age and injuries have limited the acquisition of hard recoiling rifles [ 30-06 and up ].......I presently have 2 "large" caliber guns.....a .300wsm in a tikka laminate and a husqvarna 8x57.......i had a muzzle brake installed on the tikka and it still has a significant recoil even with a pachmyr decelerator......I have 1 edwards recoil reducer { the max model}.......don"t know which rifle to install it on......anybody have any experience with these ?......what would you do ?....... my intention is to have a large caliberrifle that recoil like a .243 [ lol ]......without sacrificing cartridge efficiency .......be gentle, this is my first post ever ........btw I love my Tikka's but had to trade my t3 .270 wsm because of the recoil [ very light rifle as you know ] .....I also own a 243,257,6.5x55 and a 308 .......maybe another rifle in one of those calibers ?.......MOST of my shooting is at the range although some is for deer blackbear and moose once a year......I would appreciate some feedback .......thanks
my dilema
- Thread starter samcan
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Thanks for posting a very good thread and congratulations for coming on the CGN.
I have certainly read about serious damage, usually to the eyes, by shooting a heavy recoiling rifle. I came to the same conclusion as you a few years ago and quit shooting heavy recoiling rifles.
I always did like a 243, but had sold my last one, so I immediately got another 243 for general range plinking and of course, they are a really fun gun to shoot. You have some good low recoiling rifles, but I would suggest a 7mm-08 would be a good addition. I am currently doing a lot of loading trials with a Tikka in 7-08 and the more I shoot it the better I like it.
In looking back, that calibre in a good rifle would have served me well throughout a lifetime of hunting and shooting, including a lot of mountain hunting!
I have certainly read about serious damage, usually to the eyes, by shooting a heavy recoiling rifle. I came to the same conclusion as you a few years ago and quit shooting heavy recoiling rifles.
I always did like a 243, but had sold my last one, so I immediately got another 243 for general range plinking and of course, they are a really fun gun to shoot. You have some good low recoiling rifles, but I would suggest a 7mm-08 would be a good addition. I am currently doing a lot of loading trials with a Tikka in 7-08 and the more I shoot it the better I like it.
In looking back, that calibre in a good rifle would have served me well throughout a lifetime of hunting and shooting, including a lot of mountain hunting!
Don't be fixated on light rifles... a little more weight in the rifle does reduce felt recoil... a scoped 7.5 pound 7mm 08 is not bad at all. You mention your T3 300WSM still has a lot with the brake on... possible this is mostly blast more than recoil. If it is a good brake the recoil shouldn't be that bad... I am assuming you wear good ear protection.
Your 243, 257 and 6.5x55 will all do the job as well. Why not use them? Sell the cannons.
Your 243, 257 and 6.5x55 will all do the job as well. Why not use them? Sell the cannons.
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Weight of rifle can help significantly. Aside from a quality brake on my 338LM, I have a 1lb mercury recoil suppressor in the stock.
Its a very nice rifle to shoot but far from a "field" gun - more a truck gun now. Similar recoil to a 270 but with WW2 tank noises.
Its a very nice rifle to shoot but far from a "field" gun - more a truck gun now. Similar recoil to a 270 but with WW2 tank noises.
Welcome.
I would use your 6.5x55 Hammer of Thor or consider the "managed recoil" ammo for your .308.
A good friend recently passed after a long battle with C. He was a very large man but lost most of his muscle mass over the past few years and recoil tolerance became an issue. He owned a firearms business and had his pick of anything out there. He chose the managed recoil .308
A Caldwell Lead Sled may help you at the range.
I would use your 6.5x55 Hammer of Thor or consider the "managed recoil" ammo for your .308.
A good friend recently passed after a long battle with C. He was a very large man but lost most of his muscle mass over the past few years and recoil tolerance became an issue. He owned a firearms business and had his pick of anything out there. He chose the managed recoil .308
A Caldwell Lead Sled may help you at the range.
