Don't get caught up in the romantic notions of the stalking world...
Putting the round in the right place safely is far more important than the white fluffy clouds some stalkers float around on...
Tim.243
Tikka T3 Super Varmint too Heavy for Stalking ?
- Thread starter Estudiente
- Start date
Don't get caught up in the romantic notions of the stalking world...
Putting the round in the right place safely is far more important than the white fluffy clouds some stalkers float around on...
Tim.243
To me it seems manufactuers are going witht eh swing and they know the majority of "modern" shooters shoot off benches, Bipods, Quad Sticks, Tripods and almost never usign the body as support. Few will walk more than a few hundred yards to the High seat or shooting house where there is a shooting rail for support so rifle weight is of no real importance.
You only have to read some older shooting books and all say that a rifles of 8 1/2lbs or less is the ideal weight for a general hunting rifle. Magnums need to be a bit heavier due to increased recoil. The one I always found amusing was one said that a fit strong man could usually use one of the bull barreled rifles but the average city dweller wold find this too much to carry in the field as their excercise of the Bi weekly Golf Games was not enough for then to cope with rifles of such weight.
Not word for word but it covers the gist of the author and he was talking about rifls ready for the field not bare. It was quite a while ago that I read this.
Now does anyone else find it odd that on one hand we have manufacturers that are making rifles that a few years ago would be having trouble getting past scrutiny in an international match due to being over weight! yet on the other hand we have manufacturers making rifles that are light weight .... 5lb-6 1/2lbs in normal chambering like 7-08, .308, 270Win and 25-06 plus a few newer rounds like the 26 Nosler. Hunters clamouring for lighter weight rifles is nothing new and has been going on for the best part of the last century.
The mention of gun bearers made me smile I have to admit but the use of such in Africa was no due to idleness but one of safety. If the Hunter carried his own big Double rifle when they come up to the quarry he would have been to tired and exhausted to use the rifle. Big doubles weigh in around 16lbs so the hunter would be carrying a light rifle and swap to the heavy in the closing stages of the track so he was not to tired to swing the rifle and shoot it as well as possible.
Now as was also mentioned it's your rifle, your shoulder, your going to have to carry it so it is really up to you.
You only have to read some older shooting books and all say that a rifles of 8 1/2lbs or less is the ideal weight for a general hunting rifle. Magnums need to be a bit heavier due to increased recoil. The one I always found amusing was one said that a fit strong man could usually use one of the bull barreled rifles but the average city dweller wold find this too much to carry in the field as their excercise of the Bi weekly Golf Games was not enough for then to cope with rifles of such weight.
Not word for word but it covers the gist of the author and he was talking about rifls ready for the field not bare. It was quite a while ago that I read this.
Now does anyone else find it odd that on one hand we have manufacturers that are making rifles that a few years ago would be having trouble getting past scrutiny in an international match due to being over weight! yet on the other hand we have manufacturers making rifles that are light weight .... 5lb-6 1/2lbs in normal chambering like 7-08, .308, 270Win and 25-06 plus a few newer rounds like the 26 Nosler. Hunters clamouring for lighter weight rifles is nothing new and has been going on for the best part of the last century.
The mention of gun bearers made me smile I have to admit but the use of such in Africa was no due to idleness but one of safety. If the Hunter carried his own big Double rifle when they come up to the quarry he would have been to tired and exhausted to use the rifle. Big doubles weigh in around 16lbs so the hunter would be carrying a light rifle and swap to the heavy in the closing stages of the track so he was not to tired to swing the rifle and shoot it as well as possible.
Now as was also mentioned it's your rifle, your shoulder, your going to have to carry it so it is really up to you.
Hi estudiente,
I have this rifle in .300winmag and use it both on the hill for reds and lowland. Moderated, s&b scope, bipod and I don't find it to be heavy at. I would recommend a good double shoulder sling to go with it, makes the whole a lot easier but it's a joy to shoot and accurate straight from the box.
atb
I have this rifle in .300winmag and use it both on the hill for reds and lowland. Moderated, s&b scope, bipod and I don't find it to be heavy at. I would recommend a good double shoulder sling to go with it, makes the whole a lot easier but it's a joy to shoot and accurate straight from the box.
atb
sir-lamp-alot
Well-Known Member
you could go for the ultra light option of the sako 85 hunter like ive got and save yourself 200 grams i think a lot of people get hung up on the tikka varmint rifles thinking there big beasts that you have to lug roung the countryside but when you look into it there no heavier than many well used rifles
Depends what type of stalking, if hill stalking it might be frowned upon but only because the stalker is expected to carry the guests rifle.
I had a super varmint in .243 a factory set trigger very accurate rifle, I also had a Rem Sendero which was a similar weight but with the longer barrel was not as balanced as t3 when fitted with a mod.
weight is a personnel thing, like if you are 6"4 and built like a brick out house you might be happy with a heavy rifle more than a lite one
weight is a personnel thing, like if you are 6"4 and built like a brick out house you might be happy with a heavy rifle more than a lite one
It's also a conditions thing.
