Adding Weight

Vince

Handloader
May 26, 2012
4,796
1,528
I’m going to take the brake off my 375 Ruger but I’m thinking of adding two or three pounds of lead in the butt of the stock.

This is a hunting rifle that has more recoil than I care to deal with. Has anybody done this? What say you all?

Vince
 
If you don’t like the recoil of it, I’d either load some easier shooting stuff or maybe something like a 9.3x62 would be a better fit. Adding that much weight to but or about any rifle sounds like a horrible idea for balance as Don mentioned.
 
As for adding weight and effecting balance, I once added some weight to the butt of a Savage heavy barrel 22lr to see how it would react to bench shooting. Even at that it didn't feel right, butt heavy as suspected. For hunting rifle, I wouldn't recommend it.
 
I would not recommend adding that much weight . there was a gizmo for in the butt stock for helping recoil . I "THINK " it was called something like a " Mercury recoil reducer " . I'm not sure of the weight , effectiveness , or price . I'll do a little searching around , and see if I can find it .
 
IMG_0975.jpeg

This is what I have in my Shotgun I shoot Trap with. They come in a lot of diameter’s and length. Crankshaft Weights. I did Drill and tap mine so I can insert a screw to pull it out.
 
I would replace the factory recoil pad with a LimbSaver pad and reduce the load to about 2300-2350 fps to produce a softer recoiling cartridge and rifle combo, that will also enhance penetration characteristics for a soft bullet.
This will be better as it won't change the balance and handling characteristics of the rifle itself. And as mentioned, you won't have to lug that extra weight around for those extra miles in a long tracking job to catch up to your bull, and then the track back to the truck, if it cannot get right to your buffalo.
 
If you're going t add lead it's best to go fore and aft but weight gets heavy fast. I have a Winchester M70 Stainless Classic in .338 Win. Mag that flat out hurts like hell. Before anyone says wimp I've been known to shoot stuff like the .404Jeffery and .416 Rigby from the bench. One of m rifles is a Ruger M77 Tang safety in .375/338 magnum, also know as the .375 Taylor or .375 Chatfield-Taylor. take your choice.. It's named after it's designer, Robert Chatfield-Taylor. Roughy 6.5 to maybe 7 pounds of sheer mayhem.
Anyway this Stainless classic comes with a plastic stock andI've added lead to the forearm and butt and there is a brake on the muzzle and it's still painful to shoot I also have an early post 64 M70 in .338 Win. mag that while it still beats me up, it doesn't hurt me like the classic. I did try the brake before adding the lead and it was no help at all, at least that I could tell. Both rifle have recoil pad the I think are limb-savers and both have turned into some kind of goo. 😮 I'm thinking of getting rid of one but not sure which.
PJ
 
I had an engine internally balanced . they used a metal called , " Mallory Metal " . for an engine the advantage is the heavy weight , to small size ratio. in a long gun , you are still adding heavy weight that needs to be carried ..
 
I’m going to take the brake off my 375 Ruger but I’m thinking of adding two or three pounds of lead in the butt of the stock.

This is a hunting rifle that has more recoil than I care to deal with. Has anybody done this? What say you all?

Vince
Which rifle Vince? A mercury recoil reducer in the stock is not a bad idea also. I may have one I am not using somewhere.


 
Which rifle Vince? A mercury recoil reducer in the stock is not a bad idea also. I may have one I am not using somewhere.


My 375 Ruger.
I’ve tried various LOP’s and it doesn’t fit me like my .338 Win Mag.
 
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