What's the ideal / preferred rifle weight for the following cartridges?

[mark-hunter]

One of the camp rifles where I hunted was magna ported 300 win mag.
It has really sharp ear drum breaking sound. it was fired often in my presence.
Most often the dogs are with us in the car and out for tracking
PH tells me older dog is becoming deaf for this reason.

 

[geoff rath]

beeMaa has it summed up: fit, and balance.

 

[Altitude sickness]

When using a muzzle break the sound and blast are sent to the side and up


I think for the most part (experts please weigh in) a PH and trackers prefer and need to watch the shot and many like to listen for bullet slap, and the animal running away. And they are usually standing in the blast zone

If they have to cover ears and get get pounded by the blast they not only lose their hearing they lost valuable details of the shot.
Also now can’t hear an animal coming back at them through the brush.

Pictures of my daughter firing a 50 BMG it shows the direction of a typical blast. The video also shows the concussion and shock wave.

Check with your PH before installing a break.

 

[Northern Shooter]

It would be nice if the weights is actual weight - inkl scope/red dot.

Yeah it should be the weight of the total package on how it will be typically used.

I assume scoping a 338, 375 and 416 is fairly common but what about the 458s and 500s?

Aren't those rifles typically sticking with iron sights and shots under 100m?

 

[DLSJR]

The three rifles I’m taking to Tanzania with my son in a few weeks are 338 win mag that weighs 8.6 pounds, 375 H&H that weighs 8.9 pounds and 416 Hoffman (nearly identical to Remington) that weighs 9.2 pounds. All guns have Leupold VX5hd 30 mm scopes and weights are empty no cartridge weights. All 3 are very comfortable to shoot for their respective cartridge for a few reasons including that I shoot moderate loads instead of hot loads. In 338 I shoot 225 grain bullets at about 2,725, the 375 shoots 300 grain bullets at 2,400 and 416 is shooting 400 trainers at 2,350. Also, all rifles have Brown Precision fiberglass stocks which absorb some recoil as they flex a bit at the shot. They fit me well, are designed in a recoil friendly configuration and each is fitted with a Pachmeyr Decellerator recoil pad. All those things combined make for comfortable shooting rifles.

Last weekend, my son and I were shooting our 375’s. His model 70 has the factory wood stock, while mine has the aforementioned Brown Precision stock. His gun weighs nearly a pound more than mine. After shooting both rifles a few times, he told me that he’s going to get a Brown Precision stock for his gun as the difference in felt recoil was very noticeable.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

After the first shot with my newly built 404 Jeffery Mauser 98, I was convinced adding fifty pounds into the stock might not be a bad idea.

It ain't no 30-06, Pat. Don't try to hold it like one. Actually, I stepped back the gas some and recoil now is not nearly as bad.

 

[DLSJR]

BeeMaa and Altitude Sickness both make valid comments about ported or muzzle breaker rifles. On my first African hunt I took a 458 win mag that was Mag NAI Ported. The first dangerous game I killed was a buffalo bull that my PH, Roy Vincent, and I had crawled right up to. We were both kneeling as the bull walked past us at 13 yards. Roy was right next to my muzzle as I shot. Even with fingers in his ears, the muzzle blast was painful and loud because of the porting. I got a very pointed lecture afterward about how much all PH’s hate Mag Na Ported or muzzle braked rifles. He made it clear that I should sell that rifle and get one with a regular barrel. I went home and sold the 458. The next time I hunted with him I was carrying a 470 NE double.

I don’t own any rifles that have muzzle breaks or porting, nor will I.

 

[Newboomer]

I have an 8 pound flat 375 H&H. It really kicks. I’m thinking of getting it Mag-na-ported to reduce muzzle jump.

My Win 70 Safari Express 375 came in at11lbs scoped and loaded. Not too uncomfortable to carry and heavy enough to handle 350 gr loads without shaking my teeth loose.

 

[Newboomer]

After the first shot with my newly built 404 Jeffery Mauser 98, I was convinced adding fifty pounds into the stock might not be a bad idea.
View attachment 548304
It ain't no 30-06, Pat. Don't try to hold it like one. Actually, I stepped back the gas some and recoil now is not nearly as bad.