After a week of being **** wet chasing and dragging hinds off the hill the weight may become annoying and you may, for example, be thinking about a dainty Blaser R93...
Particularly if you end up also carrying your mates rifle, and dragging his deer, which he's made sure to shoot in the most infeasible locations.
foxshooter69
Well-Known Member
You are quite correct in your thinking, I had a T3 varmint, by the time I added the mod plus bipod and scope it was awful, ridiculously top heavy hated every second of it and would never ever buy another or even have one as a gift.
Wasn't after a stalking rifle, but a fox and vermin rifle in .223. I looked at the Tikka T3 Varmint and definitely thought it was too heavy. Went for the lite and it's been great.
I suppose if you want to use it at the range as well then there's some reason to have the two ton barrel, or perhaps if much of your shooting is from a high seat. But even then, I take my lite to the range from time to time and putting a few shots through it doesn't seem to affect it.
But I guess if you like it and you don't get sand kicked in your face at the beach, it'll be fine, so if you like it, then really, why not?
I suppose if you want to use it at the range as well then there's some reason to have the two ton barrel, or perhaps if much of your shooting is from a high seat. But even then, I take my lite to the range from time to time and putting a few shots through it doesn't seem to affect it.
But I guess if you like it and you don't get sand kicked in your face at the beach, it'll be fine, so if you like it, then really, why not?
Hales Smut
Well-Known Member
A rifle should never be more than 3kg "nude" . + scope, mounts, moderator,bipod, it quickly tops the scales at around or over 4kg.
Now matter hwo fit you are, the lighter the rifle is, the longer you keep going.
Select the other parts carefully. Weight being the major issue.
Now matter hwo fit you are, the lighter the rifle is, the longer you keep going.
Select the other parts carefully. Weight being the major issue.
A lot of conventional walnut stocked hunting rifles weigh 7.5 pounds or more with iron sights, so my answer is, "No, not too heavy, unless you load it up with a full magazine, beefy sling, and Hubble riflescope." A normal scope and rings at 16 ounces keeps the rifle under 9 pounds.
Estudiente
Well-Known Member
I recently weighed my Howa Varmint 308/ Boyds thumbhole laminated stock , with mod and high power scope , no ammo , bipod or sling...13.9lbs! gulp
, wont be mauling that around the Highlands 
, wont be mauling that around the Highlands 
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
This thread prompted me to borrow the new digital kitchen scales.
My Heym SR20 with a Swarovski Habicht 4-12x50 and sling weighs in at 9lbs 9oz.
275 Rigby, with Swaro Nova 6x42 and no sling comes in at 9lbs 8oz
Ferlach Combination in 16 / 7x65r with sling, leather cheek peace and 6x42 Zeiss comes in at 8lbs 8oz.
None in my mind are too heavy to carry and have carried for long time up and down hills. The Rigby and Combination gun both have barrel mounted sling attachments c7" back from the muzzle and this makes them much more comfortable to carry compared to the Heym. The Rigby has a chunky, but short barrel and the weight is between the hands - it feels lighter than it is.
Both the Heym and Rigby are much easier to shoot as the extra weight helps steady things. As for moderators - well they have their uses I suppose - useful for moving heavy objects across concrete floors etc, but even a lightweight 4oz mod badly unbalances a rifle and makes feel heavier. Bipods - personally non of my rifles shoot well off them. If I am on the hill I tend to carry a pack with food etc, or the rifle is in a slip - both of which can serve as a rest.
My Heym SR20 with a Swarovski Habicht 4-12x50 and sling weighs in at 9lbs 9oz.
275 Rigby, with Swaro Nova 6x42 and no sling comes in at 9lbs 8oz
Ferlach Combination in 16 / 7x65r with sling, leather cheek peace and 6x42 Zeiss comes in at 8lbs 8oz.
None in my mind are too heavy to carry and have carried for long time up and down hills. The Rigby and Combination gun both have barrel mounted sling attachments c7" back from the muzzle and this makes them much more comfortable to carry compared to the Heym. The Rigby has a chunky, but short barrel and the weight is between the hands - it feels lighter than it is.
Both the Heym and Rigby are much easier to shoot as the extra weight helps steady things. As for moderators - well they have their uses I suppose - useful for moving heavy objects across concrete floors etc, but even a lightweight 4oz mod badly unbalances a rifle and makes feel heavier. Bipods - personally non of my rifles shoot well off them. If I am on the hill I tend to carry a pack with food etc, or the rifle is in a slip - both of which can serve as a rest.
Question, if there are two deer do you always shoot the small one because its easier to carry away? yes a heavy barrel rifle weighs a bit more but usually 2 or 3 pounds . what about a set of binos, range finder, knives, string, gloves, drinks, and food ? just get a double sling and man up .
I stalk in Scotland up in the hills, my stalking rifle is a Deserttech SRS A1 in 7WSM loaded weighs in at 8.7kgs with a double sling. It’s no bother up the hills on your back. The extra weight is worth it for stability when shooting out to 400m plus on the open hill especially when you want the herd runs away after the first deer hits the floor and you want deer 2 and 3.
Can’t skip leg day…
Can’t skip leg day…
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