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Help me reduce felt recoil

collinthomp

Private
Minuteman
Aug 4, 2019
14
16
I won a Kimber hunter 6.5 creedmoore at a NRA raffle. I have about 20 rounds through it so far and am to the point that I don't want to pull the trigger anymore. I have never shot a rifle with such a violent recoil. I want to shoot it a lot and become a good shooter with it but I don't know if I can. What could I do to make this rifle more enjoyable to shoot a bunch?
 
Muzzle brake. Wear double ear protection. Your range buddies will hate you. If possible go down to the lonely end of the range stations. But Felt recoil can easily be reduced 30-40% with the new generation muzzle brakes.

....now i will be shunned by TheHide......
 
Doesn't look like the end of the barrel is threaded. There are companies that make brakes that clamp on. Not sure if they are any good.

Limbsaver pad, will help a good bit.

Ditching the lightweight synthetic stock. More mass reduces recoil.

But in the end you are trying to turn a rifle for packing to get one shot at an animal into something for continuous strings of fire. A 5.5 pound rifle is not something I would care to shoot that much unless it's a smaller caliber.
 
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Doesn't look like the end of the barrel is threaded. There are companies that make brakes that clamp on. Not sure if they are any good.

Limbsaver pad, will help a good bit.

Ditching the lightweight synthetic stock. More mass reduces recoil.

But in the end you are trying to turn a rifle for packing to get one shot at an animal into something for continuous strings of fire. A 5.5 pound rifle is not something I would care to shoot that much unless it's a smaller caliber.

The barrel is not threaded. Should I just shoot it enough to figure out a good load and keep it in the safe until fall and save my money for a heavier 6.5 creedmoor and hope that it shoots similar to my Kimber? Then shoot that one a bunch so I can become a better shooter?
 
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Kimber hunter. A rifle made to be carried a lot and shot a little. Don't muck up s hunting gun with a brake. Accept that it's a light weight field gun made to be carried and shot once or twice a session at a deer. Get a load worked up for it, stockpile enough for a life of putting meat in the freezer, and pull it out of the safe for deer season. Or sell it and buy a target/comp gun.
 
You shoot a lot but are having a hard time shooting a 6.5 because of the recoil? What do you shoot a lot of?

As others have said, a brake or can is what you’d need I guess.
I said I would like to shoot a lot. At least enough to be able to feel confident taking a shot past a couple hundred yards. I am never going to be as experienced or competent with a rifle as a lot of you are. I just want to be able to know my rifle enough to take a shot and not have any doubt what I am doing. Thank you all for your suggestions and replies.
 
I won a Kimber hunter 6.5 creedmoore at a NRA raffle. I have about 20 rounds through it so far and am to the point that I don't want to pull the trigger anymore. I have never shot a rifle with such a violent recoil. I want to shoot it a lot and become a good shooter with it but I don't know if I can. What could I do to make this rifle more enjoyable to shoot a bunch?

Double up on your ear protection. Wear a shooters vest with a pocket for slip-in recoil pads. (Browning makes them.) Put a cheek pad on the rifle stock if the recoil is also smacking you in the face. Reduce the loads. Go to a lighter bullet.
 
Kimber hunter. A rifle made to be carried a lot and shot a little. Don't muck up s hunting gun with a brake. Accept that it's a light weight field gun made to be carried and shot once or twice a session at a deer. Get a load worked up for it, stockpile enough for a life of putting meat in the freezer, and pull it out of the safe for deer season. Or sell it and buy a target/comp gun.
I’m in agreement with this.
 
I found on the lighter weight hunting rifles with the super skinny stocks they seem to cut into the shoulder and beat up the face more than they should even with the 6.5CM which is by far not a belted magnum. Especially prone. I'd imagine the Kimber is the same way by the looks of their stocks.

Personally, I've been limiting round count to 5-10 MAX per session. Record data of smaller strings at varied distances and conditions then pack it up. I also don't think its advantageous to shoot a light weight hunting rifle 50 times on a morning. That would be unlike any hunting experience I've had, the pencil barrels will be hot as shit and it takes quite a bit of discipline not to form a bad habit then.

More weight, different ergos on the stock, and a muzzle device will for sure help felt recoil but none of which is what you want in a hunting rifle.
 
Practice with reduced recoil ammo... Work your way up, you'll get there

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I don't have much more to add except to echo that indeed weight is your friend in rifles and to hang a brake or suppressor on it.

Some simple things to do is adding a bipod--it may not seem like much, but in a light weight rifle it starts to add up!

Do you have a scope? There's some more weight.

There's no shame in wearing a recoil pad either--you can buy a jacket or just the pad that straps onto your shoulder to help add some stiffness. You can also add recoil pads to the rifle as well if it doesn't have one (or you want a better one)

Stock shape can have a HUGE impact on recoil--I would rather shoot my 300 Win Mag than my son's 30-30. That's a laughable comparison, but some stocks just impart recoil more than others.

Or as the poster above mentioned, sell it, profit and get something more appropriate for long sessions. Kimber rifles retail for more, so get some $$ and get a nice rifle of your choice. We all throw fancy gear around here for lots of cash but a heavy barrel Savage 110 Tactical has a threaded barrel and a magazine for about $600. Tikkas can be had for $500 (unthreaded). At the same price of the Kimber you may be able to slide into a Bergara or similar. There's a ton of options.

Life's too short to shoot rifles you don't like! (and in the end its your money and your time so the rest of us can go pound sand if we disagree with your choice!)