nksmfamjp
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2004
- Messages
- 3,351
Let me give some perspective....I shoot a 458 Lott without a brake and a 223 with one. Simply put brakes and their features need understood before just jumping on the brake bandwagon.
First recoil. Recoil is the result of the cartridge you choose. To choose a cartridge, I first determine the game to be shot. Let's say elk is my choice. How far? 600 yds max. What bullet? Let's say Accubond. OK. What is min velocity to open up? 1800fps....typical for bonded hunting bullet. For elk, I feel I really need to be in the 1900-1950fps range and probably .284 min caliber, although at higher speeds, I could see 0.264" working.
So, what caliber is that? I just go looking over the ballistic calculators to find the one I want. This got me to 300 Sherman and 280ai. 280ai shows 140gr Accubond good to 650 yds. 300 Sherman should do about the same with 180gr Accubond.
So, the 280ai has a bit less recoil and the 300 has a bit more bullet mass and capability. I chose 300.
So, this is going to recoil just a bit under 300 WM. Can I shoot it? Yea. All day long? Well, other factors need considered. I find stock fit is what should be considered first and foremost.
Stock fit: Is your LOP right? I mean is your elbow pulled just in front on your shoulder to form the "pocket" when shooting offhand, prone, rested? Even when pulling firmly into the shoulder? Is it short enough that when raising your rifle to your face that it just drags on a light fitted sweatshirt?
How does your unkinked neck fit on the cheekpiece? Does the cheekpiece pull away when the rifle recoils back?
Is the rifle balanced? Not the BS mythical balance I read about, but the one where the weight of the rifle is held between the 2 hands well....I generally like a rifle balanced on the front action screw or just a bit to the rear.....especially if my shots that count use a rear rest. Would adding a recoil reducer help that balance? Doe the rifle need an inch or 2 off the barrel to feel right. Does the rifle weigh enough for your goals? Successful long range rifles rarely weigh 7 lbs. I wonder if 10lbs isn't an ideal field rifle weight. My 1917 killed a lot of deer with a 4x Weaver and 12.5lbs of weight.
Grip: Is the grip right for your shooting and carry positions?
These fit details will make the recoil very much more manageable. That is often way better than brake noise in the field.
First recoil. Recoil is the result of the cartridge you choose. To choose a cartridge, I first determine the game to be shot. Let's say elk is my choice. How far? 600 yds max. What bullet? Let's say Accubond. OK. What is min velocity to open up? 1800fps....typical for bonded hunting bullet. For elk, I feel I really need to be in the 1900-1950fps range and probably .284 min caliber, although at higher speeds, I could see 0.264" working.
So, what caliber is that? I just go looking over the ballistic calculators to find the one I want. This got me to 300 Sherman and 280ai. 280ai shows 140gr Accubond good to 650 yds. 300 Sherman should do about the same with 180gr Accubond.
So, the 280ai has a bit less recoil and the 300 has a bit more bullet mass and capability. I chose 300.
So, this is going to recoil just a bit under 300 WM. Can I shoot it? Yea. All day long? Well, other factors need considered. I find stock fit is what should be considered first and foremost.
Stock fit: Is your LOP right? I mean is your elbow pulled just in front on your shoulder to form the "pocket" when shooting offhand, prone, rested? Even when pulling firmly into the shoulder? Is it short enough that when raising your rifle to your face that it just drags on a light fitted sweatshirt?
How does your unkinked neck fit on the cheekpiece? Does the cheekpiece pull away when the rifle recoils back?
Is the rifle balanced? Not the BS mythical balance I read about, but the one where the weight of the rifle is held between the 2 hands well....I generally like a rifle balanced on the front action screw or just a bit to the rear.....especially if my shots that count use a rear rest. Would adding a recoil reducer help that balance? Doe the rifle need an inch or 2 off the barrel to feel right. Does the rifle weigh enough for your goals? Successful long range rifles rarely weigh 7 lbs. I wonder if 10lbs isn't an ideal field rifle weight. My 1917 killed a lot of deer with a 4x Weaver and 12.5lbs of weight.
Grip: Is the grip right for your shooting and carry positions?
These fit details will make the recoil very much more manageable. That is often way better than brake noise in the field.