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Recoil suggestions

2072 Views 16 Replies 12 Participants Last post by carver, Nov 7, 2012

CHW2021

Discussion Starter · Oct 22, 2012

Looking for input on this one. A friend of mine is an avid hunter, he shoots only to zero his hunting rifles; over the years he has become more sensitive about recoil (percieved or actual).
He is currently shooting a Sako in 270 wsm (no longer using a 300wsm due to recoil) with a top end scope. The hunting distance is 200 yds and below. Yes, I know he is rather overpowered for - 100 yds, but here we are.
I am thinking that adding a "sorbane" type soft pad and/or a muzzle brake would help him, alternately downloading the ammo more to 7mm speeds.
What other ideas can you come up with short of a new rifle (he is "frugal") in a non-magnum chambering?

I am actually concerned that the increased noise from a brake would increase his percieved recoil and keep him gunshy.

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Jim K

· #2 · Oct 22, 2012

A muzzle brake works by directing some of the gas from the muzzle to the sides and rear, thus reducing backward recoil at the expense of increasing noise and blast coming back at the shooter. Depending on the rifle and the conditions, that can be of more or less importance.

Downloading the ammo is very feasible, but of course its effectiveness is reduced as well, though probably not significantly at 200 yards. (Plus folks who buy a powerful gun (or car) generally don't want to have to shoot it with under powered ammo.)

It is all a tradeoff, but the easiest change to the rifle would probably be a recoil pad of one kind or another.

Jim

CHW2021

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 22, 2012

I agree, like putting regular gas in a ferrari. I am leaning towards doing what I can to fit the rifle to the shooter. What about mag-na-port instead of the traditional end of the muzzle brake? And info on that idea?

I am guilty of using "too much gun" for deer also; I just do not want to loose a wounded animal or have to wander far looking for him......getting lazy I guess.

garydude

· #4 · Oct 22, 2012

CHW2021 said:
A friend of mine is an avid hunter

What's he hunting?

CHW2021

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 22, 2012

Generally deer in South Louisiana or Mississippi. Really, nothing over +-200 lbs . Kinda why I concider it a tad overpower.

john323

· #6 · Oct 22, 2012 (Edited)

Recoil reducers like these will help.I have installed many in customers guns.
http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=recoil+reducer&ksubmit=y

garydude

· #7 · Oct 22, 2012

As I see it your friend has a few options. One would be to get all the recoil-dampening items he can stuff on his rifle to make it a pleasant shooter, or he could just get another rifle that won't beat him up. A few potential candidates would be a .243 bolt gun, an AR 10, or possibly a lever gun in .357 or .44 or .45 cal. All should handily put down a deer up to 100 yards, .243 two hundred plus yards, and the .308 up to 500? Surely farther than I can shoot accurately.

If you have something that doesn't kick like a mule have your friend try it out and he will probably be inclined to either borrow your rifle or buy his own. I do think that practice is essential if he already has a flinch; it is the only way I know to eliminate it.

flintlock

· #8 · Oct 23, 2012

I've found the PAST MagPlus Shield works very well. I never was bothered by recoil until after a back injury. I can shoot my .300 Winchester when I put this thing on, otherwise I would be in a lot of pain.

gvw3

· #9 · Oct 23, 2012

I shoot trap every weekend. By the 4th round my shoulder was getting pretty sore. I bought the Past Shield and it works. I just didn't like the fit. I bought this last week.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sims...coil+reducer&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

Simple fix and it works for me. Not a lot of money and a fast fix. I shot 5 rounds and could have gone all day.

old semperfi

· #10 · Oct 23, 2012

first off i think if he is that partial to recoil he may want to rethink hunting.the real remedy is to shoot more often to combat flenching.take him to the range and either load a round or fake loading,if he flinches without a round in chamber you may be able to reteach him.the other remedy would be to buy reduced charged loads or to reload them.i hope this helps but if he is afraid of the gun he is using he may need to take up knitting. old semperfi

CHW2021

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 23, 2012 (Edited)

Unfortunately, I can't teach that old dog a new trick. He has very limited time to be at the range. I am leaning toward steering him to a autoloader (he was quite impressed with my Garands) and/or rifles in not magnum chambering. But he may not want to buy another rifle.
I really can't tell if he is more sensitive to recoil motion or the idea of recoil from muzzle blast (he wouldn't touch my m44) so I was fishing about for more ideas.

I think short term the soft recoil pad on the gun and/or recoil "plate" are the top of the heap. The most shooting is done in the field, so the past idea probably won't pan out.

Noise from muzzle brakes may only make his impression of recoil worse, I am still wondering if mag na porting the rifle would be as loud as the boss or other brakes. Personally, I think the old style "tommygun cutts type" muzzlebrake is one of the most practical, but that is just me.

bustedmp

· #12 · Oct 23, 2012

My first firearm was a 12ga. pump shotgun. I was tought to get used to the recoil. Unfortunately for me it wasn't my dad that taught me to shoot, it was an ex marine at my botscout camp rifle and shotgun range that gave me some help managing my flinching. I had to get someone else to load my gun and throw in a few rounds that wouldn't fire at random. After a few weeks over the summer I became a much better shooter. Then I started shooting my dads 30-06 with a steel butt plate. A recoil pad like the past sheild worked very well at the range for me. Of course when hunting, the only way I know the gun went off is when either whatever I'm shooting at drops to the ground or I see an impact from me missing which doesn't happen that much anymore. For me the trick was time at the range using techniques to reduce felt recoil. In 2005 I bought a Savage 16 in 300WSM, and that thing kicked like a mule, but I found that depending on my shooting position at the range depended a lot on how I felt the recoil. Seated at the bench and laying down was brutal, kneeling and standing wasn't bad at all. I tend to shoot from normal hunting positions, and I carry an adjustable shooting stick when hunting or shoot from a kneeling position.

If he can't get used to the felt recoil or learn to deal with it, he may either want to rethink hunting, or get a rifle more suited to him. I am going though the same issue with my wife, she wants her own handgun, but I am worried about what she wants may be too much for her. I am working with her on managing the recoil my 44mag produces before I buy the handgun she wants. So far she is doing pretty good.

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CloserangeReaper

· #13 · Oct 23, 2012

Could also look into getting him a Browning BAR, or similar gun, with a Boss on the end. These guns are capable of firing uselessly overpowered cartridges and doing so with minimal punishment to the shooter.

Of course, you could just go to a smaller cartridge, as others have also said. Anything from .223, .243, 7mm-08, .308, etc. etc. These are all very capable cartridges with minimal recoil, even in bolt guns. In autos they would be even less hassle.

powderfinger

· #14 · Oct 27, 2012

pacmayr decelarator should do the trick. works great on my Sako .338 !

Jonathan Metelski

· #15 · Nov 7, 2012

depending on how good of a shot he is you can go down to a .243 just use good jhp ammo for max expansion and aim for the heart or lungs. keep in mind the smaller the caliber the less room for error.

CHW2021

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 7, 2012

I am going to steer the guy towards the ar platform, probably a .308 cal. Gas operated will likely be his best option. Non magnum calibers will be his best option if he will buy another gun.

carver

· #17 · Nov 7, 2012

CHW2021 said:
I am going to steer the guy towards the ar platform, probably a .308 cal. Gas operated will likely be his best option. Non magnum calibers will be his best option if he will buy another gun.

What's the problem with the .270?

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