, sling swivels etc).

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_CDL_specs.asp

The Tikka T3 lite at 6# 2 oz (including sling swivels, including rings with integral bases) in 30-06 is very light, and I would not recommend it for a novice shooter without a good recoil pad and/or a good brake like Vias, or a Caldwell led sled for bench shooting and working up loads. (I personally do not like brakes on hunting rifles). It will be exciting off the bench. I know I have a 30-06 (custom Remington) that has a finished weight of 7.25 pounds (about the same weight as Tikka with a scope) and it is interesting to shoot. I also own the Tikka T3 lite in 270 and kicks harder than I expected in a 270.


Depending upon your hunting style a light weight rifle can be a great thing. If you don't ever do anything but walk to and from your box stand I would go for a rifle with a finished weight in the 9 pound range, about what a Remington BDL will weight if you include a scope, rings, bases, and sling. (A scope typically weighs in the 10-16 oz range, most slings in the 4-8 oz range, rings and bases in the 4-8 oz range).

If you plan on doing a lot of walking then a light weight rifle is a great thing, particularly as you gain altitude. My light weight 270 and 30-06 are a dream to carry all day and are perfect for hunting out west in the mountains. I love to hunt on the move (still hunting) so a light weight gun is worth the trade offs to me. It all just depends on what your hunting style will be and what your perceived hunting needs are.

If you are an experienced shooter, or are willing to practice it it is not too light. I do highly recommend the Tikka T3 lite, mine is great (probably the best out of the box rifle I have ever purchased).

 

[glockman19]

That is unusual, the Remington CDLs I have handled felt heavier than 6 1/2 pounds and Remington catalogs them at 7 1/2 pounds. (That is 7 1/2 before bases, rings, sling swivels etc).

I stand Corrected. Add in my Bushnell Scope & sling & it probabaly weighs closer to 8.5 lbs.

 

[Charles S]

BTW...Still 8.5 pounds is a great weight for a general purpose hunting rifle (I actually though you had customized yours). The CDL is one of the nicest looking rifles produced by anybody (including Winchester) in a long time. I really like the way they look! How do you like your CDL?

I have always had good luck with Remington products.

 

[browningguy]

As mentioned depends on what you are using it for. I built a 7x64 mountian style rifle, just at 7 pounds with scope and maga full, and it puts a butt whooping on me at the range, not very pleasant to practice with. But my 11 pound (all up weight) .458 Win Mag isn't bad at all.

In my 30-06's I like something 8-9 pounds scoped, that seems to take enough recoil out to let me practice a reasonable amount.

 

[glockman19]

I really like the way they look! How do you like your CDL?

I love it!!!

Classic look, straight comb, great caliber, excelent accuracy out of the box. I couldn't ask for anything more and would highly recommend one. I have a Bushnell 3200 3-9x40 scope and sling.

 

[CCH]

Again, it depends on what you're doing with it. I backpack hunt elk and deer in the mountains and like my rifle as light as possible. My .308 is just shy of 6 lbs. with scope and mounts. It has a well designed stock and good recoil pad so I don't find it uncomfortable to shoot. However if I was mainly hunting from a stand and not spending a lot of time covering ground, I'd be inclined to go with a more standard weight rifle. They are easier to shoot well.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

My Remington 700 VSF in .308 with a Leupold 4.5-14x50mm VX-III mounted on it weighs between 9.5-10 lbs minus ammo. I'm too old, fat, and crippled to go humping around the mountains hunting for anything except a place to sit down. Fortunately for me, God, in His infinite wisdom, did not build any mountains here in NE Texas. Just yesterday, a friend at church invited me to go deer hunting with him in Jacksboro when the season opens. Now, I do own a light weight Ruger M77 MkII in .308 which I can shoot tolerably well, and if I were smarter than I am, I would probably take it along instead of the Remington. But, I'm a little twisted, and I want to try out the Remington on a hunt.

 

[Orr89rocz]

a 6.5 lb rifle with a scope, sling and loaded will indeed weigh upwards of 8 lbs.

my 700 classic in 35 whelen i consider too light and its 8 lbs fully dressed. recoil isnt bad but it kicks.
My dads 06 in a 700 deluxe is about a half pound maybe a full lb heavier and the kick is soft and manageable.

Now a fully dressed gun weighin 7lbs or so would probly kick alittle bit in a 30-06 but its not bad. it be a great carry gun for sure! i dont mind a heavy rifle tho. My slug gun is near 11lbs now fully dressed, and its not heavy enough...it kicks like a mule.

