Is a 10lb hunting rifle too heavy?

Rockrivr1

Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2002
Messages
1,959
Location
Massachusetts
So I looked at a Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifle in 300 Win Mag today as I continue to search for a hunting rifle to do an elk hunt out west. This rifle was made in the 70s and to be honest it felt pretty good. The only problem is that she’s 10lbs before adding a scope, rings and ammo. So thinking 12-13 lbs all dressed out. I’m wondering if that’s too heavy for a hunt where’d we be moving a lot. I’m used to hunting deer from a stand or a single position and I’ve used my father’s old Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Pretty light rifle.

This hunt will be nothing I’m used too so weight will be a consideration. Plus to this rifle is the weight will dampen recoil. Negative is hauling the extra weight.

What say hunters?
 
Well… mine is 16 or so… she be heavy! Hunt in a Stand? Fine. To shoot from a bench a lot? Okayish. To climb mountains? Bit to heavy…
I did shoot a 5ish lb 7mm mag sheep rifle ONCE. Uuum to light to shoot much.
 
Last edited:
I hunted mountainous public land for a few years with a heavy barreled bolt gun, scoped it was over 10# I believe. It was doable but definitely not pleasant ESPECIALLY while packing out meat.
 
Carrying a 13 lb. rifle in areas where you have to climb is a blitch. You can kill an elk with lighter calibers than a .300 win. A .280 or a 7 mag are very capable of downing an elk if you can shoot it accurately. If you have a rifle chambered in a smaller caliber that is light, practice with it until you know you can hit the vitals.
 
Conditions will likely matter. If you are laying out prone using a bipod, weight is not do much of an issue. Ditto a tree stand or similar blind.

If you are in three foot tall grass, you are going to need to either shoot from high kneel or standing, and rifle weight could be an issue. Maybe only enough to maybe suggest using a sling for support. Maybe not. Maybe shooting sticks (yet another thing to tote) will help.
 
I hunt Elk in the west with a Ruger 77 MKII in .300WM and frankly don't think too much about its weight, and I've never weighed it. But I'm only 71 so maybe would be an issue for an old guy! I also have a couple others, another MKII in 30-06 and a plain M77 in .243. If you are looking at one from the '70s it is an M77, but not a Hawkeye.
Ruger 77 MKII 300WM.JPG
It is pre "Hawkeye" production made in 2001. "Hawkeye " started in 2006.

Ruger 77 Red Pad 243 HB.JPG
M77 in .243 Heavy Barrel.

Ruger 77 MKII 30-06.JPG
M77 MKII "Sporter" in 30-06
 
Last edited:
Walking a mile with a 12.5 pound rifle slung over your shoulder on a 7500 foot ridgeline from your parked ATV to get where you’re going to glass is a lot different then getting out of a truck at 6600 feet and heading up through timber and talus fields to 9,500 or 10K on foot with that beast.

You don’t elaborate how and where you’ll be hunting so it’s difficult to give advice. It says you’re from Mass. If in fact you’re coming from sea level to elk country I’d be worried about altitude sickness without a few days of acclimatizing. Above 7K everyone starts feeling it, some more than others depending on condition, weight, age etc.

As a GENERAL rule…I prefer a lighter gun in elk country. You’re not shooting it off a bench for an afternoon so recoil (at least for me) is not a consideration. The one or two times you might pull the trigger you won’t feel the gun (but you probably already know this).

You will however feel that 12-13 pound rig with each step you take in the high country…ask me how I know.
 
Last edited:
This is what I carried elk hunting. It's a Winchester EW in 308 with a McMillan Edge stock that took another 1/2 lb off the weight, it's now 7 1/4 lbs. You don't need a 300 magnum unless you plan on 600-700 yard shots. This shoots the same bullets a little slower at the muzzle and is enough gun for 400+ yards. That's farther than I'd shoot at game.

ayla road trip 2 143.JPG

At 10,000' in this country I'd not want a 10 lb rifle. According to my GPS we walked about 8 miles on this day. 4 of those miles going up, then 4 down.

ayla road trip 2 182.JPG
ayla road trip 2 162.JPG
 
Walking a mile with a 12.5 pound rifle slung over your shoulder on a 7500 foot ridgeline from your parked ATV to get where you’re going to glass is a lot different then getting out of a truck at 6600 feet and heading up through timber and talus fields to 9,500 or 10K on foot with that beast.

