Managing Recoil

BR, no problem with your thoughts. I was describing the walkabout, shoot deer at 75yds type rifle. Too many shooters are way overgunned for that type of hunting.

For LR zapping, I am sure you know I have alot of cannons launching big bullets fast. Big brakes are a requirment for recoil reduction AND spotting ones own shots. Shooting from a static position gives you the chance to wear hearing protection which is the only way I will hunt with a braked rifle.

For LR varmint hunting, I think a fast 6mm with 90 to 105gr fragile bullets is pretty much ideal. That assumes you don't care about the pelt. A 6.5 and 7mm will also do an excellent job and make the dog go puff...work on big game too.

I was chatting with a dedicated yote hunter and he is really fond of the 204 Ruger. Smacks them down fast but doesn't tear up the hides. Bullets break up and don't exit.

He says 300yds is not too far either. Might just be the best of both worlds - speed with no recoil.

Jerry
 
Another aspect of recoil management off the bench is the bench itself. Most ranges that I have shot at use benches that are not the best for heavy recoiling rifles. When you sit at the bench in shooting position you back should be straight--most benches are too low or the seats too high. If you are leaning into the rifle on the bench it will make the recoil effect worse.

Rifle weight appropriate to cartridge and fit of the stock are important as well. If the butt is slightly on the long side it will reduce the recoil effect and if it is on the short side it will make it seem heavier.

Over the years I have gone full circle--from moderate cartridges to the heavies and back to moderate--it is not hard to find an appropriate combination for the game/hunting conditions you expect.

FWIW, 44Bore
 
Yeah Jerry I hear ya... I get shots at 50-60 pound dogs at 250- 400 yards... 270WSM off a Bi-pod shooting 140 A/B's with a muzzle break. I can get a second shot off sometimes while dog #2 is still looking at dead dog #1.
Getting loaded before they hear the sound is possible... timed just right they will look right at ya when you pull the trigger the second time.:cool:
 
I'm slowly but surely adding a Limbsaver to all of my rifles, and If I'm going to be at the range a while, or switching back and forth to the heavier hitters, I wear a Past shield as well.

With those 2 pillows between you and physics, there's no pain left at all...
 
walksalot said:
I think a correctly set up shooting bench so the rifle/gun is at the correct height is one of the most important factors in managing recoil at the range. To have the butt of the rifle fit comfortably in the sweet spot of the shoulder and not on the muscle on the upper outside part of the arm is essential in managing recoil. If the rifle/gun is not held correctly then it hurts the shooter and BINGO it is Flinch City and your the mayor. A stock which correctly fits the shooter is huge in managing recoil.

I put a recoil pad on every gun except the model 1894. Also, as stated before, bigger does not mean better. If you don't shoot because of the recoil then you should do something to reduce the recoil or down size.

The shooting jacket is a very good idea but I question whether this pad in the shirt will effect the "length of pull" thus effecting "eye relief" if one is using a scope .The key to consistency in shooting , in my opinion, is keeping everything the same whether in the field or on the range.

If one can be comfortable shooting at the range and achieve a smooth trigger pull then in the field under hunting conition it will be a piece of cake because we all know that when shooting at an animal you would swear the rifle/gun had no recoil. :)
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My target rifles are cut to fit both the Past and my shooting jacket.

My hunting rifles are also cut . but just to fit the past.
Cat
 
I have had all my firearms shortened to my specs and it really makes a difference, That said I also got rid of my 30 cal rifles because of recoil. I bought a 222 and could not believe how accurate I was and it got me to thinking about how I seemed to pull my shots with the "big bores" but with a smaller cal like the 222, 243, 22-250 I was as steady as can be. IMO shooting is 90% mental and the rest is practice. Stubble jumper hit the nail on the head, if you are comfortable shooting the cal. that you like, you will be accurate. I prefer the lower recoil cals. but don't get me wrong, the last time I shot a moose with a 300 wm I can't remember feeling any recoil, but now I know that shot placement is more important than a "big gun".
 
About 25 years ago after not attending to a separated shoulder for, well, about two years actually :rolleyes: the kindly old horse doctor in Prince George fixed the problem by bucking off half of my clavicle. That'll be the half that used to hook up to my shooting shoulder.

Through the years I've gotten used to it and built up more muscle on that side, but shooting bigguns off the bench definitely makes me pay attention. The comments about having a straight back off the bench back there are bang on and critical to me. Otherwise the old aches and pains come back. Away from the bench I can shoot pretty much anything without much concern luckily:) ...
 
