Is a heavy in weight pistol or rifle better than lighter ones? why?

Answer 1

Actually, you need to strike a happy medium.

If you go for a super heavyweight bench rest rifle, weighing 50 pounds or more, it won't make a handy hunting rifle.

Then again, you don't want a rifle so light the recoil causes you to develop a severe flinch.

Same with handguns. If you have a handgun the size and weight of a Desert Eagle, you won't carry it due to weight.

And if you have a 20 ounce .44 RemMag, you'll be afraid to shoot it due to the terrible recoil.

So, I like steel framed rifles and pistols that are heavy enough to dampen recoil, but not so heavy as to make them cumbrous to carry.

Doc

Answer 2

It depends on the kind of hunting you do. Hunting in a stand, where lugging a heavy rifle isn't a problem, you will want a heavy weapon to help with recoil. If you stalk, or if you have to hike a while to get to where you are shooting, then you want a lighter rifle that won't whip you at the end of the day. But in giving up weight, you get more felt recoil, so you need to take that into consideration. The best thing is to consider what caliber, and then decide, taking into account how much recoil there is, how much you will tolerate and how much weight you are willing to put up with, and compromise.

Answer 3

It's a compromise. If you're carrying extra weight, you'll tire more easily. If you're tired when you try to aim, the extra weight will be easier to stabilize. I tend to walk a lot and shoot at shorter range, where lighter is better. Others hunt from a stand almost exclusively and shoot at longer ranges; heavier is better there.

Answer 4

Weight can be beneficial when target shooting as the heavier weapon is more stable when supported; on the other hand, it is more difficult to old steady without a support of some kind; it depends on what you are going to use it for.

Answer 5

The heavier the weapon the less recoil and the most accurate. The lighter the weapon the more recoil and least accurate. You have to choose what best suits your needs.

Answer 6

You get less recoil, and it is easier to maintain proper sight alignment with a heavier rifle, pistol or revolver.*Therefore you also will increase your accuracy potential.*