How heavy is too heavy?

[springfield art]

Some interesting insights and opinions here.

I read somewhere that Harry Pope, (famed barrel maker and Scheutzen-competition shooter) once said that a man's offhand rifle ought to weigh 16 pounds and a woman’s 12 pounds, so there’s obviously differing schools of thought on the matter.

The rifle’s still in transit, so I can’t attest to its balance, but I’ll keep you all posted regarding my impressions when I have it in hand.

Mr. Pope and others, people who are specialists and geniuses in their field, often have opinions that don't mesh with 99% of the population. Example; Elmer Keith and his big .44's; etc. I'm fascinated a bit by the barrel-makers; guys who understand what/why/how to make excellent M/L barrels. Their name on a rifle barrel is like gold, greatly increasing the value!

 

[Second-rate Marksman]

@TrailWalker that's a real beauty. Did you take enough cash with you to buy the gun carriage too? All joking aside, you found something worth having.

Thank you! I need another rifle like I need a hole in the head, but when the dealer offered to drop the price by 3 Benjamin’s, that cinched it for me. Considering I paid less than one would for a Kibler kit (not including the cost of the lock), I think I made out pretty well. I’m a big Kibler fan, but I tend to gravitate more towards unusual/custom rifles that not every Tom, Dick, and Harry own.

 

[rafterob]

Seems to be in the range of a Schuetzen rifle. We'll be interested in your experience after you receive it.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Could shave off couple ozs. by re-boring to .69 or even bigger!

The GA barrel is 54 cal and 1" accross the flats. Larger bore would not work for this barrel with 100gr charges.
thanks
Larry

 

[SOLANCO]

How far is the parking lot from the firing line?

 

[Magungo1066]

We have an unmentionable Shiloh that clocks in at 12 or so. I shoot it offhand all the time. You cant keep it up for an entire range session but I still have lots of fun shooting it standing up. I realize there is still a four pound difference but you have a few inches on me at the top. I think you will be fine as long as you dont expect to sling it on your back or shoot 50 shots before you start waving it around. Hope this helped!

 

[mushka]

I am 80 and since I was a kid I have always preferred carbines and lighter rifles.

 

[Capnball]

I just picked up this pretty little thing: a .50 cal custom halfstock that tips the scale at a whopping 16 pounds! It was actually labeled as a “bench” rifle by the dealer, but I intend to shoot it offhand and use it for general target shooting, as I tend to prefer a heavier rifle. I can’t help but wonder if 16 pounds is pushing the envelope though. The halfstock percussion rifle that I typically shoot is about ten pounds, and I’ve got an original William Beck rifle that comes in at about 14.

What say you, ladies and gents? Just how heavy is too heavy for the purpose of offhand shooting in your opinion? Am I absolutely nut-so for thinking I can effectively manhandle this thing?

What a beast. I like a heavy gun to. I don't hunt anymore so the furthest I'd have to carry it would be the truck to the bench at the range.

 

[Packrat]

Eating Wheaties, who was that guy on the box, and now is someone else, Bruce Jenner ?

 

[springfield art]

I am 80 and since I was a kid I have always preferred carbines and lighter rifles.

I have a propensity to 'shorten' barrels on muzzleloaders! Have done it about 3 times, and am 'eyeing' another one! Of course I have a pro do the actual cutting and sight-placing dovetail or what have you, then I can do some simple wood work, nothing too fancy.

 

[NotDanielBoone]

For me lighter is better to a point. I do have to feel the gun in my arms. What is right for me is not what is right for you. Numerous comments said 'balance.' I guess on the bench weight doesn't matter, but off hand I think it does. Do you hit the gym? For the field I need to be able to carry a gun easily and even, perhaps, quickly bring it to bear on my target. Of course, maybe I'm just old and lazy?

 

[Troy]

I just picked up this pretty little thing: a .50 cal custom halfstock that tips the scale at a whopping 16 pounds! It was actually labeled as a “bench” rifle by the dealer, but I intend to shoot it offhand and use it for general target shooting, as I tend to prefer a heavier rifle. I can’t help but wonder if 16 pounds is pushing the envelope though. The halfstock percussion rifle that I typically shoot is about ten pounds, and I’ve got an original William Beck rifle that comes in at about 14.

What say you, ladies and gents? Just how heavy is too heavy for the purpose of offhand shooting in your opinion? Am I absolutely nut-so for thinking I can effectively manhandle this thing?

It all comes down to your physical limitations, that gun could have been made for a man who was very tall and very stout. If it was me, I wouldn't hesitate to carry it in the woods hunting, but I'm 6' 4" and a pretty strong guy. I have a hammerdrill I use at work that weighs 18 or 19 pounds and have no difficulty using that, and the weights not even spread out like a guns weight is. In my safe, I have an elk rifle that weighs over 13lbs with ammunition and optic. So it's all what you can (and are willing) handle, a 5'8" guy that doesn't workout isn't going to want a heavy firearm. So if you hunt, you could go to a gameland during hunting season (after you sighted it in ofcourse) and just spend the day taking your time doing some walk hunting. Doing this will let you know how well you can handle it, it will also help you to adjust to this firearms weight if you really want to shoot free hand but that's just my two cents.

 

[Terry Lightle]

My guess would be it comes down to just how stout you are and how bad you want to shoot it

 

[docholl]

A beautiful rifle. Congrats!

 

[hudelsonb]

It obviously depends on the shooter. However, food for thought, in Olympic air rifle they have imposed max weight limits of roughly 17.5lbs for men and 14.5lbs for women. And, in service rifle competition the weights of the AR's they use are typically about 14lbs. Me personally, I prefer my offhand rifles to be around 12lbs but I'm not a big guy.

 

[No Answers]

I met a concrete contractor who made a special handle bar which attached TWO wheel barrels together so he could move more cement with every load. The man was massive.

 

[Relic shooter]

Love the vintage lock

 

[Rifleman1776]

If you can handle it, go fer it.

 

[morehops52]

I once thought the idea of deer hunting with a CW rifle would be absolutely cool, especially if I downed one. It took less than 20 min in the field to realize what a (personal) mistake I made buying a .58 Zouave for deer hunting. It didn't work for me personally but the world is full of individuals who succeed at things I never would. Beautiful gun and good luck on your endeavors.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

I am 6'6" 280 pounds. I prefer a heavier rifle for competition shooting and a light rifle for hunting. Reasoning: In chootin matches 95% of the time the rifle is rest on the ground for loading etc. especially in bench or off-hand paper matches. Similar in woods walk I am only carrying it from target to target then rest the butt back on the ground. Current target rifle being built is a 40 cal with 44" swamped B-weight barrel. I am also a young 49 years old too. However, my hunting rifles I like light weight 7-8.5 lb. range. I usually hunt from a blind/stand once I get into the woods, or I also do a bunch of walkabouts (Still hunting) so I am not all about carrying a log through the woods. Favorite hunting rifle (Currently) is a 54 with 36" 15/16 barrel. Squirrel rifle is .32 cal with 42" swamped a-weight. Turkey gun is 36" barreled NWT smoothie in 62 cal (very light and fast to maneuver). I plan to hunt with the smoothbore this year from one of my new stands where shot opportunity won't/can't be over 50 yrds. Its a fun gun to carry, its the one in my profile pic.