.223 recoil

A 223 AR-15 with a good brake has no real recoil. But the bolt is slamming around. How this translates to impulses to your shoulder I don't know. I would describe it as 'no real recoil". Can you try a braked AR? There are guys around you that have one.

A 223 target rifle will shoot accurately to 1000 yards (with 80 gr bullets) I have done it. It weighs 12 pounds and has no real recoil, either.
 
Ganderite said:
A 223 target rifle will shoot accurately to 1000 yards (with 80 gr bullets) I have done it. It weighs 12 pounds and has no real recoil, either.
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Weight is a huge factor. Get a target rifle as heavy as you can. A .17HMR would have negligible recoil. Probably ok with a heavy target rifle in .223 but others can confirm. Put a Heathen muzzle brake on it.

My Sig 3000 and similar ones I have have very little recoil in .308 due to weight and muzzle brakes (not suggesting that).
 
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One thing you might also want to consider is a a good recoil pad that's worn on your shoulder. Could help soften things up even more.

Something like this:
past_recoil_pads.jpg
 
All centrefire semi autos have some recoil. Some can be tamed with a brake but as Ganderite mentions above the reciprocating bolt carrier also contributes to the recoil (most blowback pistol calibre carbines also have more recoil than you'd suspect with their heavy reciprocating bolt carriers).

Have a a look at the video below where I'm shooting a Tavor CTAR with factory 55 grain .223 ammo--there's no muzzle flip but you can see that the recoil pushes me back--and I'm not a lightweight guy. As other guys have mentioned maybe it's best to review with your doctor to see what "no recoil" means. Is it none at all or just no heavy recoil like a lightweight 12 gauge.

There are lots of fun-to-shoot .22s on the market now so if you're limited to that I'm hoping you'll find something agreeable. Best of luck with your health and your quest to continue shooting!:)

 
Master-G said:
All centrefire semi autos have some recoil. Some can be tamed with a brake but as Ganderite mentions above the reciprocating bolt carrier also contributes to the recoil (most blowback pistol calibre carbines also have more recoil than you'd suspect with their heavy reciprocating bolt carriers).

Have a a look at the video below where I'm shooting a Tavor CTAR with factory 55 grain .223 ammo--there's no muzzle flip but you can see that the recoil pushes me back--and I'm not a lightweight guy. As other guys have mentioned maybe it's best to review with your doctor to see what "no recoil" means. Is it none at all or just no heavy recoil like a lightweight 12 gauge.

There are lots of fun-to-shoot .22s on the market now so if you're limited to that I'm hoping you'll find something agreeable. Best of luck with your health and your quest to continue shooting!:)

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Factory A2 birdcage on that rifle though.

You might look into a brake that focuses more on reducing recoil, rather than taming muzzle rise. Something with more ports angled backwards? You can get a .223 to feel pretty tame with the right brake. If you reload, you could load a little lighter, depending on what range you're looking to shoot at?

Or shoot rimfire.
 
I would stick to 22lr. If your hell bent on 223 then comp it. If not going to comp then the Tavor had the least felt recoil with stock A2 FH.
 
It is simple physics. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Sure you can mitigate by using a recoil pad, muzzle brake, led sled, heavier rifle, etc... but is that really wise?

Maybe another shooting dicipline is the answer.

Pistol shooting comes to mind.

If you are dead set on centerfire rifles, then talk to your doctor.

Maybe you can handload ammo for minimal recoil.
 
I have a Savage 10 FCP-K in .223 (24 inch heavy fluted barrel with a brake) in a MDT LSS chassis with a bipod and a 4-20x scope. It tips the scales at 12 lbs and has very little little recoil..I would say halfway between my 22lr bench rifle and a standard AR15 with hot .223. That being said, I would try a heavy 22lr and see how it goes.
 
