Recoil

[Sheorsa]

Yesterday I fired my first rounds through a Tikka t3 lite. I found the recoil was something else it has a synthetic stock with a rubber absorber. Any way to reduce the recoil. Also had moderator on!

 

[deerstalker.308]

What caliber?

 

[Sheorsa]

308

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Try a heavier moderator, eg Jet-z. A friend wrapped some lead sheet round the butt of his rifle.
How well does the rifle fit?
Regards
JCS

 

[Tim.243]

308

Have a deer in the scope pull the trigger and you won't even notice it....

 

[deerstalker.308]

.308 really shouldn’t be too punchy, as above, a heavier mod may help, but you may just need to familiarise yourself with it and practice, after all, seems daft taking an inherently lightweight rifle and adding weight! It may be the stock isn’t a good fit either and you’re cheek weld isn’t good?
as Tim says, even the heaviest recoil disappears when you’re pointing it at a deer, I hate zeroing my .375 but I know when I’ve shot deer with it I can’t recall the shot/recoil at all!

 

[8x57]

It's a trade off you can't have it both ways, opting for the reduced weight of the lite will always increase recoil over the standard weight rifle.

 

[deerstalker.308]

You could try one of these, won’t add weight but may absorb a little bit of the shock....

Beartooth Recoil Pad kit - neoprene gun stock pad with inserts eliminate fatigue Beartooth Recoil Pad Kit Black: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

 

[muddy42]

You could try one of these, won’t add weight but may absorb a little bit of the shock....

Beartooth Recoil Pad kit - neoprene gun stock pad with inserts eliminate fatigue Beartooth Recoil Pad Kit Black: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Good idea. or...

I think the new Tikas are modular so you can change the grip etc? Is there a cavity in the grip area that you could fill with lead, perhaps fill with lead fishing weights? Investigate first, maybe this won't add enough weight. If happy, you could use some weak glue to stop them rattling. Worse case scenario is you ruin the modular grip area and have to buy another one before you sell on etc.

 

[stubear]

Its a trade off as 8x57 said - if you have a lighter rifle its nicer to carry but the felt recoil will go up.

Options are;
- Lighter bullets like the Sako 123gn ammo.
- Heavier/more effective mod.
- Add padding to the stock. There are some you can get that get cut into the stock for a much deeper padding. A mate of mine has a Kick-Eez on his O/U which also works well and just screws on directly.
- Some sort of recoil reduction system internally to the stock which will add weight and dampen the kick. There used to be ones filled with mercury you could get but I think these are harder to get now as a result of the mercury content. I've seen modern ones online which are a weight with a spring system attached.

Also agree about the rifle fit - is the stock nicely into your shoulder and the cheek weld good?

 

[muddy42]

or CDSG Ltd Shooting Sports - CDSG Ltd sell some reduced recoil ammo made by Hornady in 125 grain.

 

[Mike L]

I have a t3 lite in .308, using 150gn sako rounds, I don't seem to notice excess recoil? Like others say it's a trade off, with a light rifle to carry and a tad of recoil when taking 1 shot.

 

[Fabnosh]

As mentioned above, a .308 certainly isn't classed as a brute by any stretch of the imagination but clearly the level of recoil is causing you an issue. I'm with DS.308's observation that if the stock weld is poor then recoil really does become noticeable largely because the rifle is 'flopping' around and allowed to accelerate in an un-directed way. Sometimes improved technique can have a huge impact so I would suggest that before some of the other options which are both expensive and would compromise your light weight rig, I'd take a really close look at basic technique, weld and fit. A little bit of self filming may help illuminate any issues of technique and then perhaps a little adjustment in length and cheek weld (with sticky tape and padding) may reveal where best to make long term adjustments.

Hope that helps some.

FN

 

[finnbear270]

I am having a 6.5 PRC built, with all the un needed weight gone, having been happily shooting un moderated .300 Win Mags for quite a good while now, it should prove most comfortable to shoot, A lightweight rifle is just that for a reason, all day carry in any terrain, you give up that weight/recoil formula for hopefully a one shot job.

 

[8x57]

Sheorsa I'm not sure how much shooting you've done with centrefire rifles but you say in your introduction that you are just getting into hunting. My suggestion would be to get some more practice in but build up slowly using light loads and you will soon get used to your new rifle.
When I've introduced newcomers to shooting previously we always started with a .22 rifle to develop shooting skills and then progressed via either .38spl or .222/.223 rifles until we felt confident enough to progress to .308win which to some can feel like a heavy recoiling rifle (which it isn't). The very last thing that we wanted to do is to make shooting an unpleasant experience that resulted in twitching or jerking a shot off often with eyes closed.
I don't know if you are of slighter build or built like a brick outhouse but I found with a couple of guys of very slight build that something like a .308win was unpleasant for them. In fact with the one chap the other club members used to gather around when he was shooting to see his rifle beat him up, it would literally lift him off the ground, and that was when he was shooting a heavy barreled varmint rifle. The solution was simple shoot something softer such as a .243win, or in his case simply for target shooting a .223rem which is what he was advised in the first place.

 

[Tim.243]

Put the x hairs on it..shout OI...pull the trigger.
God knows what you will do if you have to drag it out of the wood back over the ditch then 200 yds back to the wagon.
Then man handle it in the back of the car....

Then your shoulders will ache lol

but good luck

 

[sikastag270]

this

 

[Mungo]

If you haven’t shot much centrefire before, a .308 does take some getting used to.

Add the fact that you have a known very light rifle, and it’s no surprise you’re finding it uncomfortable. I struggled with .308 when I started with it, and that was with a substantially heavier gun than the T3.

The very best solution is practice and improving your technique. Technological solutions often ultimately cause more problems than they solve.

Start with simple things: shoot off a front and rear bag, rather than a bipod. Don’t use the sniper cross arm hold - grip the fore stock with your left hand (as if you were shooting unsupported). Make sure your body is lined up properly. Make sure you have a good cheek weld and your not having to raise your head off the stock to get a clear sight picture. Make sure the butt is tight against the fleshy part of your shoulder, not your collar bone. Get someone to watch you shoot and see what you’re doing.

I am a self confessed recoil wimp, but I can now shoot an unmoderated .308 perfectly happily.

 

[Sheorsa]

If you haven’t shot much centrefire before, a .308 does take some getting used to.

Add the fact that you have a known very light rifle, and it’s no surprise you’re finding it uncomfortable. I struggled with .308 when I started with it, and that was with a substantially heavier gun than the T3.

The very best solution is practice and improving your technique. Technological solutions often ultimately cause more problems than they solve.

Start with simple things: shoot off a front and rear bag, rather than a bipod. Don’t use the sniper cross arm hold - grip the fore stock with your left hand (as if you were shooting unsupported). Make sure your body is lined up properly. Make sure you have a good cheek weld and your not having to raise your head off the stock to get a clear sight picture. Make sure the butt is tight against the fleshy part of your shoulder, not your collar bone. Get someone to watch you shoot and see what you’re doing.

I am a self confessed recoil wimp, but I can now shoot an unmoderated .308 perfectly happily.

Thanks very much for the advice. Much appreciated

 

[Malxwal]

I'd chime in that fit/cheek weld more important than weight in the stock. Adding weight into a stock will just alter the balance and direction of recoil.