I have a Sako 75 in 300 Wby this rifle is very accurate and in new condition it sports a Burris 2.5x10 sig series scope and weighs in at 11.2lbs and that is my problem, the rifle is just to heavy for me to carry all day, so I was considering trading it for a 300 win Browning or the little fellow 300 wsm or 338 Browning most of my hunting would be done in the lower states white tail and mulies but have hopes of going north for moose and possibly bear. It seems the older I get the heavier these rifles get. can you help me make up my mind, Oh I know that the fit and feeling will need to be mine, by the way recoil does not seem to bother me to much. Thanks for your reply
Old Timer

Perhaps something based on the 30-06 case such as a 338-06, 35 Whelen or 9.3 x 62. A rifle built for any of these rounds could be brought in at eight pounds or so and would be perfect for the game you describe.

Good Luck
ZM

Why don't you remove some wood from the butt and forend? Reduce the weight?

Roger is on the right track. Rifles that have heavy ends just don't feel right in the field. But your idea is right on also. Rather than modify a stock rifle that will bring more just trade it for a shorter one that feels good in your hands.

I have a Ruger #1S in .300 Win Mag that's consistantly accurate but I am going to sell it for the same reason that you are. It has a 26" bbl that has some weight to it and the rifle is uncomfortable to carry or handle. This is just my opinion and if it's purpose was target shooting I would say the opposite. It weighs about 9 lbs with a scope but heavy ends are bad.

I like the new short magnums. They get around the belted problem and are handy guns.

I have gotten hooked on light, short rifles, either in the scout configuration or standard. With good bullets, a short, light .308 will do anything you need. I used my Savage scout in Africa this year with excellent results. At about seven pounds including scope and sling and ammo, it is a pleasure to carry. And its short length is appreciated in the brush.

You've been given some excellent advise. As a 338-06 owner I'm especially fond of that route. However, I can also attest to the value of a well balanced rifle. My 338-06 tips the scale just at 10 lbs and is the most plesant rifle I have to carry. I have lighter ones, but for my mountain hunting, it's the one that gets used, and just for this reason. Also, consider this: Heavy rifles are just plain easier to shoot. The dampen recoil and are easier to hold steady. (an import quality as I tend to be out of breath sometimes). Just out of curiosity, have you tried a cooshy, 2" neopreme sling? Other than that, I have nothing further to add... good luck!

Another thing you might consider is the scope. The Leupold 2.5X8 weighs 11.5 oz. and the Burris weighs 21 oz. That is if I'm reading this correctly. I got the weight of the Burris off of their site.
You have a nice caliber for an all round rifle. If it were mine I would change scopes and might cut the barrel to 23" or 24". If you do any alterations to the rifle you would probably get less money for it if you tried to sell it later. Something to keep in mind.

Thanks to all,
I am in the position of little money at present so to buy a syn stock is out , I do have a wide neo sling to cut the barrel is out of the question but the scope suggestion is good. thanks again If any of you were to be looking for a rifle that was to be your main rifle would you look at a 338 or 300 mag???
Old Timer

I'd probably think long and hard about a Remington Model 7 in 300 SAUM or a Winchester M70 Featherweight in 300 WSM. Either one weights in at around 7 1/2 lbs. Add a scope that wieghts 14 oz or less, and you have an 8 1/2 lb rig.

If neither of those two rifles floats your boat, there are other options. Standard caliber Weatherby Mark Vs are 6 1/2 to 6 3/4 lbs. The Sako Finnlight is around 6 1/2 lbs, IIRC. You get the point.

I�am a fairly young hunter, took me six years of hunting, and lots of stalking with my rifles at the ready to find out what you have, heavy rifles are a drag. I sold mine to years ago after trying to lighten them with synt. stocks and by taking wood out of the original stocks. My 6,5 stock ended up as hollow shell, more or less. Still, the rifles (a Lakelander 393 and a CZ550) where to heavy for my use. This is not the way to go, you need a rifle with a light action and a slender barrel, no "customising" will make a sako light, just look at the rifle sako has the nerve to call (finn)light!

Today I use a 7 pound 7RM and a 8,5 pound .375 hh, scoped and ready. The recoil does not bother me at all, and I shoot them just as well as a heavy rifle. I would never put on a lighter scope, the lighter scopes are always the inferior ones (yeah, I know you guys love leupold, but a scope that shifts point of impact when you change magnification is crap in my book). I use relatively heavy european scopes. There is no shortcut to a lighter rig, the rifle need to be light. My experience is that there is no need to worry about more recoil with a lighter rig, and you will love hunting with them. I use Blasers, but for the money I would no doubt get a Rem. 7 in some kind of short magnum, a friend of mine have one in .308, it shoots straights, looks good and is very functional.

Tron

Your rifle and scope are way to heavy but even if one has lots of money they don't want to loose it on a trade and dealers need to make a markup and sometimes that's 30%.

So start looking for someone to trade with or sell the rifle privately to keep a dealers fingers out of your pocket. As pointed out there are plenty of options so this is not going to be hard to do.

You don't say what game you will hunt when you ask about .30 vrs .338 but in general any reasonable cartridge from .270 on up will take almost any soft skinned game. Since you seem to like .30 then buy a 300 WSM in whatever rifle you like. I suggest a rimless cartridge. Now that the new short magnums are out there is no reason to get a belted cartridge. I don't think the Remington SAUM's are going to make it in the market.