rifle recoil

[zike]

I've got a couple of the mercury reducers, one is going in my 340 weather beater. I'd be willing to sell the other one. Years ago shooting 1 1/2 oz loaders from an Ithaca for duck hunting. After getting beat up a number of times I put a heavy steel bar in the stock with a spring on either side. You could feel the weight shifting  back and forth. Kind of like a slow A5. But it did make the shooting a box of heavy loads bearable.

[Bob33]

Muzzle break will reduce recoil the most but with the downside of being super loud.

"Super loud" = almost certain permanent hearing loss without the use of hearing protection. One shot is all it takes. If you're willing to ALWAYS use hearing protection, or deal with the probability of hearing loss then brakes do a marvelous job of reducing recoil.

Personally, I've lost enough hearing that I can't afford to lose any more and thus I will never use a hunting gun with a brake. I'll sacrifice energy/ballistics first.

I'd look at using reduced energy ammunition as my first option. Unless you're shooting at distances in excess of 200 yards, they're effective enough to use with confidence in most circumstances.

[dc]

A limbsaver recoil will tame that gun down enough for you to shoot if comfortably.  I have a 300 wsm tikka and put this on it, and the recoil is minimal.  This would be the most affordable and you can see how it works for you.

[thinkingman]

I have a Tikka 300WSM and when I shot it with the stock recoil pad, it left bruises.
Added the Limbsaver recoil pad and it's at least less punishing.
I may add some lead shot to the stock voids, but really it's rifle meant to be carried a lot, shot little.
Never ever get a muzzle brake....Unless you're already deaf, in which case, consider the people you're hunting with.

[JDHasty]

I have a Tikka 300WSM and when I shot it with the stock recoil pad, it left bruises.
Added the Limbsaver recoil pad and it's at least less punishing.
I may add some lead shot to the stock voids, but really it's rifle meant to be carried a lot, shot little.
Never ever get a muzzle brake....Unless you're already deaf, in which case, consider the people you're hunting with.

 

[JDHasty]

Muzzle break will reduce recoil the most but with the downside of being super loud.

"Super loud" = almost certain permanent hearing loss without the use of hearing protection. One shot is all it takes. If you're willing to ALWAYS use hearing protection, or deal with the probability of hearing loss then brakes do a marvelous job of reducing recoil.

Personally, I've lost enough hearing that I can't afford to lose any more and thus I will never use a hunting gun with a brake. I'll sacrifice energy/ballistics first.

I'd look at using reduced energy ammunition as my first option. Unless you're shooting at distances in excess of 200 yards, they're effective enough to use with confidence in most circumstances.

[bobcat]

The problem is it's a 270 WSM. I don't think there are any reduced recoil loads offered in that cartridge, are there? That's why I suggested the 110 grain Barnes.

Even better would be to reload the 110 grain bullet at a reduced velocity. So instead of 3500 fps, maybe 3200. That's still plenty fast and recoil would be reduced to probably pretty similar to a 25/06.

That along with either a Limbsaver or Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad and recoil should be fairly mild.

[JBar]

Sell the rifle and get a different one. If you've already developed a flinch from the recoil then you may just consider selling it. And no i'm not looking for a 270wsm

[bobcat]

Sell the rifle and get a different one. If you've already developed a flinch from the recoil then you may just consider selling it. And no i'm not looking for a 270wsm

 

That's what I would do. Unless you're a reloader, I think that's your best option. Get a 243 or a 25/06.

[RB]

Here is what I have experienced, used 30-06 for years thought a 300 winmag would be better (it was to an extent) had a muzzle brake and Decelerator pad put on the 300 to make it more comfortable to shoot. The 300 has less recoil and I have to use ear plugs AND ear muffs to shoot it from the bench! Most of the time the guys around me don't like it when I shoot next to them due to muzzle blast.

I have had a few times since the brake was installed that I have shot without hearing protection in the field. I am now working on going back to shooting 30-06 without a brake. I shot my 300 twice this year within a few seconds of each shot and it did my ears no favors in fact it was the first time in all the years I have hunted my ears rang for the rest of the day and into the next.   

[RadSav]

  am shooting a fairly light 270 wsm.  am not a big guy aND AM OLD AND A CHICKEN.  WANT TO REDUCE RECOIL.   have a synthetic stock. 

I have a Sako A7 in 270WSM that kicked like a race horse.  Was crazy sharp and uncomfortable.  I was about to trade it in on a Winchester.  But before I did I had Sims send me one of their Tikka fitted pads for it.  That's all it took!  Now even the wife enjoys shooting it

I consider muzzle breaks on hunting rifles as a last resort.  Fine, or even preferred, on the range or if you are always in open country.  But they are darn hard on the ears for both the shooter and the spotter when used in actual hunting conditions.  I have 50% hearing loss in my left ear.  Makes figuring out where that elk is bugling from or where that turkey is roosting dang difficult.  Even worse is the hell I receive for not listening to the wife!   That hearing loss if all from field shooting, both as the shooter and as the guide.

[Bob33]

But they are darn hard on the ears for both the shooter and the spotter when used in actual hunting conditions.  I have 50% hearing loss in my left ear.  Makes figuring out where that elk is bugling from or where that turkey is roosting dang difficult. 

I hear you. Well, actually I don't.

[The scout]

I would say it depends on what the gun is primarily used for, I put a brake on my rifle so I could keep the weight down, adding weight to keep the recoil down was not an option for me and in long range hunting situations see the bullet impact, without the brake there is to much barrel jump to see impact at long distances. if you are going to go the other routes ecspecially reduced recoil ammo route you might as well just buy a 243 save yourself the trouble of accessorizing. but most of my hunting is spot and stalk mule deer hunting at long ranges so its not a big deal to either carry ear plugs or electronic muffs. my I would start with a limbsaver recoil pad and if that's not enough go from there

[yorketransport]

Try a new recoil pad.

Recoil velocity is what gets me. I don't mind a heavy, rolling recoil like the bigger 375, 416 and 458s have. The high velocity caliber a like the 270 mag's have a very sharp recoil than can be tamed with a good recoil pad. A good pad doesn't t necessarily reduce the actual recoil but it will spread it out over a slightly longer period of time which helps take the sting out of it.

Andrew

[splitshot]

  I DONT HAVE BIG SHOULDERS TO SPREAD RECOIL OUT ON.  WILL LOOK INTO A PAD.  ANY SUGGESTIONS?  MIKE W