Is the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express too light?

[Northern Shooter]

Looking at the latest Safari Express rifles on the Winchester website, the rifle weighs exactly 9lbs 0 oz for all 3 options (375H&H, 416 RemMag and 458 WinMag.

I've heard Kevin Robertson state that a 375H&H rifle should weigh 10lbs due to recoil so I imagine even heavier rifles would be recommended for the 416s and 458s?

My CZ 550 (375) weighs 0.3 lbs heavier than my Model 70 (458). I'm guessing I'll be in for some stout recoil? What weight is everyone else running on their DG rifles?

 

[JHT]

No, it is not too light. In fact, the .375 is front heavy. The .416; however, is downright perfection. Scoped, my .416 is 11.2 pounds empty. The weights aren't correct on the website. The .375 is heavier than the .416 and the .416 is heavier than the .458. Reason being, the same barrel blanks are used but obviously more material has to be removed to make way for the bigger calibers.

 

[revturbo9967]

mine is perfect weight and does not recoil much in a 375

 

[375Fox]

He has earned all his opinions, but 10 lbs is an unnecessarily heavy rifle. My Sako 85 is 8.5 lbs before scope and is comfortable to shoot. 9 lbs before scope is good. He also recommended reducing the load on 9.3x62 with heavy bullets to reduce recoil. I think his opinion is accurate with a new client and a rental rifle from a PH perspective. The lower the recoil the better for someone unfamiliar with rifle, but for your own 9 lbs will be very comfortable to shoot and likely feel heavy.

 

[Gemsbok45]

Kevin Robertson does Trump most opinions. I however love my M/70 416 Rem mag. NX-8 1-8 and shooting Swift A-Frames and Barnes monolithic solids. Can carry it all day. No sling.

 

[Puddle]

Mine in .375 H&H, all up with steel rings and magazine full is 9.5 lbs.
Just right.

 

[375Fox]

Kevin Robertson does Trump most opinions. I however love my M/70 416 Rem mag. NX-8 1-8 and shooting Swift A-Frames and Barnes monolithic solids. Can carry it all day. No sling.

He has earned all his opinions but they are still opinions. Not every PH makes the same recommendations he does. His writings and podcasts are great resources, but I think too many accept what he says as unquestionable.

 

[AimSmall]

It depends. Is it riding in a safari truck, or are you toting it across Alaska? 375 Kimber Caprivi for Africa ~9lbs +scope with little recoil, while the 375 Talkeetna is something like 7lbs 12oz...makes you glad you were wearing a jacket!

 

[Northern Shooter]

No, it is not too light. In fact, the .375 is front heavy. The .416; however, is downright perfection. Scoped, my .416 is 11.2 pounds empty. The weights aren't correct on the website. The .375 is heavier than the .416 and the .416 is heavier than the .458. Reason being, the same barrel blanks are used but obviously more material has to be removed to make way for the bigger calibers.

So the 458 model is the lightest of the 3? With the highest recoil?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

It’s not too heavy, especially if you prefer to carry your own rifle yourself in the African bush.

 

[Northern Shooter]

He has earned all his opinions, but 10 lbs is an unnecessarily heavy rifle. My Sako 85 is 8.5 lbs before scope and is comfortable to shoot. 9 lbs before scope is good. He also recommended reducing the load on 9.3x62 with heavy bullets to reduce recoil. I think his opinion is accurate with a new client and a rental rifle from a PH perspective. The lower the recoil the better for someone unfamiliar with rifle, but for your own 9 lbs will be very comfortable to shoot and likely feel heavy.

Yeah his comment had me a little confused. I always viewed a 9lbs rifle a good place to be for 9.62 and 375s.

I'd guess that 458s and double rifles should weigh in north of 10lbs to mitigate those greater recoils.

 

[Joker12]

Mine in 416RM is nicely balanced and recoil does not seem much different from 375s (different makers) that I own.

 

[colorado]

My Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby weighs 7.5 lbs empty with scope and rings! It's fine.

 

[Captain Munro]

I'll echo what others have said. My Model 70 375 kicks less than my Ruger No 1 45-70, both scoreless for now.

 

[Northern Shooter]

My Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby weighs 7.5 lbs empty with scope and rings! It's fine.

That....sounds painful.

 

[Berettaco]

9lbs isn’t bad at all for a 375 - if you’re carrying it all day for a week or two those extra 2-3 pounds get really old really fast

 

[Shako Badhan]

My Safari Express weighs in at just over 10 lbs empty with glass on. The recoil is very very manageable. Great all around rifle in my experience.

If I remember correctly Kevin Robertson said the Safari Express is one of the few bolt guns that he considers “adequate” for a PH out of the box.

 

[sierraone]

My 1992 year M70, 375 is not too heavy for me and my RSM 404J is not too heavy for me. Maybe if I were tracking an animal 12-15 miles a day. I did some of that when I was much younger in Colorado wilderness areas. I was carrying a M70 3006 then though. Those days have long past. If I am shooting a lot of rounds from a bench, I use a 1 inch Past Pad.

 

[Andrew62]

while the 375 Talkeetna is something like 7lbs 12oz...makes you glad you were wearing a jacket!

I had 4" of the barrel cut off of my Talkeetna, then the barrel retapered so my Talkeetna, with scope it is 7lbs 11oz. I had the barrel threaded, I run a muzzle brake when sighting in, then take it off and put on the thread protector when I hunt. I carry my rifle a whole lot more than shoot it so I went with the lightest .375H&H I could come up with. Having a 20" barrel when hunting buffalo or elephant is handy too.

 

[colorado]

That....sounds painful.

Well when I go to the range I shoot my 500 Jeffery first, so the 375 feels like a 30-06.