Packability/usability of chassis rifles in mountian hunting?

[KFhunter]

Interested in a semi-custom chassis rifle with folding stock and curious what everyones experience has been in packing them deep, and in snow.   

(Wolf hunting)




Example pic

[jrebel]

They make light weight carbon chassis now that would work great.   More conventional aluminum chassis are heavy and I would not consider them a mountain style set up.  My sons 7-08 has a foldable stock and it is super nice for blind hunting and small hikes, but I wouldn’t want to pack it a long ways. 

[h20hunter]

I find them heavy once equipped but with a scabbard style pack, especially one that centers the gun in the back vs on the side it's not an issue for me.

[jasnt]

They get heavy on long trips but I’ve been happy with my xlr’s for hunting
Scabbard centered and close to the back is nice and folding stock let’s you duck under things so much better. 

[Stein]

I have more issues with length than weight.

[KFhunter]

 

can't tell you how many times the rifle barrel didn't clear a branch and pulls me backwards


with bad knees I often don't get low enough like I used too 

[Zardoz]

I have more issues with length than weight.

Same issues I have on the Home front..

[Limhangerslayer]

I had this gun built a couple years ago (the one that was stolen last month!) it weighed right at 7 pounds without the scope and magazine.  I’m looking at a new build that will only weigh about 5 1/2lbs when done with mdt’s new chassis.  Great guns to shoot

[jasnt]

can't tell you how many times the rifle barrel didn't clear a branch and pulls me backwards


with bad knees I often don't get low enough like I used too 

In my team elk pack I run barrel down and stock folded and let’s me zip it closed.  Nothing poking up

[Pnwrider]

What caliber? I hiked with a sig cross this year. With the stock folded and the shorter barrel lengths (18” in 6.5 cm or 16” in .308) it packed great.

[Caseknife]

I would think that an aluminum chassis would be very uncomfortable in the cold.  Kind of like packing an AR.  Then again, the only sling that I have is a Boonie Packer that I use if I am packing a head out.  The rest of the time my rifle is in my hand, not slung on my back or on my shoulder.

[KFhunter]

What caliber? I hiked with a sig cross this year. With the stock folded and the shorter barrel lengths (18” in 6.5 cm or 16” in .308) it packed great.

I dunno yet, that 6.8 western looks good and ammo is available

[hunter399]

All I know is the rifle I carry now feels like a ton of bricks with its Boyd's wood stock ,so I don't think it would hurt my situation.
I will wiegh my rifle tonite,after being out in the rain all day and update ya.

[hunter399]

So just wieght of my current rifle is 10 pounds
My son's little savage axis is 7 pounds.

My rifle I've pretty much carry around all of early deer without a sling,my arm started hurting after a week.
So I broke down a couple of days ago and put the sling back on. I hate slings that make any noise.

[KFhunter]

Wrap black electric tape around the sling swivels and studs.

Couple weeks ago I didn't have tape so I greased the swiveles with burts bee chapstick     it worked!

[hunter399]

Wrap black electric tape around the sling swivels and studs.

Couple weeks ago I didn't have tape so I greased the swiveles with burts bee chapstick     it worked!

Sweet thanks for the tip, I was thinking about reloading sizeing wax might be the ticket.

[KFhunter]

I'd tape it over waxing it

[hunter399]

I'd tape it over waxing it

Will do ,always looking to try something new.

[nicz]

I've seen a Sig Cross at sportsman's that was about 6.3 lbs. Very light but out my price range. This was $1499+ tax.

[MountainWalk]

Up here on the Kenai Penn, I'm having good results with a plain Jane Winchester model 70 in 30'06. I have learned through first hand witness and first hand experience that while they can be killed with the various 22 centerfires, the best wolf gun is a trusted deer gun.  They truly are a stout critter, once winter comes on.  I mainly stay out of the shoulder, as I am hunting and trapping for pelts.
  The semi auto rifle sounds like a good idea, but if you are very serious about wolves, that means snow. Wolves are slick and I like to set up in a manner where I'm only a slight head movement to acheiving good stock weld.  They are very visually sharp.  So I like to be right there on my gun. Borrowed a friend's 450 BM, and my face and hands were miserable!   Wolves like to chase and hunt in the open....it's easy to get doubles with a bolt action rifle that you have history with.

KF hunter, I remember being castigated very badly and soundly in this forum last year for my interest in this caliber.  While not popular just yet, sportsman's sells every rifle they stock. Mostly for wolves.  *Soldotna
  Most of my friends and my own wolf shooting is done at 200 to 300 yards.