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Rifle's weight.

-Fabien-

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
May 28, 2012
37
0
45
France
Bonjour everybody!

I own a rem700 fit on a AICS stock, the barrel lenght is 26", contour is like M24: the gun is SO heavy, and the balance not good. I use it to shoot prone with a rest bag, that is fine. But i also would like to shoot offhand and sitting, for me it's impossible with this gun.

Do you think it will be easier if i cut the barrel to 18.5" and change the stock for a HS precision police. Or will it be still so uncomfortable?

Thanks for helping me and sorry for the "not so good english".

Have a nice day.

Fabien.
 
What caliber are we talking about? Cutting down a barrel from 26" to 18.5" can be done but more info is needed. I have an HS stock on my 700 police 300 RUM and I added weight to it
 
Play around with this barrel weight calculator http://www.border-barrels.com/barrel_weight_S2.htm

You can see how shortening the barrel will affect the weight as opposed to changing the contour or adding flutes. Also, are you just trying to make it lighter, or change the balance point (make it less muzzle heavy), because the AICS might be a better option to keep some weight in the back.
 
Fabien,

The weight reduction will not be as significant as you think. Best is to purchase another rifle for offhand and seated.

I have a Remington 700 with 22" barrel, in the XLR chassis and Weaver Tactical 3-15 scope it weighs approx 14 lbs / 6.35 Kg. I have another with 20" barrel in an HS precision LTR stock, Nightforce Compact, and it weighs 9.5 lbs / 4.3 Kg. They are both 308W, so I pick the rifle based on the type of shooting I will do that day.

I actually prefer the heavier rifle when shooting prone, it helps reduce perceived recoil and muzzle jump.
 
Si vous obtenez un stock HS, vous pourriez avoir le canal baril ouvert, je suis sûr que le contour M24 est plus grande. Bien sûr, couper le canon vers le bas permettrait d'alléger le fusil en place ainsi que le stock de HS, environ 0,5 kilo seul. Juste un autre intégré fusil plus léger, solution facile, LOL
 
You can definitely learn to shoot offhand and sitting with a heavy rifle. I'm a really small guy (125lbs, scrawny), and I shoot a 17lb rifle offhand and sitting fairly regularly. For offhand, remember to get your left elbow against your body to absorb the weight of the rifle. You can put a sandbag or something between your arm and body to push the rifle a little bit higher. This will make more sense when you try it. Using a hasty sling helps quite a bit, as well.

As for shooting sitting, get a sling you can use as a loop sling and practice, practice, practice. Get the sling nice and tight so the gun is supported by the sling and your bones, not your muscles. It's still easier with a light rifle, but it can be done with a heavy rifle, as well.