Jeffe will vouch for the fact that I ain't no weenie. That being said, I don't wanna hear about how .375 H&Hs don't kick. I didn't think so either when I first got the rifle! Since then I have had a few back injuries and have seven bulged discs that put a damper on my big bore shooting fun . I can't stand muzzle brakes! The only other options seem to be a REAL custom fitted stock and possibly mercury tubes. Although I have as of late been considering a suppressor that also performs as a brake. Please give me your thoughts on pros and cons of these alternatives. I refuse to shoot reduced loads!

Andy B

Lead sled, tequila, and advil...

I have to agree that muzzle brakes aren't any fun. The only one of those that I've found reasonable is MagnaPorting. Blast is not too bad. Tends to reduce muzzle jump more than reduce recoil though.

Suppressors do work. Shapes are just awkward.

If the problem is mostly bench shooting, I'd definitely recommend a standing rest for sight-in. They allow the body to roll rather than take the straight recoil shot.

The custom stock and recoil tubes will not be inexpensive and will add some weight, but will do pretty well.

Drewhenrytnt,

I'm not a weenie (I am a Urologist so am a "weenie doc") either, but if given the choice between beating up my back shooting heavy rifles or or beating up my back hunting, the choice is easy. Save your back to HUNT!

The Hurting is easy to take but some Injuries (i.e. back injuies with "bulging disks" can become herniated disks which injure nerves which don't always heal!) can impair you forever in ways that you can't imagine! Take care!

jpj3

Muzzle breaks are best when removable, best of both worlds, easy sight in and practice, and hunting won't cause marital strife after she asks you 5 times to take out the trash. Having a properly fitting stock is the best thing you can do for recoil mitigation, but you still have a lot of rifle pushing on your bad back.

Good luck

John

A few car accidents,and I get a headache from a few dozen rounds through an yugo sks.

Getting old isn't fun but it beats the alternative.

drewhenrytnt, I'm with you on the back injuries. For me it has been 6 months since my last back surgery {level 2 fusion} and I'm just getting back into shooting rifles bigger than .17 Remmy and .243Win. I'm not very fond of muzzle breaks either but they do work and there is no shame in using them for range work. The last rifle I had built is a 500 AccRel and I will use a removable break with it just the same as I do with my Gibbs. I prefer the removable muzzle break option than adding weight to the rifle as the break can be removed but then I will need to carry the rifle for many hours at a time. I believe breaks are more effective than just making a rifle extra heavy weight wise.
Rodney.

...I,ve had many head , neck and spine injuries ....... Occupational thing ..
.
. There is nothing wrong with muzzle brakes ..... They make shooting alot funner .. Whats wrong with something that helps take the recoil out of a powerful rifle ........... If I would have,( not ) listened to Art Alphin and had a brake put on my 500 A- Sq.I would still be shooting and enjoying it ....................................... Wear electronic hearing protection if you want ..... I gather that the Vias brake is one of the best ............. the other thing you can do is lighten up the bullet weight you shoot ........
.. Heres an example ... I can shoot 30-40 rounds of 416 Rem mag from the CZ 550 I had built when shooting 300 gr bullets @ 2900 fps ... If I have to shoot 20 rounds of 400 gr bullets @ 2400 fps . I,m thanking God when I'm thru ..and 15 is about the max I want to shoot .....
Sometimes I do things that don,t make much sense,,,,, like shoot 20 rounds of 458 Lott 400 gr bullets @ 2550 fps And I enjoy it , sept for a little gun headache ...... 10 rounds of 500 gr 2300 fps loads is way more than enough for me .........
.
. I hate overly heavy rifles .......
. Ya gotta be tough to grow old ...

rodney's .505 gibbs is pleasant to shoot with the brake, i've shot it both ways, with and without....... mine will have 1...and the mercury reducers are worth it too....

I am a back fussion survivor!

