This gun is too heavy!
Last year I bought a savage .308 with the bull barrel. I bought it because they are accurate and it has the accutrigger which is great. After using it this past weeks deer season, it feels very heavy. It lists at 8.5 lbs. When I carry it over my shoulder it always wants to flip over because of the weight of the barrell. It shoots great, but just feels cumbersome. I looked at their catalog, and the same type model but without the bull barrell weighs in at 6.5 lbs. Is two lbs that big of a difference, or am I making a big deal out of nothing? I know the newer one would not have the tendency to flip over when slung because it has a regular barrel. Would it be worthwhile to trade in this gun for one that is only 2 lbs lighter. Mine is a shooter, so I'm hesitant. Should I just grin and bear it, or is 2 lbs enough that i would really feel the difference. Also, when i aim freehand that heavy barrel makes it tough. Thanks
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If you like the way it shoots, I'd recommend getting a sling to carry it barrel down. 
Semper Fi
Remember Ruby Ridge.
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
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I don't think it would be worth the trade - If it Shoots good for you, then lug it around. I have 2 .280s - one is a Ruger #1 and is heavy 8 lbs. It shoots great but I take it on hunts where I'm going to sit most of the time. The other is a Rem 700 and is 6 lbs - I use it for cruisin the clear cuts. There is a big difference between the 2 when your luggin it around. Long story to say get a lite one and use em both[:D]
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)0 -
I agree with BT. Most guns with bull BBLs on them are going to be heavy for packing arround. Unless you are going to be takeing super long shots while in a solid position (prone, sitting, rest) I dont think there is much advantage to a bull BBL in a hunting rifle. For normal hunting you should be good with a normal or light weight rifle. As you have found a couple pounds add up in a hurry. I dont know how much other shooting you do but a buddy has a super lightweight Ruger 77 in .7mm mag. He loves the gun for hunting because it is really light but the recoil on it is unbeliveable. He only shoots it a few times a year to make sure it is sighted in. I have a Savage 110 in .243 that is probably 6lbs, then I have a Weatherby SVM in .243 it is all set up with the target BBL and weighs ~14lbs. Then the rest of the year we shoot our normal or heavy/target/bull BBL guns because they have less recoil and can be more accurate. Hopefuly that helps.
John0 -
Yes BT is right. If you are going to spend time covering ground
you need to have a lite package. Use the bull barrel for Truck
hunting.
Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not,
and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.0 -
I agree with Henry, get a sling and carry it "Afriacan Carry", barrel down, over weak side shoulder. I carried several guns this way for long periods of time with no problems. 0 -
who makes these "barrel down" slings? 0 -
shoot if you want to carry it barrel down just put the sling on backwards , instead of having the wider part up by the barrel but it down at the stock ,
but i would agree with BT , if you can buy another rifle that is easier to carry and keep the heavy one for those places where you can sit most of the day
by the way the 280 is a great cartridge
I have a Ruger 77V in 280 which has a bull barrel on it and then for my carry rifle I use a Ruger 77R in 7mm-080 -
I am in the same boat as you Dantheman. My Sako Warbird is 8 pounds 8 ounces and while tolerable, it is heavy and cumbersome. I carried a Tikka T3 lite at 6 pounds 6 ounces and it was a big difference. It was easy to carry if I was walking or riding horseback. Much less cumbersome despite being only a 2" difference in barrel length. I am debating going back to the Tikka but I do like the power of the Warbird (just in case I ever need to shoot an wild elephant[;)]).
Mad Dog0 -
Ruger VT .308 scoped. Weighs at least 10.5#. Carry it all day.
" It Ain't Over till its Over"0 -
The slings are regular slings. Just place them so the wider portion (the shoulder patch) is near the butt stock, not at the fore-end.
"They're in front of us, they're behind us, they're to our left and to our right...they can't get away now."
Chesty Puller, Chosin Reservoir, Korea
SEMPER FI0 -
I like the muzzle down carry also. However, make sure you protect the muzzle from getting plugged. I use AR15 military surplus muzzle caps for most everything and just put enough tape around the muzzle to hold them in place, (in effect enlarging the diameter at the muzzle). This works for heavy barrels but on light barrels it needs to be literally taped on. In a hurry they can just be shot off with no noticable effect on accuracy that I have been able to detect. If the gun shoots well and you like it, keep it. 0 -
Dan,
You can use any sling for muzzle down carry. I also have the Savage 10FP LE2 in 308 and when you carry muzzle down over you weak side its not that bad even without a shoulder pad. This carry also lets you deploy the rifle EXTREMELY quick.
Just make sure you dont bang the target crown on anything.0
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