Do you consider a guns weight…

[Beanflip]

…before purchasing if it’s primary use will be for hunting and pesting situations?

Mine is approximately 8# before scoping and it gets a bit heavy over a couple hours of stalking around my pesting permission.

 

[pan60]

i have pasted over several guns because of weight.
i have no interest in heavey guns i do more the punch paper so heavey is a no go for me. honestly if i see 8lbs i would most likely keep looking.
but that does limet the playing field a lot. and whats left, i like!

 

[Beanflip]

Avenge X models are all in that 8 ish pound range. I was leaning that way. A light gun with the accuracy I’d like seems to be two to three times the cost.

 

[pan60]

i looked at a lot of guns and ended up saving money for a year and a half, two years and git the EVOL.
light accurate very accurate and built like a tank.

 

[Beanflip]

i looked at a lot of guns and ended up saving money for a year and a half, two years and git the EVOL.
light accurate very accurate and built like a tank.

I think I need to play “ the long game” with saving as well.

 

[Bladebum]

Absolutely, if its too long or too heavy It won't go hunting..then it gets sold.

 

[Madeintheuk]

I won’t buy anything that’s heavy. I woods walk with all my guns, so they need to be short and light.

 

[Luis Leon]

…before purchasing if it’s primary use will be for hunting and pesting situations?

Mine is approximately 8# before scoping and it gets a bit heavy over a couple hours of stalking around my pesting permission.

It wasn’t a consideration until I actually got afield, through time I learn that I hated carrying a heavy gun around. Most of my shots on pests are sub 60 yards. So I don’t need a 30 FPE PCP. For me the Atomic XR was a game changer, light, enough power for pests up to woodchuck size. 30+ plus shots on a 240 BAR fill. Plenty for a pesting or hunting outing. There are other similar platforms out there, while 16 FPE doesn’t sound impressive on paper. The critters I shoot find that 16 FPE simply irresistible

 

[Farmplinker2]

Slings are a thing, folks.

 

[Madeintheuk]

Slings are a thing, folks.

Slings only work to carry. Holding for a shot is something else. I shoot mosty offhand, so weight again is an issue. Some heavy guns are well balanced, but just not for me. I like light, compact, and rugged to get the job done.

 

[PasadenaMike]

Yes absolutely. I always gravitate to light guns like my prod , L1 and such

 

[CTAirgunner]

Definitely depends on what type of shooting you're doing ,

I really don't take weight into consideration when choosing a bench rifle , or rifle that's going to be always rested on something.

If I was to shoot off hand constantly, I'd certainly say weight is one of the biggest considerations I'd have to take into account when purchasing 100%

 

[Florida_Man]

Consider the scope also. I don’t need my Midas Tac 6-24 for hunting, my Hawke vantage that’s half the weight does perfectly fine. Even my Hawke Airmax saves some weight.

 

[pan60]

Slings are a thing, folks.

yea but they dont cut down the weight.
a heavy gun is a heavy gun and around here they never get used.

 

[Pumacarl]

It's not any one thing, but rather the whole overall design. I have a small, light, short, bullpup that is a joy to carry and as accurate as anything on the bench, but shooting it off-hand unsupported is much more unforgiving. The purpose of my hunting guns are to take them out and shoot them, so yeah, I want them easy to carry, but not at the expense of missing once I get a shot, again, off-hand. I am NOT getting down in the dirt anymore or using bipods or bringing shooting sticks, or anything else to makeup for a gun's inherent design that makes it difficult to shoot standing unsupported accurately. So yes, I consider a gun's weight, for pesting, and that can mean too light, not just too heavy. The same goes for length, long guns hold great but are cumbersome. Once you know exactly what you want out of a gun and what you want to use it for and what you are willing to do to take the shot, then you can start looking for length/weight/balance but you really won't know until you try the gun yourself. Some heavier guns shoot so well, you'll make an exception, same for light, short, etc., there's no way to consider for fit.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I consider weight for purchasing squirrel hunting airguns over most other hunting airguns. I do more walking when squirrel hunting using a light rig and a chest pack at best (unless I take a squirrel gun while deer hunting then I’ll either have a backpack or just tote a gun on each shoulder or one across the chest and the other on a shoulder). So for squirrels, I want my guns to be short and light for the most part. On occasion I will take my Brocock Bantam Sniper HR semi-bullpup out for squirrel hunting, but when I do I try to find one or two good spot to post and shoot from there. When I purchased it I didn’t consider weight. I didn’t know much about the Bantam Sniper at the time. The last time out squirrel hunting with it I nailed three from the same spot. I couldn’t locate the fourth. It’s not too heavy to carry or shoulder. I like the balanced feel of it.

I learned my lesson trying to squirrel hunt with a Huben K1 with a synthetic stock. I bought it for its ease of adjustability and semi-auto feature. It got heavy quick while walking with it and it doesn’t feel as balanced as a Lelya or even my Brocock Bantam. It’s heavy to shoot offhand to me because I’m not in shape for that heavy of a gun. To stand steady with it offhand takes decent strength and endurance. I’ve shot the K1 offhand, kneeling, and lying on my back and I’m still not used to the weight and weight distribution. As a result (and because I own other guns that serve similar purposes) I don’t shoot it much. With its weight, I may as well hunt with my .357 Benjamin Bulldog (or at least that how I felt sometimes carrying the K1 around).