You don’t elaborate how and where you’ll be hunting so it’s difficult to give advice. It says your from Mass. If in fact you’re coming from sea level to elk country I’d be worried about altitude sickness without a few days of acclimatizing. Above 7K everyone starts feeling it, some more than others depending on condition, weight, age etc.

As a GENERAL rule…I prefer a lighter gun in elk country. You’re not shooting it off a bench for an afternoon so recoil (at least for me) is not a consideration. The one or two times you might pull the trigger you won’t feel the gun (but you probably already know this).

You will however feel that 12-13 pound rig with each step you take in the high country…ask me how I know.
This^^^^ I live in elk country at 6000' at the base of the mountains. I've seen many a visiting friend wiped out after walking a couple hundred yards carrying nothing. Carrying a heavy rifle very far ain't for me, but I'm 68. My grandson(23) and his friends are billy goats and do it with ease. But they're use to the altitude and in good shape.
 
High altitude, mountainous, vertical accending and decending, uneven terrain, navigating some brush and rocks, etc.

I have purpose built rifles for such. My Winchester EW M70 in 280AI has a 22” barrel and comes in at 8.5# loaded with scope and sling. I’m on the lookout for a carbon fiber stock to shave some more weight off of it but haven’t found one that I like yet.

I also have a Ruger No1 in 375 Ruger that is nice and light as well, but haven’t fielded it yet.

The rifle isn’t all you’re going to be carrying either. A daypack or overnight pack with medical, binoculars, field dressing kit, food, water, emergency items, communications, gps/map/compass, extra layers of clothing (on/off body).

The best counsel I can give you is to train with a weighted back pack for a couple months beforehand with some hills to climb. If you want to be most prepared. And altitude sickness can be a thing, depending on where you are hunting you’ll be 5000’ up to 10,000’+.

@jmr40 pictures are good to look at to get an idea of potential terrain.

Don’t let this all discourage you, it’s amazing getting up in the high mountains for a hunt. Just do what you can. But to answer your question, I would strongly suggest you try and find a sub-10# rifle as fielded if you can. I do like your pick of a M77, CRF, locked bolt, great hunting platform.
 
Last edited:
Here’s my Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 300 win mag from an early season bear trip a few years ago, at 9,000ft elevation and ~12 miles walked back into our base camp. It’s 11lbs as pictured.

IMG_1352.jpeg
 
Walking a mile with a 12.5 pound rifle slung over your shoulder on a 7500 foot ridgeline from your parked ATV to get where you’re going to glass is a lot different then getting out of a truck at 6600 feet and heading up through timber and talus fields to 9,500 or 10K on foot with that beast.

You don’t elaborate how and where you’ll be hunting so it’s difficult to give advice. It says your from Mass. If in fact you’re coming from sea level to elk country I’d be worried about altitude sickness without a few days of acclimatizing. Above 7K everyone starts feeling it, some more than others depending on condition, weight, age etc.

As a GENERAL rule…I prefer a lighter gun in elk country. You’re not shooting it off a bench for an afternoon so recoil (at least for me) is not a consideration. The one or two times you might pull the trigger you won’t feel the gun (but you probably already know this).

You will however feel that 12-13 pound rig with each step you take in the high country…ask me how I know.

Thanks everyone for the info. So a group of us are at the beginning stages of planning this trip for next fall. We started thinking Colorado or Utah, but we're also seeing some good places in Montana as well. We're planning on going from the camp by horseback on a guided hunt. Obviously leaving the horses and heading up at some point. I suspect there will be a LOT of hiking. I'm in decent shape, but a cubical commando at work so definitely will need to train for this. The places we've looked at some of them indicate shots up to 5-600 yards so that's why I was leaning towards a 300 WM. They want you to be very proficient with your rifle and have good dope before heading out. I know I'll also need to be hauling a good amount of gear in a pack as well as possibly hauling out meat on the return trip.

