"Ideal" rifle weight / balance?

[michael_aos]

I'm trying to better understand rifle weight -vs- "shootability", for lack of a better word.

My AR-15, scoped & unloaded, weighs 9.42lbs. It doesn't feel "heavy" at all.

My AR-10, scoped and unloaded, weighs 12.21lbs. It feels heavy.

My Remington 700P, scoped & unloaded, with a bipod, tips the scales at 12.92lbs, and feels REALLY heavy.

This little Olympic, K9GL, scoped & unloaded, is 9.33lbs -- which makes it less than my AR-15, but it feels heavier.

This SDI AR-15, scoped & unloaded, is 6.67lbs and feels extremely lightweight.

Oddly, my Ruger K10/22T, scoped & unloaded, is 7.98lbs, but since the weight is all in the bbl, you'd guess it was heavier.

So, my question is, is weight really much of a factor? Or is it all about balance?

I kind of have it in my head that a scoped rifle should weight about 10lbs or less.

Is there some magic-number that experienced shooters have found? Such as <8lbs is too light, and >10lbs is too heavy for offhand shooting in the field?

Mike

[michael_aos]

I've noticed with the AR-10T, if I pull off the fiberglass float tube and shooting sling, it drops from 12.21lbs to 10.73lbs.

And suddenly it doesn't feel heavy at all.

Huh.

Mike

[Bumblebee Bob]

Balance does have a lot to do with how the rifle "feels".

I had an SP1 once-upon-a-time. A very light, handy full size rifle.

Then I bought an A2 HBAR. There isn't really a great deal of weight difference but, like your 10/22, it's all forward in the barrel and it really upsets the balance. The HBAR carrys and feels like a boat anchor. It's really my least favorite rifle. Someday I'll either get the barrel turned down to .gov profile or buy a .gov profile barrel for it.

FWIW, the HBAR weights about the same as my Garand. And the Garand is not a heavy feeling rifle. Because it's balanced, and the HBAR isn't.

[Marlin]

What Jonnie said. :D

I have a Garand and a HBAR also, The Garand weighs a little more But, it does "Feel" lighter than the HBAR.

I'm sure Tom could give You a more Technical answer. :wink:

[Not_A_Llama]

I think in an AR, 8.5 lbs unloaded is the max I like to see in a rifle to be used for more dynamic shooting scenarios. Front-heavt is nice for accuracy, but a COG about the magwell is better for pointability.

VFG makes a huge difference in handling heavier rifles, for me.

[BadShot]

Been thinking about putting tow wheels on my Remmy 700 :)

Seriously.. I would guess my AR runs about 12lbs and my Remmy pretty close to 15 or so. It's a bit to lug around if you think about it... but that doesn't include what ever kit you've got on as well. If you're trekking anywhere you're gonna have extra ammo and what not, so your 12-15lb rifle plus another 20lbs in kit. If you're hunting or camping then you bolt some other serious weight in there too.

Hmmmm that sportster stock is sounding better than the AICS now : (

[michael_aos]

Update:

K9GL w/scope & BUIS = 9.13lbs
K9GL w/BUIS (no scope) = 7.95lbs.

Mike

[Gman]

I'm really digging my Bushy M4A3. It's not front heavy like an HBAR. It seems like a really nice balance. When I get optics for it that will likely change.

[michael_aos]

I'm replacing the fiberglass Armalite forend on my AR-10 with a JP aluminum model.

The rifle weighs 10.21lbs now.

I'm hoping to drop 6oz or so.

Mike

[Colorado Osprey]

I have a Bushy 16" H-bar and it's 7.3lbs. It feels balanced. My pencil barrel 16" Colt seems butt heavy, not balanced. I think a 20" H-bar would be barrel heavy.

I build custom rifles too. I have a bolt action .243, 24" Bull Barrel Stainless Fluted with scope, stock and bi-pod that weighs in at 17.2lbs. It is extremely well balanced, but very heavy. I find that off hand shooting the rifle should balance in your non-trigger hand where it feels comfortable. If it does not balance there you will string your groups vertically when shooting off hand. The heavy weight means you can't hold it like that for very long, but it will be steady.

Light weight is great if you have to carry it and can't sling it. Heavy weight are great for longer shots, awesome if you can use a bi-pod. Balance plays a critical role for off hand shooting.