Welcome to the Bush Tattoo Club.

 

[DLSJR]

My Win 70 Safari Express 375 came in at11lbs scoped and loaded. Not too uncomfortable to carry and heavy enough to handle 350 gr loads without shaking my teeth loose.

A Pachmayr Decellerator pad will make it even more comfortable. It’ll be a very noticeable improvement at minimal cost.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

A Pachmayr Decellerator pad will make it even more comfortable. It’ll be a very noticeable improvement at minimal cost.

Those are definitely better than Limbsaver. A lot better. Limbsaver is too soft. You know you're getting beat up unnecessarily when your middle finger gets thumped by the trigger guard. The pad is too soft.

 

[Flewis]

To me any rifle should be as lite as you can have and still be able to shoot it well. Yes that will be different for everyone. More recoil just means more practice. Recoil is a mental game.

 

[TOBY458]

375- 8.5 - 9lbs including scope, sling and ammo.

416- 9 - 9.5lbs including scope sling and ammo.

458- 10 - 11lbs including scope sling and ammo.

I tend to like lighter weight rifles for hunting. Especially if a lot of walking is involved. You'll carry it much more than you'll shoot it in the field.

 

[Flewis]

375- 8.5 - 9lbs including scope, sling and ammo.

416- 9 - 9.5lbs including scope sling and ammo.

458- 10 - 11lbs including scope sling and ammo.

I tend to like lighter weight rifles for hunting. Especially if a lot of walking is involved. You'll carry it much more than you'll shoot it in the field.

I like a little bit lighter, but we’re on the same page.

 

[ChrisG]

That leaves me wondering why Winchester decided to make their current Model 70 safari express weigh in at 9.0 LBS for the 416 RM and 458 WM. It sounds like it weighs just right for the 375H&H offering but 2lbs light for the 40 cals. Were they expecting everyone to top them with heavy scope and rings?

Economics. The barrel profiles of all rifles appear to be the same. That means one process instead of three=cheaper. An 8lb .416 is shootable, but a 10lb balanced rifle isn't that much harder to carry and tames the rounds a little bit. I had the Ruger Hawkeye .416 African. Ruger made them at 7.75lbs. I fired a few rounds when it was stock with a scope at about 8.25lbs then added about 1.25lbs of lead balanced between the forend and the buttstock. at 9.5lbs it was shootable but still a little light IMO with 400 grainers at 2,300.

 

[TOBY458]

I like a little bit lighter, but we’re on the same page.

Yes. It's amazing to me how much difference even a pound of weight can make to the whole feel of a rifle. To me, a 10lb total rifle weight including scope, sling and ammo is about the most weight that still has a chance of feeling lively in the hands. Once that weight is passed, they start feeling like a boat anchor to me.

 

[Flewis]

Handle more like a fat girlfriend.

 

[rookhawk]

Just curious what you each think is the ideal or preferred rifle weight for the following cartridges as I often read manufacturer specs and think "that sounds light for caliber".

1. 338 Win Mag
2. 375 H&H
3. 416 Rigby / Rem Mag
4. 458 Win Mag
5. 458 Lott
6. 470 NE
7 500 NE
8. 500 Jeffery
9. 505 Gibbs
10. 577 NE

Curious to hear the thoughts from those of you experienced with these.

Assuming rimless cartridges are scoped:

1. 338 Win Mag 8.75lbs to 9.5lbs
2. 375 H&H - 9lbs to 10lbs
3. 416 Rigby / Rem Mag 9.5lbs to 10.75lbs
4. 458 Win Mag 9.5lbs to 10.75lbs
5. 458 Lott 10lbs to 11lbs
6. 470 NE 10.5lbs to 11lbs
7 500 NE 10.75lbs to 11.5lbs
8. 500 Jeffery 10.75lbs to 11.5lbs
9. 505 Gibbs 10.75lbs to 11.5lbs
10. 577 NE 13lbs

 

[Fenstar]

My .500 J is 11.5 lb, mercury in the stock- a joy to carry and shoot. One of my favorite rifles.

 

[Flewis]

Mine is 9.5, just right.