Thanks MasterG for the video. Do you mind if I use that to show my neurosurgeon? I noticed that the mild recoil transferred through your shoulder and into the neck and head area. He may say "No" now but "OK" in a year or so when the vertebra have either fused on their own or the titanium screws are used.
Tom
 
uel1780 said:
Thanks MasterG for the video. Do you mind if I use that to show my neurosurgeon? I noticed that the mild recoil transferred through your shoulder and into the neck and head area. He may say "No" now but "OK" in a year or so when the vertebra have either fused on their own or the titanium screws are used.
Tom
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Sure—that would be fine!
 
The heavier the rifle and the more aggressive the muzzle brake the less recoil. If you really want to keep shooting 223 I would look at the rifles people complain about the weight of like ACR, XCR-L, Tavor, APC, then plan on using a good brake. ATRS, JP, Lantac, etc, all make good brakes. You'll want a multi chamber brake that is designed for competition 3-gun type shooting but the trade off will be that they are very loud for others around you at the range.
Since you said earlier a bolt action would be fine then you'll have no trouble at all, my 223 bolt action rides in an AICS chassis and even without a brake I can shoot it with almost zero felt recoil, I handload 36gr varmint projectiles and I would guess it's about the same as my 10-22 for recoil.
As others have said a rimfire may be a better choice considering your health condition. I own a fairly light 223 AR with a JP brake and there is very little recoil, the problem with going by what others say is no recoil is that everyone has a different tolerance to recoil so even though I think it doesn't kick it may still be enough to aggravate your condition. If you don't mind going to a rimfire I can tell you first hand that the Savage A-17 is a great little rifle, mine is light, accurate, reliable, and the 17HMR is a fantastic little cartridge that has enough energy to have a lot of fun with. They also now offer it in the A-22 shooting 22WMR which is a good little cartridge as well, I haven't shot the A-22 but I own a Magnum Research 22WMR which is pretty much a fancy Ruger 10-22. It is a fantastic rifle as well and in the heavy laminated wood stock mine sits in there is virtually no recoil.

Too bad you're so far away or I'd invite you out to try them out so you could see for yourself.
My A-17 with a Vortex Viper 1-4 has become my favorite rifle for around my acreage.
 
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cr5 said:
I own a Magnum Research 22WMR which is pretty much a fancy Ruger 10-22. It is a fantastic rifle as well and in the heavy laminated wood stock mine sits in there is virtually no recoil.
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I'll second this motion. Mine is the heavy stainless barrel with the Hogue stock. It is a tank. Reliable, accurate and virtually no recoil pulse. If you're determined to find something to shoot cr5 gave you an awesome suggestion.
 
Thanks to jiffx and cr5 both for good suggestions. To cr5, many thanks for the try-out offer; would like to but for the distance.
Some of my fellow shooters locally have offered range demos and other help. I am simply overwhelmed and humbled at the help being offered on this forum and locally by shooters that don't even know me but have heard of my medical issues. Shooters are some of the finest people on the planet. None better.
If I have not thanked you, please accept a group "THANK YOU" here.
Tom
 
Would even trying a 223 for 2-3 rpunds put you at serious risk?
I imagine its the whip like effects on your neck from the recoil snap?
 
Ever heard of falcon strike recoil pad?

My guess is a heavy barrel .223 equipped with one of those and a muzzle brake could make for a pretty recoiless shooter. With the right choice of ammo that would be a good start.

Mind you, I'd still have a friend try it out first...

I really enjoy shooting my target 22lr. Pretty much always take the ride to the range but yeah, it's not everything.
 
Have you considered a 9mm AR?

22LR will obviously be as little recoiling as it'll get, but between 22LR and 223 would be 9mm and there are plenty of 9mm AR's.

As plenty of people have already mentioned, the heavier the gun, more energy will be used to accelerate the gun which means the less will be transferred to you. (Force = Mass * acceleration) so if you increase mass, it'll accelerate less since the force is constant (coming from the gun powder)

Also conversely, I believe that lighter bullets will recoil less than heavier bullets so maybe stick to light grain projectiles?
 
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