Thread: How to manage recoil?

I think you need a 243.
There are a number of things you can do to improve the 308 but a new rifle may be cheaper. (however I would still be doing the upgrades to the 243 as well so it a mute point).
I added a limb saver to my 358 win, Technique, I have to hold it tight and into my shoulder to avoid a belting. (As per link to "Hold the Fore-end" above)
good silencer,
Sit with someone who knows more than me and look at the stock. A good stock can make a big difference to felt recoil.

Hornady reduced recoil ammo. Only 2000 ftlb muzzle energy vs the 3000 ftlb the 150gr super performance has
https://www.shooterssupplies.co.nz/p...ion-box-of-20/

Z
PS I would add I know guy's who have recoil issues with the 308 leading to flinching etc. including my Dad, he had done most of his shooting with 222, 7x57 then settled on 243 when he got a real job (not culling). A few years later he won a 308 in a shooting competition and ended up selling it as he could not shoot it as well as his 243.

the superpreformance in 308 is shocking from what I have seen.....use 110grn pills and it nearly is a 243......same as 270 with 110s recoil goes waaaay down.

Get a new model 308... it is called a 243. Some times you can never get over that recoil fear. Been there. Started off with a BSA CF2 270. It could slay deer. But it was heavy and I grew to hate that 17lb recoil. Found life with a 243. Put an 85 gr Sierra up front and many deer die. Why make your hunting be an unpleasant experience? Next be real sneaky and ring Darren up in Hamilton. His cans are real quality.My 2C.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Get a new model 308... it is called a 243. Some times you can never get over that recoil fear. Been there. Started off with a BSA CF2 270. It could slay deer. But it was heavy and I grew to hate that 17lb recoil. Found life with a 243. Put an 85 gr Sierra up front and many deer die. Why make your hunting be an unpleasant experience? Next be real sneaky and ring Darren up in Hamilton. His cans are real quality.My 2C.

Yep second that, 85 - 87 gr pills and things out front fall over.. end of story.
I do run 105-108gr pills in my custom 243 but in reality for goat and fallow deer they are too big. The 75 gr work best for them. I have shot a number of meat reds and fallow and goats with 85-87 gr bullets. None travel very far.
Z

Trying to work out if this is a pisstake or Hermitage back as some else…

Above replies (haven’t read them all though) are sensible….

A brake on a .308 though..????


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One thing @sheep that I cannot see if anyone has mentioned is dont fight the recoil....It seems counter intuitive but I find this a lot of newer shooters (I am not saying you are new to it...but rather new to the issue at hand)

because recoil is causing pain or discomfort, the body's natural defence is to resist it; meaning trying to reduce the impact to the shoulder by trying to stop the rifle coming back at you. The trick is to actually pull thr file into your shoulder harder and 'help' pull the rifle back with recoil.

To give you a better idea of what I am trying to say....Hold your fist (or palm) about 2 inches away from a wall and shove forwards at the wall like recoil (hit the wall) The impact will be definitely felt. Now hold your hand against the wall and give it the same shove....You can apply a lot more force and it will not hurt because the contact is already made and there is no 'impact'. If you have a sturdy / co-operative person use their shoulder to push into instead of the wall.

Second point that was referred to, is that the body perceives a lot of recoil through all of its senses. A suppressor will actually not do a huge amount towards actual physical force in recoil (simple physics) BUT and it is a huge BUT....it will reduce the noise and flash and concussion from the bang and the body will think recoil has been reduced because it is not as loud / violent. I shoot with a suppressor because it is much more pleasant to shoot. It feels like it reduces recoil. And the mind is a wonderfully incredible thing.

Third, getting some pointers on your technique will be a good idea. Sometimes even the best of us start to subconsciously adjust things and it can affect how we feel recoil and accuracy.

I am not expert, but these three things have helped me with recoil issues after I started to enjoy larger calibres a bit too much....The 308 is not a heavy recoiling calibre- it is fairly mid level. One point though...the amount of energy is not what hurts with the recoil- it is the speed with which that energy is transmitted rearwards. A super light rifle will carry the same amount of energy rearwards that a heavier rifle with the same ammo will. But the speed will be higher on the lighter rifle as it accelerates into the shoulder.

And another lighter point....Most people only seem to experience recoil at the range...when shooting an animal in the field...recoil seems to vanish......The mind is focused on more important issues at the time.

