Recoil Mangement

Ever heard ‘It’s got a kick’ or ‘that’s gotta a lot of oomph’?

Whether you call it kick, knockback, or oomph it’s all about recoil. Recoil is the backward movement of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil momentum acquired by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gases, according to Newton's third law, known as conservation of momentum. Recoil can be unpleasant, and can cause issues with accuracy on repeated shots i.e. muzzle climb. So, lets go over a few ways to reduce recoil.

A heavier gun:

The simplest way to mitigate recoil is to have a firearm the has more mass. This means there’s more weight that the recoil has to move before transferring its energy to the shooter. Take for example the following figures based on the recoil by rifles chambered in 30-06. Four guns weighing 6, 7, 8 and 9 lbs. each and firing loads based on 180-gr. bullets at 2700 f.p.s. will result in recoil energies of approximately 26.4, 22.7, 19.8 and 17.6 ft.-lbs. You can get weights for almost any part of your gun and we can install them here for you.

Shoot lighter rounds:

Going back to Newton's third law of motion; For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So just like shooting a heavier firearm, shooting a lighter load means less powder and/or a lighter projectile, which means less energy being transferred rearward to the shooter.

Try a smaller round:

Just like the previous suggestion, a smaller round/shell/caliber will also mean less transferred to the shooter. The combined with a heavier firearm and you usually have the makings for the best shooting experience. It’s all about preference.

Accessorize:

Muzzle devices, buffers, butt-pads, stocks and more. There are a-lot you can add to your firearms to help as well. Most long guns will usually benefit in some factor having an appropriate muzzle brake or compensator. Same goes for a recoil reducing slip on butt-pads like the Pachmayr Decelerator, or a fixed pad like the LimbSaver AirTech.

Practice good behaviors:

Like anything else you want to be good at, you have to practice. Learn what is proper for the firearm your using and apply it when at the range. We offer one on one classes and have a plethora of other classes for a multitude of things. Give us a call and get a spot today!