Rifle Weight For Tripod Use

bmicek

bmicek

Member
I tend to gravitate towards lightweight rifles. This has me questioning if I should be using a heavier rifle on a tripod for a more stable experience. My tripod is not the limiting factor, but I wonder if using a lightweight rifle is. Opinions anyone?
 
I also like lite rifles and find a good tripod is key. I know heavy rifles are easier to shoot but I don't want to carry one. I am shooting 204 and 223 so most of my shots are 300 yds or less.
 
I have Tikka Lite 22-250 on a Two Vets tripod. I have no issues killing coyotes at night with this setup at 200 yds. I leave the gun connected on the Tripod and throw it over my shoulder like most people do. Pretty simple and effective.
 
Hey limbhanger I bet when you are my age ( 75 ) you might rethink that 19 lb rifle if walking very far. More power to you, enjoy it now.
 
I like LIGHT. My RA Compact plus Thermion is 8# which is heavier than I want but there isn't a lighter gun out there for the money. Shoots fine at my style, which is sitting on a short chair with my rt. elbow on my knee and my lt. hand gripping the fore end.
 
Lightweight for me. Not because I’m old. Not because I can’t handle more weight. Mostly because I just don’t see it necessary to tote around more weight than is needed. When 250 yards at night is a long shot, with under 100 yards being more probable, it isn’t too concerning to me to shoot a lighter rifle. Many, if not most of my spots require a bit of a hike to get to, so there’s that reason too.
 
Both my bolt gun and AR are 9# +/- a few ozs either way. I don’t want anything heavier, lol.
As far as the tripod, can’t you tighten down your head to give resistance if that’s what you’re referring to?
 
My rig is almost identical to Erie660's. I'm running a Tikka 22-250, Pulsar thermal, along with a suppressor, and loaded mag, it weighs 11 lbs. This isn't counting my 2 Vets tripod, backpack with Foxpro, and chair.
I'm 76, so don't like long hikes. One buddy uses a wagon, and carries most of our gear in it. I still carry my gun, not
wanting to take a chance of dinging my scope.
 
My night time rig is 11-6 all in. I did put it on a diet this fall & dropped 12 ozs off it with a lighter hand guard & butt stock. I wished it was lighter, but I can live with it.

My day time stuff is from 7-5 to 8-13 empty, no suppressor.

I have no issues shooting a light gun off the tripod, & wished they all weighed 6 lbs all in.
 
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