Suppressor or Mercury Recoil Reducer - DG

NIGHTHAWK

NIGHTHAWK

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For DG rifles, 375 or larger, what works best for recoil reduction in your first hand experience? I don’t have either on my DG rifles.

My 450 Dakota came with the barrel threaded, a radial muzzle brake, and a threaded cap. Is anyone running one on a .400 cal?

Considering a recoil reducer on my 450 Dakota. I’m not particularly recoil sensitive, but it does have significant felt recoil.

Pros and Cons Mercury Recoil Reducer?
1. Does a mercury recoil reducer compromise the integrity of a stock?
2. Who would you have to install one?
3. Brand and size?
4. Any bad experiences or reason not to install one?

Pros and Cons Suppressor - 375H&H or Larger?
1. What DG rifle are you using a suppressor on?
2. What brand do you use? Why?
3. Did you cut your barrel down? How much?
4. What would you do different?
5. Is the net benefit worth it?
 
I understand some states do not allow shipment of mercury. Anybody know anything about that?

I'm not into recoil suppression so no help.
 
I have C&H reducers in 300 win, 375HH and 458 Lott. It does help in felt recoil and adds a little weight to butt to balance out, at least for me. I have not done suppressed to any on my DG rifles, but I have shot 375 and 416 rem mag suppressed. I personally would rather have the reducers than suppression on big bore. Made gun to long to handle with suppressor
 
I have never used mercury reducers. Removing enough material from the stock to install them would make me slightly nervous on a heavy-recoiling rifle, which is exactly the rifle that needs them.

I have used suppressors on a variety of rifles from .223 up to .375. I really, really enjoy them, and I see little downside for African PG and most North American hunting. I used the .375, for kudu, giraffe, and klipspringer. For DG, I'd favor simple, quick, and reliable. The need for quick follow-up shots and the need to maneuver in heavy cover makes a suppressor too cumbersome.

Most cans that can handle .375 and .416 rifles are pretty big too - long and fat.
 
Suppressors will add length to any rifle. In tight situations where your life can depend on fractions of a second a rifle fitted with a suppressor will be susceptible to getting hooked up on something.
Then you could get hooked up. .
I’d go for a recoil reducer.
 
My experience is that the mercury doesn't do much. Supressor will take 30% or more. A supressor with a ported end section will take even more recoil away. Omega 300 has taken great recoil off for me. I'm sure you could find a short and light moderator that would really help, if you're ok with extra length/weight etc. Good luck.
 
I purchased a .416 Rigby that had both a mercury reducer AND a muzzle break. I presume that they work fine but I had no experience shooting the rifle without the devices. You may wish to install a mercury reducer, and if you want more reduction then have your barrel ported.
Even with both, the Rigby has a stout recoil.
 
I’m thinking some testosterone shots would be the easiest fix. :cool:



Aw hell, JK. It was just laying there. The wife says I can’t let a good wisecrack go unsaid.
 
I have put in several mercury and other types of recoil reducers and noticed very little difference, now i just put in heavy oilfield sucker rod and it accomplishes the same to me
 

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Both work. I have used both. A suppressor lowers the recoil the best... I have my DG rifles threaded for a suppressor. Some countries do not allow suppressors so you just go shoot without one and use the mercury insert.
 
I love the 375 H&H with a 16" or 18" barrel. I have a SilencerCo Hybrid 46M on an 18" barrel that adds 7" for a total or 25". My plans are to build a 458 Win Mag with a short barrel and use the same suppressor.

I wished I had gone to 16" for a total of 23". I am not worried about the reduced velocity for short range shots.

The suppressor weight is 12 oz with direct thread. On an 8lb rifle it is not too bad. The recoil is very manageable without a recoil reducer.
 
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I have a Ruger No 1 with a brake and a mercury reducer.... Sadly I've not shit it to know if it makes a difference, but the previous owner obviously thought so.
 
Muzzle brakes are a hard NO for me on DG rifles for the sake of the hearing of those in the hunting party. BTW - These are the people in charge of taking care of you and their hearing is a big part of it.

Suppressed DG rifles can be good, but it would need to be integrally suppressed, not an add on. In other words the barrel is the suppressor. This would add a minimum amount of weight while maintaining good handling characteristics. And I’ve not seen anyone selling an integrally suppressed DG rifle…yet.

Adding a screw-on (or otherwise attached) suppressor to a DG rifle adds unnecessary weight and length to an already heavy firearm. Sacrificing handling for the sake of sound suppression could have serious consequences when hunting DG.
 
