Recoil and Old Shooters

[Sashi]

At 70 years old my shoulder bones are getting very close to the skin. Hurt is now there. I purchased a Limbsaver Shoulder pad, It should arrive Monday, Hopefully this will distribute the recoil over a wider area, and I will be able to enjoy my currant rifle in the years to come. Does anyone have experience with these.

[Full Curl Earl]

They are pretty good at doing what your looking for. Another option would be a mercury filled tube in the rear stock that lessens felt recoil, but I have no personal experience with them, but reviews are good.

[Pioneer2]

Most start out with sensible calibers then graduate to the magnum phase ,age and return to sensible calibers.

[rpcw]

You may want to look at a radial brake.

It really does help

[catnthehat]

I jus shoot smaller rifles fir the past many years - I never did recover fully from my neck/ shoulder damage
Cat

[oilngas]

Also just about at the 70 age, I do what Cat say's just shoot smaller calibers, and or don't shoot at all. The last few years have been, 2 or 3 shots just to check that stuff that has not changed for 50 years + or - and has not developed a desire to change.

3" high at 100 and good to go for all of my rifles to about 300 and aim for the big part behind shoulder. That's worked for the 50 years.

Not shooting, just me n dogs is more n more prevalent in my bird outings.

That said the prairie moose last fall, did not like the, 140 gr. TTSX in 7mmRM again in the big part. During the harvest did not notice noise or recoil.

Where the recoil get me now is on the skeet range, I'm taking up loading 3/4 oz. 12's that just barely dribble out of end of barrel!! When all the old supplies are gone, back to 20ga, n light shells.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

Most start out with sensible calibers then graduate to the magnum phase ,age and return to sensible calibers.

Yup.
Nice handling rifle that naturally comes up, on target then a crisp snap of recoil and still see the animal in the scope all while cycling the bolt getting ready to place another if needed....

[6.5 shooter]

Brakes are great but please move to the far end of the benches so others don't have to put up with your muzzle blast.

I find most sharp shouldered round tend to recoil sharper then lipstick type cases (.308 vs .300h&h) Same caliber much different recoil.

I still have a couple heavy hitters, 9.3x62,.375 H&H etc. but like most have gone back to my youth and shoot a LOT of varmint rounds now or really heavy bench guns.

Recoil has never been my friend and it drives me nuts when I hear, watch people give there partner, kid a heavy recoiling rifle, watch them get hurt and then laugh about it. Recoil does NOT make you a MAN.

Recoil is one of those things that once you become recoil sensitive it is VERY hard to overcome the effects and your accuracy and enjoyment of the sport diminishes with its effects.

Also stock fit has a HUGE effect on recoil, find a rifle that fits, drive the gun store staff crazy, then walk out with the rifle that fits YOU not the one that looks cool.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Yup.
Nice handling rifle that naturally comes up, on target then a crisp snap of recoil and still see the animal in the scope all while cycling the bolt getting ready to place another if needed....

What a perfect scenario you picture. Can you actually pull that one off ?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Salavee

What a perfect scenario you picture. Can you actually pull that one off ?

Yup,
Practiced many times,
Little 6-284 punches the first round off I don't panic, keep scope on target and butt tight to shoulder while moving hand to bolt cycling another round....like e erythronium else practice....use to shoot, see point of impact, lift head off rifle, jack another she'll and then try to get on target....realized why the heck am I panicking and rushing things....

[Sashi]

Originally Posted by Sashi

At 70 years old my shoulder bones are getting very close to the skin. Hurt is now there. I purchased a Limbsaver Shoulder pad, It should arrive Monday, Hopefully this will distribute the recoil over a wider area, and I will be able to enjoy my currant rifle in the years to come. Does anyone have experience with these.

The Limbsaver shoulder pad came in yesterday, I thought the rubber pad in it was a little too flexible, so I added an 1/8" thick piece of rubber gasket material to it, to stiffen it, and spread the recoil over a wider area. I tested it out today, firing a box of 300 gr 375 H&H at maximum loads, and a box of 150 grain 3006 max loads extremely decreased felt recoil. No sore shoulder today. And I did get some very acceptable groups. Thanks everyone for your input.

[pjb274181]

I always use a Lead Sled at the range - particularly for the 300WinMag, otherwise my shooting day would be pretty short.

I've also worked up a lighter load for my 25-06 so that my young teenage son would be comfortable. I dialled it down to be close to a .243 which is ideal for the WT he'll be hunting.

[357Maximum]

Recoil begins at .40 and then at 40 years. It's a down hill slide for most of us.

My Magnums are all gone .

Favorites now are my 6x45 and .222 Remington.

