Why not use a heavy rifle for typical deer hunting?

[Nathan]

. . .the difference between a .2 MOA 15 lb rifle, and a .3 MOA 6 lb rifle makes a difference. For a deer hunter @ under 500 yards the extra .1 MOA is not worth the weight. In fact from typical hunting shooting positions you can't really take advantage of anything much less than 1 MOA.

This is my point. I would love to see a real .2 MOA all day long rifle! Really! IMO, .6 MOA is a great shooting field gun. 1 MOA is a great shooting hunting rifle.

I have some experience with both. Also, IME, these threads tend to bring out the guys who will tell you their 6lb hunting rifle never shoots over .3MOA. . .Really, 100 shots through the same hole = .3MOA?

So, to qualify my .6 or 1 MOA, I'm talking about 1 shot per minute, 5 shots, 100 yd, good shooter, FR and RR sand bag/pedestal rest groups. I've never seen consistently better except from a benchrest rifle off a real benchrest setup. Maybe my life is limited! I have seen many a 3 shot shooter talk about their .3MOA varmint gun when it was shooting .5" or bigger groups.

THIS IS ALL BESIDE MY REAL POINT!

My real point is a 6 lb rifle just does not settle in a field expedient rest or in my std position hold like a 13 - 15 lb rifle. I can be much more accurate in the field with some weight. With a 6 lb rifle, even a heart beat moves it a bit.

So, what to hunt with. . .? I go as heavy as I'm willing to carry for longer range stuff. For 0 - 300 yd stuff, I can see going with a fast handling 2 - 3 MOA (field) rifle for quickness and an easy carry.

I hope I live long enough to see a real 5 shot, 100 yd, .3 MOA, 5 shot group, everytime, 6lb rifle. . .Until then, I guess I have to use what I know.

 

[Art Eatman]

Since we're talking about deer hunting, in this thread, itsy-teensy groups are irrelevant. Or claims thereof.

From the opening post (remember that?), the salient question was, "Thus, from an accuracy and recoil standpoint, wouldn't the heavier rifles be better for your average stand hunter?"

From the standpoint of needed accuracy for a deer rifle, no a heavy rifle is no better than a light rifle.

As to an opinion about the weight, that seems to me to be a personal choice.

 

[DannyB1954]

I would think the weight would be proportionally important to the distance carried. If you are in a tree stand or blind all day, heavier is good. If your packing through hills or heavy brush, it isn't so good.