How do you handle recoil?

gitrdun

gitrdun

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Felt or perceived recoil has come up a few times as of late. The trend seems to lean towards the light so called "mountain" rifles. Thus the appeal of the Tikka T3. I can't help but to wonder when the next such rifle in a .338WM will show up in the EE forum. People want light carry rifle, but boy will they complain once they find out their new light rifle contains the plastic parts that contribute to weight reduction or kick the living crap out of them. This brought to my mind the topic of recoil. My good buddy is a good 12" of maybe more taller than I am. The other day, he absolutely had to shoot the .338WM and .375H&H over the hood of a small pick-up. He leaned his tall lanky body over that hood and proceeded to punish himself in a bad way. I told him that neither of these guns were that scary to me. Of course, I got the expected "yeah sure...whatever, look". But truly, it is a matter of simple mechanics. My shorter frame allows me flexibilty to take up the recoil, simply because my body lenght is perpendicular to recoil path. Whereas his lenght means he must lean his frame in line with the rifle stock and take a full strength beating from those so called bigger rifles. Bottom line is, I have learned or should I say...taught myself to become less recoil sensitive and work with it. It is not only a matter of simple body mechanics that you must "go with the flow", but it is also a mental practise to not develop a trigger flinch. By the way, this same fellow who chose a .338WM as his hunting rifle, flinches at the trigger pull of a .223. I proved it to him and he called me an #######. Anyhow, the only way to clear up or not develop a flinch is to shoot a lot, learn the proper body language, position or whatever you want to call it. I also believe that recoil fright and flinching are developed at the range and carried on to the field. The only thing is, the range is where you must get rid of it. Yeah, I know....long winded, but how do you guys deal with it, let's help those that need help. :shotgun:
 
Use a past recoil pad on your shoulder at the range. You'll never feel sore and it sure cuts down the hammering. When hunting you don't notice recoil.

Or you could do what the previous post said.:D
 
I am a wuss, therefore I am solving the problem by buying a Spec-ops recoil reducing stock (when they finally get here).
 
The only gun that really HURTS shooting that I own is the 12 guage with folding stock and slugs ... I guess I'm not very recoil sensitive as I can handle anything else just fine, mind you I found out that every gun I own 'cept for the 22's has a sort of "maximum rounds in one setting" where things will get generally unpleasant and/or downright painful if I exceed said maximum.
 
You see, this thing that people call "recoil sensitivity" in my opinion is not so much a case of being a wuss or a pussy. I believe that it is a function of a variety of things such as incorrect LOP, incorrect posture, bad stock design, and maybe even a mental thing, and yes a hockey puck recoil pad. I also think that if you like a caliber and a gun well enough, you can and will change it.
 
Yes and no. Your right on many issues like length of pull. Proper form, various positions and postures can affect how you feel recoil. In my case, my problem is from several previous injury's that are coming back to haunt me. I think anyone who has suffered a concussion can be affected by recoil irregardless of the cartridge. It's not the gun smacking you, it's what your body does during recoil that can do it. If the gun itself hurts, than you need a soft pad. If it's somthing else, you need to assess the situation before you can decide how to cope.
 
I think the best way to deal with recoil is shoot a lot. When a new shooter pics up a shotgun and fires a shot it's a big deal. After a few thousand rounds you don't even pay much attention to it. Recoil simply becomes part of the process and goes mostly unnoticed. I think it's good to also shoot a decent ammount of "punishing" loads just to up the bar on what recoil is really like.

I fired a friends .44Mag Thompson Contender, thought it was quite powerful, he switched barrels to .445 SuperMag, punished myself for 10 rounds then went back to the .44 which felt like a .22 by comparison. Though 3" slugs out of the 14" 870 still hurts :redface:.
 
Recoil well I don't have a problem with that its the fear of getting an idiot mark that dose it to me.... I just have to get in to the mindset that the scope will not come back and hit me if i hold it properly.
 
