Finding mercery Tubes for P17

Crazy.kayaker

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Hey my brother as an old P17 that bruises my shoulder every time I shoot it. Since he moved a week after getting it I`m the only one that shoots it and I am wondering where I could find a mercury tube to help reduce the recoil since it`s too nice of a gun to leave sitting in the safe all the time and no it will not be put up for sale sorry I like shooting it to much. I have no idea where to look for a mercury tube.

Thanks for your help guys.
 
I assume you're talking about a buffer tube?

To be honest, this is the first time I've heard of one for a bolt action. Why not get a shoulder pad or a butt pad?
 
I assume you're talking about a buffer tube?

To be honest, this is the first time I've heard of one for a bolt action. Why not get a shoulder pad or a butt pad?

The gun is made to accept a buffer tube as you call it so I've been told and am just wondering where I can find them to find out prices and see which way is cheaper. It is the only gun I need help with the recoil pain. I may still get a limb saver, but I want to explore all possible option price wise before I decide on which path to take is all.
 
Mercury tubes

I found the recoil when shooting slugs from my Remington 870 to be uncomfortable. When fitting a new recoil pad, I noticed the large hollow access hole in the buttstock. Mercury tubes available from Midway (midwayusa.com) are expensive. A cheaper alternative is simply to add lead shot in the space. I found that 1" copper tube will fit the 870 while a 3/4" copper tube will fit a Mossberg 500. Measure the stock hole. Home Depot will sell a short length, simply fill with small lead shot, seal and insert. This method simply adds weight to the gun, resulting in less recoil and a "muzzle light" balance. A friend suggested omitting the tube and adding the shot contained in balloon or condom. That should work as well. Hope this helps.
 
thanks hiredgun it will I think I'll add the tube though as there are some unexplained gaps between the butt plate and the wood stock when you open the trap door. Only thing I don't like about that is the gun is already heavy and I'm not to fond of adding much more weight to to but I'm use to carrying my M88 which is much lighter at least 3 lbs.
 
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For some people, especially tall people, with long necks, the enfield stock is just the wrong design. It was designed for people over a hundred years ago (adaptation of the Lee Enfield) and their smaller bodies.

Some people find all similar stocked rifles very uncomfortable to shoot.

Mercury is quite expensive, and may be difficult to obtain in the quantities needed. Back in the old days there seemed to be lots of it around and it was cheap.

A couple of the issued oil tubes, either brass or plastic when half filled with liquid mercury added weight, balanced the rifle between the hands, effectively reduced recoil and because of the weight shift, made the rifle easier to handle.

I would think a light tube that fits snugly into the butt, half filled with mercury will work well to absorb some of the recoil. The tube should be as long as possible.


bearhunter
 
I shoot .303 and .308 almost exclusively, and I find that a standard gel-type slip-on recoil pad works wonders. I have a Pachmayr leather slip-on as well, but I find it doesn't grip my shoulder as well as it should.
 
If I'm bench-resting those mulekickers for extended periods, I just slip a little camp pillow between the butt-plate and my shoulder. Or else I wear a heavy jacket.

It eliminates the tendency to develop a flinch.
 
thanks hiredgun it will I think I'll add the tube though as there are some unexplained gaps between the butt plate and the wood stock when you open the trap door. Only thing I don't like about that is the gun is already heavy and I'm not to fond of adding much more weight to to but I'm use to carrying my M88 which is much lighter at least 3 lbs.
Are you talking about where the oiler and pull through would have went?
Seriously, as mentioned before, buy a past recoil pad or even a slip on shotgun pad. Way cheaper and more effective.
Or load lighter loads for target shooting. I used mine in several of our milshoots and never found recoil to be an issue.....one of the nicest shooting '06's I have shot.
 
Brownells has mercury recoil reducers for around $60 US don't know about the paper work for importing. Any gunsmith should be able to get you one.
 
Well from the sound of it, I think a limb saver or a slip on recoil pad is the way to go. As for a lighter load I don't have a reloading die for the 06 just my .308 as I only shoot 2 or 3 rounds from the 06 so I don't bugger up my shoulder again for another 5 weeks.
 
My $0.02 here....
If a standard calibre rifle (ie. not a .50cal or anti-tank round) is brusing you up that bad, maybe you are not holding it properly. Out of the box, that rifle is quite heavy and should only kick a bit more than a .22 magnum.

Holding a rifle improperly is 99.9% of the reason why it hurts some people.

Hmmm...ever shot a Jungle Carbine?
 
Well from the sound of it, I think a limb saver or a slip on recoil pad is the way to go. As for a lighter load I don't have a reloading die for the 06 just my .308 as I only shoot 2 or 3 rounds from the 06 so I don't bugger up my shoulder again for another 5 weeks.

I'd definitely agree, just get a good slip on recoil pad. I bought one for my former Jungle Carbine and what a difference it made.

Plus which, I still have it available for other problematic rifles...;)
 
...Mercury tubes available from Midway (midwayusa.com) are expensive....

Not available to Canadians, alas! They won't even sell a screwdriver to us. :mad: Brownell's will sell to us IF the mfr. in question is regstered with the State Dept. By the time you add customs and shipping fees, it will be expensive, though.

I wouldn't have thought that a heavy rifle like a P-17 would cause recoil problems, but everyone's tolerance to recoil is different. I would think a recoil pad would be an easier solution, although you will likely have to cut the stock down to accomodate it unless the stock happens to be 3/4" or so too short for you, like the stock on my Jungle Carbine, which appears to have been made for a midget! Adding a slip-on pad will increase the length of "pull" as well, of course.

Perhaps another alternative would be to use a PAST recoil shield on your shoulder. It will increase the length of pull a little but not as much as a recoil pad on the rifle.

:) Stuart
 
Yes I have...

I have also shot almost 1000rnds of 198gn milsurp from my G33/40's without pain/brusing.

As well as numerous other magnums and even the 8x63mm from a rechambered k98.

All with steel buttplates.

Like I said - all about how you hold em.

Well, there ya go..obviously no wannabe...:) Must have a pretty tough shoulder too.
 
Get a slip on pad from Cambodian Tire for around 7 bucks...it will work better and save you the $80+ being asked for for the mercury tubes these days.
 
hi folks, i am no expert but i have seen lots of buffer assemblies C7or M16
the ones i have seen fit tightly inside a matching tube in the stock with a return spring pushing it forward
and all is required so that the buffer (mercury tube) can move front to rear as the rifle is fired

am i on the right track here or am i missing something
 
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