Another thread regarding the ideal weight for a .416 Ruger piqued my interest so I weighed two of my CZ's...my .416 Rigby with CZ rings and a Leupold 2.5x8 VXIII and 3 in the magazine weighs 10.9 lbs (on a digital luggage scale) and my .458 Lott with CZ rings and a Vortex 1-4x24 PST and 6 round in the magazine weighs 11.4 lbs on the same luggage scale.....how does that compare to some of your bigbores? The .458 Lott has a laminate stock.

My 416 taylor weighs 10lbs loaded ready ro go

I have the CZ in 458 Lott with Leupold 1-4x scope and would not want ounce lighter. I did not think it was guite that heavy, but what ever it is seems reasonable to me. Well then I see your Lott weight includes 6 rounds.

My CZ550 in .458 Win Mag with Burris scope, Warne rings, 4 in the magazine (350s), extra bedding and metal in the stock, plus nylon sling comes in a 11.3 lbs... sweet to shoot and pleasant to tote.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

The funny thing is, when you get to .416, and from then on up, heavy profiled barrels, which I like, make the rifles all weigh very nearly the same - plus or minus a half a pound or so.

For me, that means that I had better like a rifle weighing in between eleven and twelve pounds.

And I do.

If a man can't carry that weight of rifle all day, he needs to stay in bed, and leave the heavy lifting to others.

For bush hunting the lighter the better for me.

quote:

For me, that means that I had better like a rifle weighing in between eleven and twelve pounds.

And I do.

If a man can't carry that weight of rifle all day, he needs to stay in bed, and leave the heavy lifting to others.

I agree

I've been using a copy of Shoemaker's light rifle built on an M70, that rifle runs 8 1/2 pounds with the QD scope removed. The new version of this rifle I'm building now will end up a bit better balanced and will weigh 7-pounds 14-ounces with the QD scope removed. The goal of this second rifle is for better balance and to get the scoped weight no more than 8 1/2-pounds. Both are chambered 416 Remington shooting 350-TSX in the 2500-2600 range, so recoil is not that bad at all.

An 11-12 pound rifle 416 or under is way too heavy for my tastes, not for lack of strength to carry, but for being truck axle slugs in handling.

Best

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
If a man can't carry that weight of rifle all day, he needs to stay in bed, and leave the heavy lifting to others.

HEH HEH--Funny Guy! Maybe we should change you from MR to MR Macho Eh?

Not me, light, short, fast, easy to handle rifle. 18-20 inch barrels, 8-8.5 lbs with a scope and wood stocks. I've carried the big 10-5-11 lb beasts for years with long 24 inch barrels, just short of 4 ft overall, not anymore and never again! No point in it!

Michael

My 20" barrelled .505 weighs in at 8 3/4 pounds. When practicing with it I always used reduced loads. Full loads (570 grain bullet at 2150 fps) were only used to sight in with or to hunt with. When shooting at game, I never noticed the recoil.

a HUNTING rifle should be lighter than a range/safe queen ... 12# is a heavy gun .. i don't care how fit you are..

My customized 458 Win mag Rem M798 weighs in at just under 8 Lbs - Its a pleasure to carry but a beast to shoot!

I have an older hog back CZ 550 in .416 Rigby. Is over 11 pounds. Recoil is moderated by its weight for sure. Took it to Africa twice and took a Cape Buffalo with it. Did not notice the weight during the event ... did while dragging it around.

Built a .458 AR at about 9.5 pounds with scope. Much nicer to wag around for sure. Did not notice its recoil when hunting with it either.

Honestly would not want to go a lot lighter than 9 pounds for a rifle in the .416 Rigby to .458 AR range of recoil with ammo in the 5400 to 6000 lb-ft of ME.

Guess I am just recoil sensitive.

For a 458wm or lott,9 3/4 lbs empty and no scope-most of the weight above the action screw or rear sight area.

My M70 404jeff comes in right @ 10.5#. Just about right IMO. Not too light to beat the snot out of me off a bench & not too heavy to carry all day in the bush.
I had a 9# 458lott & we did not get along at all. Way too much pop in that light a rifle for me.

My iron sighted 458 Lott, 9# 12oz.

Keith

My last 416 Rem custom 550 CZ was pretty heavy all up it was close to 11 lbs . I,m toying with the idea of building a 416 Rem on a standard M77 mkII stainless action with an 18" ss barrel . I want it to weigh 8 lbs loaded and scoped . I want it to have a bit on barrel hang ( balance a couple " forward of the reciever ring .) the lowd will be a 300 gr TSX @ 2750 .

Dont forget recovery time guys. It may be pleasing to carry a light rifle, and you may not feel the recoil in a hunting situation, but a light rifle will recoil more than a heavier rifle and recovery times from that recoil for a second shot (and, or, more as it seems are sometimes necessary) on DG may be a decider in some situations. My 404 is 9 1/2 lb and while I may not get the opportunity for DG I think the weight is about right as is the balance point. I have comfortably carried it on all day hunts.

Von Gruff.