I tried this question on the gunsmithing forum, no reply. I'll try here.

I'm getting ready to do three new stocks - all for moderate to heavy recoiling rifles: 7mm Mag, 35 Whelen (real loads), and 404 Jeffery (real loads).

I know a straight comb reduces felt recoil (I've experienced the difference first hand from rifles I've restocked).

Question - does Toe also make a difference?

I have a stock with Toe out in a 8x57 with a metal buttplate. Hot loads as well. The recoil on the rifle isn't noticeable from a shoulder perspective - better than other rifles with recoil pads of similar weight, ballistics, etc

I think it depends on your anatomy and where the stock contacts you. I've heard the toe-out does help.

Toe out on a stock is most often seen on a shotgun. The purpose in that appliation is to prevent the toe of the stock from digging into your chest and to aid in rapidly mounting the shotgun. If you do vector analysis of the recoil forces, I don't believe that toe out will do much more than keep that sharp toe out of your chest muscles. Another dimension that does aid in reducing felt recoil on the face is pitch of the buttplate. When properly set it allows the stock to recoil straight back instead of up. Cast on, or bending the stock to the left in the case of a right-hand shooter, will result in the rifle recoiling away from the cheek to the right and will punish the cheek less, but at the cost of less-than-perfect sight alignment. Some very heavy recoiling double rifle were cast on.

Thanks

I use cast off in all my big bore rifles. Toe out doesn't seem to change much in big bores at least I can't tell if it does, I can guarentee cast off helps a big bores recoil and pointability for most folks.

I will vouch for Rays ideas--I have a stock he made and everyone who shoots it tries to steal it-----
its the softest shooting 416 RM ,according to 4 of us, around.
Thanks Ray--

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
I will vouch for Rays ideas--I have a stock he made and everyone who shoots it tries to steal it-----
its the softest shooting 416 RM ,according to 4 of us, around.
Thanks Ray--

Do you have any pics you can share? I'd love to see it