Rifle weight
 

Hello, been looking to get a rifle for my dad for his birthday. He is kind of sensitive to recoil. Do you know of any good rifles that have a substantial weight to them? He likes the browning x bolt but i'm worried about that its too light.

Laminated stocks usually weigh 1/2 - 1 lb more than a standard wood stock on most models. I hate breaks but maybe if he wears hearing protection a break is in order.

NS - The X bolt as well as the A bolt are fine rifles. As for recoil it would depend on the model and chambering. What does he plan on using it for? Varmint, deer, black bear, or larger game.
If nothing larger than deer or black bear, a 7-08 or .308 is plenty of power. IMO (or it could have been the stock design) but I've found that a synthetic stock seems to absorb more recoil than a wood stock. But I must say I do like a finely grained wood stock. And a good recoil pad like a limbsaver or even a recoil absorbing system could help your dad cope with recoil. Good luck

Just buy a caliber that doesn't have much recoil. .243, .260, 7mm-08.... pretty much any model gun in those don't kick much at all, even the lightweight models.

While i like a light rifle in moderate calibers i acquired a ruger 77 in 25-06 with a heavy barrel and laminated stock. Kind of afraid to weigh it but it is definitely heavy.
Recoil negligible,would be nice to let him try it. Good luck.

Just buy a rubber pachmyer pad to slip on the end. Does wonders. Also the savage model 12 bvss is about a 10 lb gun with the laminated stock and heavy stainless barrel, before scope

What is the rifle for?

The X bolts are made in ***an. Not much pride in owning a gun made by those that started WW2.

Several questions....what does he intend to do with it? Target shoot, hunt big game? Varmint hunt? That drives caliber (which impacts recoil)...

I have a Browning A-Bolt Medallion in 25 WSSM...it actually kicks more than I expected it to, but not enough to require changes like a brake or recoil pad. I have rifles with brakes and/or recoil pads (I really prefer Limb Saver recoil pads, the ones I have I really love!)...but they are all magnums...

Also, how recoil sensitive? A wood stocked Browning A or X bolt in .243, 7mm-08, 25-06, and even 308 should be relatively easy on recoil....I would even add 270 WIN to that (my 270 actually kicks less than most of my 308's)...the .243, 7mm-08 and 25-06 are all great deer rifles and easy on the shoulder...my 8 year old daughter and niece both shoot .243's without trouble.

I much prefer my rifles to be light than concerned on how much they kick.

My first concern will always be how accurate they are !!!

There are recoil reducers that you can have installed inside the buttstock that add weight and reduce recoil by having a liquid inside of them. The movement of the liquid during recoil absorbs or slows the recoil pulse. The recoil pad is removed from the stock, a hole is drilled, the reducer is popped in, and the recoil pad goes back on. I see them sometimes in heavy kicking rifles used for dangerous game. A recoil reducer will add weight to the stock, but a reducer and a good pad will cut the recoil by a considerable amount.

There is a model available that can be installed into the forearm also.

Here is an example: http://www.brownells.com/shooting-ac...-prod6728.aspx

Example of forearm: http://www.brownells.com/shooting-ac...prod25270.aspx

he plans on deer and elk hunting with me. he also likes to target shoot alot. i want him to enjoy shooting it also. i would prefer buying an american made product but browning is a international company and there guns are made in many places around the world including ***an but they are very good and one of the best imo

Do you reload? I had the same problem with my father many years ago with his Win. Model 70 in 30-06. I loaded some 125 gr. Sierras for him that shot real well at a slightly reduced powder charge. He was happy with that until he thought now the gun is too heavy. I got him a Rem. 700 ADL in .308 Win., and did the same thing. He hunted with that gun and killed deer with it until he had to quit hunting at age 83.

Just something to consider, and the 7mm-08 with 120 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips would be an excellent choice for deer. He could move up to the 140 gr. Accubonds for elk. That caliber is a sweet-heart for the recoil-shy to begin with...

My weatherby was made in ***an too, and it's a shooter.

Not much pride in buying American anymore, when many American companies repay us by closing down shop and moving over seas. Quality is quality, and unfortunately, American quality has given in to profit.

Like Big Uncle posted, the in-stock recoil reducers are a quick and fairly inexpensive method of reducing felt recoil. There are both mechanical and mercury filled models that sell for under $50, and with a very little woodworking skill they are easy to install in just about any rifle or shotgun stock. They add about 8 oz to your stock's weight so the added weight plus the action of the reducer combine to absorb some of the kick.

I use both kinds and can't tell which is better. They both work. I installed one in each of my Trap and Skeet shotguns, my 870 field gun, and in the stocks of my .375 RUM and .300 Weatherby.

Just drilling a hole in any stock and filling it with lead will add weight to any gun and it will help to reduce the felt recoil.