Rifle stock ?

[lunchbox]

Can someone explain to me how different stocks effect the recoil you feel from rifles?
And which or what kind of stock would make the biggest difference in feeling recoil?
I guess lets use something like a 300WM.
Thanks for the help

[hornet22savage]

wood stocks are haevier than composite there fore the whole gun is haevier reducing felt recoil.

[ozark]

I will take a stab at your question and maybe others will chime in and help. Weight of stock and the type of recoil pad used makes a lot of difference. Also if the center of the recoil pad or butt plate is much below the axis of the bore you will feel more recoil (excessive drop). A light weight stock with a metal butt plate and drop that puts the center of the butt plate well below the axis of the barrel would make the biggest difference in feeling recoil. Feeling it more in that case. Excessive drop also causes the muzzle end of the rifle leap upward when firing. Ben

[Jon]

+1, Ben

[lunchbox]

Ok I see the heavier the stock the less felt recoil.
I have seen some stocks that have a drop in where your thumb would go more so than like a ML2 stock. Would this drop help with the recoil or is that just for looks?

[ozark]

Lunchbox, I don't fully understand your last question. On a heavy recoiling firearm everyone gets a mild concussion. One reason for headaches scope cuts is the stock drop and the muzzle flying up. This tends to force the cheek piece rapidly against the cheek bone. Like a boxer that becomes scatter brained after being punched in the head a few years. I don't buy the claims that recoil doesn't bother some.

[rossman40]

I have to agree with Ozark's wisdom. While weight and recoil pad help, stock geometry has is a big factor. I bought a model 70 in 7mm mag which was one of the lightweight actions in a custom E.C. Bishop stock that was probly one of the ones made when the "West Coast" or "California" craze was going on with Weatherby, Winslow and Lawson. It looked wild but the recoil pad was so low compared to the bore centerline it was a bear to keep the muzzle down during recoil. With both the light weight and stock geometry it seemed to kick like a mule.

[lunchbox]

Ozark, if you look at the remington bolt action 700 on their web site they have a tactical stock that has more drop where your thumb wraps over the stock. I know its a tactical stock but I have seen others like this and I cant find the web site but it said that with the way the stock was shaped it lessened recoil some. Hope that helps a bit more.
I found a couple on here also www.precisionriflesales.com/riflestocks.htm
the last one the prone stock you can tell the best of what Im tryin to explain.

[rossman40]

The geometry is the geometry not matter how it is shaped however the stock can flex and designers can work with different materials. What you see on most tactical stocks is deceiving. The Accuracy International sock has a plastic shell for looks but a alloy frame/chassis underneath.



SIG/Blazer had this prototype stock that had a pistol grip and off the bottom of the pistol grip there was like a carbon fiber leaf spring that went back to the buttpad and the cheekpiece was part of the buttpad. It didn't work for accuracy so they went to a more rigid design,



The only stock I know that is purposly designed for flex is the Knoxx Axiom,



Supposedly works great for a .308 and less but sucks with a .300 RUM or .338 LM

[youp50]

My ML will out kick any 300 out there, except for maybe the Pegasus or 30-378, can't say as I have ever pulled the trigger on one.

I took a saw and rasp to the stock and removed the part of the cheek piece that Ben is referring to. Don't need it on a ML and the perceived recoil is very different now.

[esshup]

Let me take a stab at it.

With a stock that has less drop at comb and at heel, there is less muzzle rise, resulting in less force being transferred to your face, therefore less "felt" recoil. With a thumbhole or other stock that lets you absorb some of the recoil in the web/heel of your hand, that also results in less "felt" recoil. What you are doing is spreading the recoil forces over a larger part (or parts) of your body, so it seems like you have less recoil.

With a shotgun, where a scope coming back and biting you isn't a concern, there are a few recoil reducing systems out there that allow the gun to recoil under the cheekpiece, spreading out the recoil forces over a longer time span, which modifys the "felt" recoil. (Google Soft Touch Recoil System, or G Squared Recoil Reduction System) You can also add a thicker, softer recoil pad. I have a couple of Trap Dude "gooey" recoil pads, and they are the best ones that I've found so far. If you don't mind the looks, or are switching stocks, you can put on a larger recoil pad, spreading the force out over a larger area.

The pitch of the butt has a lot to do with felt recoil too. That's why women typically feel less recoil if the buttstock has more pitch. The toe of the butt doesn't dig into their shoulder/chest as much as a stock with minimal pitch.

Cast off and cast on is also a measurement. If you need more cast off on the stock, you are probably pressing your cheek into the stock harder and your cheekbone will get whacked by recoil. Cast off/cast on is your how much the cheekpiece is to the left or right of the barrel centerline.

A parallel comb allows the comb to slide under your cheek during recoil. A comb that is lower near the heel actually drives the comb into your face during recoil.

So, the "softest" stock in my book would be a thumbhole design, with a parallel comb, with the centerline of the bore dropped down in the stock to help the gun recoil straight back. A good muzzlebrake will also help reduce the muzzle rise and reduce the amount of recoil.

[ozark]

esshup, your post is very good and IMO excellent information. While serving in Army marksmanship units for several years competing with the M-1 and M-14 we used a shooting jacket that had a recoil pad and also a sling and glove. These practically eliminated felt recoil. We shot fifty rounds a day in practice and also in matches. Sometimes 100 rounds per day. I heard no complaints about sore shoulders. A folded towel between the shoulder and butt plate does wonders. Shooters spend much time reloading for accuracy. A little time spent reducing felt recoil would result in improved accuracy even more. JMHO. Ozark

[esshup]

Ozark, I used the same gear.