cdb1
Member
The research I’ve seen pretty much shows that the only way a mercury recoil reducer actually lessens recoil is by adding weight to a firearm. In that regard there are many ways to add weight for less money.
Rifle Weight
- Thread starter Steve S.
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The research I’ve seen pretty much shows that the only way a mercury recoil reducer actually lessens recoil is by adding weight to a firearm. In that regard there are many ways to add weight for less money.
One shot with a braked 260 gave me tinnitus. I was under a covered porch half awake and coyotes were going after livestock. Now I have reduced loads in a 30-30 for night time.
I like heavy...ish guns, i specifically like long barrels. My light rifles weigh about 8 1/4-9lbs scoped, my heavier guns 10-11lbs.
I live at 300ft above sea level, and sometimes hunt @8500-9k ft (bout 45min drive). I REALLY feel the heavy guns after day of hiking around at that altitude, but i feel my fat ...uhh..rear end, alot more.
Ill put up with the weight as it helps absorb some of the shakiness being exhausted or badly out of breath can cause.
In field use, or even from most field positions (besides prone), recoil dosent bother me untill we get into the bigger magnums. Sound does, so does muzzle flash when its getting dark. Thus again im happy with long sporter weight barrels.
Off the bench .243, and 6.5 class recoil im comfortable with a 6-6.5lb gun.
.308ish 6.5-7lb
.30-06-7mm stw 8-9lbs
300s i want a 10lb or heavier gun. This is my comfortable recoil limit. Im happy to shoot 20rnds, 30 takes concentration, more and i need to take breaks with other rifles to "unflinch" myself.
Squishy pads make a huge difference for me, as its the sharpness of the recoil that really causes me problems.
I live at 300ft above sea level, and sometimes hunt @8500-9k ft (bout 45min drive). I REALLY feel the heavy guns after day of hiking around at that altitude, but i feel my fat ...uhh..rear end, alot more.
Ill put up with the weight as it helps absorb some of the shakiness being exhausted or badly out of breath can cause.
In field use, or even from most field positions (besides prone), recoil dosent bother me untill we get into the bigger magnums. Sound does, so does muzzle flash when its getting dark. Thus again im happy with long sporter weight barrels.
Off the bench .243, and 6.5 class recoil im comfortable with a 6-6.5lb gun.
.308ish 6.5-7lb
.30-06-7mm stw 8-9lbs
300s i want a 10lb or heavier gun. This is my comfortable recoil limit. Im happy to shoot 20rnds, 30 takes concentration, more and i need to take breaks with other rifles to "unflinch" myself.
Squishy pads make a huge difference for me, as its the sharpness of the recoil that really causes me problems.
1948CJ2A
Member
I've got a 22" barreled 308 Browning A-Bolt that weighs somewhere in the 6 pound neighborhood. I love carrying it out in the field but its a real whip on the bench. Physics can't be changed; therefore tradeoffs and concessions exist.
I've got a 6mm Rem weighing about the same and its no sweat to carry or bench shoot. Probably my favorite rifle to shoot on the bench and carry in the field is a 250 Savage I custom built. Its around 7.5 pounds, not too heavy and you can shoot that thing all day long.
I've got a 6mm Rem weighing about the same and its no sweat to carry or bench shoot. Probably my favorite rifle to shoot on the bench and carry in the field is a 250 Savage I custom built. Its around 7.5 pounds, not too heavy and you can shoot that thing all day long.
1948CJ2A
Member
What is the advantage of a muzzle brake on a 260 Rem? I'm honestly curious.
cdb1
Member
It reduces recoil.
1948CJ2A
Member
I realize that's the purpose of a muzzle brake but why would you need that on a 260 Rem? The recoil is already minimal.
Newtosavage
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Anyone have any experience with the muzzle brakes that you can turn on/off? I think Savage has one on one of their rifles now. I was looking at those for my Tikka '06 before I sold it.
cdb1
Member
There are many women, kids and people with medical issues who would argue .260 Remington recoil is not minimal. My 26 year old daughter who is not small is thinking about suppressing her .243, she hates the recoil. Shotguns don’t bother her in the least but she is standing when shooting them. With a rifle she is sitting or kneeling and that makes recoil feel much harder than when standing.
After three shoulder operations I’m getting more and more recoil adverse which is one the main reason I went from shooting a .270 mostly to shooting a fairly hefty weight 6.5x55.
highlander 5
Member
45/70.
Yep!
The heavier the rifle the less recoil you will experience (generally). And the more pleasant a rifle is to shoot, the more likely you are to be able (and want) to concentrate on shooting it accurately.
Those two pounds would make a difference if you were to spend a day carrying it around the woods, but on the bench, it works out to your advantage.
Glad to hear you have something that you like and works well for you.
It's a Remington vtr. I let my wife pick her deer rifle and that is what she wanted.
Newtosavage
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My daughter - at 12 - weighed about 90-100 lbs. She was not the biggest fan of shooting her single shot .243, even though she was a good shot with it. She took two deer (a yearling doe and a pretty big 8 pt. buck) with that gun using 2 shots in two consecutive years but has never asked to shoot it since. LOL
My 90 year old Winchester bolt action .22 on the other hand... she says that rifle gives her "love taps" LOL
My 90 year old Winchester bolt action .22 on the other hand... she says that rifle gives her "love taps" LOL
I don't hunt so carrying weight is not that big a deal for me. Most military issue rifles that I like to play around with are pretty heavy and I generally avoid buying the carbine length in serious calibers for that reason. To cheat even more, I use limbsaver slip on pads, put filled oilers in the buttstock if it has a buttstock recess, and so forth. I also don't try to fire "hot" rounds as I am only punching paper. I also prefer not shooting off of the bench as that seems to accentuate recoil rather than using field positions but that is just me I guess.
