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(This is Part 2 of the TFB Rifle Weight Omnibus. You can read Part 1 here.)
In October, I traveled out to see my co-writer Alex C. to collect data on the weights of different long guns and some of their components. Over that weekend, I weighed 58 rifles and submachine guns, and numerous magazines, bolts, bolt carriers, and other miscellaneous items. The purpose of this was not only to collate a general list of the weights of different weapons, but to be able to enhance the accuracy of a previous spreadsheet I’d produced showing the loaded “combat” weights of different rifles; that being available at this link.
Note 1. The weights on the scale are in kilograms, period, grams. Therefore, if the scale reads “3.425”, that should be read “three kilograms, four-hundred twenty-five grams”. If the scale reads “3. 25”, that should be read “three kilograms, twenty-five grams”. I realize most of my readers probably are more familiar with pounds than they are kilograms, so the weights have been converted in the text body. The conversion factor I am using, for those who want to check my work – please do, by the way – is 2.205 pounds per kilogram.
Note 2. Where practical, I removed slings before weighing rifles, however, some rifles were weighed with their slings attached. In some of these cases, the slings have their weight bearing on the table, effectively removing them from the rifle, but it still should be noted that the weight of the slings may be throwing off these values, slightly. Where the slings are fully on the scale with the rifle, this should be made obvious by the image. Most cotton and leather slings have a similar weight, so this can be subtracted from the value shown on the scale to give bare rifle weight, if desired. I weighed a USGI cotton web sling, which came out to 0.126 kilograms, or 0.278 pounds. Leather slings will vary a lot, but a USGI leather M1907 sling weighs approximately 0.320 kilograms, or 0.706 pounds.
Now, without further ado, I present my findings on the unloaded weights of these weapons, and the weights of their magazines, in alphabetical order.
31. M1903A3 SPRINGFIELD
Weight, Rifle: 3.944 kg, 8.697 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
32. M1917 ENFIELD
Weight, Rifle: 4.350 kg, 9.592 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
33. M1941 JOHNSON
Weight, Rifle: 4.648 kg, 10.249 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
34. MADSEN MODEL 1947
Weight, Rifle: 3.934 kg, 8.674 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
35. MAS 49-56
Weight, Rifle: 3.942 kg, 9.138 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.202 kg, 0.445 lb
36. MASTERPIECE ARMS MPAR-556
Weight, Rifle: 4.038 kg, 8.904 lb
Weight, Magazine: Same as 8, 0.106 kg, 0.234 lb
37. MODEL OF 1892 SPRINGFIELD-KRAG-JORGENSEN RIFLE
Weight, Rifle: 4.242 kg, 9.354 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
38. MODEL OF 1895 LEE RIFLE 6MM
Weight, Rifle: 4.018 kg, 8.860 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
39. MP.40
Weight, Rifle: 3.804 kg, 8.388 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.252 kg, 0.556 lb
40. RASHEED CARBINE
Weight, Rifle: 3.934 kg, 8.674 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.182 kg, 0.401 lb
41. REMINGTON MODEL 8
Weight, Rifle: 3.714 kg, 8.189 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
42. ROBINSON ARMAMENT M96 EXPEDITIONARY RIFLE
Weight, Rifle: 3.994 kg, 8.807 lb
Weight, Magazine: Same as 8, 0.106 kg, 0.234 lb
43. RPK-74 (Bulgarian milled receiver)
Weight, Rifle: 4.478 kg, 9.874 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.218 kg, 0.481 lb
44. RUGER MINI-14
Weight, Rifle: 3.064 kg, 6.756 lb
Weight, Magazine (30 rd): 0.256 kg, 0.564 lb
Weight, Magazine (20 rd): 0.164 kg, 0.362 lb
45. SAFN-49 VENEZUALAN CONTRACT (7mm)
Weight, Rifle: 4.640 kg, 10.231 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
46. SAIGA 5.45×39 (converted)
Weight, Rifle: 3.414 kg, 7.528 lb
Weight, Magazine: Same as 43, 0.218 kg, 0.481 lb
47. SIG-556
Weight, Rifle: 3.976 kg, 8.767 lb
Weight, Magazine: Same as 8, 0.106 kg, 0.234 lb
48. SIG AMT
Weight, Rifle: 4.474 kg, 9.865 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.296 kg, 0.653 lb
49. SKS (Chinese)
Weight, Rifle: 3.424 kg, 7.550 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
50. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY INC M1A (USGI M14 stock, GI profile barrel)
Weight, Rifle: 4.306 kg, 9.495 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.232 kg, 0.512 lb
51. STEYR AUG A3
Weight, Rifle + Optic: 4.048 kg, 8.926 lb
Weight, Optic: 0.448 kg, 0.988 lb
Weight, Rifle: 3.600 kg, 7.938 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.124 kg, 0.273 lb
52. MP.43
Weight, Rifle: 4.554 kg, 10.042 lb
Weight, Magazine (blued): 0.398 kg, 0.878 lb
Weight, Magazine (parkerized): 0.392 kg, 0.864 lb
53. TAVOR SAR-21
Weight, Rifle: 3.600 kg, 7.938 lb
Weight, Magazine: Same as 8, 0.106 kg, 0.234 lb
54. TYPE 99 SHORT RIFLE (Early, all features)
Weight, Rifle: 3.908 kg, 8.617 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
55. VALMET M76
Weight, Rifle: 3.614 kg, 7.969 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.282 kg, 0.621 lb
56. VICKERS-PEDERSEN PB
Weight, Rifle: 4.338 kg, 9.565 lb
Weight, Magazine: N/A
57. VZ. 26
Weight, Rifle: 3.122 kg, 6.884 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.264 kg, 0.582 lb
58. WALTHER MPL
Weight, Rifle: 2.970 kg, 6.549 lb
Weight, Magazine: 0.232 kg, 0.512 lb
Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll take a closer analytical look at this data!
