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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I have put some heavy loads in my Eberlestock J104. See my backpack mulie hunt video here for a pic of it loaded up:
MT Velvet Mulie I am certain I was over 110 pounds with that load I now have a Kuiu 6000, and it has a much superior suspension to the Eberlestock. I think it will be my primary backpacking pack. I have Sitka gloves. I have a Bushnell Elite 1500 rangefinder and have ranged elk (on the hair) over 1000 yards. I have had terrible luck with Leupold rangefinders. I have narrowed my next GPS down to the Montana or Oregon. Right now I have a Magellan, but it is not HuntingGPSmaps compatible. Edited by Bitterroot Bulls - January/10/2012 at 01:16 |
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-Matt
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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I don't know how I missed that one Matt, great job.
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Doug
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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Nice buck! Does your Kuiu 6000 have a scabbard? My brother has a Megellen and has the same problem(not HuntingGPSmaps compatible). I went with the dakota because of the compact size. |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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My Kuiu pack does not have a scabbard, but it is pretty easy to secure a rifle with the strap system. Not as convenient as the back scabbard feature, but worth it for the better suspension, and the Kuiu saves me almost three pounds over the Eberlestock.
I do love the back scabbard, but three pounds of weight savings is more than significant. |
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-Matt
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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They look like very well made packs? The loss of three pounds is very attractive for sure. I really like not having to take my pack off to to put my rifle in and out of my scabbard though. How is the the Kuiu for securing the animals head/cape to the pack --- easy?? Can you get to the hydration without taking everthing out of the pack?
Edited by rustic - January/10/2012 at 20:18 |
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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Rifle slings - I have a mountain light sling it is just webbing and light weight swivels. It has on the fly adjustment. I can't seem to find the brand on the internet for some reason. It is old and starting to wear out though. What are others using??
Disclaimer: In no way saying this gear is better than any other just, I have used it under harsh varied conditions it passed with flying colors. When people I have hunted with this fall were fighting with their gear I was still out hunting. This may or may not work in a area near you. Edited by rustic - January/11/2012 at 21:32 |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I use the stretchy Blacks Creek sling. It does the job, and doesn't weigh much. I actually didn't use a sling much with my Eberle, the scabbard was so convenient.
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-Matt
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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Rifle - Light weight is my first consideration when purchasing a rifle but not the only. The last one I bought was a Tikka t-3 light stainless with composite stock. This happened to be a excellent fit to the type of hunting I do. A high mileage DIY spot and stalk fair chase on public land mostly. Beretta guarantees 1 inch groups at 100yds mine shots much better than that with custom ammo I have read most other are much the same.
I like the looks of wood better than composite but, is not in any way affected by temperature, humidity and weather like wood. Plus it costs less and no worrys about scratches and dings and it can be lighter but, not always. Stainless steel is real nice if your in out the weather obviously but, it does foul less to. Some say it is slightly more accurate and some say chromoly and stainless are the about the same. My barrel is fluted which is nice saves a some more weight. Another way I went with the last rifle I bought a short action cartridge(.308) for several reasons. - Light short action/ammo - can get ammo anywhere/cheap if need be - .308/.30 caliber proven cartridge with a lot of bullet weight/powders opitions - not a barrel burner/high pressure cartridge - accurate - above average ballistics - super cheap if reloading - cheap brass - small amount of powder - .308 caliber My Tikka alone weight just a tad over 6 pounds. The next rifle I will most likely purchase will be a Savage 11/111 Lightweight Hunter Disclaimer: In no way saying this gear is better than
any other just, I have used it under harsh varied conditions it passed
with flying colors. When people I have hunted with this fall were
fighting with their gear I was still out hunting. This may or may not
work in a area near you. Edited by rustic - January/11/2012 at 21:32 |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I was going to suggest checking out the Browning Mountain TI rifles as well. But Browning is not listing them on their site any more, they must have discontinued them. The .308 I believe weighted in a 5lbs 7 oz. I have the 300 WSM and it is 5lbs12oz I believe. I have gotten 1/2 inch groups at 100 with little time spend on load, only 1 powder and 1 bullet. They listed at around $1600 I believe, but I got mine for $800 new on gunbroker. Makes me sad as I wanted one in 7mm-08 as well.
