My powder puff reloading site. Some great recipe's here.
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
Bad shoulders and recoil
- Thread starter GP11
- Start date
Lots of good suggestions for low-recoil loads. There's another option, which allows the use of full-power loads, ones you know work well with your rifle.
I injured my shoulders a while back and bought a Past recoil pad, which can be worn under or over clothing. They reduce recoil dramatically without damaging the ears of the guy at the next shooting bench or ruining the look of a good firearm. Not using it as much these days as my shoulders are healing, but I would strongly recommend them for anybody a bit recoil-shy. There are others like it, but that's the one I am 100% satisfied with.
I injured my shoulders a while back and bought a Past recoil pad, which can be worn under or over clothing. They reduce recoil dramatically without damaging the ears of the guy at the next shooting bench or ruining the look of a good firearm. Not using it as much these days as my shoulders are healing, but I would strongly recommend them for anybody a bit recoil-shy. There are others like it, but that's the one I am 100% satisfied with.
One more vote for loading cast rounds in milsurp chamberings.
I load cast in 308, 30-06, 303, 7.62x54r, 7.5x55 and many more.
For powders I've used red dot, 700x, 2400, 4227 and 4198.
All have produced amazing accuracy and with the slower powders like 2400 and 4198 I've had good results shooting out to 500 yards or so.
I rarely shoot full power rounds any more.
I load cast in 308, 30-06, 303, 7.62x54r, 7.5x55 and many more.
For powders I've used red dot, 700x, 2400, 4227 and 4198.
All have produced amazing accuracy and with the slower powders like 2400 and 4198 I've had good results shooting out to 500 yards or so.
I rarely shoot full power rounds any more.
Hi John. Just out of curiosity did that rifle have a 1-10 or slower twist??? Not that it would make any real difference in recoil but it could effect accuracy. I did something similar for my grandson with Robinette bullets weighing 135 grains through a 1-14 twist barrel with similar results.
This makes sense other than in many cases when shoulders go bad, for whatever reason, using heavier rifles just hurts to much.
Shooting off rests on a bench is likely the most brutal method of multiplying the effects of generated recoil. The next worst position is prone. Your body just doesn't have enough elasticity to bleed off some of the felt recoil with rearward movement.
If the OP is shooting from rests on a bench or from the prone position added rifle weight would make a noticeable difference. The thing is, he specified he was shooting Military Surplus Rifles. These average around 10+ pounds, which is close to the weight of a heavy barreled varmint rifle.
Unique and h4895 are my favs when using cast in milsurps with reduced loads. Titegroup is ok in small cases and trailboss is great if your boolit is snug in your bore. Lots of info at the cast boolits forum and 200 yds with reduced loads is ambitious lol.
I'm finding myself getting a little recoil intolerant in the last while, so have been gravitating to cast in my milsurps.
I just started casting W/W in 314299 with what seems to be one of "THE" loads with 16gr of 2400 - find them relatively mild so far in both 303 and 7.62x54. The Mosin seems to really like that recipe (+/-1.5" at 60ish yards) if I can replicate it, and its looking like its a good starter for the LE No4.
I overheard part of a conversation at the range last year and a gent was saying he was working a load up with cast bullets for his LE that are meant for 7.62x39. Probably some data floating around that may be worth pursuing - may try that myself if I find suitable mould. It would be a real treat if it would work in a K31 as well. The experts here will advise.
Best of luck!
K.
I just started casting W/W in 314299 with what seems to be one of "THE" loads with 16gr of 2400 - find them relatively mild so far in both 303 and 7.62x54. The Mosin seems to really like that recipe (+/-1.5" at 60ish yards) if I can replicate it, and its looking like its a good starter for the LE No4.
I overheard part of a conversation at the range last year and a gent was saying he was working a load up with cast bullets for his LE that are meant for 7.62x39. Probably some data floating around that may be worth pursuing - may try that myself if I find suitable mould. It would be a real treat if it would work in a K31 as well. The experts here will advise.
Best of luck!
K.
My youngest daughter likes running the .243 with 2100 fps loads (62% H4895) started when she was 9. I picked up a Mauser 98 off Tradeex, 6.5x55 28" barrel and it's a real pussycat. And accurate! Even with my frequently painful shoulder I can shoot 30-40 rounds no pad and can't feel a thing.
Digger, Vmax, Kermode and all the rest who are stating they can shoot this cartridge or another or with light loads??? All I can say is your shoulders aren't hurting that much. What you're feeling is the beginning of what is to come.
Arthritis is insidious, it usually just gets worse as time goes by. You can stave it off for a while with pain killers, exercise etc but it comes back with a vengeance. Then there is mechanical damage from working, accidents, and even from chemicals. In my case the type of chemotherapy I had caused long term deterioration of the cartilage between the joints which led to arthritis as well.
Lots of us survivors of cancer here that went through chemo and radiation.
Believe me, if you're still fairly young and feeling the pain, you can hold it off until you can't. Then nothing works other than replacement joints and rebuilding as much muscle tone and mass as you can after.
This works. My new shoulder feels as good as it did when I was thirty. The recent weight loss has almost ended the pain in my knees but it's always there.
Pain is pain. It's real and debilitating. Drugs only mask it.
Do what you can to get by for as long as you're able. Then, it's time for new joints.
Arthritis is insidious, it usually just gets worse as time goes by. You can stave it off for a while with pain killers, exercise etc but it comes back with a vengeance. Then there is mechanical damage from working, accidents, and even from chemicals. In my case the type of chemotherapy I had caused long term deterioration of the cartilage between the joints which led to arthritis as well.
Lots of us survivors of cancer here that went through chemo and radiation.
Believe me, if you're still fairly young and feeling the pain, you can hold it off until you can't. Then nothing works other than replacement joints and rebuilding as much muscle tone and mass as you can after.
This works. My new shoulder feels as good as it did when I was thirty. The recent weight loss has almost ended the pain in my knees but it's always there.
Pain is pain. It's real and debilitating. Drugs only mask it.
Do what you can to get by for as long as you're able. Then, it's time for new joints.
Thanks everyone for the great info...
I've been leaning towards finding a no4 mk1 enfield and try reloading with cast... Seems like there are tons of options for reduced loads. I was going to go with the 54r but it seems like brass isn't the easiest to come by... Have any of you had any decent luck with reduced loads in a ag42b in 6.5x55? Seems like a decent option, the round is pretty low recoil to begin with and then adding semi auto in the equation would also help. I understand too low of a round would cause issues with cycling.
As for my shoulder? It's something that surgery won't fix and it's something that will be around for many, many years to come.
I've been leaning towards finding a no4 mk1 enfield and try reloading with cast... Seems like there are tons of options for reduced loads. I was going to go with the 54r but it seems like brass isn't the easiest to come by... Have any of you had any decent luck with reduced loads in a ag42b in 6.5x55? Seems like a decent option, the round is pretty low recoil to begin with and then adding semi auto in the equation would also help. I understand too low of a round would cause issues with cycling.
As for my shoulder? It's something that surgery won't fix and it's something that will be around for many, many years to come.
My M42B has very little recoil with standard loads but if you were to load 120 gr. Bullets in that long throated chamber the accuracy may not be there. You need to be able to cycle the action so reduced loads may cause some grief. Try Varget powder and 120 gr bullets and see how it works. My 6.5x55 is a heavy barrel bolt gun with a decelerator recoil pad and shooting 120 gr. bullets has less felt recoil than my 243.
Good luck and hopefully you will be able to find a painless option to keep shooting.
Good luck and hopefully you will be able to find a painless option to keep shooting.
It was a 1:14 light contour Sportco, cut to 20".