Put me on the list of muzzle brake supporters. I too like the removable type - my experience has been with KDF and AHR's X-brake - work tremendously well.
Lately I have been shooting my 600OK and dad's 585 AHR without just to make certain of POI for when we go to Zimbabwe.
For practice I can't imagine why I'd risk any permanent injury for the sake of saying I did it without the brake. From the noise perspective - good hearing protection should be worn whether the brake is on or not.

Good luck and stay safe - some injuries get better over time, some only get worse. Best to not add any new injuries at all.

I had shoulder surgery and I found the .375H&H would agravate it a bit so I practised with my Winchester M70 .30/06 but used the Winchester M70 .375H&H in the Bush , maybe use a less recoiling rifle but same action as your .375 as I did.....cheers

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
I have to agree that muzzle brakes aren't any fun. The only one of those that I've found reasonable is MagnaPorting. Blast is not too bad. Tends to reduce muzzle jump more than reduce recoil though.

Suppressors do work. Shapes are just awkward.

If the problem is mostly bench shooting, I'd definitely recommend a standing rest for sight-in. They allow the body to roll rather than take the straight recoil shot.

The custom stock and recoil tubes will not be inexpensive and will add some weight, but will do pretty well.

Combination of small expansion chamber (barrel contour remains) by counter-boring and internally crowning along with MagnaPort style cuts is very effective.
You can nearly hide the cuts in the front banded sight.

Recoiling (compressing stocks) are made by many people.
My first experience was with a Hydra-Coil with Ed Sherer. (wish I had listened better)

Drew, If you're not using a Lead Sled for range work, you're crazy. I got one 2-3 years ago when I needed to do load development on a 460 Wby Safari Custom, and haven't looked back. The older type Lead Sled is fine...you don't want 4-25lb bags of shot...too much resistance and your stock will crack. I use 2 bags, then one between my shoulder and the rear of the Sled. You can shoot ANYTHING with this set-up. As you know, when you're hunting, you won't notice a thing. I used a Rifles Inc in 460 Guns & Ammo last year to shoot a Buff in Tanzania. That rifle was a handful, but the PH told me I got the 2nd shot into it as it ran by us without shouldering the rifle...a 460 from the hip and no memory of it at all! Hunting adrenaline will do that to ya! Be well....Biebs

Andy:

How about dropping down in caliber to a 9.3X62 and shooting a lighter homogenous bullet like a 250 grain Barnes TSX? You can pick up a CZ in that caliber that will weigh it around eight pounds... around 8.75-9 pound with a scope and rings. Very modest recoil with 250 grain bullets running around 2500 fps.

If you do not mind.
Are your problems Cervical,Thoracic or Lumbar?

I failed to mention above--I now must shoot left-handed due to neck and right shoulder issues.

Has taken me over two years to even appraoch previous proficiency.

It is however, a viable option for certain injuries, though reducing recoil is still a needed consideration.

I hate breaks, but if it keeps you shooting, put one on that rifle, and tell those around you to plug there ears. Breaks work! I know I'm going to get flamed on this but the A-square coil-chek type stock works for heavy kickers too. I've shot A-square rifles in 416 Rigby, 458 Lott and 500 A-square and they did kick less. Not much for beauty but the function was good.

Ed

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
If you do not mind.
Are your problems Cervical,Thoracic or Lumbar?


Thoracic. Not much to be done in this area.

Andy

IMHO, you should try to get the weight of your .375 up to 10-10.5 pounds all in - scoped and loaded.

That weight should include a mercury tube in the buttstock. You can counterbalance the tube with some added weight in the fore end if needed to preserve good balance at the receiver ring.

I think you will be surprised at how manageable the recoil will be.

A brake will make it into a pussycat.

I believe the Vais brakes are the least objectionable as far as muzzle blast and they reduce recoil. A heavy gun helps too. Also synthetic stocks seem to eat some of the recoil. I also find myself reaching for the 9.3x62 more and more as the years slip by.

