Since I'm in the market for a new bolt action rifle in the "deer rifle" category, I've been looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the various makes, models, and designs. One issue, though not the most important to me, is the rifle's weight. I've noticed that the various makers tend to be somewhat inexact in their references to rifle weight, and in the past, I put this down to unavoidable differences in wood densities and thought no more about it. Recently, though, I hefted a few and there didn't seem to be a real correlation between feel and published weights, so I decided to weigh a few new rifles at my local gun store.
Make/Model................................Caliber...............Bbl.............Published Wgt.......Actual Wgt
Sako 75.....................................7mm STW........24 .............Not Specified...........8#9oz
CZ 550 Amer Prestige..........270 Win...............25.6 .........7.48 pounds.............8#3oz
CZ 550 Amer Prestige..........30-06..................25.6 .........7.48 pounds..............7#14oz
Win M70 Classic....................7mm STW........26 .............7.75 to 8.......................8#1oz
Win M70 Classic...................300 Win Mag....26 .............7.75 to 8.......................8#0oz
Win M70 Super Grade..........7mm Mag.........26.............7.75 to 8.......................8#0oz
Win M70 Clsc Laminated....7mm Mag.........26.............7.75 to 8.......................7#11oz
Win M70 Fwt.........................270 WSM..........24.............7.......................................7#4oz
Win M70 Fwt.........................300 Win Mag...24.............7.......................................7#5oz
Win M70 Stainless/Syn........7mm WSM.......24.............7#4oz.............................7#5oz
Savage 114.............................300 Win Mag...22-24......7 to 7.5..........................7#1oz
Remington 700 BDL.............270 Win...........22 ...........7.25..................................7#0oz
Remington 700 BDL.............243 Win...........22 ...........7.25.................................7#1oz
Remington 700 BDL(rifle#1).22-250..........22..............7.25..................................7#9oz
Remington 700 BDL(rifle#2).22-250..........22 ............7.25...................................7#9oz
Blaser R93................................30-06..............22............7........................................7#8oz
Comments:
1. I wasn't particularly interested in synthetic stocks, so I only weighed one of them.
2. The winner in the "Most Optimistic Manufacturer Weight Estimate" is clearly CZ.
3. The winner in the "Best Stock in a Non-Custom Rifle" is Winchester, for their Classic models. These stocks were gorgeous.
4. The winner in the "Biggest Surprise," was tie, with both awards going to Remington. First, the "deer rifle" calibers came in under the published weights. Second, the short action 22-250s were significantly heavier than other short action BDLs. This could partly be a result of a smaller bullet hole and thus more metal remaining, or it could be something entirely else - I don't know. I weighed two separate rifles to ensure it wasn't my error somehow.
5. I weighed these rifles on my old beer-making scale, which allowed minor recalibration when the "no rifle" weight approached one ounce.
6. I also weighed Browning A-Bolt Hunters, but due to a recording error, I don't trust the values I came home with.
7. All are sporting weight barrels.
8. Thanks to Loudon Guns in Leesburg, Virginia for their patience and their shop's layout. It's the only one in the area that lets a customer wander among open stacks and handle the merchandise without help, if we don't want any. They had probably a hundred rifles to choose among.
What will I buy? I haven't decided yet, but the Winchester Classic is an easy choice if I decide to get a magnum caliber. The slightly higher weight will soak up the recoil better, and I'll get to look at the stock and fine metalwork forever.
Jaywalker
Make/Model................................Caliber...............Bbl.............Published Wgt.......Actual Wgt
Sako 75.....................................7mm STW........24 .............Not Specified...........8#9oz
CZ 550 Amer Prestige..........270 Win...............25.6 .........7.48 pounds.............8#3oz
CZ 550 Amer Prestige..........30-06..................25.6 .........7.48 pounds..............7#14oz
Win M70 Classic....................7mm STW........26 .............7.75 to 8.......................8#1oz
Win M70 Classic...................300 Win Mag....26 .............7.75 to 8.......................8#0oz
Win M70 Super Grade..........7mm Mag.........26.............7.75 to 8.......................8#0oz
Win M70 Clsc Laminated....7mm Mag.........26.............7.75 to 8.......................7#11oz
Win M70 Fwt.........................270 WSM..........24.............7.......................................7#4oz
Win M70 Fwt.........................300 Win Mag...24.............7.......................................7#5oz
Win M70 Stainless/Syn........7mm WSM.......24.............7#4oz.............................7#5oz
Savage 114.............................300 Win Mag...22-24......7 to 7.5..........................7#1oz
Remington 700 BDL.............270 Win...........22 ...........7.25..................................7#0oz
Remington 700 BDL.............243 Win...........22 ...........7.25.................................7#1oz
Remington 700 BDL(rifle#1).22-250..........22..............7.25..................................7#9oz
Remington 700 BDL(rifle#2).22-250..........22 ............7.25...................................7#9oz
Blaser R93................................30-06..............22............7........................................7#8oz
Comments:
1. I wasn't particularly interested in synthetic stocks, so I only weighed one of them.
2. The winner in the "Most Optimistic Manufacturer Weight Estimate" is clearly CZ.
3. The winner in the "Best Stock in a Non-Custom Rifle" is Winchester, for their Classic models. These stocks were gorgeous.
4. The winner in the "Biggest Surprise," was tie, with both awards going to Remington. First, the "deer rifle" calibers came in under the published weights. Second, the short action 22-250s were significantly heavier than other short action BDLs. This could partly be a result of a smaller bullet hole and thus more metal remaining, or it could be something entirely else - I don't know. I weighed two separate rifles to ensure it wasn't my error somehow.
5. I weighed these rifles on my old beer-making scale, which allowed minor recalibration when the "no rifle" weight approached one ounce.
6. I also weighed Browning A-Bolt Hunters, but due to a recording error, I don't trust the values I came home with.
7. All are sporting weight barrels.
8. Thanks to Loudon Guns in Leesburg, Virginia for their patience and their shop's layout. It's the only one in the area that lets a customer wander among open stacks and handle the merchandise without help, if we don't want any. They had probably a hundred rifles to choose among.
What will I buy? I haven't decided yet, but the Winchester Classic is an easy choice if I decide to get a magnum caliber. The slightly higher weight will soak up the recoil better, and I'll get to look at the stock and fine metalwork forever.
Jaywalker
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