The lighter the better IMHO. When I went too WYO last fall I carried my trusty Sako TRG-S Lazzeroni Warbird with a 6x24x50 Swarie on top. I was willing to give up lightweight and quick handling for a package I knew could do the job very easily at any range I needed it to. BUT I grew more bothered than tired of carrying it by the 3rd day. The 28" barrel (26 + a KDF brake) was in the way when sneaking through brush and getting in and out of the truck alot like you do when lope chasin.
On the exact same hunt my brother had his lil Abolt stalker 300WSM and it carried like a jewel. My Sako is a "treestand" rifle and the lil Abolt is a "hunting" rifle. That's why my next 300WSM will be the Abolt Titanium (barely 5#s) and more than likely it will have either a Burris WSM scope or a 3x9x40 or 3.5x10x44 Conquest atop it. (Either scope will have mildots) The only fault I had with my brothers rifle was the 6x20x50 30mm tubed Leupold he had on it. The scope dominates the rifle, but he too primarily uses the gun for treestand hunting so it doesn't matter then.
Most guys are saying 8-10#s, I am 6'4" 240 so size really doesn't matter (so my wife says
) but I just like the way a "barely there" rifle carries when you are looking at walking miles each day. If the gun is gonna be in a scabbard on a horse, atv or sit in your lap in a treestand, then I don't think weight is gonna matter. Also for me, the issue or weight for steadiness is a nil point as well. Both of us had bipods on our guns in WY and I don't think weight will help or hurt when the gun is lying on a solid object.
Good luck,
RA
ideal rifle weight
