Gunsmithing Recoil induced headache

[CaptainH]

I have developed what I believe is a strong association with medium to large caliber (260 & 308) rifle shooting and what I call recoil induced headaches. I used to get these quite a bit with shotgun shooting until I started creating lighter loads for my 12 gauge and getting a better fitting stock. I want to shoot rifle and shoot at long range so 22 benchrest is not in the cards for me just yet. However, the resulting headaches have become a serious problem. I have seen physicians, and I am still undergoing physical therapy to undo three days of long range at Camp Perry three weeks ago. I know what the answer is but I do not want to stop shooting big bore rifle. My problem is that I really like to shoot the longer ranges (600 – 1000) and I am having a gun built by John Whidden in Georgia in 260 Remington (MAK tube Gun), but I will change to something much milder in recoil to keep shooting if I must. So with this in mind I pose some questions.

Are there things that one can / should do to the stock or fit of a rifle to avoid or at least significantly diminish recoil induced headache? I currently use a Savage model 12 with an add on adjustable butt assembly with a real cushy recoil pad and a strap on Blackhawk cheep pad.
If yes to above, who can help me with this.
Is 6 BR a viable option out to 600 yards?

Thanks for any help or referrals.

 

[fmsniper]

Re: Recoil induced headache

if you are shooting from a bench try the "led sled, "no kidding it works

 

[Chickeneye]

Re: Recoil induced headache

i have no advice for the headaches, but the 6 BR and its variants are excellent at 600 yards.

 

[bohem]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Go see a chiropractor, not a regular MD.

The 6BR holds records at 1000yd, it is fantastic for a 600yd round.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Recoil induced headache

As Jacob said to a friend and I:

" Suppressors are Gods Gift to us".....

Said friend was physically ill after a couple hundred rounds of 300 WM in one day. Sitting next to me with about twice that many 308 rounds, all thru Sako muzzle brakes.

Point being it is not only the recoil, but the pressure wave/thump. dot.mil training limits the number of rounds per day per man, based on the caliber being shot partly for this reason. You also may get nose bleeds and detached retinas from excessive fun. Brakes help with the recoil, but not the thump.

Some of the professional training types here may have some additional advice, other than doubling up on hearing protection.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Recoil can be a real bitch, it's even been known to detach the retina in eyes.

I ran a 6BR for a while and love it but I feel 600 yards is about its max if the winds up. I ran 105's at 2,820fps in the BR. I also have a 6XC and 6 Dasher, both hammer. The Dasher so far is the absolute winner, 105 VLD's at 3,050fps with zero pressure and it shoots in dots at 300 yards. My XC is pushing the 105's at 2,960ish fps but with more powder than the Dasher.

If the recoil of a 260 or 308 is giving you headaches I'd be careful, permanent damage would be my concern. The 243Win is also another great LR cartridge with mild recoil.

For rapid fire stages the 243 or 6XC may be better since you'll be mag feeding. Good luck.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Perceived recoil is a product of force acting on mass over time. You can reduce the force, increase the mass, make the process take longer, and/or any combination of the above.

I don't like brakes, as I believe the increase in percived sound energy is part of the problem.

I am a fan of any strategy that reduces the force and suggest exploring the 260 with 123gr Lapua Scenars. My experience with 120gr Nosler BT's leads me to believe these lighter projectiles would do better with a slower twist, nothing faster tha 1:9".

Adding mass does not have to mean a heavier rifle. While lead sleds may not be legit for comp, I use a standard 25lb sack of shotgun reloader's lead shot, placed over the shoulder and rretained between butt pad and shoulder. For practice. Technically, it adds no weight to the rifle, and my thinking would favor its being OK for comp.

Essentially, at least half of that mass is going to act in your favor to mitigate the recoil pulse. Maybe all and maybe they way it shifts could add some time to the recoil absorbtion process.

Letting the 'unpinched' portion of the lead sack ride free atop your shoulder may tend to have some bearing on slowing down the whole recoil process. I'm not sure about that, but my intuition says it should be so.

Greg

 

[Trapshooter12]

Re: Recoil induced headache

This is far off the wall. But when I was reading this my first thought was trying a mouth piece like what you would wear playing FootBall or Boxing. The thought behind this is that as you are squeezing the Trigger you start gritting your teeth in anticipation of the recoil, which in turn causes the headaches.
Might be a cheap and easy fix rather than giving up what you love.

 

[Country]

Re: Recoil induced headache

I have a friend who has the same problem . It turns out that he has a thin skull and the brain fluid is also a lot narrower than normal.
The result is that his brain takes in more shock wave than normal.
It is like a boxer getting beaten around the head. The brain slaps about in the skull.
If you are suffering regular headaches then I think you should do as my friend did and reduce recoil and muzzel blast.
I hate muzzel brakes also and they should be illegal on public ranges for the above reason.
They may well reduce recoil for the shooter but do brain damage to the guy on the bench nextdoor.
If someone turns up at my range next to me with a muzzel brake I pack up and go home or move benches if I can.
I am not saying that this is definately the problem as nitro in the powder and residue can also cause nitro headache as can spinal , nerve and joint problems but it sound real familiar to me.
Anyway your health is way more important than shooting so you need to work something out.
My mate mainly shoots rimfire now and the occasional 270 AI when hunting and has not had the headache problem or at least he is not complaining about it anyway.
It's a real hard one I know.
However 300 rounds of 300 WBY is like 10 rounds with Mohamid Ali on your brain.
I know shooters don't want to hear this but we would be very silly to belive that there is no potential down side to shooting . All sports have their down side .
You may just be unlucky to be affected more than others.

