Some rifles feel like they’re trying to help you fill a tag. Others feel like they’re trying to see if you’ll quit halfway up the ridge. Heavy barrels, oversized stocks, long actions, steel everything—these are the rifles that test your legs and shoulders before you even see game. They might shoot well, and some are even legendary from the bench. But in the field, they punish every step. If you’ve ever had to take breaks just to shift your sling or catch your breath, you already know the type. These are the rifles that turn every hunt into a workout.
Barrett MRAD
The Barrett MRAD is incredibly well-built and modular, but none of that changes the fact that it’s a beast to carry. Fully loaded with optics and a bipod, it can tip the scales at over 15 pounds. It was designed for military precision work, not solo hunts over three ridgelines.
The barrel profile, folding stock, and rugged chassis all make sense on paper, but try dragging one through the woods for a mile and you’ll think twice. The performance is there—no question—but it’ll wear your back and shoulders out before the rifle ever sees a deer. You don’t carry the MRAD because it’s light. You carry it because you’re willing to suffer for precision.
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand is iconic and has taken more than a few deer over the years, but it was never built with mountain hunting in mind. It weighs around 9.5 pounds empty, and once you add a sling and a few clips of .30-06, it starts feeling like a dumbbell with a trigger.
The long action, steel receiver, and bulky profile don’t carry well over long distances, especially when terrain gets steep. It’s more at home on a flat spot or blind than it is in the backcountry. Some hunters love it for the history, but once they carry it for a full day, that nostalgia starts to fade.
Ruger No. 1 in .375 H&H
The Ruger No. 1 is elegant, accurate, and packs a punch—but the .375 H&H version isn’t doing your shoulders or back any favors. Between the thick barrel, solid wood stock, and hefty recoil pad, it’s a handful. The rifle itself weighs in around 8.5 pounds, and the ammo isn’t exactly featherweight either.
It carries short thanks to the single-shot action, but that’s about the only ergonomic win. It’s the kind of rifle you bring along when you expect dangerous game—or when you want a challenge. And carrying it all day through brush, steep hills, or riverbeds absolutely qualifies as one.
Remington 700 Police
The Remington 700 Police model is built to be steady, stable, and accurate—but not to be lightweight. The heavy barrel is great for repeatable shots, but it also makes the rifle feel front-heavy and tiring to carry. Add a bipod and a scope, and you’re easily in double-digit weight territory.
It excels at the bench and in open fields, but carrying it into deep country is a commitment. It’s not the kind of rifle you shoulder and forget. Every step reminds you it’s there. Great shooter, no doubt—but you’ll feel it long before you fire it.
FN SPR A3G
The FN Special Police Rifle was built for precision and ruggedness, not packing into elk country. It’s got a bull barrel, a beefy McMillan stock, and a long action—all of which add up to over 12 pounds with glass. Every ounce of it is built to shoot tight, not carry light.
You might love the way it groups, but once you try to haul it over deadfall or uphill through snow, that admiration turns into sweat. If you’re sitting in a blind or on a field edge, it shines. But strap it to your back for a day and you’ll be rethinking your loadout fast.
Marlin Model 1895 GBL
The Marlin 1895 GBL is a hard-hitting .45-70 lever gun with a thick laminated stock, full-length magazine tube, and big-loop lever. It’s durable, no doubt—but it’s also a brick. At around 8 pounds, it’s heavier than you’d expect for a lever-action, and its balance is more forward than some like.
You’ll feel that weight climbing hills or ducking through brush. The .45-70 rounds it carries add to the load, and the recoil doesn’t exactly encourage repeat shooting. It’s a powerful rifle for big game in tight woods, but it turns any long trek into a real effort.
M1903 Springfield
The 1903 Springfield has earned its place in history and in a few hunting cabins, but it wasn’t designed with comfort in mind. The full-length wood stock, steel buttplate, and weight north of 8.5 pounds make it a burden on long hauls. It balances nicely, sure—but that doesn’t help when you’re four miles into rough terrain.
Add the long action and iron sights, and you’ve got a rifle that demands effort both to carry and shoot. It’ll take game, no doubt. But by the time you get to your spot, you’ll feel like the rifle worked you over before you even chambered a round.
CZ 550 Safari Magnum
The CZ 550 Safari in .416 Rigby or .458 Lott isn’t built for whitetail woods—it’s made for dangerous game. That means it’s heavy, long, and built like a tank. The barrel is thick, the action is oversized, and the stock is reinforced for brutal recoil.
All of that makes sense when you’re in Africa or Alaska with something that can bite back. But carry one of these through regular hunting country and you’ll quickly realize how much extra effort it takes. It’s not balanced for hiking. It’s balanced for control during recoil—and you pay for that every step of the way.
Ruger Precision Rifle
The Ruger Precision Rifle is a modular long-range platform that shoots great, but you don’t carry it far without noticing. In .308 it’s already over 10 pounds with optics. In 6.5 Creedmoor or .300 PRC, it climbs even higher. Add a suppressor or heavy glass and you’re hauling real weight.
The chassis system is adjustable and solid, but it’s also cold in the hands and awkward to sling. The RPR is meant for prone or supported shooting, not run-and-gun stalks through timber. If your hunt turns into a hike, this rifle turns into a workout partner—whether you want one or not.
PTR-91
The PTR-91 is a clone of the HK G3, and like its inspiration, it’s heavy, overbuilt, and brutal to carry long distances. The thick receiver, full-length barrel, and heavy bolt make it one of the heaviest semi-auto .308s on the market. Add a steel mag or two and a sling, and you’re approaching 12 pounds.
It’s accurate enough for practical shooting and reliable to a fault, but hauling one up and down hills for hours is exhausting. The balance is rear-heavy, and the recoil is stout. You won’t forget you’re carrying it—and your legs won’t let you forget the next morning either.
Springfield M1A Loaded
The Springfield M1A Loaded is a serious rifle, built with a heavyweight barrel and walnut stock that give it excellent accuracy—but also plenty of mass. Fully outfitted with a scope mount and optics, it becomes downright burdensome to carry all day.
It’s a beautiful gun that performs well from a rest, but it’s not built with backcountry mobility in mind. The long action and bulkier profile snag more than a streamlined bolt gun, and the added weight wears on your back. After a few miles, it starts to feel like you’re dragging an anvil with a sling attached.
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Calibers That Shouldn’t Even Be On the Shelf Anymore
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*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
