Adding Some Weight

I played with weights a few years ago. Added almost 9# to a Browning A bolt in 300 WM. Shot great, just too heavy to hunt with. I add weight to my bench rest guns with barrel contour and length.

You can use cigar tubes filled with lead shot in the stock. They come in all sizes and can be removed if need be.

tim_w said:

Doubt you will get any arguement that added weight in a properly balanced way makes any rifle more enjoyable to shoot if supported. The issue is packing said rifle to where you hunt and while you stalk etc. Add in some large elevation changes of steep grades and that weight feels as though its tripled. For a range gun or short hike to a tree stand I am all for it. I have got nothing here that comes remotely close to the grades and distances out west but pushing thru even a few miles of thick brush in the hills of WVA, Va, Tn, and Ky will wear you out. Then to back out with game in tow. Unfortunately the weight added by me in the last 10yrs has been around my waist not on my rifles.

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The drive toward 5 lb hunting rifles from 10 lb hunting rifles is interesting. The difference is 5 lbs. A 5 lb 300 Win Mag is going to kick like a mule, a 10 lb one is pretty easy to handle. The 5 lber kicks very roughly twice as fast and hard as the 10 lber. A man weighing 180 lbs carrying a 25 lb pack and a 10 lb rifle is burdened by 215 lbs, which his light weight rifle can reduce to 210 lbs, for a whopping 2.5% decrease in weight moved. I can't see that the rifle weight is significant, unless you have no sling. I do agree that 5 lbs in the hand is "heavier" than 5 lbs well distributed about the body, but a good sling should eliminate that problem.

If it's really a huge factor, most of us could just commit to losing ten lbs before hunting season, which would more than make up for all the rifle weight it's possible to peel off. Those few of us who can't stand to lose ten lbs are in good shape and will not be troubled by the weight of their rifle.

I stand ready to catch the spears!

SecretSquirrel38 said:

I recently added 3.5 pounds to my Remington 700 ADL with synthetic stock and put a Limbsaver recoil pad on since the old one was solid rubber. What a difference at the range and my groups. It is much easier to hold it steady. I am doing the same thing to my 30-06 Browning A-Bolt but with 1.25 pounds in each end.. I am weighing out Daisy BB's in equal amounts for the stock and for-end. Then I cover the BB's in Rapid Set self leveling sealant in black enough to cover them but not come close to the barrel. For the stock I cut a piece of PVC pipe, wrapped the ends in duct tape and set it in the middle so I got better balance.

I don't do a lot of long distance walking while hunting so the extra weight doesn't bother me. Some of the guys at the range shot my 270 and loved it. One asked me to send him what I am doing. Then I watch them rattle their fillings shooting a 7 pound Ruger American 30-06. After having both shoulders operated I can't have them taking a beating.

Tight groups Lads!

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Worst recoiling rifle we have ever owned was a Ruger mountain rifle in 7mm08 but it was extremely light

Those light plastic 700 Remington stocks have a place with me.
Setting in the corner with the barrel and action removed.

To me those plastic stocks actually have flex in them. The flex allows the action and barrel weight to get a running lick at your cheek and shoulder. And gun come up in your face.
My brother an ADL I bought a BDL 700 SS 338 Wm in 1993. Took them on our first moose hunt in 1994. We got beat around with those rifles. My brothers rifle the groups opened up. We found the stock was flexing and touching the barrel. He replaced the stock with a H&S Precision stock. Tightened groups. It did not add much in weight, But it sure cut the felt kick down on his rifle. I shot his rifle, Came home and ordered a H&S for mine. It tamed my rifle's felt kick too.
I bought a Cabela's sale 700 VB 223 Rem. with a plastic stock, The stock sits in a corner, It wears an H&S precision too.

Weight and rigidity is the key to a more comfortable and accurate rifle.
I have a 30/378 Weatherby that was brutal to shoot. Wore the barrel out then change it. Put a heavy varmint contour
9twt, 27" with Terminator T4 muzzle brake. Now it is one of the most comfortable and accurate rifles I have.
Complete scope and ammo 12lbs.

SecretSquirrel38 said:

I recently added 3.5 pounds to my Remington 700 ADL with synthetic stock and put a Limbsaver recoil pad on since the old one was solid rubber. What a difference at the range and my groups. It is much easier to hold it steady. I am doing the same thing to my 30-06 Browning A-Bolt but with 1.25 pounds in each end.. I am weighing out Daisy BB's in equal amounts for the stock and for-end. Then I cover the BB's in Rapid Set self leveling sealant in black enough to cover them but not come close to the barrel. For the stock I cut a piece of PVC pipe, wrapped the ends in duct tape and set it in the middle so I got better balance.

I don't do a lot of long distance walking while hunting so the extra weight doesn't bother me. Some of the guys at the range shot my 270 and loved it. One asked me to send him what I am doing. Then I watch them rattle their fillings shooting a 7 pound Ruger American 30-06. After having both shoulders operated I can't have them taking a beating.

Tight groups Lads!

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If I was going to go to do that kind of fabrication why not install some type of recoil abatement, spring or hydraulic. This usually adds around 24 ozs. A person can really feel the difference when you subtract 50% of recoil.
Happy shooting.

Using a sling, to evenly distribute the weight for easier carry, ain't gonna get it in many places that I've hunted over they years. If the rifle is slung over the shoulder……you ain't hunting!

When slipping through timber/brush, with visibility often well under 30 yards ……if you've spooked the animal, you likely won't get the rifle off of the shoulder to attempt a shot. If the animal is not spooked, the movement required to put the rifle into action…..will very likely "put the animal into motion"! memtb

memtb said:

Using a sling, to evenly distribute the weight for easier carry, ain't gonna get it in many places that I've hunted over they years. If the rifle is slung over the shoulder……you ain't hunting!

When slipping through timber/brush, with visibility often well under 30 yards ……if you've spooked the animal, you likely won't get the rifle off of the shoulder to attempt a shot. If the animal is not spooked, the movement required to put the rifle into action…..will very likely "put the animal into motion"! memtb

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Appreciate your point. Things just aren't that brushy in Wa except in Coast Range, where there is enough salal in places that I wouldn't even consider trying to hunt through it, you know, the kind of stuff you have to crawl through suspended off the ground. Berry brush also on West side in places. DK about Peninsula... As for speed, I long ago learned a quick shrug move that puts the slinged rifle in my hands about as fast as I can raise it from a quasi-port arms position. But do agree if the brush is thick enough, most movement is inhibited. Anyway, I've been under the impression that most of the extreme low weight demand comes from high mountain hunters, who better not be groping around in thick brush, because they may find the next step is into space. I spent many years trying to lighten my backpack, but always could afford the weight of a 3 lb revolver and a 2 lb hatchet, which were necessary to me as a rifle is to a high-mountain hunter.

Anyway, I was looking for a response, and you gave me one -thanks!