I had an L4-L5-S1 fusion along with a c4-c5 fusion a few years back. My CZ 550 (375 h&h) topped with a Leupold weighs in at about 10.5 lbs and I have no problems shooting full-power loads with it (even from the bench, and without a fancy recoil pad). It is kind of heavy to lug around all day though.

To me, it kicks less than a 300 win mag.

I should have started with my .375 is a Win mod 70 claw-type extracter, just to give some reference point. I sense a merc tube in the very near future! Now,.....which one? There are several on the market. Vais brake, is that the one aka the quiet brake?

When I step down in caliber, my rifle of choice is .308 Win. I am also in the process of building a 10.75x68 on a postal/internal distribution mauser. It has been suggested to get as light a barrel as the maker will cut in that caliber, but I will probably get a slightly on-the-heavy-side barrel. First I gotta sell some junk, but that is another thread.

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I believe the Vais brakes are the least objectionable as far as muzzle blast and they reduce recoil. A heavy gun helps too. Also synthetic stocks seem to eat some of the recoil. I also find myself reaching for the 9.3x62 more and more as the years slip by.

I agree completely... Vais breaks are great with regards to limited muzzle blast. I don't like breaks either and have never had any on my big bores, but I wouldn't ever shoot my light weight synthetic 300 weatherby if I didn't have a vais on it. It's like shooting a 308 instead of a 300 weatherby and I couldn't tell the difference in noise level if i were blind folded (they are removable). That said, tequila, advil, and a good lead sled work the best for range shooting. Also, he is correct in saying that the 9.3 is a great alternative to the 375.

quote:

Originally posted by Teat Hound:
I had an L4-L5-S1 fusion along with a c4-c5 fusion a few years back. My CZ 550 (375 h&h) topped with a Leupold weighs in at about 10.5 lbs and I have no problems shooting full-power loads with it (even from the bench, and without a fancy recoil pad). It is kind of heavy to lug around all day though.

To me, it kicks less than a 300 win mag.

All are good advice. With the heavy CZ 375 and a scope it will be difficult to know when it goes off.

Andy,
"which" merc tube is like what rims are on an airport rental car.. once the deal is done, it don't matter .. load the 375 with 235 at 2500, and use that instead of the 308!

Andy, you ought to look into those Knoxx Comp stocks from Blackhawk. They look a bit funky to some but big as you are, nobodys' gonna say nothin.

Blackhawk

Jeffe,

As soon as my GSC bullets get here I plan on loading 200gr @ 3400, and using THAT for almost everything.

Maybe RBCD will come up with a 375 H&H load

Sasquatch

Well...I'm old, broke down, stomped on, and put away wet WAY TOO many times...AND...a weenie...so I use every form of recoil reduction I can get my grimey little hands on..INCLUDING MB's. So there...

Haven't used a Knoxx stock yet, but might on my next project...I'm thinking.

I would rather keep shooting my toys than just look at them and wish.

Besides...I know for a certain fact that where I am right now...so to will all those studly, studlies be some day. Hahahahahahahah

Enjoy your toys...(and use whatever means you can to keep on enjoying your toys)

Tigger,

I looked at the Comp stocks just now, and I like the idea. Pillar blocks or full length bed? Is it anymore involved putting crossbolts in a fiberglass stock than wood?

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Getting old isn't fun but it beats the alternative.

+1

I have now scoped this rifle Leup 2.5-8x36. I am going to start with a merc tube. Now to find a competant gunsmith in the Corpus Christi,Texas area................

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Cooley:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Getting old isn't fun but it beats the alternative.

+1

Off topic, but I laugh everytime I think of Jack
Nicholson in "The Bucket List".
When he was disspensing wisdom about getting old.
"Never waste a hardon and never trust a fart".

quote:

Originally posted by maddenwh:
Lead sled, tequila, and advil...

In that order??