1. Do they really help reduce recoil? If so then generally speaking what percentage of the felt recoil is reduced?

2. Are mercury tubes only used in wood stock's, or synthetics as well? If they are only used in wood, why are they only used in wood?

3. Can mercury tubes be used in conjuction with a muzzle break, or does the addition of a muzzle break nulify the effects of the merc tubes?

4. Whats are the different sizes and cost's of mercury tubes? Who makes the best quality merc tubes?

Your answers would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Larry A.< !--color-->

I have heard that they make noise when the rifle is moved around, as in carrying it while stalking game. Any experience with this?
Gary T.

Gary,

I had a 416 Rigby with 2 mercury reducers in the stock. It sloshed when it was shaken but it was no trouble to keep it quiet when stalking/walking. I have since gone to the Dead Mule reducers--they seem to me to slow the recoil down a bit better than the mercury ones. JMO

I have one that I put into my Blaser R93 when I have it configured as a .375 H&H. It is designed to increase the gun's weight by 10 oz and is completely silent inside the gun. It screws into the bolt that connects the stock to the gun's action so it does not slip. Besides that, the actual bit of sound that you can get if you hold the tube in your hand and shake it by your ear is not generated by normal movement of the gun.

"Dead Mule reducers"

Are they a type of mercury reducer, or some other form of liquid?

Whats the cost of the Dead Mule?

Thanks
Larry A. < !--color-->

So 500grains, would you say a couple of these reducers would be a must have for a .700 H.E.?

I hate them, they ruin the balance of a gun and if you try to counter balance them your adding 20 Oz. to the gun...I'd rather have a `1.5 oz. muzzle brake that works twice as well...But I don't want either if I can help it....

Personally, I like a brake on a a 500 and up...

Larry,

1:YES.. as someone who tests everything, i've done the same weight in lead and tube.. the tube certainly feels better... wasn't a double blind test, though... it SPREADS the recoil over time, as well as weight



2: all stocks, though mounting is easier in wood



3: dont like brakes, can't answer that



4:basically 11 oz, 7/8thx5" can be customed bigger, for rifle stocks



for 50 bucks, and you NEED a butt heavier gun, they are a great idea... BUT if the gun is balanced already, it'll ruin the balance, unless more weight is added to the front.



as for noise, you have to jerk the gun around to get it to slosh...



jeffe

Larry,

The Dead Mule reducers cost about 50 bucks--about the same as the mercury ones. They just use inertia in a different way--a cylinder that moves on some sort on a rod in the middle. That isn't much of an answer--all I know is that my shoulder feels a slower push from recoil in my 458 Lott with the DM than it did with a mercury reducer. Maybe someone else here knows how they actually work........they'll fit in the same size hole as the mercury reducers. And like others have said, any of them will affect the balance of the rifle. Hope this helps.

Since this is a custom gun, you can achieve proper balance by going with a heaver barrel contour to balance against the mercury tubes and still have the gun balance out just head of the front mag screw. Putting a mercury tub in the forened also helps to balance the gun out.