Does not bother me but the worst I have fired was my Ruger #1 with full house 500gr.reloads.My son who wieghed in at 350lbs. at the time would no shot it.:eek: He said I see the way you are comeing off the bench old man,I will pass.What a wuss.I only hit the scales at 200.;) DAN>>>
 
I like light rifles and recoil doesn't bother me. Synthetic stocks don't have to kick the crap out of you, it all depends on what they are made of and the stock profile, of course like you were saying LOP is a big part of it too, a gun that is the right lenght for you will treat you better then one that doesn't.
 
I sight in hundreds of guns a year... half will be slug-guns!
I only shoot off the bench from a Caldwell lead sled. I wear Filson shirts with the Limbsaver recoil pad in the shoulder when shotgunning for recreation or hunting. My personal everyday firearms are bought with recoil management as a consideration. You pay more for guns that are easy on you or that are custom fitted to you but it is money well spent.
I have had five shoulder operations and I have arthritis in my neck from fractured vertebrae.
Recoil can and does damage your body and it is cumulative so anything you can do to lessen the effects of recoil is worth it! Not only is there physiological issues with regard to recoil there is the mental trauma as well! What is mental trauma you ask? Well that is your subconscious mind learning from the repeated shock and pain that this is gonna hurt. And every time you pull the trigger your mind sends a signal to your body telling it to get ready for the recoil, making you blink and jerk your body.... and this my friends is a FLINCH!
A FLINCH is the worst thing for a shooter or hunter to develop. There is absolutely nothing worse than a bad shot whether it is hunting or target shooting.
Once you got the FLINCH ... it is a hard thing to get rid of!:runaway:
Good thread!:cool:
 
Gunslinger said:
I think the best way to deal with recoil is shoot a lot. When a new shooter pics up a shotgun and fires a shot it's a big deal. After a few thousand rounds you don't even pay much attention to it. Recoil simply becomes part of the process and goes mostly unnoticed. I think it's good to also shoot a decent ammount of "punishing" loads just to up the bar on what recoil is really like.

I fired a friends .44Mag Thompson Contender, thought it was quite powerful, he switched barrels to .445 SuperMag, punished myself for 10 rounds then went back to the .44 which felt like a .22 by comparison. Though 3" slugs out of the 14" 870 still hurts :redface:.
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True, but I also believe that you should shoot a lot, correctly. If you don't try and concentrate on improvement, further shooting can only make matters worse....No?
 
True, but I also believe that you should shoot a lot, correctly. If you don't try and concentrate on improvement, further shooting can only make matters worse....No?
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Of course, you've got to learn to expect recoil but not react to it prematurely to it while shooting with good form.

It's kind of like boxing, first few times you get hit it hurts, after a few rounds you're not feeling much or thinking about the punches, just focusing on the opponent. I'm suggesting to get "recoil drunk", get comfortable with it and learn to operate within it. :D
 
Make recoil fun. I had a 460WBy and no one would try it because of what they had read, not experienced. I figure if those kids can fall off skateboards and bicycles and break bones and laugh and film it, I should be able to shoot any rifle out there. So I do.

shoot lots and try different rifles is how I do it. and i dont flinch cause i dont care how hard it pushes or snaps me.
 
huntinstuff said:
Make recoil fun. I had a 460WBy and no one would try it because of what they had read, not experienced. I figure if those kids can fall off skateboards and bicycles and break bones and laugh and film it, I should be able to shoot any rifle out there. So I do.

shoot lots and try different rifles is how I do it. and i dont flinch cause i dont care how hard it pushes or snaps me.
Click to expand...

Aah... I remember the time I tried to do a trick called a 'frontside disaster' on a 8' quarterpipe - you get off the top of the ramp, spin around once, land with one set of wheels on one end of the ramp and one set on the other, then ride back down. Well, I got up the ramp right, kicked myself and my board into the air, rotated, came down right and felt my back wheels touch the concrete... then wham, my board skidded away from me and I went down full force. Wasn't wearing any protection at the time either, but it wouldn't have mattered, as your hips, and shoulders aren't padded.

Unable to walk for a few weeks.

But at least that was fun. :D

- Dave.
 
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