Originally Posted by 300wsm for life

I have a mate who has a destroyed collar bone, he can shoot his 308 with 178g no problem if sitting or standing but lying down it gives him a beating. Just the angle of where it sits in his shoulder.

Prone, your body does not recoil back with the rifle, the butt just digs in. A tiny but upright shooter has it easier.

Originally Posted by Mauser308

Post # 42? In my defence, I'm probably not that noteworthy - I get that... But good that we are on the same page on this one!

@Mauser308 Now I re read your post and I see what you were getting at a bit clearer....I read yours a slightly different way and agree we are on the same page...I am happy to be corrected. Right you are....

Originally Posted by rewa

Out of interest, was it better with the titanium in or out ? I have the option of having it removed, but would rather have the pain I'm used to dealing-with, than something worse. Mine was in 9 pieces and they tell me its all joined back together, which they werent really expecting. As someone else said, I also hold the stock against shoulder/lat/ribs, work it around until you feel safe/confident. Also, try a tennis-ball, in a sock, over your shoulder and work it against a wall. Unknots things and lessens migraines, pain etc. Works .You may regret moving to 6.5, you'll never want to look at your .308 again..

I planned to keep the titanium in for good but the frequent spiking pain is annoying especially during winter. The numbness was irritating. Removed it 4 years later. No more spiking pain and numbness but the shoulder not as good as it used to be. I think the pain cause by the recoil will be worse if the titanium remains inside. Well, your situation may be different.

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Originally Posted by timattalon

One thing @sheep that I cannot see if anyone has mentioned is dont fight the recoil....It seems counter intuitive but I find this a lot of newer shooters (I am not saying you are new to it...but rather new to the issue at hand)

because recoil is causing pain or discomfort, the body's natural defence is to resist it; meaning trying to reduce the impact to the shoulder by trying to stop the rifle coming back at you. The trick is to actually pull thr file into your shoulder harder and 'help' pull the rifle back with recoil.

To give you a better idea of what I am trying to say....Hold your fist (or palm) about 2 inches away from a wall and shove forwards at the wall like recoil (hit the wall) The impact will be definitely felt. Now hold your hand against the wall and give it the same shove....You can apply a lot more force and it will not hurt because the contact is already made and there is no 'impact'. If you have a sturdy / co-operative person use their shoulder to push into instead of the wall.

Second point that was referred to, is that the body perceives a lot of recoil through all of its senses. A suppressor will actually not do a huge amount towards actual physical force in recoil (simple physics) BUT and it is a huge BUT....it will reduce the noise and flash and concussion from the bang and the body will think recoil has been reduced because it is not as loud / violent. I shoot with a suppressor because it is much more pleasant to shoot. It feels like it reduces recoil. And the mind is a wonderfully incredible thing.

Third, getting some pointers on your technique will be a good idea. Sometimes even the best of us start to subconsciously adjust things and it can affect how we feel recoil and accuracy.

I am not expert, but these three things have helped me with recoil issues after I started to enjoy larger calibres a bit too much....The 308 is not a heavy recoiling calibre- it is fairly mid level. One point though...the amount of energy is not what hurts with the recoil- it is the speed with which that energy is transmitted rearwards. A super light rifle will carry the same amount of energy rearwards that a heavier rifle with the same ammo will. But the speed will be higher on the lighter rifle as it accelerates into the shoulder.

And another lighter point....Most people only seem to experience recoil at the range...when shooting an animal in the field...recoil seems to vanish......The mind is focused on more important issues at the time.

Thanks for the awesome advise mate.

Yes, will work on it.

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This forum cracks me up the one of the first bits of advice "sheep" got was from "flock".

Everything has pretty much been covered already. But in all honesty if you are finding the recoil too much with your current setup that already has a brake I personally would not be spending anymore money on it tinkering around. If it were me I would either reload a lighter load for it. If I didn't reload I would just sell it and buy a lighter recoiling caliber and just to be safe buy it in a heavier rifle.
There are plenty of options and if you Google recoil charts you will get a good idea.

If bush hunting you can’t beat a 7.62x39

Originally Posted by The bomb

If bush hunting you can’t beat a 7.62x39

Suppose
... plenty power for the distance
... heavier .30 projectiles with less deflection
... rough "agricultural" / communist block reputation so suppliers will never get away with too much mark-up. (O:>

I havnt bothered to read all 5 pages but has anyone mentioned getting a different stock shape.
Some designs make normally comfortable calibre rifles truely horrible.