They also have a short bolt lift, so you can use scopes with large eye pieces and mount them really low without any clearance issues. They were stainless with synthetic stocks. Pretty easy packing for high, medium, or low mileage. Crawling, walking, running, sprinting, stalking, fair or unfair chasing, doing it by myself or with my hunting buddies, spot and stalk or even walk and be surprised, or even sitting on your butt and glassing, on public or even private lands, rifle IMO. Edited by supertool73 - January/11/2012 at 11:03 |
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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My lightweight rifle is a Remington Model 7 w/ Douglas barrel in 7mm-08. Leupold PRW rings and bases topped by a Vortex Viper 2-7x32 BDC.
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-Matt
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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So what is the weight with scope, sling, and ammo? |
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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
GEORGE WASHINGTON |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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I agree. It's though everyone else is being painted as not fair chase. It is getting old.In some states, feeding and baiting is legal. Some hunters sit in stands. I hunt sign in the deep woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I don't move a lot. Are all of these methods considered "not DIY FC"?
I have also been on guided western and Canadian hunts and these were definitely fair chase.
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Doug
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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Your a funny guy. |
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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I guess what I mean is mostly not hunting behind high fences for monster hand feed elk and whitetails and shooting game from the hood or door of a truck and so on. sorry Just a tad under 7 pounds. |
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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Not at all. The reason I bring up the "fair chase" is the clothing, gear and rifle&scope is suggested to make that type of hunt(DIY FC S&S PL) more enjoyable and productive. The setup I listed above will work poorly back east in tight trees. Just like my $400-$500 tikka with low end scope will not work very good in those conditions. Scope will not work in low light plus 4.5x14 wrong mag no reason what so ever for a light weight rifle. If I was perceived to blanket all hunting with one is the best... not my intention at all. sorry |
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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I understand what you mean. But I have to admit, I have shot game right off the hood of the truck. Works great for an afternoon hunt just for some meat. I still consider that fair chase if it isn't in game farm though. Still have to see them and recover them.
That is a nice light gun. Lighter than many I have. I am looking at building a new rifle and keeping it light, but it won't be that light because of the caliber I am looking at.
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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
GEORGE WASHINGTON |
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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What caliber are you looking at? |
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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375 Ruger probably will come in a touch over 8 lbs with scope.
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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
GEORGE WASHINGTON |
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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An 8lb .375 is going to have some push to it.
Ultralight tents: My solo shelter is a Tarptent Contrail. Iti s 24.5 ounces, under $200, and has plenty of room. It is sweet. |
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-Matt
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rustic
Optics Master Joined: September/30/2011 Status: Offline Points: 1461 |
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Scopes - Easily the first consideration for scope for me is weight and how compact then combination price/warranty-CS/Mag/glass to my eye/reputation/lack of hassle.
Wording this right... hunting the back country of the plains of the northern states and mountains of the western states on foot with no guide stand-less and bait-less. Because this is the only way I can afford 15 - 25 tags give or take... every year. So I looked for(with some help from this forum) lightest low end scope I could find. First I came up with ever so slight used mark ar 3x9 mil-dot put that on .223 and loved it. It was super light easy to use(ranging) leupold gave me awesome CS on a used scope. The next scope I went with on my .308 with some help from this forum of course I went with leupold again because of the past experiences/service/reputation/etc. I went with the lightest low end scope I could find... leupold v-x3 4.5x14 CDS partly because of budget. - I has been a great scope so far. - have hunted with it 14 below to 90+ degree heat - rain snow wind dust - 3200 to over 10000 feet above sea level To be fair someone on this forum told me it is the second worst scope in leupolds v-x3 lineup. That is something to look into before considering purchase. I have no complains so far. http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/vx-3-riflescopes/vx-3-4-5-14x40mm-cds/ Rings - I have been told on this forum talley rings are far superior to leupolds STD's Which it great because it sounds like they are half the weight and very reasonably priced. http://swfa.com/Talley-Lightweight-Aluminum-1-Scopemount-P46967.aspx Scope accessories - A big part hunting is making it so you don't have to fight your gear. Never will this be more important then with optics on top of your rifle. Dust rain snow have ever ruined a hunt? Setting a rifle down and not thinking about it and scope is covered with dust snow mud? All of the above for me. Leupold make a great cover that screws right into the scope ends... is made out of the same aluminum as the scope. They keep the elements from even touching lens without obstructing any bit of view through lens and scope features. A bit on the pricey side but the light weight and build quality more than make up for it. http://swfa.com/Leupold-Alumina-Lens-Cover-Kit-P7551.aspx Disclaimer: In no way saying this gear is better than any other just, I have used it under harsh varied conditions it passed with flying colors. When people I have hunted with this fall were fighting with their gear I was still out hunting. This may or may not work in a area near you. Edited by rustic - January/11/2012 at 21:33 |
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