.308 help

[Centurian22]

I agree with Baz, thank you for stepping forward on this.

To the OP, thank you for asking for our help. Personally I would try an inexpensive approach first (I'm cheap what can I say), starting with clothing. Guns that I felt packed a punch in summer time (12 gauge and mosin nagant) were very manageable when I had a sweatshirt and jacket on this winter. If you haven't tried shooting with more layers give it a shot if possible (not sure of your climate). Next I would try fashioning some kind of extra pad, or buying a limbsaver recoil pad. Lastly before making gun mods (unless I already planned to), and if I only planned to shoot from bench, maybe something like a lead sled, though that takes alot of the "fun" out of it by making it too easy, it might serve the purpose for you.

Good luck.

 

[Art Eatman]

I concur with Centurian22. One thing that could help would be some sort of slip-on pad for your shoulder. I've commonly used a small, one-pound sandbag between the rifle butt and my shoulder. It adds weight to the total system, and spreads the impact across a broader area.

Today's recoil pads are a good option. Much better than the old daze.

The package deal of a .223 bolt-action plus reloading can make target shooting quite enjoyable and relatively inexpensive. Right now, the "feeding frenzy" for .223 ammo and loading components suggests waiting a few months until things settle down.

 

[Haxby]

If it's a hollow, synthetic stock, it's a pretty simple thing to add weight to the buttstock.

 

[Jackal1]

I had the opportunity to shoot a relatives bolt action 308 & realized I didn't like the recoil. I ended up getting an AR-10 to help spread out the force over more time (more of a shove & less of a punch).

Given that the OP already has the bolt action I would try the cheap clothing and limbsaver fixes first, then if the recoil is still a problem try borrowing someones semiauto for comparison.

 

[redneck2]

I had a lever .45-70. Before I fired the first shot I had a Decelerator pad installed. Even with really stout loads it was pretty tame.

Some synthetic stocks just seem prone to a greater sensation of recoil. I had a friend that had an 870 synthetic identical to my wood stocked one. With the same loads, his seemed to kick a lot more. Dunno.

 

[mtrmn]

limbsaver slip-on recoil pad at first. If you're satisfied with it then get a permanent one installed.