Does anyone know of a gun maker that has installed or experimented with a "shock absorber" -- like in cars/motorcycles/bicycles/etc. -- in a buttstock?
Why not? Recoil pads are good, but I bet we can do better. When I was a kid bicycles had basically hard seats and no shocks (I'm 41). By the time I was in college, there were gel seats, and ergonomically designed seats -- comparable to a LimbSaver recoil pad in the gun world. Then they started putting shocks on bikes, and now even the inexpensive bikes are available with shock absorbers. I have to wonder if one company didn't come up with a good design, if all battle-rifle calibers wouldn't eventually have them.
With bicycles, initially people were afraid that the bikes would bounce all over the place, and it would be more difficult to control -- but in reality the opposite is true (with quality shocks), and the bike becomes more stable because it absorbs bumps rather than being jarred by them, returning the wheel on the ground more effectively. In the same way, I could see how follow up shots would be quicker, because instead of the barrel lifting or shoving the shooter, it would stay in a true line.
This thought was prompted because I was looking at a Saiga in .308. It comes with a standard, small, narrow, hard AK buttstock, with little or no recoil pad - and I'm not aware of any aftermarket recoil pads for it. Then I notices that they had collapsable AR-style stocks for these gun. And I started to think that if someone could figure out a way to remove the locking device and put a spring or a calibrated rubber/foam bar in there, that piston design could work like a shock absorber... Obviously not a good idea on a rifle that does not have a LER scope - but most battle rifles at least start out with just iron sights.
I also think that you could use a simple air shock system that would be silent and adjustable.
Any thoughts?
Why not? Recoil pads are good, but I bet we can do better. When I was a kid bicycles had basically hard seats and no shocks (I'm 41). By the time I was in college, there were gel seats, and ergonomically designed seats -- comparable to a LimbSaver recoil pad in the gun world. Then they started putting shocks on bikes, and now even the inexpensive bikes are available with shock absorbers. I have to wonder if one company didn't come up with a good design, if all battle-rifle calibers wouldn't eventually have them.
With bicycles, initially people were afraid that the bikes would bounce all over the place, and it would be more difficult to control -- but in reality the opposite is true (with quality shocks), and the bike becomes more stable because it absorbs bumps rather than being jarred by them, returning the wheel on the ground more effectively. In the same way, I could see how follow up shots would be quicker, because instead of the barrel lifting or shoving the shooter, it would stay in a true line.
This thought was prompted because I was looking at a Saiga in .308. It comes with a standard, small, narrow, hard AK buttstock, with little or no recoil pad - and I'm not aware of any aftermarket recoil pads for it. Then I notices that they had collapsable AR-style stocks for these gun. And I started to think that if someone could figure out a way to remove the locking device and put a spring or a calibrated rubber/foam bar in there, that piston design could work like a shock absorber... Obviously not a good idea on a rifle that does not have a LER scope - but most battle rifles at least start out with just iron sights.
I also think that you could use a simple air shock system that would be silent and adjustable.
Any thoughts?