BR, it seems most stuff is already mentioned, I have long been using the Past magnum limb saver, a lead weighted sight vice and if weather permits a nice "Tough Duck" type coat. I have used the sorbithane recoil pad from brownells, it is the best one I have used yet. The recoil pad on the Remmy SAUM's seem good too.
I guess it isn't quite the same thing, but I cannot shoot a louder rifle as well as a quieter one, so all mine have a 24" pipe. Sorry to say I once had an 06 with a boss and it was so loud it gave me a flinch just with the racket. No more breaks for this guy.
One other thing you could try is a mercury recoil reducer. Lazy Ike put one in his Sauer 9.3x62. I thought it kicked good when I tried it, he just said I should have tried it before! OUCH!
Are you mostly interested in this for off the bench and the bipod for culling your vermin?
 
Yeah my walking around rifle for coyotes is a T-3 in 270WSM VXIII 4.5-14X50 which weighs about 7 1/2 pounds. Lots of energy at very long range for coyotes but was capable of some wild acrobatics when shooting off a bipod. I added a few ounces when I had the break installed but it is now as tame as a kitten, I can see my bullet strkes most times from a prone shooting position and off the bench.
I realize that this is an expensive solution for recoil... but it is the most effective solution for that specific task.

We use a caldwell lead sled for our bench work, with 100 pounds of shot in the tray you feel nothing on the shoulder even with the hardest kickers. Probably one of the most effective recoil reducers made for the bench.

I have a Decellerator on my .338WM, it wieghs 8 1/2 pounds all in... I also wear a limbsaver shoulder pad when shooting this rifle. A more conservative and traditional method of recoil reduction to be sure but an effective solution for a midweight big game magnum.

Light 3 1/2 inch shotguns with heavy loads or slugs are just brutal and a 7 1/2 pound shotgun with a 2 ounce Turkey load is the most miserable thing you can imagine for recoil. The Benelli SBEII has a fitted comfortech stock and ergonomic gel pads for recoil and a Chryo treated barrel but even with the latest technology for recoil reduction it will still rock your world. I have been known to self medicate after shooting turkey loads.... :redface:

Those are some of the ways that I try to lessen the recoil I inflict on myself... I am always looking for more.:)
 
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Perhaps one could put several Mercury dampeners in the buttstock.
Sounds like you have done nearly all you can except for just plain adding weight which is a pain in the behind.
Other than that, it is a pain you have to learn to love.
 
I've just put a mercury recoil reducer in my .338WM Tikka M695
I'll let you know what kind of improvement it makes.
The recoil at touch-off didn't really bother me, no shoulder bruising, but the "twist and wrench" to this old body after 6 or 7 shots sort of left me sore in the chest, hence this attempt to tame it a little.
 
Good thread guys,
I'm young and still got a good shoulder, but I have begun installing limbsaver recoil pads on my rifles, makes a day of shooting last longer.
 
Being some what less experienced with a rifle I found that that crack a rifle makes at the range used to make me flinch. Last fall I tried double hearing protection, muffs and plugs, and it made all the difference, and improved my comfort level tremendously. I am no good for conversation when I am plugged and muffed, but I don't care, talk to me after its over.FS
 
I have only one gun that consistently hurts me: Mosin 44. It bruises my shoulder after 15 rounds. Need a muzzle break... Tried to buy a pad but Canadian Camo went under on me, reminds me to post about that experience...
 
what is the general consensus on the new remington managed-recoil ammo? anyone try it? does it work as advertised? any good on mid-sized big game (ie, whitetail)? how has it perfomed for those of you who have tried it at the range?
 
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Fassteel said:
Being some what less experienced with a rifle I found that that crack a rifle makes at the range used to make me flinch. Last fall I tried double hearing protection, muffs and plugs, and it made all the difference, and improved my comfort level tremendously. I am no good for conversation when I am plugged and muffed, but I don't care, talk to me after its over.FS
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Fassteel, this is the exact reason I hate breaks. With the Boss system I had, you could feel the percussion with each shot and even though it doesn't hurt you, your subconsious keeps telling you about that next puff in the face. Drove me nuts.
I find a big part of managing recoil can go farther to having the trigger break cleanly at a nice amount of pull. The more repeatable you are firing the firearm, the more you can tolerate the recoil when it isn't a suprise every time the trigger breaks the sear at a different amount of pull.

The stock layout is huge, not only the drop at heel, or the cant/cast off but how much forearm is there to grab and the grip area. Too small a grip makes for an unpleasant time, as does too big.;) Even an improper fit, too short a stock, too long is no fun.

I suppose some would argue these points, but they play a big part in my management of the good ole kick.

Have a great weekend guys!

Noel
 
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