muzzle break on a .308

I did think about the 7mm-08 as well as the .243, 22-250, 250-3000,and .300savage but the whole" already have at least 500 rounds loaded and components for loads more" thing won out in the end.
 
I had a custom rifle built for my old lady (5'2" with a coller bone that healed wrong and very recoil sensitive because of it) . The gunsmith said a stock that fits is the most important part of felt recoil. He cut a LOP for her installed a good recoil pad. Slimmed down the grip and forend. This is a light rifle and she can shoot it all day. First shot she took she turned to me with a big smile and said it doesn't kick at all. Kicks me like a mule though.

I was impressed how well fitting the rifle to her did for recoil. He did everything he could to talk me out of a muzzle break and Iam glad he did. I also went with a thumbhole stock which he mentioned and I also believed helps with felt recoil. With boyds set up to ship items under $100 bucks I would recomend you buy a cheaper stocked rifle for the barreled action and get a stock from boyds and fit it to her with a good pad plus she has her choice in colors :)

I have seen the difference it makes.

A weatherby vanguard in the cheap synthetic stock is 499.99-599.99 a boyds stock is going to be about 130 canadian shipped to you. If you are at all wood savy you could do it yourself. My smith was shocked how little work was required for the stock to finish.

If you would like to go this route I could PM you some tips on what we did to measure her up as me and the smith did it over the phone and it fits perfect.

Hope this helps.

Jason
The wife is a synthetic stock fan.
I will definately make sure the fit is perfect
 
Hi, I have a T3 light in 308 with "Vice" muzzle break and Limbsaver pad and I love it.
I hunted with end without muzzle break and I found that MB is not much louder for the shooter but effect other people that are standing besides the shooter.
You can also reduce stock length to make a perfect fit as I did and now it is really "sweet" rifle.
 
I had the Savage 111 in .308 for awhile. Sold it and bought a Stevens 200 in .270 due to caliber restrictions where I live for yotes. Both guns are very light, and this is where the recoil comes from. Honestly the recoil pad that comes on the new Savage packages is not bad at all. It is just basically a big soft sponge and does a pretty good job. I had no problem with it and it was my first centerfire rifle. As others have said filling the butt with lead is the way to go at the range. I filled an old sock with leadshot, and it added almost 2 pounds by the feel of it. This made a world of difference and even my GF loved it. Since then I am now shooting the Stevens 200 in .270 and it has just a rubber pad wchich does absolutely nothing, and is even lighter than that Savage due to the stock and mag. I think the Stevens gives more felt recoil but it doesnt bother me at all. The GF noticed the difference though. All comes down to the weight of the gun. leadshot in the stock is the best cure.
 
My daughter shoots one.

I bought my daughter a BLR in a 308 and she shoots it with no problem what so ever. She has taken a moose and several deer with it shooting Hornady factory 150 grs.

I can't comment on muzzle brakes as I don't know much about them other than I head for the hills if there is someone at the range with one and I'm deaf as a post already too.

With a good fit and a limb saver I can't see recoil being a concern at all.
 
My wife used a muzzle brake on one of those Accuracy internatial sniper rifles. She loved it. But on the rifle range she wore plugs and muffs. Noise to the person beside and behind is worse than for the shooter.

I suggest starting off with 125 gr bullets, loaded mid power. Just a recoil pad should work. Then switch to 150 gr bullets and work up a bit. Remember, deer only need 30-30 power. 308 just destroys more meat.

Your wife needs good muffs for her practice shooting to preserve what hearing she has left. The electronic ones would be good for her.

My boys started with a 308 target rifle at age 6. They shot a mild load behind a 125 gr bullet. It only worked to 600 yards, but it got them started.
 
My wifes favourite is her Browning BAR in an 06.We bought the gun from an old couple along with three other Brownings.The gun was used by his wife and is in near new condition.I use a 165 grain Nosler partitionand set at 2400 fps . The gun has almost no recoil and is in my opinion perfect for a woman.The only problem was that we had to spend time working on their dumb clip insert system.

Grijim
 
You all have given us a lot to think about. We have been shopping around for the last little while,I think we have decided on a Tikka T3, stainless, synthetic, with na limbsaver recoil pad. Not sure about the base, rings and scope. We do have a few options to look into. I'll load light rounds for her then work them up.
 
I'd skip the brake too. Good recoil pad, good fit, decent rifle weight, and recoil should be managable. Being as you have lots of .30 cal components, check on Hodgdon's website for proven safe light loads using H4895, and make up a bunch for shooting practice. Learn the difference in POI between practice laods and hunting loads, and moving the sights between the two loads is easy - still need a couple of confirmation shots, of course.

Brakes ARE louder. Sorry. If your lady already has hearing difficulty, the extra intensity from a brake will only exacerbate the loss. Beetter to spend time getting the right rifle, loading good practice ammo, and preserving her remaining hearing. As well, lots of brakes create a pressure blast in the face that inspires phenomenal flinches. Not good for collecting chops.
 
Well guys and gals, with all your input and some shopping around,followed by scope research,we have a winner! The wife decided on a .308 Tikka T3 stainless with a Limbsaver recoil pad. A Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40 with Talley rings and bases.
She had me call and order it yesterday it should be here by the end of the week.
So thanks for all your input, and I'll give a range update once she gets it and starts playing with it!! regards, Hitch
 
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