Should I add a mercury recoil reducer to less than 9 lbs 458 win mag

[Mountaineer]

I have a slightly less than 9 pound 458 win mag o/u double rifle. I love the fit and feel of the gun unless I pull the trigger on a 500 grain maximum load. Maximum loads with 295 grain bullets are not bad at all, but when you go the 500 grain bullets it’s a whole different ball game. Would you add a pound or more mercury reduction device and if so, where would you install it? Thanks.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Yes. You can add up to two in the buttstock.

 

[Green Chile]

Your experience answered your own question honestly. You shouldn't hunt with a gun that scares you or beats you up. That's just a bad plan that can only get worse. Add the reducer(s) in the buttstock where it balances best and go hunting with it. A 458 win mag that can't handle 500 grain loads is kind of mess.

 

[spike.t]

Didn't think you could get mercury recoil reducers anymore.......

 

[rifletuner]

In my experience, I dont find mercury recoil reducers any more effective than just adding their equivalent in weight. I added two reducers to my 450 Ackley in the 1990s, and it definitely made it more shootable. But I think if I added the same amount of lead to the butt, the effect would have been the same.

Also, I have been told airlines will not carry a rifle if it has mercury in it, but I dont know if thats actually true, or how they would enforce it. But if it is a fact, that would be enough reason not to use mercury for me at least.

 

[Green Chile]

Some say that the mercury moving inside of the tube is a counter-action to the recoil action. Maybe but I think very few could tell the difference. The main benefit is in weight being in the proper places to balance and reduce recoil velocity. Recoil velocity is a lot of what "felt recoil" is about versus recoil by the numbers.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Your experience answered your own question honestly. You shouldn't hunt with a gun that scares you or beats you up. That's just a bad plan that can only get worse. Add the reducer(s) in the buttstock where it balances best and go hunting with it. A 458 win mag that can't handle 500 grain loads is kind of mess.

MANY Whitworth Mausers out there (great shooters, nice wood) but too light (require the same treatment, a great pad, and select the heaviest steel mounts/rings, a stout scope and even a sling that features cartridge loops for extra heft. Most pleasant-to-shoot DG guns are easily in the 13+ lb range. 'Could also magnaport it (lower profile, less recoil reducing porting.)

 

[Mountaineer]

I didn’t realize you could magnaport a double rifle.

 

[Green Chile]

You can magnaport any firearm...pistol, shotgun, any kind of rifle. Prince Albrecht has porting in his double rifle that costs at least 50k. Not for me but you can do it.

 

[HankBuck]

In my experience, I dont find mercury recoil reducers any more effective than just adding their equivalent in weight. I added two reducers to my 450 Ackley in the 1990s, and it definitely made it more shootable. But I think if I added the same amount of lead to the butt, the effect would have been the same.

Also, I have been told airlines will not carry a rifle if it has mercury in it, but I dont know if thats actually true, or how they would enforce it. But if it is a fact, that would be enough reason not to use mercury for me at least.

@rifletuner - You raise an interesting question regarding possible airline restrictions on mercury recoil suppressors - I’ve Never read that in any airline or FAA luggage restrictions? Did you read this somewhere? Regardless, there is No way any airline could detect a mercury recoil suppressor in a rifle stock, no X-ray machine would highlight it any differently then lead or other metals. I am very careful about what I pack in my luggage but this is Not something I would even consider worrying about.
However, at some point —- I could see many things being prohibited on airlines and Ammo, lead, etc… will be the most likely.

 

[Doug3006]

I do think it’s a good idea. In fact, I did just that with my Kimber Caprivi in 458 Lott. The gunsmith also calculated the amount of weight to be added inside the forearm. Actually, both the weight and position within the forearm fore and aft. He calculated it perfectly. The balance point is what it was…..about 6 inches in front of the trigger.

I‘m also a bit skeptical about the claims made regarding how the mercury works. I know for sure that the extra weight helps tame recoil. But I used mercury filled reducers anyway.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have a slightly less than 9 pound 458 win mag o/u double rifle. I love the fit and feel of the gun unless I pull the trigger on a 500 grain maximum load. Maximum loads with 295 grain bullets are not bad at all, but when you go the 500 grain bullets it’s a whole different ball game. Would you add a pound or more mercury reduction device and if so, where would you install it? Thanks.

I have a different mindset on recoil reducers. I use the Edwards recoil reducers in most of my rifles. Few have ever heard of them but they work and weigh nothing.

 

[AimSmall]

The recoil reducer will not magically eliminate recoil. An extra pound, in the form of an easy to install rr will help reduce felt recoil. (ex: from ~90ftlb to ~81) A good pad can also help. Be mindful of keeping the rifle in balance..

 

[jlb1036]

HIGHLY RECOMEND YOU ADD THEM MERCURY REDUCERS

 

[spike.t]

I have a different mindset on recoil reducers. I use the Edwards recoil reducers in most of my rifles. Few have ever heard of them but they work and weigh nothing.

Which one do you use...the max?...just checked their website and it's not exactly great to look at

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Didn't think you could get mercury recoil reducers anymore.......

I had one added to my Chapuis earlier this year. Whether it's the weight, the motion of the mercury or a combination of both, I know it helps reduce the recoil to a level that particularly when shooting off of sticks is quite tolerable dare I say enjoyable.

When developing loads for the rifle, I used a mechanical rest and shot from the bench. I put sandbags on the base at the front of the rest. This made it into a quasi lead sled in that it slowed down the rest and thus the rifle enough to make shooting off of the bench much more tolerable. There was still a limit of how much I'd shoot it in a given trip to the range. But good enough that I had my loads figured out pretty quickly.

 

[spike.t]

I had one added to my Chapuis earlier this year. Whether it's the weight, the motion of the mercury or a combination of both, I know it helps reduce the recoil to a level that particularly when shooting off of sticks is quite tolerable dare I say enjoyable.

When developing loads for the rifle, I used a mechanical rest and shot from the bench. I put sandbags on the base at the front of the rest. This made it into a quasi lead sled in that it slowed down the rest and thus the rifle enough to make shooting off of the bench much more tolerable. There was still a limit of how much I'd shoot it in a given trip to the range. But good enough that I had my loads figured out pretty quickly.

OK Phil...honestly thought they didn't make them anymore because of the mercury...

 

[HankBuck]

OK Phil...honestly thought they didn't make them anymore because of the mercury...

@spike.t maybe they can develop something more effective then Mercury - Plutonium or Uranium ??

 

[rifletuner]

@rifletuner - You raise an interesting question regarding possible airline restrictions on mercury recoil suppressors - I’ve Never read that in any airline or FAA luggage restrictions? Did you read this somewhere? Regardless, there is No way any airline could detect a mercury recoil suppressor in a rifle stock, no X-ray machine would highlight it any differently then lead or other metals. I am very careful about what I pack in my luggage but this is Not something I would even consider worrying about.
However, at some point —- I could see many things being prohibited on airlines and Ammo, lead, etc… will be the most likely.

Hi mate. I have only seen it referenced by others periodically when mercury reducers have been discussed. I have never seen it stated as fact by an airline. As I mentioned, dont know how it would be enforced, but it seems like one more thing to worry about when travelling with firearms and ammo. Given that I am not convinced about their effectiveness, they just dont seem worth it to me.

 

[TOBY458]

Load 450 grain bullets at 2250 fps and it’s not that bad. My R8 458 weighs 9lbs all up with ammo and sling, and is fairly comfortable to shoot.