Mercury Recoil Reducers?

[AR Shooter]

Am thinking of installing a mercury recoil reducer in the stock on my prone rifle. Simple install - just drill the proper diameter hole and fit the recoil reducer. Is there any drawback to using a mercury recoil reducer?

 

[dcali]

I've never used one, but I've always wondered if you wouldn't be better off with a slug of lead. I have a hard time believing the mercury makes a difference.

 

[JRS]

For a skeet/trap shotgun, due to the number of rounds fired, they work very well. You are better off with a recoil pad on your prone rifle.

 

[savagedasher]

I. Have two in one gun the work great
My Edwards didn't . Larry

 

[JimPag]

I own 3 C&H Research MRR in 3" 8oz, 4" 11oz and 5" 16oz and I swear by them. I use the 5" in my Scoville stocked Bat in 30x46 and it works really well in absorbing the recoil of that rifle.

 

[hogpatrol]

My experience with two of them, one in a 26 Nosler and the other in a .270, both installed properly: Other than adding weight they were both a waste of money. Put a brake on it.

 

[watercam]

I installed a mercury reducer in the forearm of a Kimber 84M 325WSM. Made a significant reduction in felt recoil (but it still twisted like a corkscrew). Rifle came with a super-soft recoil pad so between the two the rifle was very manageable for me. Since you mentioned it, I now think one in my Palma Rifle would be a help!

 

[savagedasher]

I installed a mercury reducer in the forearm of a Kimber 84M 325WSM. Made a significant reduction in felt recoil (but it still twisted like a corkscrew). Rifle came with a super-soft recoil pad so between the two the rifle was very manageable for me. Since you mentioned it, I now think one in my Palma Rifle would be a help!

Was it a mercury or a Edwards the Edwards direction the recoil or mine did . Larry

 

[johara1]

You will get the same recoil reduction with the same weight in lead , been there with the shotgun thing. Jim

 

[deepwater]

They work well. You can feel the mercury rebounding and flowing forward, with impact on the front of the reducer counter-acting the rearward push. They do add weight, (a little heavier than lead minus the steel container), so it is more effective than static weight.

I had a couple pounds of mercury. With the help of the owner of one of the reducer companies, I made a reducer to fit in the synthetic stock of a tactical stainless Mossberg 590 shotgun. I heated a solid steel rod and formed a recess in the stock for a long .75" dia stainless tube sealed (welded at one end, pipe plug at the other) with mercury and then encapsulated with epoxy for retention and more safety sealing. During the development you could feel the sweet spot when the critical amount of mercury vs. length vs. diameter of the tube was reached. I would add and subtract mercury (1 reason for threaded plug). It was amazing that all of a sudden the recoil/rebound of the mercury in the tube could be felt. Always with the same amount of mercury for this tube geometry. This shotgun was used by a bounty hunter (ex 'Nam sniper) with success.

In the same size hole, it would be interesting to add tungsten rods instead of lead. Tungsten is about 70% heavier than lead.

 

[johara1]

Two guns that weigh the same with the same load one has a recoil reducer in it has the same amount of recoil in ft. pounds you can not change this ....jim

 

[dcali]

Two guns that weigh the same with the same load one has a recoil reducer in it has the same amount of recoil in ft. pounds you can not change this ....jim

True, but in theory, some amount of that energy will be spread out over time sloshing that mercury around. I assume that's the theory at least. Seems like a pad would do the same job better.

 

[johara1]

you are correct, a good pad and adding some weight do the trick. The other and best fix is in the case of a shotgun is to go to 1oz. and 7/8 oz. loads. In a rifle go to a 6mm or less, old eye can only stand so much till you damage them... Jim

 

[Ned Ludd]

you are correct, a good pad and adding some weight do the trick. The other and best fix is in the case of a shotgun is to go to 1oz. and 7/8 oz. loads. In a rifle go to a 6mm or less, old eye can only stand so much till you damage them... Jim

So what you're really saying is that after a certain age, shooting a caliber larger than 6 mm really IS worse than a poke in the eye .

 

[dcali]

At the risk of derailing a thread, as I age, I find myself more interested in figuring out the long term effects of shooting on our bodies. I've already sort of opted out of regularly shooting big magnums because of the potential hearing damage (the research out there on this is pretty clear - the big boomers are bad for your ears, even with hearing protection). The other thing I wonder about is eyes and the impact of recoil on them. Anyone have any links to research, etc on the topic?

 

[watercam]

I disagree that weight alone is the deciding factor in felt recoil reduction. The mercury units have a moving dynamic within them that does spread the energy out a bit. It was noticeable to me. Not a magic carpet but did have a positive effect.

 

[KMart]

You will get the same recoil reduction with the same weight in lead , been there with the shotgun thing. Jim

Agree 100%. You cannot change the laws of physics.

 

[JBO]

R.A.D changes it.

 

[savagedasher]

I disagree that weight alone is the deciding factor in felt recoil reduction. The mercury units have a moving dynamic within them that does spread the energy out a bit. It was noticeable to me. Not a magic carpet but did have a positive effect.

I feel that when you put shock absorbers on a car . Isn't that the same as mercury recoil reducer? The Edwards worked with a spring and a sliding weight . Mercury is more like a shock. Now I know I can replace my shocks with a straight bar only heaver and I won't feel the bumps . Larry

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

that's funny...

I have one in the butt of my 458 RUM, and one in my 425 Westley Richards. I can tell the difference from the bench.