Adding weight to a rifle?

[wolfmangreg]

Very happy with my new Cricket 2 Tac, & honestly think it's pretty gentle for the power. That said, it is a .30 caliber putting out 83+ fpe, so it has some muzzle jump at the shot. Can see why bench rest competitors add a bunch of weight to their rigs.

Not a br competitor myself, but would like to tame her a bit more when shooting from sticks. Did a little experimenting to that end last night.

Added a rail extension (Yankee Hill Machine) underneath to move the fulcrum point further out when using sticks, & it also provides more real estate in an ideal location for adding weight. Then put my doctorate in Kentucky engineering to use- what do I have in the garage that is heavy & will stick to that rail?? Well, there's an unopened pack of wheel weight strips, 8 oz total. Can't remember when I bought them or what for, but sure it wasn't to use as wheel weights . Anyway, they'll do.



Not a permanent solution by any means, but couldn't ask for a better fit. Left just enough room to settle the extended rail on the bipod yoke.

Shot a magazine before & after sticking the strips on, & did notice a difference. Thinking somewhere in the 1-2lbs range would get me where I wanna go.

Soliciting any & all ideas for a more elegant solution, either commercial or homebrew. Only real criteria are:
- adds weight to the rifle
- quickly detachable; don't want it there when not on sticks or a bench
- leaves 1-2" at the front for resting on a bipod yoke

Know there are some weighting systems out there, but not seeing any for pic rail attachment. If you know of any, I'd be much obliged if you pass me the info. Also have some half baked thoughts involving a cheap set of 1-screw low scope rings & a section of brass rod.

 

[CTAirgunner]

You could get a pipe of some sort whether be a lead rod, steel pipe, aluminum pipe filled with sand and capped and then mount it via picatinny scope rings.

 

[Centercut]

Brass round bar, either 1" or 30mm diameter, and 1" or 30mm scope rings. Works great if you have pic rail to mount it (them) on...

 

[wolfmangreg]

Thanks guys, think that's the route I'm gonna take. Maybe some faux carbon fiber wrap to class it up, I hear that's what all the cool kids are doing

 

[Centercut]

If you can find 30mm brass round bar, its 40% heavier for the same length than 1" brass round bar...

 

[wolfmangreg]

If you can find 30mm brass round bar, its 40% heavier for the same length than 1" brass round bar...

Was thinking that too- shorter section needed to get the weight wanted. Have several pairs of 30mm rings without a job, another plus.

 

[Centercut]

Was thinking that too- shorter section needed to get the weight wanted. Have several pairs of 30mm rings without a job, another plus.

I bought my 30mm brass round bar on AliExpress. They have various lengths available. Couldn't find anything but 1" on Amazon or eBay.

 

[wolfmangreg]

I bought my 30mm brass round bar on AliExpress. They have various lengths available. Couldn't find anything but 1" on Amazon or eBay.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Centercut]

Gun is .25 Daystate Red Wolf with 700cc bottle

1 inch brass round bar 6 inch long, 1 inch ID zinc shaft anodes (2), 1 inch ID steel shaft collars (2), 1 inch scope ring QD.
About 3.5 pounds total weight. It attaches to pic rail forward of the ARCA for the Tripod I’m using for BR this year.

A 6 inch brass round bar 1" diameter is 1.45 pounds. The same in 30mm diameter is about 2 pounds. Each zinc shaft anode is 0.94 pounds, and the steel shaft collars are 2.5 ounces.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Awesome, thanks for sharing Mike!

BTW, gotta get me a couple of those sweet TC stickers... you should trademark that before some rando (like me) starts sporting them on their collection

 

[Centercut]

Awesome, thanks for sharing Mike!

BTW, gotta get me a couple of those sweet TC stickers... you should trademark that before some rando (like me) starts sporting them on their collection

Thanks. The Logo is already trademarked or whatever it’s called. The wife took care of the details. DM me your address I’ll send you some TC stickers.
I’ve also considered doing TC tshirts but would have to charge $20 to $25 not sure they’d sell at that price.

 

[Smok3y]

Very happy with my new Cricket 2 Tac, & honestly think it's pretty gentle for the power. That said, it is a .30 caliber putting out 83+ fpe, so it has some muzzle jump at the shot. Can see why bench rest competitors add a bunch of weight to their rigs.

Not a br competitor myself, but would like to tame her a bit more when shooting from sticks. Did a little experimenting to that end last night.

