I need your advice. I'm turning into a recoil wuss.

pharaoh2

pharaoh2

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A little over a year ago, I took a steel bar to the head at work. It knocked me stone cold, and left me with a concussion. After that, thanks to one thing or another, I never really had much of an opertunity to shoot very often with repeated recoil. A month after it happened, I traded my only real rifle in, an '06 because the recoil gave me a headache. Well today, I put two boxes through my twelve gauge, and that headache has been back ever since. About nine hours now. One time in between, after a fairly good day duck hunting, the same thing. It's now apparent that this is all connected to a degree. I love the boomers, and am now able to start shooting again, but I'm a little worried that my abilities will be limited. I look foward to trips to the range, but not if these headaches will be a common thing. Any suggestions for a broken hearted, with head pounding gun nut? I'm never going to abandon this great sport of ours, but I'm not prepared to go through this everytime. Maybe it's time to downsize my cartridge choices.
 
I too have gone away from the big booters. For me it was a shoulder injury that did it. I went back to a bolt action .30-30 and now use a Past Recoil Shield, for range work. There are lots of good accurate rounds like the .243 for you to pick from. Your problem may get better with more time too. Good luck and happy shooting.
 
Hi pharaoh, I have had installed "the" device on my .338. There are mixed emotions on it, I know. I too was a bit hesitant to have this recoil reduction system installed. I decided WTH, I can always get a new stock. The other day, I put 18 rounds through my .338, one right after the other, with nothing but a tee-shirt on.....and some jeans of course ;) . No problem whatsoever, I wouldn't change a thing. I live south of High River and would be more than happy to let you put her through the gears. PM me if you're interested.
 
I get a sore neck from the recoil which often leads to a tension headache. I stay away from bolt action .308 and .30-06 and stick to shooting .223 or .308 out of a heavy barrel, weighted stock AR-15/10. I have a muzzle breaks on both 12g shotguns.
 
Your dome needs healing time - After a bike accident, I'd fall down if I shook my head - time has changed that - dont sell your guns, just go back to .22 and dont jiggle the jello.
 
recoil

I think you would do well to buy a good semi-auto shotgun in 20 or 12ga. that should take care of alot of recoil there, and maybe a 7-08 with a good recoil pad as they do not have alot of recoil to start with and have a great line of bullet weights. A 25-06 is another great deer calibre with light recoil.
 
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I'd second giving a Past recoil shoulder pad a try. Buy the biggest, thickest one. It will add a few cm to your length of pull when you shoulder whatever you are shooting, but makes a world of difference.

In my experience it takes that sharp whack out of the recoil and more evenly distributes it on your shoulder. I don't know if in your case if that would help with the head snap which may be aggrevating factor in the headaches, however.
 
Pharaoh2,
Pick up a .223 or similar for fun volume shooting and a light recoiling .25ish rifle for hunting. Ideally they would be the same make and model. Shooting the hunting rifle just enough to sight it in, then going hunting with it isn't a perfect situation but is as much as alot of hunters actually do shoot.
 
Thanks all. I'm thinking of picking up a lighter recoiling rifle. My friends got one in .243 we were going to play with, and I'm thinking the same. I won't get rid of my bigger rifles, I just won't shoot them as much. The Past is a good idea, but I don't need to protect my shoulder. It's the head snapping that seems to do it. The 7mm-08 is a good idea as well, but it may be pushing it right now. Thanks again all, and I'm willing to hear other suggestions. And Gitrdone, thanks for the offer. I may be willing to hear your idea, and try your toy out one of these days, but not tonight, I've got a headache. :D
 
I can relate pharaoh2. I also had to tone it down for a spell due to a broken neck (mva) a few years back. I still get a stiff neck & the left arm tingles due to some nerve damage when I shoot hard kickers for extended periods (at least the headaches are gone now) I put Pachmeyer decelerators on anything from .270 Win on up now. Big difference.
 
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I just put a Limbsaver on my 30-06 and it helped a whole lot but I have noticed there are some people at the range that stuff a couple of layers of closed cell foam under their shirts to soften the blow. It may be that you just need to absorb some of the impact and that would work. Do you reload? Mebbe powdering down your loads too so you could gradually work up to full charge as you heal. The 223 works for me too-a fave. Have you tried just taking a few shots with the biggies and then backing off with the lighter calibres. Might be an idea to just try 1 shot and see if it bothers you, then later try 2, then later 3 to find your threshold if there is one... My $0.02. Good luck
 
I think shooting reduced loads would be the ticket. You can shoot lighter bullets at higher velocity with much less recoil. If you need to shoot an new rifle, a .270 with 130s kicks a lot less than a .30-06 with 180s. If you're only hunting deer then I would strongly recommend the .25-06.

Best regards,

Slooshark1
 
anchor3593 said:
Your dome needs healing time - After a bike accident, I'd fall down if I shook my head - time has changed that - dont sell your guns, just go back to .22 and dont jiggle the jello.
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Sounds like sound advise. Check with your Doctor. My health comes first before my hobby/sport.
 
I'm no doctor, but it sounds like you're still suffering from post concussion syndrome. Explain the situation to your doctor and get the facts - then you can at least ignore his advice intelligently.

Is it the recoil, the concussion, the sounds? Good advice so far on the recoil front - lighter loads, semi-auto over bolt, better stock fit, recoil systems (pads, mercury, etc.), heavier guns, all reduce felt recoil.
 
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For shotgunning get a 12 gauge Beretta 391 and purchase the factory recoil reducer. Use 2-3/4" shells for ducks and pass on the longer shots.

For a rifle a Browning BAR in .243.

Both guns are gas-operated which reduces felt recoil.
 
What Andy said. I'd definately go back to the doc. Don't shoot untill you have no problems. If I was a union guy I'd say permanent dissability. Seriously, if you're still geting a rattled from an 06 there's something wrong.
 
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