Years ago, Trap shooters put recoil reducers in the butt of trap guns. Helped some with recoil but most did it for weight and balance. I tried one in my Perazzi, took it out after one season.
I had JJ but a 12oz & a 16 Oz recoil reducer in a poorly fitted and balanced Heym 470. Maybe helped some with the recoil but sure helped the balance. Th poor fit still made it miserable to shoot.
 
Suppressor versus muzzle brake. My opinion. Also, not directly on point to the OP question.

I am running a suppressor on a 416 Ruger that came threaded with a 20 inch barrel. I was shooting it yesterday. 2400 FPS with a 400gr Barnes. Been using Alliant 2000. Will try CFE223.

I have shot this rifle with the muzzle brake and with the suppressor. Hands down, I prefer the suppressor. "Seems" to work about as well, if not better, than the muzzle brake. Perhaps the combined effect of the gas hitting the suppressor baffles plus what I would call "slight" additional weight plus the lack of concussion from the brake. With the suppressor, not as much muzzle rise as with the muzzle brake. Perhaps the added front end weight. I am not a physicist. The muzzle brake is just unpleasant to shoot in a rifle that pushes that much gas down the barrel.

I don't know that I would be interested in a suppressor with a rifle with a longer barrel than 20 inches. Same concerns expressed by others. Also it appears that you are not giving up much velocity in a 20 versus 24 inch barrel in a big bore with the fast powders typically used. I have shot the same loads thru a 24 inch 416 Ruger and the difference was about 40 Fps.

I will be using this combination in July for buffalo. When I went over it with my PH, he seemed pretty pleased about the suppressors.

FWIW. No actual experience yet other than shooting about 150 rounds thru the rifle.
 
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eyedok said:
I have put in several mercury and other types of recoil reducers and noticed very little difference, now i just put in heavy oilfield sucker rod and it accomplishes the same to me
Click to expand...
For extra weight?
 
Jefferry404 said:
Tim Matrix is also using tungsten rods (same size as 4” mercury tube) same static weight, cost but without the sloshing. Can have 2 to get to 16oz.
Click to expand...
I don't know if you meant "same cost" for tungsten rod but if so I don't think that's correct. Tungsten has gone through the roof. I had Tim install a mercury reducer in the buttstock of a 375 and tungsten in the fore end. Adds weight and maintains balance.
 
Andrew NOLA said:
Suppressor versus muzzle brake. My opinion. Also, not directly on point to the OP question.

I am running a suppressor on a 416 Ruger that came threaded with a 20 inch barrel. I was shooting it yesterday. 2400 FPS with a 400gr Barnes. Been using Alliant 2000. Will try CFE223.

I have shot this rifle with the muzzle brake and with the suppressor. Hands down, I prefer the suppressor. "Seems" to work about as well, if not better, than the muzzle brake. Perhaps the combined effect of the gas hitting the suppressor baffles plus what I would call "slight" additional weight plus the lack of concussion from the brake. With the suppressor, not as much muzzle rise as with the muzzle brake. Perhaps the added front end weight. I am not a physicist. The muzzle brake is just unpleasant to shoot in a rifle that pushes that much gas down the barrel.

I don't know that I would be interested in a suppressor with a rifle with a longer barrel than 20 inches. Same concerns expressed by others. Also it appears that you are not giving up much velocity in a 20 versus 24 inch barrel in a big bore with the fast powders typically used. I have shot the same loads thru a 24 inch 416 Ruger and the difference was about 40 Fps.

I will be using this combination in July for buffalo. When I went over it with my PH, he seemed pretty pleased about the suppressors.

FWIW. No actual experience yet other than shooting about 150 rounds thru the rifle.
Click to expand...
What brand/model suppressor?
 
I have recoil reducers in the stocks of 2 of my competition shotguns and in one of my hunting shotguns, along with reducers in my .300 Wby and my .375 RUM. One of my recoil reducers is mercury, the others are mechanical. I don't remember which one is mercury. They all help to reduce the felt recoil, but maybe 6 oz of lead would do the same thing.

My 2 competition shotguns are also ported, and my .300 Wby and .375 RUM also have KDF muzzle brakes. I don't have any problem shooting either of these rifles off a bench or prone.

I installed the reducers in my guns. The shotguns were easy as the reducers fit in the hole in the butt stock for the bolt that holds the stock to the reciever. I was VERY careful when I drilled the 3/4 diameter holes in the Fancy wood stocks of my rifles.

On guided hunts with these rifles I carry extra foam earplugs that I offer to my guide and nearby staff. Most of the nearby staff that I've seen simply plug their ears with their fingers.
 
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