If I Big Game hunt again, I'll use a 6.5x55 , or a 7x57 or it's cousin the 280.

I'll leave my Ruger #1 .303 for when I need a bigbore.

357

[elkhunter11]

I gave up on the 300RUM and the 338x8mmremmag, and went back to the 7mmstw. With a McMillan stock and Decellerator recoil pad, and a little more weight in the barrel, I find recoil quite tolerable, for the amount I shoot the rifle. I prefer the feel of the Decellerator over the Limbsaver, even though it doesn't reduce felt recoil quite as much.. I actually find more issues with recoil when shooting clays do to the volume of shots fired, so I use 1 ounce loads for sporting clays, and I shoot skeet with the 28 gauge and the 410.

[Beeman3]

Originally Posted by pjb274181

I always use a Lead Sled at the range - particularly for the 300WinMag, otherwise my shooting day would be pretty short.

I've also worked up a lighter load for my 25-06 so that my young teenage son would be comfortable. I dialled it down to be close to a .243 which is ideal for the WT he'll be hunting.

A lead Sled is the last thing I would want to use. Very unnatural shooting position and a good way to crack a stock if you are adding weight to the sled. If shooting lots of rounds off a bench go with a heavier rifle that has a side discharge brake. My 14 lb 6.5X47 has almost zero recoil. My 10 lb 2oz 300 Win Mag I could shoot all day with the Holland brake. This rifle sends a 215 Berger at 3000 fps so it is not a mild load either. Get a set of noise canceling ear plugs and you are set for the range and hunting with no recoil to worry about. Brakes make a huge difference.

[pjb274181]

Originally Posted by Beeman3

A lead Sled is the last thing I would want to use. Very unnatural shooting position and a good way to crack a stock if you are adding weight to the sled. If shooting lots of rounds off a bench go with a heavier rifle that has a side discharge brake. My 14 lb 6.5X47 has almost zero recoil. My 10 lb 2oz 300 Win Mag I could shoot all day with the Holland brake. This rifle sends a 215 Berger at 3000 fps so it is not a mild load either. Get a set of noise canceling ear plugs and you are set for the range and hunting with no recoil to worry about. Brakes make a huge difference.

Those are some heavy rifles! Part of the reason for the lead sled is also to reduce shooter inadequacy when building up loads and sighting in. Once I know that both the ammunition and rifle are accurate, then it must be the shooter's (my) screw up when I miss.

[Beeman3]

Originally Posted by pjb274181

Those are some heavy rifles! Part of the reason for the lead sled is also to reduce shooter inadequacy when building up loads and sighting in. Once I know that both the ammunition and rifle are accurate, then it must be the shooter's (my) screw up when I miss.

My 300 Win Mag was built so it was light enough to carry but still heavy enough to be stable shooting at 1000 yds. The 6.5X47 is heavy. It was the perfect gun to hunt Texas this past winter just sitting in elevated box blinds. Like the old saying says; the right tool for the job. Which also gives us an excuse to buy multiple guns.

[Don_Parsons]

The power of the mind

So I spent the last few days sorting out the tack for my replacement rifle build.

A mid weight sporter with mid range cartrage much like the rifle I own, thoughts of recoil and kick back had me thinking about the MB thing, my mind was starting to play tricks on me.

I loaded up some ammo went to the range, and found out that the only thing that needs improving is the crappy trigger. Ha.

The new Remmy light weight was onto the small gong at 600 meters by the 3rd shot, I was so focused on shooting the horizontal as I battled the light gusts of wind.

The 180 bullets found their way down there, so the MB thought is now shelved.

Like the old guy told me years ago, a good recoil pad, shoulder pad at the range, thick winter jack at harvest time, a nice size critter in the sights,,, and you won't even feel the shot if your mind is in the right frame of mind.

Yuppers, the light weigth pipe is ready to rock.

[AB Archer]

I love my T3 Lite 6.5X55. It does a great job at everything from cow elk down to gophers if you are willing to shell out the $ for the ammo. The felt recoil in my opinion is around a 22-250.