I used a mercury device (mag cap) bought from MGW on my Browning A5 and it does help a bit.
I used a mercury device (mag cap) bought from MGW on my Browning A5 and it does help a bit.
SwedishGuy
Member
I have one .308W Tikka T3 Tac with a supressor and a largish scope on it. Nice to shoot but heavy to carry far into the woods. I also have a light 6,5x55 with no breaks or supression and a small fixed 4x scope that really hurts. Wooden stock with a thin plastic at the end, I always get funny colorations on my shoulder after shooting it. I guess I like a light gun for carrying and a heavy gun for shooting. However, I think putting the supressor and a recoil pad on the 6,5 would give me a nice combo. However, I don't think that will happen since I kind of end up carrying the TAC in the woods anyway.
Captcurt
Member
I tried a few light rifles but the only one that I kept is my old Model 10 Savage Sierra. It was advertised as 6 1/4 lb. and has a 20" barrel. With a 2X7 Vari-X II is weighs out at 7 3/4 loaded. In 300 WSM it will get your attention when shooting off of the bench, but is bad news for a whitetail. My 700 ADL with a Bushnell Legend 4.5X14 weighs 8 1/4 and my Bergara B-14 Hunter is a solid 9 lbs with a 6X18 Vortex. All three are impressive from the bench but I still manage to miss a deer every once in a while.
JD Pinardi
Member
I've been handloading my own ammo for 40 years and have tried many combos, mostly 7 mm rem mag and 30-06, maybe just me, but I'm a huge IMR 4350 fan. jmo
Jd
Jd
PlumRotten
Member
Which ways are those, according to your research?
cdb1
Member
No research on that. It’s easiest on a hollow synthetic stock, put lead shot inside the stock. With a wood stock you can drill some holes in the stock and add whatever kind of lead you want.
I just googled, “How to add weight to a rifle”, and low and behold the first item that popped up was an old thread from this website.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-to-add-weight-to-a-rifle.399413/
I just googled, “How to add weight to a rifle”, and low and behold the first item that popped up was an old thread from this website.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-to-add-weight-to-a-rifle.399413/
PlumRotten
Member
Ah...google "re"search not Actual Experience. Oh...so there are "many ways to add weight for less money"......you should google "re"search metal density........mercury is about 20% more dense then lead....which means less....well, you already know....google told you!!!
cdb1
Member
When I said no research it was because I already knew how to do it. I’ve added weight to a number of rifles and shotguns over the years, mine, my daughters and once for a friend. Since I’m 58 I did it before I’d even heard of a mercury recoil reducer, if they were even around back in the day. Thanks for the mini lesson on mercury density. There is usually enough space in a long gun to add all the weight you want using lead. Any reason in particular for coming after me? Or did you pick me randomly?
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Clark
Member
This 6mmBR Rem700 action is the lightest big game rifle I have built.
Rem 700 BDL short action weighs 2 lb 4 oz = 36 oz
Stainless Super Match. 1-8" Twist. 6mm. Polygonal rifling. 28" long. Factory Remington Mountain Rifle Contour. . 2# 8 oz = 40 oz threaded, chambered, and crowned 27.125" long
HIGH TECH SPECIALTIES - REMINGTON 700 SHORT ACTION BDL SYNTHETIC RIFLE STOCk brownells 409-100-700WB
Rem. 700 BDL, Short Mfr Part: 700SC = 24 oz as arrives
Leupold VX-2 Rifle Scope 3-9x 40mm Custom Dial System (CDS) Wind-Plex Reticle Matte 120611 11.7 ounces
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The rifle weighs 7# 14 oz with scope and ammo... and that rifle can really reach out there long range.
Rem 700 BDL short action weighs 2 lb 4 oz = 36 oz
Stainless Super Match. 1-8" Twist. 6mm. Polygonal rifling. 28" long. Factory Remington Mountain Rifle Contour. . 2# 8 oz = 40 oz threaded, chambered, and crowned 27.125" long
HIGH TECH SPECIALTIES - REMINGTON 700 SHORT ACTION BDL SYNTHETIC RIFLE STOCk brownells 409-100-700WB
Rem. 700 BDL, Short Mfr Part: 700SC = 24 oz as arrives
Leupold VX-2 Rifle Scope 3-9x 40mm Custom Dial System (CDS) Wind-Plex Reticle Matte 120611 11.7 ounces
-------------------------------------------------
The rifle weighs 7# 14 oz with scope and ammo... and that rifle can really reach out there long range.
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I have always preferred heavier rifles for a couple of reasons. With my tremor I shoot heavy rifles better. Shooting long distance prairie dogs is better with weight.....and I don't have to carry them much. That said, I have a Kimber 84M .204, which is wicked accurate and significantly lighter. I've killed 100s of p-dogs with it, but more with my Rem 700 VSF .223....it's about 3 lbs heavier. Here's a story: I put together a Rem 700 VLS .243 with heavy target barrel and set it up for long distance prairie dogs...weighs probably 11 pounds and is a great shooter for 300+ yd p-dogs. Also put together a Rem 700 BLD .270 for deer hunting. It's at least 3 lbs lighter. In the last 2 years, the ,270 has killed one deer and the .243 has killed 3. Why? Because the lighter .270 kicks like a mule and the .243 is a joy to shoot. I also don't shoot as confidently with the .270. Since I shoot from a blind and my tripod holds 11 lbs as easily as 8 lbs, it became a no brainer. Also, the 3 deer killed with the .243 were shot just under the chin, not nearly as messy to clean.
Hokkmike
Member
Rage shooting is range shooting. I'd rather accept a little more recoil with a lighter gun and save work when carrying it afield. More more than 6 pounds please.
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