Steve from GA
WKR
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2020
- Messages
- 337
So I'm fairly new to the world of bolt rifles, having shot handguns most of my life. Since deciding to start hunting this year, I have had both private rifle instruction and have also shot a good bit independently. On a good day, I can ring steel out to 400 yards in prone.
One thing I have noticed is that no matter where I place the rifle in my shoulder pocket, it's just a very unfriendly, bony place. I'm shooting a Tikka T3X Lite in 30-06, and even with a limb saver recoil pad, by bullet #10, it begins to feel really unpleasant. So much so, that I begin dreading the shot breaking, which undoubtedly affects my accuracy.
Enter this rather silly looking contraption:
https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Ambidextrous-Shooting-Shields-Construction/dp/B07RKY6FBY
I shot with it yesterday as a bit of a skeptic, but it appears to be just what I needed for honing my shooting skills. Not once did I think about recoil, or dread the shot breaking, or experience any discomfort. This in turn made my head clearer and my groups tighter. I shot much more consistently. I'll have to use it a few more times to verify all of this, but thus far, it appears to be a winner for me.
Of course, I won't wear it in the field, but that doesn't matter. We're talking a single (and maybe a follow up) shot on an elk with adrenaline pumping - I won't care about the recoil. But the good part is that I will have spent the off season shooting and reinforcing good habits and clear thinking when I squeeze the trigger, as opposed to dreading the squeeze and anticipating the shot breaking. I could also see myself stepping up to snappier calibers like 300WM as a result.
So if you feel like your rifle is beating you up and don't want to go the muzzle brake route, this might be worth checking out.
One thing I have noticed is that no matter where I place the rifle in my shoulder pocket, it's just a very unfriendly, bony place. I'm shooting a Tikka T3X Lite in 30-06, and even with a limb saver recoil pad, by bullet #10, it begins to feel really unpleasant. So much so, that I begin dreading the shot breaking, which undoubtedly affects my accuracy.
Enter this rather silly looking contraption:
https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Ambidextrous-Shooting-Shields-Construction/dp/B07RKY6FBY
I shot with it yesterday as a bit of a skeptic, but it appears to be just what I needed for honing my shooting skills. Not once did I think about recoil, or dread the shot breaking, or experience any discomfort. This in turn made my head clearer and my groups tighter. I shot much more consistently. I'll have to use it a few more times to verify all of this, but thus far, it appears to be a winner for me.
Of course, I won't wear it in the field, but that doesn't matter. We're talking a single (and maybe a follow up) shot on an elk with adrenaline pumping - I won't care about the recoil. But the good part is that I will have spent the off season shooting and reinforcing good habits and clear thinking when I squeeze the trigger, as opposed to dreading the squeeze and anticipating the shot breaking. I could also see myself stepping up to snappier calibers like 300WM as a result.
So if you feel like your rifle is beating you up and don't want to go the muzzle brake route, this might be worth checking out.