[Yycadm]

I’m on my way to 65, and started moving to lighter recoiling rifles a few years ago. It occurred to me during a moose hunt that I was thinking about the recoil, something that had never crossed my mind on a hunt before.
Around the same time, the number, and duration of my hunts dropped off. Kids all grown up, none very fond of game to begin with. Just the two of us, and since losing half my jaw to cancer a decade ago, chewing meat hasn’t been an enjoyable way to have a meal. Seemed like a bit counter productive to go and take a moose then grind most of it.
I went to smaller calibers too, and ended up with a .243 for deer, no more moose hunts. The last couple of years the vast majority of my shooting has been with pistol caliber carbines; a JR, Keltec S2000 and a Kriss Vector in 9mm, and a Rossi Ranch hand in .357 mag, with a model 92 shoulder stock on it. The Rossi, i’ve Worked up a smoking hot load with 180 gr. Roundnose bullets that i’d Be perfectly comfortable with it as a self Defense round for black bear, and it’s so nice and short, light and easy pointing it’s a great walking around brush gun.
It happens to all of us, this getting old crap. My shooting shoulder has rotator cuff damage, and i’d Like to avoid the surgery if I can

[canoe2]

At the other end of the age spectrum, I load reduced-recoil loads for my kids in .308, and with the limbsavers they're very manageable. I've done that with 7mm-08 as well. I enjoyed shooting those rifles so much I started doing the same thing for my .30-06 for target practice. You can bump back up to full loads for hunting season and they don't notice the recoil in the field when hunting; seems to help prevent any flinching or bad habits. Heavier rifles help of course, but younger/older hunters (and me!) don't want to pack the extra weight around.

[covey ridge]

Even though I have had shoulder surgery, I do not find recoil does not bother my shoulder. That said, now that I am getting older I find I enjoy lighter recoil. I very seldom use more than a 20 gauge for anything and when I use a 12 for clay I often used 7/8 oz and even 3/4 oz. I started doing this to save on lead shot

As far as rifles go I no longer own a magnum and now a 7-08 is my big gun. I have found that for me decelerators and limb savers do not make much difference.

In my previous life when I used to shoot a lot of trap I did find that a mercy reducer helped a bit. That said, I found that getting the pitch right for me made more difference to my shooting comfort than the actual pad.

[propliner]

Funny, I'm the opposite. When I was young I used to think my .444 was a big kicker, I used to get a bruised shoulder and flinched a lot.

30 years later my favorite is my unbraked .500 Jeffery with 700-grainers. I shoot the .375 and .300 mags for a light day out. I have more mass in the shoulder area now, however I do work the upper body often including bench press and I think that helps a lot. Recoil just does not bother me anymore.

[rafternk]

Never thought the recoil of my favorite 300 Weatherby would effect my accuracy. However as I age my tolerance for pain decreases. Maybe just getting smarter. I put my 300 WBY Mag up for sale and will be downsizing to the 257 WBY.

[Dean2]

In a lot of cases, except for injury, the inability to handle recoil is more a factor of conditioning than age. As we get older we must keep working those muscles, you would think the extra weight would do the trick but it doesn't really.

[kujoseto]

I’ve recently moved from magnums to 7x57 and 257 Roberts. I think archery has made me dislike the muzzle blast / noise of rifles more so than the recoil. I love the tranquility of practicing on the archery range. It’s a great escape for me. Now that I’m shooting about 45 gr of powder instead of 65++ I’m really enjoying the rifles again. I had a load for a 300 wsm that was very accurate and gave me a ton of confidence in the hunting scenarios knowing I could shoot it so well. I now can do the same and happen to take on less recoil in return.
I’ll still add a 35 whelen or similar but it shouldn’t be the same as the sharp abrupt jolt of the magnum rounds. The fact I don’t care to shoot as far as I used to does play into that decision as well. If I wanted a rifle fully capable out to 500 or 600 yards something like one of the 7mm magnums would likely fit the bill. But a whelen out to 300 or 400 and likely only <150 for 90 % of the shots on game I’ll take is good enough for me.
I can’t say I am adverse to recoil so much as I’m just thinking it’s mostly unnecessary. That 7x57 is just a treat. Not much more recoil than a 22-250 and very effective at the terminal end

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by kujoseto

I can’t say I am adverse to recoil so much as I’m just thinking it’s mostly unnecessary. That 7x57 is just a treat.

It's a beautiful thing once you figure that out hey? I came to the same realization a year or two ago. I thought I'd save on powder shooting smaller cartridges...... man was I wrong!

[kujoseto]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

It's a beautiful thing once you figure that out hey? I came to the same realization a year or two ago. I thought I'd save on powder shooting smaller cartridges...... man was I wrong!

Makes me wonder why I spent so much time with magnums before. I do have some fun memories from the 300 wsm working up some deadly accurate and fast loads for the 180 accubond. They have their place and only they do what they do, but since getting into bowhunting, I’ve lost much of my interest in the long shots. So these tamer rounds suddenly seem like a new great thing - even though the 7x57 was developed in 1892!

edit: forgot to mention, I’ll eventually be looking to build a lightweight 7x57 on a tikka action. Just need to find one on the cheap (possibly barrel shot out)