Mosin Nagant M44: Muzzle Break or Butt/Recoil Pad?

[sjann1]

Since picking up my 1945 M44 in early August, I've been out to the range three times with it, putting 50, 50, and 40 rounds through it respectively, with the resulting bruised/sore shoulder each time! Any recommendations as to which of the available options works best at reducing the kick, which in turn might improve my groupings: muzzle break? Butt/recoil pad? Both? Other? Or remain a purist?
Thanks!

 

[Funderb]

I find that a slip on recoil pad in any brand makes it downright pleasant to shoot. Muzzle brakes tend to get shot off if you dont destroy the rifle threading the barrel for one.

Better yet, get a monte carlo stock, about 60 bucks for it, and go out and have fun.

 

[Cosmoline]

Get a bigger Mosin or stick a pad on it. I would not try to use one of those brakes.

 

[Vaarok]

Brakes break. Average maybe four rounds before they shatter and go flying downrange. Waste of money.

 

[jad0110]

I've heard the "small" size Limbsaver works very well ... my 2 cents.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but proper technique will eliminate bruising. Of course, if you're shooting off a bench, there's only so much you can do.

Between a brake and a pad, I say get the pad. Why pay around $100 to mount a brake on a $100 gun??

 

[railroader]

I use slip recoil pads(medium) on my mosins. The ones I have are pachmayr but butler creek makes them too. http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/PAD223-1.html Mark

 

[Floppy_D]

Slip on pad, firm pull into shoulder and good cheek weld should fix the problem.

 

[Bartkowski]

If anything just get a slip on recoil pad, they help a lot when shooting from a bench. You could just be holding it wrong though....if you don't have it in your shoulder right and tightly you will get beat up.

 

[y5e06]

http://www.combathunting.com/MOSIN_NAGANT-Mosin_Nagant_Rubber_Butt_Pad.html

I've seen them on another site but can't recall specifics. Looks like decent option for keeping mil stock and easing the shoulder shock.


Morgan

 

[alemonkey]

+1 on technique. Get the butt over onto your pectoral muscle, not right onto your shoulder.

Shooting offhand helps immensely, too.

 

[SGW42]

I use a Past recoil pad that I wear on my body instead of slipping something on the gun. I can use it for other gun that have a kick to them.

I think I look like a dork at the range but I have full use of my right arm afterwards and it makes it a ton of fun to shoot.

 

[Palo]

+ Another for the pad. We use the same ones as Railroader and they work great.

Just FYI, this isn't a muzzle brake, but we have a couple of MN and were trying to come up with a cost effective way to reduce the muzzle flash at night (which frankly they look like a howitzer firing). We found that the aftermarket (not mil-spec) clamp on M-1 carbine cone shape flash hiders fit the MN carbines! Really helps keeping the blast and flash "down range" and "side blast" isn't an issue to fellow shooters on the firing line anymore. Helps as well for reaquiring the target at night. A plus being that it doesn't require any perm mods to the rifle, just clamp it on, tighten the wing nut and fire at will. Just something to consider.

 

[pinstripe]

Wingnut? Both my mosins would melt those wings. Wingnut

 

[specialk123]

I bought a $8 slip on neoprene buttpad for my Mosin and I could shoot all day with that and not feel a thing. Its great! Well worth the $8 and not having to modify my classic gun.

 

[Geronimo45]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but proper technique will eliminate bruising.

This has been the case for me. Good technique with arms and shoulders help avoid bruising there. Weird footwork from a semi-crouching position can cause recoil from a round of birdshot to knock you on your rear, however. I've done it before.

 

[rangerruck]

butler creek, SMALL SIZE SLIP ON PAD!!!!! costs about 8 bucks....

 

[Phil DeGraves]

Shoot only 10 or 20 at each range trip. It's less expensive and you reduce the cumulative effects of recoil...

 

[j.crippler]

gggg

 

[Coronach]

Pad + technique.

I see no reason to endure recoil for the amusement value. If a rifle kicks hard, I try to alter my technique to see if it is more pleasant. If that fails, I use a shoulder pad. Manly men with detached retinas the world over will claim that this makes you a sissy, but whatever. Let's face it, if you're shooting a milsurp, you're doing it for pleasure. Pleasure should not be painful.

Err, at least in this area.

Mike

ETA: I doubt that technique alone will make the M44 pleasant to shoot. Bearable? Yes. Managable? Certainly. Comfortable? Probably not.

 

[Franco2shoot]

+1 to Alemonkey... I shoot nearly 70 rounds each time between the M44 and 91/30. At first I was putting the butt plate out near the end of the shoulder, but found it much more accurate when pulled in and held tightly against the peck...
KKKKFL

 

[Claude Clay]

Real men shot a mosin and use Irish Spring.
others use a pad and Ivory soap

stripped a PAST of its attachments and had it sewn into a well worn CC vest

mosins and K31s keep on ticken, but i'm tired of takin a licken

 

[foghornl]

My solution:

A <$10 Butler Creek 'slip-on' recoil pad.

Not sure, but I have heard rumor of Soviet Army cooks using M-44's as meat tenderizers....slide a slab between M-44 butt plate and shoulder...blaze away.

 

[Scottish_Lord]

I have a M44 and I use a small size Pachmayer shoulder pad.

 

[SoCalShooter]

The recoil is there so the shooter understands what communist oppression feels like.