With your current line-up, you really don't need a 7mm-08... you have your 6.5X55mm and .308 for deer and bears... why don't you consider a fast twist .223 for your range work... load it with 60-70 grain bullets and smile for weeks... if you enjoy the range, you owe to yourself to own and shoot a nice .22 centerfire rifle.
P.S - I love the 7-08 and own three of them... but IMO a .22 centerfire makes more sense for you.
P.S - I love the 7-08 and own three of them... but IMO a .22 centerfire makes more sense for you.
mossyhorns
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This may be far out for some but how about a 45/70. With trapdoor loads in a 7-8 lb rifle recoil is very mild. It will still let a lot of light into bear moose and deer. Softs for lung shots. Hard cast for bone smashing. Fun at the range. It's the reloaders dream
Toss the recoil reducer in it and recoil will be a joke
The only downside is trajectories but gravity is constant
Your 6.5 will do everything to
Toss the recoil reducer in it and recoil will be a joke
The only downside is trajectories but gravity is constant
Your 6.5 will do everything to
As a couple others have said - the heavier version of the rifle will help. Instead of the T3 Light go with the models with a wood stock. And I'm going to vote for selling the cannons too. My "big" gun is a 30:06. Really don't need anything bigger for game here. You already have a 6.5x55 and that is what I would go to.
If your shoulder can't handle it anymore, sell the bigger calibers and play more with the smaller ones... From what's advised above you should trade them for a 7mm08 (or 7x57), and a fun .22 cal centerfire.
How do you find the 30-06? That's about as big as I like to go: the one I'm shooting is a Cooper 52 and it has some of that hefty goodness to it, so recoil is just fine.
Do you reload? I find quite a bit of enjoyment playing with the different calibers from a reloading perspective. For example in 7-08 I found my bullet of preference was most accurate towards the milder end of the velocity scale, and reloading the hornet is a test of patience!
How do you find the 30-06? That's about as big as I like to go: the one I'm shooting is a Cooper 52 and it has some of that hefty goodness to it, so recoil is just fine.
Do you reload? I find quite a bit of enjoyment playing with the different calibers from a reloading perspective. For example in 7-08 I found my bullet of preference was most accurate towards the milder end of the velocity scale, and reloading the hornet is a test of patience!
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There's few problems that can't be solved with a 7mm/140 at 2900, but if you already have a 6.5X55 (.264/140 at 2800) I don't think you need to buy a 7-08, unless you just want one. If you add weight to the .300 WSM, say making it 10 pounds, it should produce recoil on par with an 8 pound .30/06. Adding the muzzle break might then might make it recoil like a hot loaded .243.
The Edwards Recoil Reducer probably works on the principal of a heavy fluid, like mercury, being rapidly displaced forward under the recoil impulse, so that it reduces the rearward velocity of the rifle, and thus the amount of recoil that a shooter is exposed to. Reviews of these products over the years have been mixed, but as I understand it, the faster the recoil velocity, meaning the lighter your rifle is with any given cartridge, the more effective it will be. Since we know that the choice of very light rifles are a bad idea for shooters needing to avoid recoil, installing a mercury recoil reducer in a heavy-ish rifle, that fires light weight bullets, from a cartridge with a moderate powder capacity, is probably only marginally effective.
The Edwards Recoil Reducer probably works on the principal of a heavy fluid, like mercury, being rapidly displaced forward under the recoil impulse, so that it reduces the rearward velocity of the rifle, and thus the amount of recoil that a shooter is exposed to. Reviews of these products over the years have been mixed, but as I understand it, the faster the recoil velocity, meaning the lighter your rifle is with any given cartridge, the more effective it will be. Since we know that the choice of very light rifles are a bad idea for shooters needing to avoid recoil, installing a mercury recoil reducer in a heavy-ish rifle, that fires light weight bullets, from a cartridge with a moderate powder capacity, is probably only marginally effective.
