How heavy is too heavy how light is too light

1

I was thinking about the last few podcasts and the idea of heavy enough. I started by picking what I thought would be a decent all-around cartridge for someone who reloads - in this case, the 6.5 Sherman Short (was thinking the 7mm originally, but I don’t think I need the extra)

I’m old, and my knees are not going to let me hike a few miles up a hillside - a mile on a gentle slope maybe. So how badly do I need a light 7lb gun? Not at all. How much do I want to carry a 16-20 competition rifle? Not much. My target was 10lbs - I came in between 10 & 11.5 depending on chassis vs stock and choice of suppressor and break. (11.5 and 13 if we include the bipod)

So - the idea of having enough weight to keep the scope on the target and see the hit seems like the goal, and the .5 MOA accuracy a target to hope for, and 1 MOA (mean radius on 20-30 rounds) the cutoff.

Short action (2.95 OAL) with a Berger 157 EOL at 2900 fps; I think it’s elk-worthy out to 600, which is farther than I’m willing to shoot now (and maybe ever). The gun as Grok and I spec’d out is a bit over 11lbs with scope and Can + Break. I think my Gizo 3540XL and RRS ball head will do the job, maybe a decent bipod - so what, another 1.5lbs that might be on the gun. Am I nuts, or is that in the realm of reasonable for the Goal?

Current spec: 22" Bartlein #11 Palma, Foundation Gideon Stock (or Backlight if it can actually feed a 2.95 OAL short action ) Terminus Kratos Lite/Ti action, trigger tech trigger, Hawkins bottom metal (or the chassis), my Leupold VX-5 HD 3-15 44. Area 419 or Hawkins rings. Undecided on break/suppressor: Area 419 Maverick K + Ti Hub + Aluminum break for max recoil control - maybe something like the Banish Meat Eater -
I just don’t know how much muzzle flip I’ll have to deal with. I’m open to suggestions.

2

My CVA Cascade XT 6.5prc with scope weighs 11.25 lbs too heavy for this old guy to carry steep slopes.

I bought a Tikka t3x superlight 6.5prc problem solved.

3

This, or something similar, will be my answer to the issue of too heavy.

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IMG_38452622×1206 561 KB

4

I’m in the same boat…I’ve carried 11-14 pound rifles and needed to take some “glassing” breaks. I bought a Bergara B-14 Squared Crest Carbon and in 6.5 PRC and I’m much happier walking the hills around Ketchikan Alaska now. I really like the idea of the 6.5 SS and am wanting to get one at some point and sell my Crest Carbon to my son :winking_face_with_tongue:. That way if either one of doesn’t like what we have I can buy it back.

5

I have a coworker moving up to Juneau. Gives me more justification for a trip to southeast Alaska to do more than cruise ship stops.

6

Let me know when you come up and I’ll be happy to show you around the island!

7

Yeah, I’m not going up those steep slopes with a 2 lb pistol. Mild slopes are fine. I regularly haul about 20-25lbs of camera gear (short distances), and that’s about what I’ll be limiting my hunts to.