What makes a stock mitigate recoil better?

[Kootenay Hunter]

Good day All,

My lady is away this weekend, so I have uninterrupted wood shop time and a dozen beers, subsequently I am working on a couple rifle stocks.

The first stock is a practice stock in black walnut (I have not made one in a while, and the ones I have made have been two piece stocks for ruger no.1's, vice a single piece bolt action stock) the practice stock will be the new home of a husky 6.5x55.
The second stock is for a 9.3x64 I recently bought (FN Supreme action with a heym barrel put together by Ralph Martini). The rifle shoots well, but came with a custom composite stock that is to light, which makes the gun too light. The whole rifle with optic and sling is 8.00 lbs. With 250gr loads is it manageable, but running the 285's the recoil is a bit terse. The other day on the range I put 25 rounds through it of 285gr oryx working up a load, and by the end I found it rather unpleasant. It also scope cut the bejesus out of a guy who wanted to try it out; I had given him fair warning.

Once I am done with the practice stock, I am going to move to the 9.3x64 stock in an attempt to get it to a target weight of 9-9.5 lbs. Numerous places on the forum I have seen people comment that proper stock shape mitigates recoil. So with that context in mind...

What are the characteristic stock design element that help mitigate recoil? Thanks.

 

[USMA84DAB]

1. Wide/large butt - look at a Mosin-Nagant for what NOT to do!
2. Comb is in line with the bore/not dropped, rounded and wide so it doesn't knife into the shooter's cheekbone
3. A grippable fore end
4. A more vertical pistol grip that can help to pull the stock back into the shoulder
5. Thickness for weight/mass to absorb the recoil - this fights directly against being nice to carry all day

My $.02 worth

 

[MS 9x56]

1. Wide/large butt - look at a Mosin-Nagant for what NOT to do!
2. Comb is in line with the bore/not dropped, rounded and wide so it doesn't knife into the shooter's cheekbone
3. A grippable fore end
4. A more vertical pistol grip that can help to pull the stock back into the shoulder
5. Thickness for weight/mass to absorb the recoil - this fights directly against being nice to carry all day

My $.02 worth

Sounds like you are describing the European design CZ 550 stock. One other item I would add is the LOP must fit the shooter. Too short or too long both enhance recoil.

 

[USMA84DAB]

YES! LOP is very important - missed that one.

The European stocks seem to drop at the comb and that accentuates perceived recoil.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Everything usma84dab said (that user name makes mine look simple when you need to type it out)) anyway, I’d look at some stocks made by professional stock makers(internet is good here) and maybe try some rifles at a gun store to see what fits you and is comfortable to shoulder. This will give you some ideas that you can combine to help pick what works best for your needs. The one and only full stock I made (seem to be mostly two piece one that I’ve done) I basically copied an old rigby stock and just changed the cheek piece. And fit a good quality butt pad like the 1 1/8" limbsaver pads or similar
Gumpy