 

[jmr40]

I have the Tikka T-3 lite in 30-06 and the weight is closer to 6 lbs. Mine weighs 7 lbs. 2 oz's with a Leupold 2.5-8X scope in the factory rings. Throw in 4 rounds of ammo and a light weight sling and you will still be under 7 1/2 lbs.

A well designed stock and a good recoil pad can make a light rifle manageable. I have a limbsaver pad and do not think recoil is bad at all.

 

[MVF]

Thanks all! I may have found a good compromise. Yesterday I got to look at an A-bolt and it seemed to fit me pretty well, I think it has a shorter length of pull than the Tikka.

When I looked it up it weighs 6 lbs. 11 oz. in either wood or composite stock. It seems to get good reviews and also has what look like pretty nice features- 60 degree bolt throw, detachable box magazine, bedded action and floated barrel. Unfortunately it was at Bass Pro Shops, so I didn't get to try the bolt or the trigger.

From what you guys are saying, this should still come in under 8 lbs. scoped, so- good compromise? Good choice? Anybody want to make recommendations between wood/blue and synthetic/stainless?

 

[Charles S]

Yesterday I got to look at an A-bolt and it seemed to fit me pretty well, I think it has a shorter length of pull than the Tikka.

The length of pull for the A bolt is 13 3/4 inches the length of pull for the Tikka is 13 1/2 inches so the Tikka has a shorter length of pull.

However if the Browning fits you better then it is a good choice for you.

I would never choose a Browning over a Tikka, but that is me. I have never had a Browning that cycled as smooth, had as good a trigger, balanced as well, or shot even close to what my Tikka T3 lite will do.

Browning does make a good rifle that is functional and will meet your needs as a hunter.

The Browning is a good choice..As far as wood or synthetic goes....How will you use it? If it is a rifle that you will use to hunt in the rain and use in all elements they stainless synthetic is the choice. However, if you like the aesthetics of wood and are willing to put up with a little more maintenance then there is nothing wrong with wood. Synthetic will never match the beauty or have the elegance of wood.

Good luck.

 

[MVF]

Charles S, where did you find the Tikka LOP? I looked on their site and don't see it listed.

I haven't been able to do a side-by-side, but when I do the "stick the butt in your elbow and see where the trigger hits your finger" test, it seemed like the Browning was shorter. I will definitely be looking to do a side-by-side comparison before I buy.

For some reason the wooden stocked A-bolt has a 13 5/8 LOP so the Tikka would still be shorter- hmmm, interestinger and interestinger!

Thanks for the head's up and the recommendation on the Tikka. The T3 has been in the running since the beginning.

 

[Fumbler]

Mt Tikka T3 Lite in 308 Win weighs in at 7lbs 3oz unloaded with Leupold 3-9x40mm scope.
It's not going to weigh more than 8 lbs loaded.

I had a Winchester 70 in 30-06 with the same scope.
That rifle probably weighed 1-1.5 lbs more.

A normal weight rifle in 30-06 would recoil about the same as a T3 Lite in 308.
So, I would assume the T3 Lite in 30-06 would start feeling closer to a normal rifle in a mild magnum cartridge.

I LOVE my T3 in 308. It's the best carrying rifle I've had. Fits me the best, I'm 5'-8" 165 lbs. Nice and light without having to spend over $1000 from other companies. Shoots MOA with every factory load I've tried.

If it's your first rifle then the 30-06 in a T3 Lite will probably be too much recoil. I don't think most people could handle the recoil enough to learn to shoot the gun well.
If you shoot shotgun slugs a lot then you can handle a lightweight 30-06.

I suggest you get a T3...in 243 or 308 if you're hunting deer.
If the only walking you do is from your pickup down a path to a stand then any rifle will work. The T3 is a good woods gun that is a good compromise between the superlights/super compacts and a full size rifle.
It'll shoot great groups at the range too, it just won't do it for as many rounds as a heavyweight barrel.

 

[Charles S]

MVF....I was just going by memory on the length of pull....I really researched the Tikka when I purchased it. My Remington 700 fit so I assumed the Tikka would also. You are correct the length of pull is no longer listed on the Tikka website.

My memory could be faulty. I have (because recoil was an issue) installed the after market Sims Recoil pad and now (I measured it) the LOP for my Tikka is 14 inches.

Honestly fit is very important in a rifle. If the Browning fits you better then by all means purchase it. I have yet to own a Browning that did not produce adequate hunting accuracy.

Good luck.