What do you consider (ponder) the ideal rifle weight for each to the following rifles to be?

Don't worry what weight manufacturer A, B, or C makes their rifles in.

Ignore barrel length and contour. We will assume the barrel is the appropriate length and contour for caliber and to balance the rifle between the hands.

Consider the unloaded weight of the bare rifle. If it has a scope or a muzzle brake or infrared or a cooling fan then they are attached, not part of the rifle, and should not be considered in the weights below.

Don't worry about ounces or weights in between the choices. Just pick the best or closest answer to the ideal weight.

Don't worry about the type of rifle. Some of these cartridges are only found in doubles, some only in bolt rifles, and some in more than one type of rifle. Whatever the choices, pick what you consider the best answer.

Calibers are not listed in bore size order (for a reason).

This should be easy.

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .416 Ruger?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .505 Gibbs?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .404 Jeffery?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .375 H&H?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .416 Rigby?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .470 NE?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .375 Ruger?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .450 NE?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber 500/465 NE?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .500 NE?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .458 Lott?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .577 NE?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber 9.3x74R?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .458 Winchester?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

Question:
What is the ideal weight in pounds for a rifle in caliber .600 NE?

Choices:
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 or more

 

I have or have shot some rifles in some of those calibers, some i have extrapolated. Gun-fit more than weight is more important but don't like too heavy.

Cheers,

Chris

There are some here who really enjoy recoil.

Stock fit is where you live or die...

From the responses thus far, it appears folks like to shoot the very light rifles even in the biggest bores. I've shot a lot of big bores, and regardless of stock design, I like heavier than lighter on the really big bores.

Maybe others are just tougher than me, but I doubt it. I understand it's easier to carry a light rifle, but range practice is more important in my view.

I don't think I want to shoot a 577 NE that weighs 8 pounds.

Who's the overly accomplished marksman who wants to shoot the .600 NE in an 8 lb rifle?

I want to watch that, especially for a quick response 4 shots. Now that's a real man!

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
Who's the overly accomplished marksman who wants to shoot the .600 NE in an 8 lb rifle?

I want to watch that, especially for a quick response 4 shots. Now that's a real man!

I didn't vote for the 8 lb. .600 NE - but I'll counter with the 11 lb. .375 H&H & Ruger or the 13 lb. 450 NE. That's just plain silly.

Does the 20lb + category include the weight of the wheelbarrow you will need for transporting the rifle through the bush?

I could not vote because I can't answer about the weight for calibers I have no experience with.

A good sling handles weight very nicely all day long. You won't see me lugging around a rifle, even a light one, on top of my shoulder and holding it by the barrel and constantly changing shoulders.

quote:

Originally posted by 376 steyr:
A good sling handles weight very nicely all day long. You won't see me lugging around a rifle, even a light one, on top of my shoulder and holding it by the barrel and constantly changing shoulders.

I've carried them every conceivable way through a day. I even carry a slung rifle African style for a break. With maybe seven or eight hours of walking there is no single way to do it.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
Who's the overly accomplished marksman who wants to shoot the .600 NE in an 8 lb rifle?

I want to watch that, especially for a quick response 4 shots. Now that's a real man!

Well, I have a 600 Overkill that weights 8.75 lbs. Recoil isn't as bad as you would think as you can see in the video:

http://youtu.be/ktQd6iiCNJk

Of course all light recoiling rifles set you bad two steps

quote:

Originally posted by 56hawk:

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
Who's the overly accomplished marksman who wants to shoot the .600 NE in an 8 lb rifle?

I want to watch that, especially for a quick response 4 shots. Now that's a real man!

Well, I have a 600 Overkill that weights 8.75 lbs. Recoil isn't as bad as you would think as you can see in the video:

http://youtu.be/ktQd6iiCNJk

No muzzle brake right?

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:


No muzzle brake right?

That's right.

I am impressed

quote:

Originally posted by 56hawk:

Well, I have a 600 Overkill that weights 8.75 lbs. Recoil isn't as bad as you would think as you can see in the video:

Nice. Now, please do us a favor and show us how quick it is to shoot that with a rapid follow-up shot or two.

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:

Nice. Now, please do us a favor and show us how quick it is to shoot that with a rapid follow-up shot or two.

Wish I could. The ejector doesn't work yet. I've just been using it for fun, so I haven't taken the effort to get it to feed properly. Works great as a single shot though.

Couldn't vote as I won't offer opinions on rifles I don't own or have extensive experience with. I suspect I'm light below .40 and heavy after that, however.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:

quote:

Originally posted by 56hawk:

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:
Who's the overly accomplished marksman who wants to shoot the .600 NE in an 8 lb rifle?

I want to watch that, especially for a quick response 4 shots. Now that's a real man!

Well, I have a 600 Overkill that weights 8.75 lbs. Recoil isn't as bad as you would think as you can see in the video:

http://youtu.be/ktQd6iiCNJk

No muzzle brake right?

The recoil may not be as bad as "YOU" think but watching the video I'd suggest a quick follow up would be something difficult to pull off. I'd probably just keep that beast as a single shot.

I have alot of light weight big bores mostly from Safari Kids stuff. So I have shot quite a bit of liteweight bigbores. Anybody that wants an 8 or 8.5 lb rifle in 577 or 600 nitro with full loading is nuts.

I tend to like lighter rifles in DG calibres as you carry them way more than shoot. However some of the heavy kickers I would rather a bit more weight than 9lb.

As said stock fit and stock construction does make a big difference.

The two I built weighed about 8.5 lbs with irons as do all my 375 H&Hs..With a 3X Leupold scope and talley bases they usually weigh 9.5 lbs. Take into consideration wood density and weight can vary a quarter of a pound either way, and in some cases as much as a half pound, but with proper stock design that makes very little difference in recoil as far as I can tell..adding a couple of pounds makes a difference in recoil I suppose, but packing a 10.5 to 11 pound gun all day in Africas heat isn't pleasant, I'll opt for less weight and a bit more recoil for a couple of shots any day.

The .416 and 404 Rugers I built came out about the same. with no ill effects IMO.