What’s your rifle weigh?

[OXN939]

Alright fellas how do you handle the recoil of sub-7 lb rifles in chamberings like 7mm Mag, 300 Win Mag, etc? Inquiring minds want to know.

I had a Tikka T3x in '06 that was 7 lbs. scoped, and I wanted to shoot 180's out of it. I did, but it was all I wanted in the recoil dept.

Mind you, most of my shooting is off the bench for load development and practice. I'm not afraid of shooting just about anything in a hunting situation. But I do want to develop loads (from the bench) and practice a lot.

Find a good gunsmith and add a brake. Mine does wonders for my .300 WSM. Just be cognizant that any of the calibers you mention will eat a brake pretty quickly.

 

[Newtosavage]

Find a good gunsmith and add a brake. Mine does wonders for my .300 WSM. Just be cognizant that any of the calibers you mention will eat a brake pretty quickly.

Okay, so that's the obvious answer (and I would love to do that) but what about in hunting situations? I don't want that amount of noise to deal with and I don't usually have time to put in hearing protection in a hunting scenario.

I've already lost enough hearing in one ear (muzzle side) that I can't afford to lose any more.

 

[FullValue]

Most rifles without a brake still will cause damage, either way you should wear protection. A lot of the time you don't hear it with or without if you are excited and experience auditory exclusion, but damage can still occur. I guess the safest way is to wear protection or get a suppressor (still can cause damage).

You will be amazed at how much a good brake will reduce recoil and muzzle jump. Also you can practice with your brake on and then take it off and put a thread protector on while hunting. Hopefully you'll be doing less shooting while hunting than while practicing.

 

[deerkiller]

Okay, so that's the obvious answer (and I would love to do that) but what about in hunting situations? I don't want that amount of noise to deal with and I don't usually have time to put in hearing protection in a hunting scenario.

I've already lost enough hearing in one ear (muzzle side) that I can't afford to lose any more.

?? I guess falling back to the "everyone takes recoil differently" is my response - I commonly shoot several 300 Win Mags at the bench multiple times along with my rifles - None have a brake, cannot stand them - They DO all have Limbsaver aircell recoil pads and I have a definite "routine" for benching a rifle but it does not employ a "sled" or any other "aid", only a technique that works well for me (OH, and not one of the 300's weighs over 7.25 lbs in shooting form)

 

[elkduds]

Interarms Mauser 98, 7 rm, Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40. 8# 15 oz.


Stevens 200, 270win, Leupold 2.5x8x36. 7# 5oz.

 

[Kotaman]

Won a brand new 2017 Kimber Montana in 280 ai this week. I own several lightweight customs from Boswell Titanium to Gunwerks ClymRs, Gunwerks Helios to name a few. The ClymRs shoot amazing as far as I can at 8.2 lbs. with a 26 oz. Leupold Mark V. (6.5 PRC and 7LRM). The Helios in 6.5 Creed holds a 30 oz NF ATACR and is a tack driver at 8.2 lbs. The Boswell does alright (300 WSM) at 7.2 lbs with a Swaro Z5. My hope is to get the Montana, with some mods, under 7 lbs. with a Swaro Z6. If I can get the Montana to shoot decent at 600, I may make a go of it in the mountains with it this fall. For me the weight of the rifle is HUGE on a mountain hunt. I don’t like carrying one that is much over 7 lbs.

 

[Amazer]

I have a Kimber Hunter in .308. I took the gel out of the stock and replaced it with foam. I mounted a Leopold 3x9 CDS. Total weight with empty magazine, sling and neoprene ammo carrier on the stock, 6# 1.7 oz. It shoots good (1 MOA) but I am having to adjust to shooting a lighter weight rifle. I haven't had it on a hunt yet but this will be my backpack / hiking rifle.

 

[Kotaman]

Ready to go, my new 280 AI Kimber Montana project is coming in a 6 lb. 11 oz. Now, we'll see how it shoots...

 

[nhunt46051]

Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 CM, 21" Leupold HD5 3-15 comes in at 6.4lbs

 

[270quest]

Christensen Ridgeline 270 with NF3-10X42 - 8# 4oz

 

[AK Troutbum]

Here’s a list of my current lightweight mountain rifles.

Christianson Arms Mesa 6.5CM/Talley light wts. and 3.5–10X40 VX-3.

Tikka T3 Light 7mm-08/stock rings and 3.5-10X40 VX3

Kimber Montana .300 WSM/Talley light wts. and 2.5-15X44 Z6

Kimber Mt. Ascent .270Win/Talley LW’s and 3-9x33ul VX-2

I have a Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5CM on the way up but I haven’t decided on what I’m going to top it with. Three of the rifles are proven killers, but I’m having a real difficult time tearing myself away from the Mountain Ascent as my, so far, favorite one of the bunch.



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[Benjblt]

The stock adds a bit of weight over the factory (6-7 ounces) and handles recoil very nicely. Recoil is definitely noticeable but not unbearable by any means.View attachment 101595

Did you feel the B&C helped with accuracy or just managing recoil?

 

[Benjblt]

Okay, so that's the obvious answer (and I would love to do that) but what about in hunting situations? I don't want that amount of noise to deal with and I don't usually have time to put in hearing protection in a hunting scenario.

I've already lost enough hearing in one ear (muzzle side) that I can't afford to lose any more.

That's why I never run a break.

 

[CApighunter]

Did you feel the B&C helped with accuracy or just managing recoil?

I never shot it with the factory stock but it handled the recoil very well with the B&C. It’s quite a bit stiffer in the McMillan but I think the weight savings are worth it.

 

[GrantN]

Weatherby 300 win-mag.

 

[Kotaman]

UPDATE: Kimber Mountain Ascent .308 with Swarovski Z6 = 6 lbs. 7 oz ready to go. Thinking about putting a NF NX 8 on this which would bring the weight to 6 lbs. 15 oz.

 

[Tempe.243]

Savage 16 Trophy Hunter with SS HFP and TG. Full length Manners-T Elite with 1/2" spacer and 1" recoil pad (moneky arms). Add on rail and scope for a total of 9.6 pounds. Got drawn for Oct. WT hunt and that will be her first run in the wild.

 

[Buzby]

.308 Kimber Subalpine, leupold 2-7x33, Talley low

 

[bamagun]

Im overseas and cant weigh my setup, but I think the Fierce CT in 270 wsm with a Z5 and carbon fiber bipod is coming in at right at 7lbs, maybe an ounce or two under. And that's with a 24 inch barrel that's threaded and capped. The titanium break probably ads another 3 oz or so. I always let guys tote my rifle around (so they can get an idea on how much of a difference it makes) and Ill tote theirs (just to remind me how good I have it. haha). I think technology and tolerances have passed the old thought process of "light =inaccurate" . We were dialing rocks out to 650 a couple weeks ago standing shooting off of a jacket balled up on top of my Optics tripod. I wish I would have waited for them to put a 28 nosler together for me instead of settling on that 270wsm, but going with that short action saved me a couple of ounces, so I guess that's a positive. Thinking about picking up that Kimber or a Tika just to see, but 7 lbs is about as light as I want to go with anything above 243. haha

 

[AK Troutbum]

View attachment 109477
.308 Kimber Subalpine, leupold 2-7x33, Talley low

Being straight out of the box with zero mods, that’s pretty damn hard to beat right there! How’s it shoot?


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