Muzzleloader Recoil - Modern Inline Rifle

[Donny1]

I'm curious about getting one of these rifles but I am somewhat recoil sensitive. I'm not a big guy to start with, 5'8" 165lbs and I've had tears in both shoulders so violent recoil is not pleasant. I shoot Trap with a semi-auto Remington V3 12ga and with Trap loads I can shoot all day but my Pump, even with a Limbsaver is not fun, especially with #00.

What is the recoil impulse like on these modern inline Muzzleloaders. Is it a sharp jolt, more of a push, comparable to what, a 12ga, .308? Is loading lower recoil loads a big compromise? It seems with loose powder it's pretty versatile.

It will just be for targets at 100 yards and something new to throw in the mix.

[M76]

a .50 cal inline muzzleloader with FFG black powder uses a minimum 50g up to 100g

and is nowhere near the recoil of a 12G shotgun; maybe a .410 - 20 gauge

they're a hoot, not punishing at all

[tabascoz28]

It depends on how you load it cause you control the loading. I was at a range with a dude that was pushing his to the limit with his friend, laughing at how much it kicks. My 5.11 backpack also has padding right where I shoulder my guns so there's an idea.

I shoot a .50 ball so it's a lighter projectile with 60g (volume). It's heavier than my .357 lever action but lighter than the 7/8oz 12g rounds I make and shoot through my SX4.

[unusedusername]

If you are just target shooting, you can use as little or as much powder as you'd like to make it have more or less recoil.

Loose powder gives more control over the amounts vs pellets.

Good luck finding anything in stock!

[subscriber]

If you are just target shooting, you can use as little or as much powder as you'd like to make it have more or less recoil.

Loose powder gives more control over the amounts vs pellets.

Donny,

Adding to the above quote:

Shooting a lighter projectile will make a huge difference in reducing recoil. The reason a 12 gauge shotgun kicks is the standard projectile weight is about an ounce or 400 grains. More to the point, it is the ratio between projectile and firearm weight that drives recoil. That, and the gas jetting effect of the propellant.

A good fitting stock with a soft recoil pad, and I can shoot 12 gauge skeet loads all day. Without a decent recoil pad, I would fatigue after 25 shots. Same with a .308 Win rifle that weighs about 7 lb, shooting 150 grain bullets.
Holding the rifle of shotgun so that it makes good contact with the muscles in your shoulder will make a world of difference. As will driving and holding your shoulder forwards before the shot, so that your shoulder can spring back. You want your shoulder and upper body to roll back with the recoil.

The worst thing is holding a heavy recoiling long gun too lightly - both against your shoulder and with your hands. Then it can gain speed and thump you, rather than push you.

Shooting offhand is going to thump you less than shooting off a bench too, so I would start with offhand to sample a given load.

A .45 caliber lead ball weighs about 150 grains. Shooting that at about 1200 FPS from a 7 lb muzzle loader is going to feel like a lever action .38 Special load. As in, hardly any recoil at all. Shooting a 400 grain slug at 1600 FPS is going to feel like a stout shotgun slug load. Significant recoil and not much fun after only a few shots. Find your recoil tolerance, starting with light loads and work your way up.


Watch how hickok45 rolls with the recoil, rather than than trying to prevent it completely, or allowing the rifle to punch him. Also, how he pushes his shoulder forward in anticipation of recoil. Compare black powder recoil with known bruisers:















More: https://www.youtube.com/user/hickok4...uzzle%20loader

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[Fjold]

Shooting a muzzle loader is one of the greatest things for recoil shy shooters.

Start at the minimum recommended powder charge with a patched round ball (that's usually the lightest projectile) and keep adding powder in small increments (5 grains) until you reach your limit.

[sigstroker]

Probably amplifies your flinches a lot more too, because lock time is.... long.

[subscriber]

Probably amplifies your flinches a lot more too, because lock time is.... long.

With a flintlock, yes. With an inline percussion cap, ignition lag is similar to smokeless cartridge guns.