The .357 Bulldog feels more balanced and comfortable to shoulder and to hold steady shooting offhand for me. The M357 is heavier iteration of the Bulldog, but for the difference in energy output I think I can tolerate the weight difference between the M357 and .357 Bulldog. I have yet to take the M357 on a hunt though. The way I deer hunt and coyote hunt I think the heavier Bulldog will be ok for those applications. I also must consider the gun’s weight with a scope. For a large airgun I’m adding an extra 2 pounds. For small scopes an extra 1.5 pounds. If I can keep a hunting gun for medium - large game under 9 lbs I’m usually content. For small - medium game under 7lbs is desirable, especially if I intend to do a lot of walking. When using night vision, spot light torches, or thermal scopes, I’ll factor in more weight because I’m usually seated with a bipod or hunting off of a tripod, so the weight factor isn’t too large of an issue. With heavier hunting rigs and night vision setups I’m usually using a backpack that can accommodate an air rifle until I reach my stand/post.

 

[Danman]

I once went night pesting with my brothers Diana 350 magnum, with bipod and scope. Single shot, super heavy (11 pounds my guess), had flashlight in one hand and tennis elbow arm held the gun. I would switch the gun/flashlight from hand to hand. I got my quarry over a few nights of hunting but wowza, I would not recommend!! Now I have a poplar stock full length S510. 7 pounds (8 with scope)10 round mag, but I still need the flashlight. Next gun I hope to get will be a BRK ghost for night hunting. No lighter, but Shorter bullpup style and apparently easy to shoot offhand.

 

[Farmplinker2]

I consider weight for purchasing squirrel hunting airguns over most other hunting airguns. I do more walking when squirrel hunting using a light rig and a chest pack at best (unless I take a squirrel gun while deer hunting then I’ll either have a backpack or just tote a gun on each shoulder or one across the chest and the other on a shoulder). So for squirrels, I want my guns to be short and light for the most part. On occasion I will take my Brocock Bantam Sniper HR semi-bullpup out for squirrel hunting, but when I do I try to find one or two good spot to post and shoot from there. When I purchased it I didn’t consider weight. I didn’t know much about the Bantam Sniper at the time. The last time out squirrel hunting with it I nailed three from the same spot. I couldn’t locate the fourth. It’s not too heavy to carry or shoulder. I like the balanced feel of it.

I learned my lesson trying to squirrel hunt with a Huben K1 with a synthetic stock. I bought it for its ease of adjustability and semi-auto feature. It got heavy quick while walking with it and it doesn’t feel as balanced as a Lelya or even my Brocock Bantam. It’s heavy to shoot offhand to me because I’m not in shape for that heavy of a gun. To stand steady with it offhand takes decent strength and endurance. I’ve shot the K1 offhand, kneeling, and lying on my back and I’m still not used to the weight and weight distribution. As a result (and because I own other guns that serve similar purposes) I don’t shoot it much. With its weight, I may as well hunt with my .357 Benjamin Bulldog (or at least that how I felt sometimes carrying the K1 around).

The .357 Bulldog feels more balanced and comfortable to shoulder and to hold steady shooting offhand for me. The M357 is heavier iteration of the Bulldog, but for the difference in energy output I think I can tolerate the weight difference between the M357 and .357 Bulldog. I have yet to take the M357 on a hunt though. The way I deer hunt and coyote hunt I think the heavier Bulldog will be ok for those applications. I also must consider the gun’s weight with a scope. For a large airgun I’m adding an extra 2 pounds. For small scopes an extra 1.5 pounds. If I can keep a hunting gun for medium - large game under 9 lbs I’m usually content. For small - medium game under 7lbs is desirable, especially if I intend to do a lot of walking. When using night vision, spot light torches, or thermal scopes, I’ll factor in more weight because I’m usually seated with a bipod or hunting off of a tripod, so the weight factor isn’t too large of an issue. With heavier hunting rigs and night vision setups I’m usually using a backpack that can accommodate an air rifle until I reach my stand/post.

I've found walking and then adding weight that you carry helps a LOT for hunting. Weight vest from a big box store, ankle weights, and (since I'm on my own property) a slung gun really helps my endurance.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I've found walking and then adding weight that you carry helps a LOT for hunting. Weight vest from a big box store, ankle weights, and (since I'm on my own property) a slung gun really helps my endurance.

@Farmplinker2 Being fit definitely helps.I also think that body type and physical limitations and disabilities come into play. Either way, I consider the weight of a gun. I'vea walked for hours. Some that "walking" included duck walks, crawling, pausing in contorted positions like I'm doing some sort of wilderness yoga, slow walking, etc. Sometimes in the open, other times while working my way through brush, thickets, or undergrowth. During these activities the weight and length of a gun are factors to consider.

 

[Luis Leon]

I've found walking and then adding weight that you carry helps a LOT for hunting. Weight vest from a big box store, ankle weights, and (since I'm on my own property) a slung gun really helps my endurance.

I am a fit 62 year old man, still ride my bicycle on the road, hike, etc. As a cabinetmaker my job is physically and mentally challenging. Last week I was milling an 8 quarter, 12” wide, 16 foot long piece of poplar. So I can lift and manipulate a lot of weight, and I still prefer lighter, smaller guns like my Atomic and Pathfinder XRs. I can carry a bigger, heavier gun, but why would I? For me, afield? Light is just right…