As you've indicated I'm a New England hunter. I walk into the wood and hit a stand or a ridge and watch. This will be 100% different than anything I've ever done so excited and nervous about it all at the same time.
 
If you are going to be packing out meat and haven't done it before, it will be a challenge. 40-60 lbs on your back for the first time is an eye opener. When you have to put the pack on while sitting down and then roll over on your hands and knees to stand up, it's an eye opener. If that is on the menu for your hunt, I'd suggest getting a back pack at the thrift store and start loading it up and taking some hikes. Preferably up and down terrain, or even flights of stairs.
 
I live at 83 ft. above sea level. The first time I hunted in Wyoming (shorter mountains than Colorado), I ran out of breath by running across a road. I always hunted without a guide after the 1st trip so I'd drive out to Wyoming and set up camp 5 days prior to hunting. During this time I'd scout for elk. I found I could handle up to 11,000 ft. after some more time spent there. My brother and I camped at 12,000 ft. for one night and I had splitting headaches and nausea the whole time. We relocated down to 10,800 ft. and I was fine. Everyone is different but prolonged altitude sickness can and does kill people.
 
*I have never weighed my guns so Im not sure exact weight.
I have this rifle in 30-06. Its over 10 pounds loaded with a scope and sling. Maybe around 12lbs. I love this rifle enough Id consider buying another to setup with with different scope or keep Irons. Its not light but it doesn't recoil hardly at all. Its also not so heavy I consider it hard to carry. My .308 Ruger American with a plastic stock is lighter and less weight so its easier to carry, it goes on far more deer drives. Probably weighs in about 7lbs with a scope and loaded. It also has more felt recoil.
Not sure which Id take in your situation, probably lean towards the lighter .308. Id also not really want to get scope cut shooting a light weight 300 WM up on a mountain :)

47118-1500x850-0.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for the info. So a group of us are at the beginning stages of planning this trip for next fall. We started thinking Colorado or Utah, but we're also seeing some good places in Montana as well. We're planning on going from the camp by horseback on a guided hunt. Obviously leaving the horses and heading up at some point. I suspect there will be a LOT of hiking. I'm in decent shape, but a cubical commando at work so definitely will need to train for this. The places we've looked at some of them indicate shots up to 5-600 yards so that's why I was leaning towards a 300 WM. They want you to be very proficient with your rifle and have good dope before heading out. I know I'll also need to be hauling a good amount of gear in a pack as well as possibly hauling out meat on the return trip.

As you've indicated I'm a New England hunter. I walk into the wood and hit a stand or a ridge and watch. This will be 100% different than anything I've ever done so excited and nervous about it all at the same time.
In the west it could be this.
DCP_3244.JPG

Horses can be good too!
,
DCP_2112.JPG
Or this,
DCP_2225.JPG
 
My opinion is that you will wish you had lighter everything. That's ok for a stand rifle but not a mountain rifle. I would look at a better, more modern and accurate rifle anyway like a Tikka.
 
They walk for miles in Africa with 10lb rifles, and of course the military. Some people like heavy guns so they can see where they hit. That said, a light gun is nice to carry.
But they have gun bearers who tote the guns in Africa
 
I'd work on your cardio and do several sets of reps starting with 5lb and work up to 15lbs or 20lbs over the course until the week leading up to hunting season. My .30-30 fully loaded with everything is pushing 8lbs. My AR10 is probably 12+lbs. My Mossberg 800a needs a scope put back on it, but I think that was just shy of 10lbs.

I'd do a lot of walking with weights to help get used to getting out to where you're hunting. Then do some weight lifting in case you have to free hand the rifle rather than rest it on something. Practice holding the rifle like you would while lining up for a shot.

Light rifles are nice to carry, but they kick like a mule. It's cheaper to get into better shape than getting a lighter rifle.
 
It really depends on what your hunting and the terrain your hunting in. If you need to climb 5-7000 feet to get to where you will start hunting I would say that would be excessive. If you are hunting hipopatamus on the riverbank I would say too light. If you are stillhunting deer I would say 6.5-7.5 is about right.
 
Back
Top