Recoil Reducing System

[ChrisNam]

I've heard about a system,normally fitted to large calibre light hunting rifles) consisting of 2 or 3 tubes filled two-thirds with mercury and then fitted in the butt of your stock at an angle of approximately 35 degrees with the lower end towards the rear. The movement of the mercury then drastically reduce recoil.

A fellow shooter, with whom I lost contact, later told me that, due to the costs of the system, he copied the system using black pipe and fitted it to his 38 BooBoo wildcat,8x68 AI). It apparently worked like a dream.

Have anyone heard of such a system and if so, what should be taken into account if fitted?

Will such a system be effective to reduce the higher recoil of the bigger 7mms,7WSM) and bigger or will it be waste of time?

I will appreciate any advice?

 

[BoydAllen]

http://www.outdoorsyp.com/index.asp?searchkey=1828

 

[koginam]

In the 60's I installed on called mull kicker I believe, for a customer, I'm not sure they still make them or if they still use Mercury because of the cost and environmental concerns.
Muzzle breaks do a better job of reducing recoil now days.

 

[mikecr]

PrecisionReloading.com has em at the lowest rate I've seen.
I recently installed some for weight,3lbs) and balance.

 

[ChrisNam]

Thank you very much for the advice and pointers - I really appreciate it.

I'm considering putting together a recoil system myself due to time and cost constraints.

Mike, thank you very much for the photos, it tell me a lot. I would like to ask you a couple of questions if I may.
1. Is it correct that you installed the tubes horizontally?
2. Will it, in your opinion, have any advantage to install the tubes slightly at an angle,with the lower end towards the back so as to through the mercury forward over a greater distance - hope I make sense!!!)
3. Can you in any way determine/estimate how full,as a percentage) the tube is with the mercury?
4. You said that you installed the system for weight and balance - are your stock now 3 pounds in total or is that the weight of the tubes?
5. What are your opinion of effectiveness of the system?

 

[mikecr]

Chris
Each tube shown is 16oz. They come in all different lengths, diameters, & weights. I would guess based on shaking them that there is ~1/2" of void inside,not much).
I did angle mine as you described, figuring that the rifle could get a good run before smashing 'the wall' of mercury.
I shoot free recoil, and my rifle was not behaving as well off the bags as I wanted. I figured it may have been too front heavy. I had accounted for this possibility/option when choosing components before building. I could have used lead shot instead of mercury to get what I needed, but these are clean and easy so what the heck.

It did greatly improve MY rifle on the bags, and in my mind, recoil is 'controlled'. That is, my scope won't meet my face. But I couldn't say for sure how much recoil was actually REDUCED. My rifle doesn't kick much anyway, and is a pleasure to shoot.
I'll bet there are some real experts out there who know all needed about them. Keep trying.

 

[JohnJ]

try doing a searching for...mercury recoil suppressors...Iv got one in the wifes hunnter rifle to help with the recoil

hopes it helps

JohnJ

 

[ChrisNam]

Thank you very much for the responses.

Mike, I'm shooting a 284 Win which was on a Tooley copy and was also not satisfied with the tracking. I'm waiting for a Shehane MBR Tracker and I'm going to fit a home made system to the new stock also to get weight up and hopefully to reduce recoil and improve tracking.

I'll post my results here later. I just know that I'm going to save a bundle. Some 5 years ago a friend fitted such a system to his 375 H&H hunting rifle and it cost him approximately $ 500.

 

[Aussie_bob]

There is a company here in Melbourne Australia called recoiless Technologies who can get ZERO RECOIL.
I just can`t seem to find any contact details for someone who would be willing to fit it to my benchrest rifles. Check out the website.
http://www.rticl.com/

 

[Wild_Bill]

Hi Brownells stocks a lot of diferent brands so give them a call.
I used to machine the stainless steel recoil guide on 19-11 type pistols and then fill them with mercury and plug them and seel them and they worked very well i have also made Rifle ones aswell.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[skipper]

I had two mercury recoil reducers put in my 375 H&H magnum last year. The local Gander Mountain did them for $44.99 each plus $30 installation. I still feel heavy recoil but it feels more like a push now where before it was a very sharp punch. The difference it made on this hard hitting magnum was very dramatic to me. Without the pain associated with the recoil I didn't flinch any more. Another concern is that the rifle makes a definite sloshing sound now. This was not a trait I wanted on a hunting rifle.

The bottom line is that mercury recoil reducers shouldn't cost $500 dollars.