Reloading Challenge

[archerforkids]

So... my son and his acquaintances have decided I am the "reloading guru" on these high dollar rifles they keep buying. My son keeps pushing for this to be a good retirement sideline. I checked on insurance and from what I am seeing so far, prices are heart attack class, but that's another story. That, and if I start charging for this, I suspect the fun will go away.
My question for you fine folks, how do you keep these dang 5 pound rifle that are 28 Nosler and larger from beating you up? Most of the rifles I have done so far, I have the owner come and and do the shooting while I do the charges, bullet seating and such. Needless to say, I generally coach them on what powders will work based on research I do before we get into this exercise.
It's kind of funny, I can almost always get them sub MOA with low SDs pretty quick. We take it out to 300 yards and see what happens. These guys are so excited with the results we seldom get into playing with the bullet seating. I'm not sure if it is actually satisfaction with what they are seeing, are after 15 to 25 rounds they are tired of getting the chit kicked out of them. I warn them about the barrel speeding up after more rounds down the pipe, but they are never overly concerned. Of course you have to ask yourself, just how much will these rifles get shot.
The hundred dollar question, is there a way/device to tame the recoil on these rifles? I enjoy doing this but I have had shoulder surgery. My shoulder tells me I am a damn fool after these excursions.
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Ranger188]

Have you tried a muzzle brake?

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

I've heard mixed reviews about the Lead Sled type devices out there. May look into those. Otherwise the Past brand recoil shield works OK if it's setup right on your shoulder. Even so, shoulder surgery may limit that......I've had both of mine done and now avoid high recoil as much as possible. Kinda sad though......... loved my big bores.

 

[archerforkids]

Have you tried a muzzle brake?

I run into one of two situations usually. Either non-threaded barrels or guys running suppressors. The ones with suppressors 30 cal and smaller are not usually too painful. I screw my suppressor on and run with it. Those without threaded barrels are not my friend.
I almost always put a bag rider on these and tighten the hell out of the sides of my rest. It seams to slow the recoil a small amount. I wondered if a rear rest with the same kind of adjustable sides would help.

 

[CJ6]

Teach your son and his buddies how to load. That will give them the satisfaction of making their own ammo and seeing the results.

 

[archerforkids]

I've heard mixed reviews about the Lead Sled type devices out there. May look into those. Otherwise the Past brand recoil shield works OK if it's setup right on your shoulder. Even so, shoulder surgery may limit that......I've had both of mine done and now avoid high recoil as much as possible. Kinda sad though......... loved my big bores.

I'm not familiar with these(the recoil shields). I will have to check into them.
I had poor luck with lead sleds in days gone by. I might revisit them.
Thanks for the feedback folks.

 

[archerforkids]

Teach your son and his buddies how to load. That will give them the satisfaction of making their own ammo and seeing the results.

I've made that offer many times. They suffer what all of us suffered at their age. Little ones at home and barely enough time to get to hunt. I get it.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

A stand up bench has worked well for me with slug/muzzleloaders. Otherwise I like a shoulder pad over a lead sled. I have also used a counter weight over the front of the bench that is attached to the front sling stud(synthetic stocks).

 

[wedgy]

Clamp-Ons - Witt Machine

Clamp on adapters for unthreaded barrels. Threaded adapters to allow quality muzzle devices to be attached to your unthreaded barrel.

www.wittmachine.net

 

[1K6BRA]

I have often wondered how our forefathers killed their dinner with cartridges such as 45-70, 38-55,25-20 etc. deer, elk and such are the same now as they were back then. Not putting down the big calibers in light rifles by any means if that’s what a person likes to use, but a 5 Lb rifle and even some of the smaller cartridges is going to pack a wallop. A 5 lb. 28 Nosler I can’t even imagine. Sure a muzzle break cuts things down some but it is not going to make a rifle like that pleasant to shoot not to mention your ears when touching it off unless you’re Paul Bunyan.

 

[archerforkids]

I have often wondered how our forefathers killed their dinner with cartridges such as 45-70, 38-55,25-20 etc. deer, elk and such are the same now as they were back then. Not putting down the big calibers in light rifles by any means if that’s what a person likes to use, but a 5 pound rifle and even some of the smaller cartridges is going to pack a wallop. A 5 lbs 28 Nosler I can’t even imagine. Sure a muzzle break cuts things down some but it is not going to make a rifle like that pleasant to shoot not to mention your ears when touching it off unless you’re Paul Bunyan.

I laughed my ass off at my boy this weekend with his 28 Nosler. My son weighs 240#ish. He's not a small fella. Nothing doing he get this thing. I made him shoot every round. Cringe worthy event I promise.
Keep in mind we are in Texas. And NOT west Texas. At 100 yards for most of our shots. Lots of woods where we hunt. After we got it dialed in i had to ask...just how dead do you think a whitetail needs to be???? All he did was smile back.

