What would the preferred weight on a double rifle be for the following:
.500/.416
.470 NE
.500 NE
.577 NE

After seeing what was at the SCI show, I think I've gotten the bug.
Thanks,

Dave:

I can't help with all of the calibers you asked for, but for the two DRs in the list that I own and shoot, I can tell you this:

.500 NE - At 10 lbs even, I would like a little more weight to the gun, maybe another 3/4 to 1 lb to make it more pleasant to shoot.

.577 NE - At 13 lbs, 6 oz., I find the rifle pleasant to shoot and carry (but do not know for how long at this point in the hot sun). I would not want it any lighter - the recoil is managable at this weight.

quote:

I think I've gotten the bug.

Poor bastard

Welcome to the club. Now the hard part - only buying and being satisfied with one DR!

My Krieghoff 500/416 is probably around 10 pounds. My 450 x 3 1/4 is close to 13 pounds.I like'em both that way. These calibers are heavy recoiling. My opinion is that if you have a gun that is uncomforatble to shoot, then you just won't shoot it, and I see no point in having a gun that you don't shoot!
Peter.

most of the 470s I handled when deciding on a purchase were about 10-10.5 #. The better balanced ones "felt" about a pound lighter than the not so well balanced ones and I typically underestimated their weight. 10# is about right though.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveC:
What would the preferred weight on a double rifle be for the following:
.500/.416
.470 NE
.500 NE
.577 NE

After seeing what was at the SCI show, I think I've gotten the bug.
Thanks,

500/416 .....10 to 11 pounds
470NE ........10.5 to 11 pounds
500NE .......11.5 to 13 pounds
577NE .......13 to 14 lbs

Dave, the 500/416 actually has more felt recoil that the 470NE,IMO! This is because the 500/416K has a sharper recoil velocity with the same weight rifle.

Peter you are of the same opinion as myself! A rifle that you will not enjoy shooting is not worth keeping, and it is far better to sell it, and buy something less abusive to you body. I owned a 12 pound 577NE that was built with a lot of drop in the buttstock, and it certainly was not my idea of a fun thing to shoot, so I sold it, and found myself a 500/450NE that was in the 11.2 pound range, and couldn't get enough of shooting it!

577NitroExpress,s 500NE Merkel is the same barrel set as my 470NE Merkel,with a bigger hole drilled through is so weighs right at 10 pounds, while my 470NE weighs 10.8-11 pounds pounds in the same rifle. Still the 10 pound 500NE rifle is a usable rifle for hunting. You carry a 500NE a hell of a lot more than you shoot it, and in the hunting field you don't feel recoil anyway. Any lighter though, and it would get uncomfortable!

I can tell you I had a 577 at 13lbs 2oz it was fine to shoot, but sucked to carry.

I have a William Douglass in a 470 it is 9lbs and 11oz it is about just right.

505ED

Thanks for the input. I am leaning towards the .500 NE since I have 2 other .510"s and bullets would be similar.

The .450 #2 NE, which I am just completing, came in at 9lbs 11 1/2 oz, unloaded, no sling, and no scope. It is not punishing at all to shoot off the bench(wearing a PAST MAGNUM recoil shield).Two loaded rounds, a sling, and the Leupold 1.5x-5x are going to up that weight by 1 1/2 lbs. As noted above, you don't even remember pulling the trigger in the field.