 

[spaniel]

Re: Recoil induced headache

What would you be giving up by shooting a 243Win or variant thereof in a heavy rifle? Ballistically it will outshoot the 208 and 260. I dropped a 243Win Savage Model 11 in an HS Precision stock to make a smokeless muzzleloader, but I kept the 243Win sporter barrel for coyotes and the rifle has virtually no recoil. With a target contour barrel it would really be nothing. Why not? 243Win, AI, Dasher, WSM, etc.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Recoil induced headache

 

[Country]

Re: Recoil induced headache

That is incredible Mechanic!

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Take some IBUs before shooting, it will take any inflamation away prior, as well as some good stretching of the shoulder/neck areas. Sitting in certain positions can strain neck muscles to where they will restrict blood flow to the brain, causing headaches. Try shooting in diffrent positions. If you are very sensitive from the jolt of the rifle recoiling then a supressor would be your best investment. The overpressure directed to the sides and back from a brake can be rough as well. If you are not concerned with carrying the rifle long distances then a heavy barrel, and/or filling the stock with some lead weights can help alot.

 

[Clark]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Even with ear plugs AND hearing protector muffs, sound can enter the head through the sinuses.

Moly bore cream left in the bore and blasted out with the first fouling shot, leaves a chemical atomized in the air that can cause headaches.

The stress of an important trip to the range, when over, may bring on a migraine.

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Recoil induced headache

I'll simply reiterate what some have said above.

Make sure your body is loose and you get into an unstrained position while shooting position. The recoil felt, even from small rifles, can strain your neck restricting blood flow and also causing tension headaches. Many times have I started with a pain in my upper back/shoulder blade areas only to have it migrate to my head because of tension caused.

A quick cure for that I've found is to get a massage. They can release the tension out of the muscles and it won't migrate.

Also, up until my shoulder surgery I found I was getting more and more recoil sensitive. I found out I had a bone spur under the end of my right collarbone. That jabbed me every time I pulled the trigger. That was with pretty much everything I owned except a .223 or .22 LR.

As far as muzzle brakes go the blast created (described by others above as well) can cause a beating in the sinuses you don't seem to notice until long after you've gone home. I believe in and use muzzle brakes because of what I think they can add. The addition is also a detractor. You have to understand what they do physiologically to you. They can cause you to flinch just like recoil can. I've had nosebleeds and headaches from them. I found one way to help eliminate the sinus blast is to use a neoprene face warmer (like a wetsuit). Even on hot days. Also drink a lot of water, hot or cold day.
I also won't shoot one next to someone who doesn't understand what they do. I'll bring a couple more rifles to the range so I'll have something to shoot if I don't shoot the one with the brake.

For caliber, 6mm, 6.5mm or 7mm BR are all pretty good with the right bullets. .223/5.56 NATO are also pretty good with the heavier bullets like the 68-80 gr. Using a long enough barrel to get the velocity. The 6.5G and 6mm AR/Turbo are good alternatives but not as competitive as the BR's.

Anyhow, good luck with this.

 

[breezernate]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Could be dehydrated. That can cause headaches, also.

Try taking water along.

Nate

 

[former naval person]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Go with as long and heavy barrel as you can manage. It gets the pressure wave farther away from your head, and puts the mass farther out which reduces the vertical component of the recoil. Some research years ago showed that a lot of the flinching occurs from the eye perceiving that the scope is trying to hit you.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Recoil induced headache

Not sure what type of shooting you plan on, F-Class allows a pretty heavy rifle and I'd take full advantage of that.

Heavy rifle: 20+ lbs for F-Class
Long barrel to reduce muzzle blast
Suppressor
Double up: muffs & plugs
Better cartridge: 243WIN being a good choice even at 1K
Good recoil pad: limbsaver.

If you still get headaches after doing all these things: time to take up golf.

 

[califflash]

Re: Recoil induced headache

are you absolutely sure that the headaches are caused by recoil or are you just associating them with recoil??

for instance are you using earplugs? some people have negative reactions for ill fitting plugs and recoil can exacerbate the problem.

i'm not saying that you are not spot on in your reasoning, I just find it unlikely that recoil is the soul reason that you are getting headaches. but then again i'm not a doctor. i would just try to think of all the various reasons you might receive headaches and start a process of elimination.

 

[carbinero]

Re: Recoil induced headache

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Heavy rifle: 20+ lbs for F-Class
Long barrel to reduce muzzle blast
Suppressor
Double up: muffs & plugs
Better cartridge: 243WIN being a good choice even at 1K
Good recoil pad: limbsaver.
</div></div>

I would think the above is the best advice. If I were you, I'd budget a grand+ for the suppressor before I'd quit shooting.

 

[head2h2o]

Re: Recoil induced headache

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go see a chiropractor, not a regular MD.

</div></div>

+1 I would highly recommend this. You may have something going on that is making you overly sensitive to the recoil. This is not to down play the effects of it, but seeing the chiropractor is worth your time. Do your homework and find a good one thats well rounded in their approach and not just into manipulation although this may help.