 

[Twdmar]

I think I would rather shoot a heavy recoiling rifle prone than on a bench. Someone mentioned a shoulder pad. My brother has used a small mag of lead shot against the buttstock before. I have changed the angle a recoil pad sits on a stock before. And I prefer cartridges that are not monster's if I intend to shoot a lot.

 

[archerforkids]

I think I would rather shoot a heavy recoiling rifle prone than on a bench. Someone mentioned a shoulder pad. My brother has used a small mag of lead shot against the buttstock before. I have changed the angle a recoil pad sits on a stock before. And I prefer cartridges that are not monster's if I intend to shoot a lot.

I never thought about trying prone. You might be onto something there. I'll have to give that a try

 

[6MMsteve]

Protektor makes a shoulder sandbag and I think you could make one yourself by repurposing a shoulder holster or part of a old sweatshirt, I use small sandbags tied around the rifle

 

[BobbyJ]

So... my son and his acquaintances have decided I am the "reloading guru" on these high dollar rifles they keep buying. My son keeps pushing for this to be a good retirement sideline. I checked on insurance and from what I am seeing so far, prices are heart attack class, but that's another story. That, and if I start charging for this, I suspect the fun will go away.
My question for you fine folks, how do you keep these dang 5 pound rifle that are 28 Nosler and larger from beating you up? Most of the rifles I have done so far, I have the owner come and and do the shooting while I do the charges, bullet seating and such. Needless to say, I generally coach them on what powders will work based on research I do before we get into this exercise.
It's kind of funny, I can almost always get them sub MOA with low SDs pretty quick. We take it out to 300 yards and see what happens. These guys are so excited with the results we seldom get into playing with the bullet seating. I'm not sure if it is actually satisfaction with what they are seeing, are after 15 to 25 rounds they are tired of getting the chit kicked out of them. I warn them about the barrel speeding up after more rounds down the pipe, but they are never overly concerned. Of course you have to ask yourself, just how much will these rifles get shot.
The hundred dollar question, is there a way/device to tame the recoil on these rifles? I enjoy doing this but I have had shoulder surgery. My shoulder tells me I am a damn fool after these excursions.
Any help is appreciated.

Two Words: Lead Sled.

https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Adjustable-Ambidextrous-Reducing-Shooting/dp/B01NCLR2L0

Put your gun in that with some weights and say goodbye to sore shoulders. Also easier to shoot groups, I do it both ways but if you are just testing loads and a new scope I'll put my 450 BM in there and let the slead take the beating.

 

[Doom]

On a different tack, reloading for anyone other than yourself opens you up to civil liability if something were to happen, as you saw with the insurance. Even if you are not at fault the legal fees could be substantial.

Also, the manufacture and sale of ammunition requires a FFL license.

 

[archerforkids]

On a different tack, reloading for anyone other than yourself opens you up to civil liability if something were to happen, as you saw with the insurance. Even if you are not at fault the legal fees could be substantial.

Also, the manufacture and sale of ammunition requires a FFL license.

I was suspecting the FFL thing. Good info. As I said, I think the "recreational" side of this would fly out the window when money got involved.
I fought that dragon years ago coaching Olympic style archery. Went to chit when I let someone talk me into coaching for hire. Not super interested in engaging in that battle again.
Your input is appreciated sir.

 

[Larry Koch]

I have often wondered how our forefathers killed their dinner with cartridges such as 45-70, 38-55,25-20 etc. deer, elk and such are the same now as they were back then. Not putting down the big calibers in light rifles by any means if that’s what a person likes to use, but a 5 Lb rifle and even some of the smaller cartridges is going to pack a wallop. A 5 lb. 28 Nosler I can’t even imagine. Sure a muzzle break cuts things down some but it is not going to make a rifle like that pleasant to shoot not to mention your ears when touching it off unless you’re Paul Bunyan.

Black powder. Recoils different. More boom less velocity.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I am not sure, but if you reload for money, then you most likely need some kind of permit. You are a commercial ammo manufacturer.

Aside from that, you would not want to reload even for a friend because of the liability issue. Make a mistake, which maims someone and say goodby to everything you own. Many reloaders will not even share their load information with another because of the liability issue.

 

[TTE]

Stock design plays a large part in felt recoil. Be that as it may .... a 5 pound rifle in any stock does not make Newton's third law irrelevant.

When I went to Argentina on a Dove shoot, a couple of guys had a tee shirt with a special pocket with molded plastic of some kind that you heat and mold to your shoulder prior to shooting. They said it worked well ...... and they were shooting 800 to 1000 12 ga rounds a day. I have no idea what it was or where they got it, sorry.