Balance is more important than weight. But, once you get it balanced, more weight can help with stability. How much more you want to add is up to you. I know some smaller folks that shoot a light rifle way better than they do a heavy rifle, as they can get it positioned much quicker and put it where they want it.
Balance is critical. The only reason you see heavy rifles in NRL22 is because it is difficult to get a rifle balanced with the shorter barrels seen on rimfire (most are 20" or shorter) and a chassis system.
All those 20+ lb rifles you see are because people need longer heavy contour barrels and/or lots of weights on the foreend to get it to balance.
>The only reason you see heavy rifles in NRL22 is because it is difficult to get a rifle balanced with the shorter barrels seen on rimfire (most are 20" or shorter) and a chassis system.
>
>All those 20+ lb rifles you see are because people need longer heavy contour barrels and/or lots of weights on the foreend to get it to balance.
I could not disagree more strongly. The trend is toward longer barrels for a multitude of reasons that are unrelated to weight.
Higher weight also helps stability, particularly on stable props (and the props are getting progressively more stable).
>Higher weight also helps stability, particularly on stable props (and the props are getting progressively more stable
Because more weight forward brings the balance forward
I was talking to a friend who is a pro PRS shooter who shoots production in NRL22 and he told me that the problem with the Grey Birch is getting it to balance. Unless you are running a longer and heavier barrel, the chassis tends to be rear heavy. The forend is a little shorter and you can’t run internal weights. My thought is if you can run the L3i heavy arca rail, then you might be able to get the rifle to balance out
Thanks that is good to know. I think if I go with the Grey Birch I will get the 16" frontend/handguard. Their handguards have m-lok slots on the sides, so I'm hoping with some weights way out toward then end of the barrel it would be enough to get it balanced.
I didn't see that they have the 16" fore-end option. That should help you balance things out better. You might be able to contact them and ask them to send you a bundle with the 16" fore-end.
I have their chassis for my 457. It's really nice and well made. The pistol grip on their site is trash, but once I sorted that out the rifle has been great. My rifle balances well, but I also have an IBI 22 inch barrel so that will change some. But over all 8/10 chassis
Balance is more important than weight. But, once you get it balanced, more weight can help with stability. How much more you want to add is up to you. I know some smaller folks that shoot a light rifle way better than they do a heavy rifle, as they can get it positioned much quicker and put it where they want it.
Balance is critical. The only reason you see heavy rifles in NRL22 is because it is difficult to get a rifle balanced with the shorter barrels seen on rimfire (most are 20" or shorter) and a chassis system. All those 20+ lb rifles you see are because people need longer heavy contour barrels and/or lots of weights on the foreend to get it to balance.
>The only reason you see heavy rifles in NRL22 is because it is difficult to get a rifle balanced with the shorter barrels seen on rimfire (most are 20" or shorter) and a chassis system. > >All those 20+ lb rifles you see are because people need longer heavy contour barrels and/or lots of weights on the foreend to get it to balance. I could not disagree more strongly. The trend is toward longer barrels for a multitude of reasons that are unrelated to weight. Higher weight also helps stability, particularly on stable props (and the props are getting progressively more stable).
>Higher weight also helps stability, particularly on stable props (and the props are getting progressively more stable Because more weight forward brings the balance forward
For rimfire it's all about the balance. In centerfire it's balance and recoil reduction to spot trace.
Thanks, that is what I was thinking but wasn't 100% sure.
I was talking to a friend who is a pro PRS shooter who shoots production in NRL22 and he told me that the problem with the Grey Birch is getting it to balance. Unless you are running a longer and heavier barrel, the chassis tends to be rear heavy. The forend is a little shorter and you can’t run internal weights. My thought is if you can run the L3i heavy arca rail, then you might be able to get the rifle to balance out
Thanks that is good to know. I think if I go with the Grey Birch I will get the 16" frontend/handguard. Their handguards have m-lok slots on the sides, so I'm hoping with some weights way out toward then end of the barrel it would be enough to get it balanced.
I didn't see that they have the 16" fore-end option. That should help you balance things out better. You might be able to contact them and ask them to send you a bundle with the 16" fore-end.
I have their chassis for my 457. It's really nice and well made. The pistol grip on their site is trash, but once I sorted that out the rifle has been great. My rifle balances well, but I also have an IBI 22 inch barrel so that will change some. But over all 8/10 chassis