Heavy Recoil lead shot in stock?

Sharing246

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Has anyone put lead shot (or anything else) in their hollowed butt stock to tame recoil for a young shooter?


Trying to make a more comfortable experience for them without lengthing the pull any more than it is.

Thank you,
 
How old is the shooter? I started my son with a .22. If it's for hunting it may be easier to get a rifle with a shorter length of pull that fits them better in a caliber that has low recoil to begin with.

Depending on what you're hunting there are plenty of low recoil rifles made in youth configurations for smaller/ recoil sensitive people.

Cheers

503
 
Depends what caliber your using but many companies make reduced recoil loads. My daughter shoots a .308 win and I started her on 125 grain federal fusion reduced recoil loads. When she would hunt I would slip in a full powered 180 grain load, since she was excited about shooting at game she would never feel the difference.
 
Has anyone put lead shot (or anything else) in their hollowed butt stock to tame recoil for a young shooter?


Trying to make a more comfortable experience for them without lengthing the pull any more than it is.

Thank you,
@Sharing246 - without knowing “what You are shooting” (shotgun, rifle??) I agree with others, try Low Recoil rounds made for some rifle calibers. If shotgun - lowest velocity & lightest shot charge made for that gauge. Adding some lead shot in the stock could be helpful - it’s got to be in there very tight and doubt you’ll be able to add more then 6oz-10oz…..but I think the Low Recoil loads will be the greatest help.
 
Good day, I have weighted a few stocks to tame recoil. And depending on the stock there are a few ways to do it.
In a solid wood stock I prefer drilling a hole into the wood around 3/4 inch, and maybe 4-6 inches long/deep, and putting in a steel rod, with a price of rubber ahead and behind it. This will add around a half lb. You could add more by using a denser metal like tungsten and get that to a lb and a half.
I would not encourage lead shot, as it oxidizes over time and can get messy. If you are going to go that way, put it in balloons and tie them off to keep it neat.
A softer recoil pad can also help a lot, as well as the reduced loads listed above. If you reload this can be easy to accomplish.
But given the option, the drill and rod insert works best. And if the rod does not weigh enough you can always then install a mercury reducer in the drill hole.
 
Good day, I have weighted a few stocks to tame recoil. And depending on the stock there are a few ways to do it.
In a solid wood stock I prefer drilling a hole into the wood around 3/4 inch, and maybe 4-6 inches long/deep, and putting in a steel rod, with a price of rubber ahead and behind it. This will add around a half lb. You could add more by using a denser metal like tungsten and get that to a lb and a half.
I would not encourage lead shot, as it oxidizes over time and can get messy. If you are going to go that way, put it in balloons and tie them off to keep it neat.
A softer recoil pad can also help a lot, as well as the reduced loads listed above. If you reload this can be easy to accomplish.
But given the option, the drill and rod insert works best. And if the rod does not weigh enough you can always then install a mercury reducer in the drill hole.
@Just a dude in BC - I might “drill” into a cheap wood-Mossberg stock but Not any rifle I cared about….but then again I’m Not qualified to do any Gun Smithing work
 
I had a gunsmith add a mercury recoil reducer in the buttstock and some lead shot in the forend of my 458 Lott. The lead shot was epoxied into a channel he cut in the barrel channel. This was done to maintain the balance point of the rifle, which was just forward of the front action screw. Turned out great.
 
@Just a dude in BC - I might “drill” into a cheap wood-Mossberg stock but Not any rifle I cared about….but then again I’m Not qualified to do any Gun Smithing work
It is a lot easier than you think. And you can practice with any piece of walnut first. Also, you can start with something easy like a quarter inch bit to make a pilot hole and then open it up with bigger bits.
 
Recoil reducers are not just about the weight, but also the motion of it. It must move to counteract the rifle motion.
 
It is a lot easier than you think. And you can practice with any piece of walnut first. Also, you can start with something easy like a quarter inch bit to make a pilot hole and then open it up with bigger bits.
@Just a dude in BC — Funny, “easier then YOU think” but I’m a LOT WORSE in my Gunsmithing skills then YOU THINK
 
@Sharing246 - without knowing “what You are shooting” (shotgun, rifle??) I agree with others, try Low Recoil rounds made for some rifle calibers. If shotgun - lowest velocity & lightest shot charge made for that gauge. Adding some lead shot in the stock could be helpful - it’s got to be in there very tight and doubt you’ll be able to add more then 6oz-10oz…..but I think the Low Recoil loads will be the greatest help.
Stock fit for your young shooter is first. Is should be comfortable and their eyes align on the sights naturally, without contortion.

Added weight can help, but the gun must be balanced for the shooter. Weight between the hands has been the English way for centuries and it works. When well balanced, weight between the hands, the gun is easier to handle, especially in recoil. I am not an engineer, but the recoil impulse is easier.
I learned this at a young age, when I got my first 12 gauge, just like my grandfather’s gun, Remington 870 , 30” full choke.
Except it wasn’t just like it. My Grandfather gun from the 1950’s fit me well and balanced.

My 1980’s 870 Wingmaster felt different and kicked a lot. Changed to a 26” barrel, of different profile made a big difference.

Balance and fit, then weight.

The Low Recoil loads available today help a lot as well.
Good luck teaching a new shooter.
 
Has anyone put lead shot (or anything else) in their hollowed butt stock to tame recoil for a young shooter?


Trying to make a more comfortable experience for them without lengthing the pull any more than it is.

Thank you,
Mercury recoil reducers are available from many firearms suppliers such as Brownell's. Balance can also be an issue. I'd talk to a qualified gunsmith before I started drilling holes in a walnut stock.
 
I
Has anyone put lead shot (or anything else) in their hollowed butt stock to tame recoil for a young shooter?


Trying to make a more comfortable experience for them without lengthing the pull any more than it is.

Thank you,
do it with all my synthetic shotguns. Works like a dream. Just put shot in baggy, roll it up, slide it in
 
Not sure what kind of firearm we are talking about, but the absolute best thing you can do for young shooters to enjoy the experience is a suppressor.
 

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