@BornFighting88
You're right comfortable carry weight of a rifle is ultimately decided by the end user. I will say mountain hunting is a lot different than hunting from a blind or stand. You have to be more mobile and you usually carry more equipment than what you might take to a blind or stand. It's the simple fact, the more weight you carry the more you're going to feel its effects.
Two things that hurt most resident and out state hunters most is what kind of physical shape they're in and altitude. I live at 4400 ft in CO, but where I hunt elk can range from 6000ft and up over 10,000 ft in elevation. So the less you and you and your gear weigh the longer and harder you can hunt, because altitude is very unforgiving to everyone.
So if std7mag wants to hunt with an 8-8.5 lbs rifle he has those as well as heavier. If he wants a sub 8lb rifle he can probably accomplish it with the route he is choosing. Sub 7 lbs with a Large Ring Mauser isn't impossible, but not cheap by any means. To remove metal from non-critical areas is expensive to say the least, because machinery to do it coupled with learning the skills or paying for it done is far from cheap.
You're right comfortable carry weight of a rifle is ultimately decided by the end user. I will say mountain hunting is a lot different than hunting from a blind or stand. You have to be more mobile and you usually carry more equipment than what you might take to a blind or stand. It's the simple fact, the more weight you carry the more you're going to feel its effects.
Two things that hurt most resident and out state hunters most is what kind of physical shape they're in and altitude. I live at 4400 ft in CO, but where I hunt elk can range from 6000ft and up over 10,000 ft in elevation. So the less you and you and your gear weigh the longer and harder you can hunt, because altitude is very unforgiving to everyone.
So if std7mag wants to hunt with an 8-8.5 lbs rifle he has those as well as heavier. If he wants a sub 8lb rifle he can probably accomplish it with the route he is choosing. Sub 7 lbs with a Large Ring Mauser isn't impossible, but not cheap by any means. To remove metal from non-critical areas is expensive to say the least, because machinery to do it coupled with learning the skills or paying for it done is far from cheap.
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