7.62 NATO -- reducing recoil & muzzle flip

**mudrock** · 04-20-08, 00:48

I'm looking for input on recoil-reducing devices like a brake or compensator. I tweaked my lower back pretty good years ago and a recent injury has aggravated the situation. I put it off as long as I could but somehow

my body isn't getting any younger.

Primary purpose is civilian defense, second is boar hunting. Not interested in bench-rest shooting beyond the necessary.

The PWS FSC30 looks interesting.

Any experiences with recoil pads you'd like to share?

Cheers
mudrock

**LastRites** · 04-20-08, 05:48

As recoil pads go, I came across a brand a couple of years ago when I had a project at hand. Sim's Laboratory Recoil Pads. I now own several of them and they are the cats a$$ for reducing felt recoil shock. They also make some other products that actually work too for bowhunters.

Haven't had much experience with brakes, but I'd be looking for something that didn't add additional weight up front.

**Jeremy** · 04-20-08, 06:29

I run the FSC30 on my DPMS .308 and have been pleased with it. I feel that it works as advertised and in the limited night fire I have done with it, I don't notice any muzzle flash in my scope.

Blast behind the gun does not seem any different compared to the phantom I was running before.

**mudrock** · 04-21-08, 00:49

Thanks for the tip on Sims. They're marked "new" in my Brownells catalog. Great to hear from someone with experience with them. Would be interested to hear comparison with other products.

How much does an FSC30 kick compared to... whatever you can compare it to?

I have an FSC5.56 for my first AR (soon come) but bought it knowing it didn't have top performance as a brake. Not so much an issue for me in the smaller caliber.

**Powder Burns** · 04-21-08, 11:04

I don't think limbsaver makes a pad for the ar-10 platform but that is what I would be looking for. I did not find the SOG pads to be very well suited at dampening felt recoil. Now that ace skeleton stock, has a wonderful pad on the end of it and If I didn't want the collapsing feature that is what I would have gone with.

However I am not a big fan of compensators, tinnitus, or sign language...but if you aren't going to be making people miserable at the shooting range then theres no big deal in using a comp I guess. Probably scare off all game in a 3 mile radius on opening day though.

**mark5pt56** · 04-21-08, 13:12

Try the Holland Quick Discharge Brake. Very effective and looks good, Brownells has them.

**longshot** · 04-21-08, 13:49

I run a DTNC on my 308. I'm happy with it. Definitely has a muzzle flash though as mine is not the model with the flash hider built in.

**mudrock** · 04-23-08, 00:22

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm not real thrilled about increasing my exposure to noise. I have some tinnitus from many years of motorcycling. But I need to shoot more than 40-60 rounds in a session without tweaking out my back.

When I shoot it's almost always by myself or with one partner at informal shooting areas on public lands. Next lane is usually more than a mile away. Hunting situations will be similar. So let's say I'm only concerned about the amount of sound directed right back at the shooter.

Seems a moderately effective brake and a really good recoil pad might work for me. From the photos, it looks like the DTNC and FSC30 have the same OAL but the DTNC has an extra port. I wonder how their recoil reduction compares?

Holland comps seem to have very positive reviews on Midway. Thanks for the tip. Have you shot one in low light or at night?

Regarding scaring game away or IDing a shooter's position... my intuition is that a given amount of sound is created when firing a round, and muzzle brake neither raises nor lowers that amount of sound but will direct it or focus it -- generally at, above or to the sides of the shooter.

Am I on the right track here? Can brakes create more sound overall? Is the sound directed back toward the shooter simply subtracted from the sound projected forward or is it more complicated?

**longshot** · 04-23-08, 06:48

I think you're right, it seems louder because it changes the direction of the sound. Same as shooting into the wind seems louder.
I have no experience with Holland brakes. For hunting and just plain shooting I don't think flash is a big deal. If you're shooting competition at night it could mess up your night vision. Also, giving away your position shouldn't be a concern either unless the deer have learned to shoot back. I think that unless they have associated shooting with a human and danger, you're okay. I was shooting once and between mag reloading I had 4 deer walk out and start sniffing my target. I had just fired a shot not 30 seconds before and now I had to wait until they finally moved on.