Added a rail extension (Yankee Hill Machine) underneath to move the fulcrum point further out when using sticks, & it also provides more real estate in an ideal location for adding weight. Then put my doctorate in Kentucky engineering to use- what do I have in the garage that is heavy & will stick to that rail?? Well, there's an unopened pack of wheel weight strips, 8 oz total. Can't remember when I bought them or what for, but sure it wasn't to use as wheel weights . Anyway, they'll do.

View attachment 1274

Not a permanent solution by any means, but couldn't ask for a better fit. Left just enough room to settle the extended rail on the bipod yoke.

Shot a magazine before & after sticking the strips on, & did notice a difference. Thinking somewhere in the 1-2lbs range would get me where I wanna go.

Soliciting any & all ideas for a more elegant solution, either commercial or homebrew. Only real criteria are:
- adds weight to the rifle
- quickly detachable; don't want it there when not on sticks or a bench
- leaves 1-2" at the front for resting on a bipod yoke

Know there are some weighting systems out there, but not seeing any for pic rail attachment. If you know of any, I'd be much obliged if you pass me the info. Also have some half baked thoughts involving a cheap set of 1-screw low scope rings & a section of brass rod.

The new RAW system attaches by pic rail if you want commercial. Looks like you can get the full thing or smaller versions.

Rok-Loc Weight System

Rapid Air Weapons - The most accurate air rifles made in the USA. 35 years of air rifle manufacturing experience. Hunters and competition shooters agree, the most reliable, rugged, and accurate air rifles money can buy.

www.rapidairworx.com

SKOUT came out with one as well but it is ARCA.

Skout Stainless Shooting Weight | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the Skout Stainless Shooting Weight. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

Most other commercial weights I have seen attach with MLOK.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Thanks @Smok3y! Wasn't aware of that option, looks slick.
A bit pricey, but the "basic" setup is pretty reasonable & likely all I would need.
The basic option shows 4 lbs on their website, but think that's a misprint - looks like 16 oz worth of weights, plus whatever the connectors & ring weigh. About where I'd like to be based on the wheel weight experiment.

 

[Smok3y]

Thanks @Smok3y! Wasn't aware of that option, looks slick.
A bit pricey, but the "basic" setup is pretty reasonable & likely all I would need.
The basic option shows 4 lbs on their website, but think that's a misprint - looks like 16 oz worth of weights, plus whatever the connectors & ring weigh. About where I'd like to be based on the wheel weight experiment.

I thought the exact same thing!! No way one bar is 4lbs and all 3 are just 6lbs. That one bar can’t be 4lbs.

 

[Dairyboy]

I just played around with this on my Evol Mini. Yes only around 30fpe but only a 10" barrel and a lightweight gun it can still move a good bit with the shot cycle. Seeing people add weight I thought an easy test would be add my tripod to the front when shooting out of my truck on a bag as I usually do. Huge difference in the stability and muzzle flip. And it now actually balances perfectly on the bag instead of being rear heavy. I might make my own weight also when I shoot it off a bench and out of my truck.

 

[ctshooter]

Interesting report. I was looking at Tungsten bars to maximize density, but a 1" x 4" round bar was like $150. Yikes. I see the benefits of that Valdada bipod at 4 pounds, but don't think it will work on a bottle gun.

 

[Centercut]

Plus Tungsten is very hard to cut. The 1” dia brass 6” is good at about 1.45# and the 30mm is 2#.

So one of our Team guys has this on his .25 Red Wolf in PRS chassis. Somewhere between 8 and 9 pounds.
Let's see. Two zinc balls, 1 - 12" 1" round brass, 2 4" 1" rounds brass and 4 saber tack PRS weights.

 

[Dairyboy]

I thought the exact same thing!! No way one bar is 4lbs and all 3 are just 6lbs. That one bar can’t be 4lbs.

I emailed RAW to see what the length and weight actually are. Looks to me around 1lb too if they are all 1oz weights. At least $100 for brass rod alone that I can find.

 

[ctshooter]

I emailed RAW to see what the length and weight actually are. Looks to me around 1lb too if they are all 1oz weights. At least $100 for brass rod alone that I can find.

Looks for machine metal round stock. Should be cheaper from machine supply stores. Looks like about $57 for 1" x 12" piece here:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[wolfmangreg]

I emailed RAW to see what the length and weight actually are. Looks to me around 1lb too if they are all 1oz weights. At least $100 for brass rod alone that I can find.

That's what I'm thinking, 1 oz per weight disc. But my only evidence is the 8 oz add-on pack showing 8 discs. Thanks for reaching out to clear it up!

Thanks to all for the replies, love seeing & reading about the different solutions. Clearly more than one way to skin this cat.