How to reduce M1A's recoil?

T

twoblink

New member
OK, so I don't even have the rifle in my hand yet, and I'm worried about recoil. I have to though, I'm going to combat training next month (Yeah!) and they say we'll be shooting about 250 rounds. OUCH!!!:mad:

So I need to reduce the recoil. I have the wooden stock with that horrid metal buttplate.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/ I know that Fulton sells the BufferTech bolt buffer
http://www.buffertech.com/m14.htm

But a friend of mine said there was something else I can buy for it as well that will also reduce also?? I was getting a bit confused.

But I want to soften the recoil up as much as possible WITHOUT reducing reliability...

So any help would be appreciated!

Albert
 
twoblink,


the m1A recoil is NOT bad at all. I have fired mine 250+ rounds many times and never felt a bit of discomfort. M 16 year old daughter has fired 200 rounds in one sitting and never complained about the recoil. Even with the "horrid " metal buttplate I think you'll be okay, just put it out of your mind and you'll not notice it....HAPPY SHOOTING !!!
 
Dang!

Wow, Twoblink I thought you wanted an M1A :confused: If you can grab ahold of yourself and wait until you fire it, it may not be as bad as you think. I always felt my Springfield was a real pussycat. Work on your shooting skills and forget the recoil. It's all in your head. HTH
 
It's been a while since I shot an M1A. Does it kick less than a 12 gauge? Or about the same?

I know 50 rounds of 12 gauge starts to get a little bit uncomfortable. (I'm VERY boney) Aside from a more comfortable shoulder, reduced recoil will give less muzzle flip, no?

I got the heavier barrel, so I will assume that will reduce the recoil more than the regular barrel..

Albert
 
The M1A is a heavy gun, and my perception is the recoil is tolerable over an extended shooting session. If you really do find the recoil is not suitable for you, you can always get a muzzlebreak(although you may affect the accuracy of the rifle to some point) or add lead or a mercury recoil reducer in the buttstock.
 
I usually figure it is not worth the effort to clean my M1A's if I am going to shoot less then 400 rnds in a day with them. Pull the stock in tight, concentrate on the front sight and shoot a lot. This will reduce the recoil.
 
Well, I guess I won't worry about recoil then!

Question, I will be shooting all week, out in the boonies, and I (guess) I can bring a cleaning kit, but how many rounds can I cycle through without cleaning the M1A before I start having problems?

Also, does the grouping get considerably larger when the gun is dirty?

Albert
 
It's less than a 12 gauge. I wouldn't worry about it.

Question, I will be shooting all week, out in the boonies, and I (guess) I can bring a cleaning kit, but how many rounds can I cycle through without cleaning the M1A before I start having problems?
Click to expand...

I bet you get quite a few thousand through it without trouble.

Also, does the grouping get considerably larger when the gun is dirty?
Click to expand...

I haven't shot my M1A enough yet to tell you anything exacting.
 
Twoblink
I wasn't gonna say anything but I guess I had so that you will know the truth.
See I just got my SA M1A Standard Grade and I will tell you that it kicks somewhere between a Mule and a $2.00 Ho*** well, you know like Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke
:( Now If I were you and I am a small guy too. I would pack everything up you have, box it and ship it to me. Then run down to Wally World and get you a Mini 14. It will lock about the same and you wont hardly feel a thing :rolleyes:

Just get to the range and quit the worring. Hold her tight and consentrate on the target and you will be fine.

Karsten
 
How to reduce recoil? Easy--learn to shoot. I recommend Thunder Ranch! Train, train, train.......

How to sell to wife? "But, honey, you don't want me to get hurt do you? It's for the children."
 
Recoil

Last week I had the opportunity to shoot Soda Pops FAL. Why the US Army adopted the M14 instead of that masterpiece I will never understand. (Well OK, is was politics)

The gun is an absolute delight to shoot, the recoil was more like a gentle shove than the punch you get from the M14.

I remember Germans carying G3's laughing at us with our M16s.

The M14 was a mistake IMHO.


Geoff Ross
 
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I can suggest three approaches, actually four. One is a device that mounts in the butstock and uses weights and levers to lessen the perceived recoil. Two is a liquid filled device that is used as a shoulder pad, and according to my nephew who test fires a lot of really heavy loads, really works. The third I saw in basic training with the M1. You go to the PX. WalMart will probably be OK and get some sanitary napkins and tape them to your shoulder. Be advised that the fellows will call you a Candyass, but I am told that they work.
The fourth is just shoot the thing and dont worry about it.
 
This is going to sound crazy but double up on your hearing protection. A lot of preceived recoil is in the noise. Use some plugs with muffs. A lot of people flinch and pull away from the stock slightly before firing which causes pain and inaccuracy. This might not be your problem but I have seen it work for newbies.
 
Although the M1a recoil is mild. It can become tiring after firing it extensivley. To shoot your best groups is to avoid fatigue. Use a simple device that no shooter should be without. A Pabst recoil shield that simply straps on and comes in various thinknesses. They cost about $25.00 and once you start using it you will not want to shoot without it. You can try and play he-man or you can shoot smart and delay the fatigue problem and thereby shoot longer and more accurately. I have been a rifle competitor for 15 years and this is why I switched to the AR15. Almost no recoil, no fatigue, cheap to shoot and aveverage grouping ability in a heavy barrel gun of gun quality is under 1/2 minute of angle. With the new 80 grain bullets and a fast twist barrel the .308 has pretty much become a dinasour of the past when competing in competition. The fatigue factor is much more evedent in the 30 calibers than the smaller .223's. NO one is made of steel but of flesh and blood. I have seen many peoples scores rise dramatically by reducing recoil no matter what caliber they shoot. W.R.
 
If you are really worried about recoil then get a decelerator recoil pad.

It will only cost about $25 and it will not alter the internals of your rifle.

I never had a problem with 30-06 or .308 recoil pleasant to shoot unless it is a really light rifle or a terrible Monte Carlo sock on it.
 
As someone posted, 'M14' and 'recoil' are not to be used in the same sentence. I am not fond of recoil (once owned a .375 H&H, sold it; and don't much care for any 12 ga). The M14 is like a fairly noisy BB gun with fantastic downrange performance.

Suggest you take a CMP clinic and learn your positions including use of the sling. In a good tight prone position the sling and left hand absorb most of the movement there is. In sitting and offhand, you just rock back a little bit.

The M14 is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
 
OK, I'll probably get a supplemental recoil pad/boot slip-on. I think I saw it for $12.

I think I have re-evaluated my question, and I think it's not recoil I'm afraid of. It's a combo of flinching + fatigue. The flinch causes the jerking, and the tension in the muscles and that in turn causes fatigue...

I think I'm going to buy a vest, so I can keep my mags on me (and in fact I think is required by the class I want to take) but I think there are a few that have shoulder protectors built into them.. So that is probably going to help a lot.

I'll let you all know when I get back if the M1A is indeed a pussycat or a tiger..

Albert
 
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