How much does your African rifle weigh?

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Here is a list of rifles with and without scopes that are suitable for Africa, this is not meant to be the only rifles suited for African hunting it is just rifles either owned or available to me for weighing. Note all weights listed in pounds.

9.48lb 7.62X51 FN-FAL carried by Rhodesian soldiers during the bush war
8.23lb .308 Ruger M-77 scoped Kahles
9.64lb. .375H&H M-70 Win scoped Swarovski
11.00lb. .375H&H M-70 Win scoped Swarovski
12.50lb. .375H&H M-70 Win scoped Swarovski--Please note this is a take down rifle with a non sighted .300 win barrel, I believe it would be about 1 to 11/2lb. lighter.
9.24lb. .404J Mauser Jefferies. Non scoped
7.80lb. .404J SSB Magnum Mauser Rigby. Non scoped
9.90lb. .404J CZ Trijicon RMR
9.90lb. .404J CZ Kahles. RMR
10.60lb. .450-.400 88b Heym double rifle. Non scoped or RMR
10.50lb. .470N 89.b Heym double rifle. Non scoped or RMR
10.70lb. .416R Original SSB Mauser Magnum Rigby

I had no other rifles to weigh please add to this list.

I read different peoples opinions on weight and what constitutes to much weight and due to weight and caliber it may called a shoulder cannon. I referred first to the FN-FAL simply because it was a rifle carried daily by Rhodesian soldiers in the bush this weight is with an empty 20rd mag. I would say that they were in better shape than most of us.

I was totally surprised when I saw the weight of my favorite .375H&H/.300 WM. it really never felt that heavy to me. Of the rifles that I have listed above the one that is the most pleasant to carry is the Jefferies .404J. the balance is perfect. Almost any scoped rifle does not feel what I would called balanced, not only balanced at the shoulder, but also carrying. Most doubles in the 11lb. range seem comfortable to carry, as does my .416 Rigby, god forbid if it had a scope it would be around 13lb. no thanks.

This range of rifles cover the weights that most visiting hunters and PHs would carry. I have not specified the popular Blaser R-8 because I did not have one to weigh. I also did not have any PF rifles to weigh, FN-FAL excepted.

Lon

 

[R.M.C.]

I have only been once but I took my trust Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 30.06 with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x50mm. Its a hair over seven pounds and I can carry all day in one hand. Everyone who grabbed it in Africa was like "Jesus that thing must kick!!" . I don't think its bad at all, it jumps a bit but nothing crazy.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Verney Carron 375 Fl, clean, 7.65 pounds
Heym 89b 450/400 10.14 pounds.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Ruger No1 375 H&H with Leica Magnus 1-6.4, 9.87 pounds

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Lon, I weighed a Heym 89b 450/400 at S&O, 4.550kg (10.03 pounds). The Heym 89b 470 was 4.750kg (10.47 pounds).

 

[sierraone]

Primary is a Ruger RSM .404J with Weaver 1-5 DG scope which weighs just over 10 pounds. Was converted from a RSM .375 H&H.
Second rifle that has been to Africa is a M70 in .375 H&H with an identical scope on it. It probably goes in around 9 pounds or slightly less..

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

The Kahles Helia RD plus battery and Henneberger base weighs 75 grams (0.165 pounds), so the 89b 470 gets to 10.63 pounds. I don't know what 470 rounds weigh, but there will be two of those in there also and I am sure that will take you to 11 pounds.

 

[SStomcat]

My K Gun 470 -10.5 lb

 

[Puddle]

4 rifles, all with 24" barrels, all scoped, but with no sling. With magazine loaded they weigh:
.30-06 - 7.5 lbs
9.3x62mm - 8.5 lbs
.375 H&H - 9.5 lbs
450/400 3" Ruger #1 - 10.5 lbs

 

[RTG]

9.472 Pound / Blaser R8 .375 22” standard contour barrel w/ sights, mount, swaro 1-8 scope and 12oz kickstop. Extra 0.959 pounds for 4x300gr cartridges loaded, and sling with additional two cartridges. Total of 10.431 Pounds on the shoulder

 

[steve white]

All my centerfire rifles weigh (equipped with scope, sling, ammo) 8 3/4--10 lbs, and I have never felt like I was toting too much. Only one rifle makes the 8 3/4

 

[Tra3]

Blaser R8 with Ultimate stock, .375 H&H and 1.25-4 swaro is 8 lbs 14 oz.
Same stock with a .300 win mag and swaro z6 3-18x50 is 9 lbs 4 Oz.
R8 professional with kick stop, .22 lr barrel and 3x9 swaro is 9 lbs 9 Oz.
the kick stop does help balance the rifle.

 

[BeeMaa]

Blaser R8 Professional with aluminum receiver, spacer in the buttstock added for LOP, 375H&H standard contour (17 mm) barrel, Swaro Z8i 1-8x24, Contessa QD mount, Murray Custom Leather sling and 4 cartridges... 4.6 Kg / 10.1 lbs

Same rifle stripped down...3.5 Kg / 7.7 lbs and still easy to shoot.

 

[curtism1234]

Savage lightweight walnut 308 scoped = right at 7 pounds. New favorite rifle

Savage 375 hh scoped = right at 8 pounds. I would prefer 8.5 but its nice to carry.

 

[VertigoBE]

Hubert Vereecke .416 Rigby (4+1)
- Rifle + scope, empty = 5.58Kg or 12.26 pounds
- Rifle, empty = 4.89Kg or 10.86 pounds

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

CZ 550 458 Lott AHR #2 work. Recoil reducer added Leupold VX6 1-6. 11.0 lbs

CZ 550 375 HH recoil reducer added Leupold VX6 2-12. 11.6 lbs

Remington 700 HS precision stocked 300 Win Mag. Leupold VX6 3-18x50. 10.8 lbs

Christensen Ridgeline 6.5 PRC Leupold VX5 4-20. 8.4 lbs.

All these are unloaded weights.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Rigby Big Game in 416 Rigby with Leica 1-6x24i amplus: 11.4 pounds.

Safe shooting

 

[shootist~]

CZ550 9.3x62, 1-6x24 Trijicon Accupoint, B&C stock - 9.2 pounds

Tikka 30-06 Hunter (wood stock), 3-9x42 Nightforce SHV. - 8.1 pounds

FAL (50.0 StG config) 7.62x51, Aimpoint Patrol - 10.5 pounds

Unloaded weights, no sling.

 

[chashardy]

thanks to @SFRanger I don't have to weigh my Rigby Big Game 316 w/Leupold 1-6X24 scope. I was going to guess it's about 11 pounds.

 

[crs]

Which one? All weights unloaded
.405
Winchester 1895 .405 24 inch barrel, no scope, 8 pounds
Simson Co DR 24 inch barrels , QD scope off, 8.5 pounds

.458
Winchester 1886 .45-90 with 26 inch octagon barrel, no scope, 9.5 pounds
Beretta .45-90 DR 26 inch barrels, QD scope off, 9 pounds