Making a rifle heavier

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pacobillie

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I just got myself a .45-70 barrel for my TC Encore. I expected something that weighs about the same as my .50 caliber barrel, but lo and behold, that thing is very light. I have a feeling that it is going to kick like the devil when I get to shoot it. I am trying to figure out ways to make the rifle heavier. One thing that crossed my mind is putting lead inside the cavities in the forearm. I can do one of two things: glue strips of lead with double sided tape, or epoxy pieces of lead into place. The latter is not reversible, though.

Has anyone ever done this? Any sources for strips of lead? Or should I just grab a few lead balls and hammer them into a "strip".

I know that golf pros used to have lead strips to adjust the swing weight of golf clubs. Any idea where I may be able to get my hands on some of that material?
 
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I packed a tube and a half of silicone caulking into my XL7 stack to help absorb recoil and get rid of the hollow synthetic stock sound.
Maybe there is something more dense, but the soft maleable property of the silicone really helps.
 
I've used lead shot and poured Acraglas over the top, it worked well and I was happy with the results.
 
Is this a synthetic stocked rifle? If it is take the recoil pad off and fill a heavy duty plastic bag with some shot, a little tape and put it in the rear stock and presto. Added weight that is easily removed.

I wouldn't worry untill you have shot it first
 
Originally Posted by Sask_Hunter
I wouldn't worry until you have shot it first

Aniest said:
I agree....

If you do find it light think about buying a 2nd foreend and making it heavier: this will allow something epoxied in, can be swapped if too heavy on another barrel, and will pull the weight forward to simulate the heavier 50 Cal barrel you are used to.
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The .45-70 barrel has its own forend and it is a different size than the .50 ML barrel. That is why I have no qualm about adding weight to that forend.

I know it is going to kick, as it is about 1.5 pounds lighter than the same rifle with the ML barrel, and it will be shooting the same bullet, a 325 Grain FTX, at about 150 FPS faster (2050 fps vs. 1900 fps) than the ML does at max. load. And the ML kicks hard with that load. So the fact that it is going to kick hard seems like a certainty.
 
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I picked up a rifle stock pack, put it on my buttstock and filled it with full magazines. It added a bit of weight and makes it hold steadier and absorb recoil.
 
Adding lead shot, glueing lead strips or epoxying it in the stock sounds to me like a bubba job.... I would kill couple of birds with one shot here.... Instalation of big dia HEAVY artilery style muzzle brake IMHO would make the rifle; extra lighter recoiling one, nicelly looking, a little heavier and less prone to muzzle rise after the shot. My 2c.
 
I have a stock Rem 700 XCR in .375 RUM, and it was both my lightest and heaviest recoiling rifle, which was a bit of a ##### of a combination. I added 40 oz of #8 lead shot, spread in the forestock and buttstock to maintain proper balance. The shot was held in with crazy glue and JB weld. Totally tamed the recoil on that rifle, and now it gets way more field use than before, when I was quite seriously concerned with scope bite.
 
I know it is going to kick, as it is about 1.5 pounds lighter than the same rifle with the ML barrel, and it will be shooting the same bullet, a 325 Grain FTX, at about 150 FPS faster (2050 fps vs. 1900 fps) than the ML does at max. load. And the ML kicks hard with that load. So the fact that it is going to kick hard seems like a certainty.
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My 50 cal Encore ML often wears a 15" 45-70 tube for hunting bush. With 325 FTXs chronographed 2008 MV it's hunting ready. It's uber light and lets me know it when firing. However I like it for the purpose. I could detune those loads somewhat to reduce recoil. But I can shoot it well enough so leave it at that top level. So I'd also say try your new barrel first - before adding weight.
encore45-70-1.jpg

Encore45-70_target325FTX_sm.jpg
 
So I'd also say try your new barrel first - before adding weight. [/QUOTE said:
I tried shooting the gun without the added weight and although it shot well, I find it to be too light. The recoil is very sharp. I ended up inserting a total of 22 .495 diameter lead balls, each weighing 183 grains, in the two rear cavities of the forend. Everything is held in place by epoxy cement. I still have room for an extra 17 balls or so in the two front cavities, should the need arise.

All in all, I must have added about .75 pounds to the gun. I have yet to shoot it with the added weight.
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To answer your first question, as to where to find lead strips with adhesive backing. Try your local RC shop and ask for crawler weights. These are 8" long strips of lead that are segmented into 1/4 oz squares used to weigh down the tires of the RC car to give them extra low CG. Not unlike wheel weights for a motorcycle wheel. That's the second place to look, incase you didn't pick up on that. Lol.
Hope that helped.
 
Hollow out stock some, add lead shot, but don't pack it tight, if there's a bit of space to move it would work much like a mercury recoil reducer.
 
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