Reducing muzzle lift in a Handi

[miyata]

My 45-120 project, based on a Stainless Steel Ultra Hunter with laminated thumbhole stock is under way.  I'm currently in the 28 day cooling off period before I can get my hands on the rifle.... but planning is under way:

I'm thinking I'll use the new Redfield 2-7x33 (actually it's really a 2.5-6.5x33).... has anyone put a scope on a 45-120 yet?  I'm a little worried about the possibility of it coming in to contact with my face when shooting hunting loads. 

I plan to aim for a relatively mild 2100fps 500gn load, keeping it under 40,000 CUP.  Even this will have close to 5,000 ft-lb of muzzle energy, and in an 8lb Handi about 75 ft-lb of recoil.

I'd like to increase the weight to about 12 lb with the addition of the following...

    o  Scope

    o  Limbsaver Recoil Pad

    o  Mercury Recoil Reducer in the stock

    o  Muzzle Brake (probably a Vais)

    o  Extra lead if needed to bring total weight to 12lb

If we assume that the Muzzle Brake will reduce the recoil by 30%, then in conjunction with the extra weight it should now be hitting me with a relatively mild 35 ft-lb and the "felt" recoil will be further reduced by the Mercury Recoil Reducer and the Limbsaver pad.

Sounds good so far.

Now to my real question.....

I find the muzzle lift associated with recoil the most annoying aspect so I was wondering if the addition of a "Muzzle Weight" would help reduce this, or would it cause more problems with barrel harmonics or some other such thing?

I was thinking of fabricating a stainless steel tube, of a few inches length, and filling it with lead and attaching it to the underside of the barrel at the muzzle with stainless steel bands.

Thoughts?

[necchi]

Why on Earth, do you want a 12# gun?

I know bench shooters like a heavy barrel but that is usually made up of mostly barrel length.

[miyata]

12lb is not particularly heavy... and the extra weight will reduce recoil.

Target rifles are often significantly heavier than this.

I reckon I'm tough enough to drag a 12lb Handi up a hill or two in search of game.   

[quickdtoo]

I think you'll have problems putting anything of any size in the stock due to the shape, it has no bolt hole in the butt and it's dished on the right side.

Tim

[miyata]

Ahhh, very useful info, thanks Tim.

That will send me back to the drawing board...LOL.

As you can tell, I haven't had my hands on the rifle yet.

Btw, how does it attach to the receiver?

[wreckhog]

I'd try a Choate Varmint forend with a bipod (2#) and a big honking scope with steel rings (2#). Maybe a different butt with a full 9 cartridge sleeve (1#). There is your 12 # gun. Use a PAST pad for the range, wear shooting glasses, and start with mild 45-70 loads. Anyhow, that is my 2 cents.

[quickdtoo]

Ahhh, very useful info, thanks Tim.

That will send me back to the drawing board...LOL.

As you can tell, I haven't had my hands on the rifle yet.

Btw, how does it attach to the receiver?

A bolt in the grip.

Tim

[jjas]

What are you planning on hunting?

[quickdtoo]

I think a GSI walnut roll over would be a more appropriate stock, here's Stuffit's BC.

Tim

[miyata]

What are you planning on hunting?

The largest game available to me in Australia is buffalo. 

[miyata]

All great pics, thanks again Tim.

[miyata]

So any thoughts on a muzzle weight?

[quickdtoo]

A custom sleeve to fit around the barrel since you're using a scope, a rubber lined lead wrap!! 

Tim

[miyata]

Tim,  it looks like there's enough meat in the butt of the thumbhole stock for a shorter recoil reducer, and certainly some lead... what do you think?

[S.E.Ak]

If you get moisture in the lead it can swell and crack your stock

[quickdtoo]

Tim,  it looks like there's enough meat in the butt of the thumbhole stock for a shorter recoil reducer, and certainly some lead... what do you think?

That would be the best choice, you may be able to bore a hole towards the cheek rest on the left side, but it would be risky. I have a 16oz C&H MRR, it's 5" long, too long IMO, but  2 or maybe 3 shorter units may work. Dunno what they cost in OZ, but MPC had them on sale last week, I dunno if they ship international.

Tim

http://mpcsports.com/candhmercuryrecoilreducers.aspx

[AtlLaw]

I have a limbsaver pad on mine and lead wt. in the stock.  It is scoped with a Leupold 2x7.  No problems so far, but I haven't reached 2k with a 500 gr. bullet either!      2K with a 405 is pretty tame though... 

[miyata]

If you get moisture in the lead it can swell and crack your stock

Epoxy is your friend.  A good coating in the hole and a plug of epoxy on top of the lead should be fine.

[jeepmann1948]

One of the advantages of a muzzle brake is the taming of muzzle jump. Pick the right muzzle break (with angled drilled holes), and the absolute best Hearing protection available, remember never shoot to it under a roof or cover of any kind.Also check with any guides you hire  as a lot of them refuse to let clients carry any kind of firearm with a brake because of the muzzle blast issues.

[tykempster]

I don't know if it is my size, or how I handle recoil, but I would be might wary of scoping a Handi 45-120.  It comes back quite a ways during recoil, at least what I can tell from video.  My right thumb comes all the way back and almost catches my nose, I'd say close to 6", so you'd need a VERY long eye-relief scope if you react like me to recoil.