Yugo M48 Metal Buttstock

[EvisceratorSrB]

My Mauser is great, but it kicks like a mule. I can't shoot more than 40 rounds with it before I start to hurt really badly. For some reason, my friends don't hurt from the same rifle. It does have a metal buttstock. Would that attribute to the damage? Should I just suck it up? Maybe I'm not shouldering it properly. Any suggestions would be of help. Thanks

Also, are there any Mauser or any other rifle slip on rubber buttstocks to fit my M48?

 

[MSGT9410]

Try shouldering it so that it's in contact with a bit more meat on the shoudler, and get a good weld. Also, what position are you speaking about? Generally, shooting from the bench and prone positions hurts a lot more than standing.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

I generally shoot with it standing. Today, I fired an all time low record of 25 rounds, standing, before the pain got to me. I don't want to brag, but I feel that I have plenty of "meat" on my shoulder where the bruises are marked.

 

[MSGT9410]

I've never bought a recoil pad for my M48, but I have researched some a bit.

Limbsavers are probably your best bet. I think a medium fits fine, but I'm not sure. Measure up the demensions and see which one works best.

http://www.limbsaver.com/limbsaver/firearms/slipon.aspx

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Back when the M1 and M14 were our standard rifles, we had a demonstration to convince recruits they don't "kick." The OIC or NCOIC would put the butt of the rifle against his chin and fire it. Then he would put the butt in his groin and fire it.

Master those two tricks and you won't be bothered by recoil any more.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

Thanks for the help. Greatly appreciated.

 

[OCJ]

I have a limbsaver on my M48. The medium size fits perfect. These are the best recoil pads I have used. I can shoot all day and not get sore.

 

[MikeH]

Felt recoil shooting from the bench is worse than any of those "combat" positions.

I have a Pachmayr large slip-on pad on my Mauser. It is not a perfect fit, but it certainly does the job.

 

[Eightball]

Try shouldering it so that it's in contact with a bit more meat on the shoudler, and get a good weld. Also, what position are you speaking about? Generally, shooting from the bench and prone positions hurts a lot more than standing.

Found that out the hard way . Not to hijack the thread, but since everyone knows about limbsavers.....what about for, say, an 1891/30? Size, Price?

And I'm already thinking about one for my mauser.....

 

[jrobb45]

I use a PAST recoil pad that straps on the shoulder; work great.

jr

 

[Vairochana]

Never shot a Mauser but...

I do shoot my .303 Enfield a lot- I really hate shooting it from the bench and end up feeling sore afterwards, however I will happily shoot it all day standing or kneeling.
I have the original metal plate on the stock.
How do M48 rounds compare to a .303 for recoil?

 

[iamkris]

The 8mm Mauser is a serious cartridge and shooting 50 of them on a session is nothing to sneeze at. That said, with proper technique you shouldn't be in pain. Technique and stock fit are probably the 2 biggest issues. Our ancestors somehow shot these rifles in the military and at Camp Perry and didn't die from the recoil. For a long session with a heavy recoiling rifle at the bench, I will wear a PAST pad on my shoulder...recoil leads to flinching which leads to poor accuracy.

- You are already shooting offhand. Good, as bench shooting can be tough on you.
- Make sure the butt is in the 'pocket' of your shoulder. That is the meaty part just below your collar bone and just inside the rotator cuff. You can feel a depression form in this area when you raise your arm.
- Make sure you are firmly ( but not crazy hard) pulling the rifle into you shoulder with a consistent cheekweld. If not, the rifle can smack you pretty good.
- Finally, if you do all these things and it still is painful, the gun just may not fit you. Strap on a pad and hope for the best.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

I was attempting to buy a Limbsaver pad for my rifle. However on the link there appears to be no place to order. You have to go to a shop physically to buy these things? The closest shop to me is 2 hours or so away. I tried to call these guys but no one ever answers.

 

[ArmedBear]

Eviscerator...

The local gun shows here usually have plenty of limbsavers at a table or two. Where are you, exactly? Also, you can order them from http://www.cabelas.com/ and the like, on-line (cheaper than paying for parking and entry to the gun shows, even with shipping!).

Recommendation: go to Limbsaver site and get the measurements you want, unless you just want a slip-on. Know before you go.

Anyway, as far as shouldering the gun, if you're "shouldering" it at all, you will probably hurt, either from the bruise, or from the force of recoil stretching your shoulder. It should really be called "chesting" the gun. I finally learned that from shotgunning. Put the gun on the meat of your upper pec, rather than out on your anterior delt. Just watch for your clavicle! Try that.

Also, the harder you hold the gun against you, the less space it has to accelerate and slam you. A common technique is to use your trigger hand to push the butt as hard as you can against your upper chest, and use your forward hand to push AWAY somewhat. You seat the gun with your trigger hand, to avoid slamming it against you when it recoils, but you use the forward hand to help fight against the recoil. Sounds wierd, but it's worth trying. Or try the other way around. See which way gives you the best accuracy and recoil absorption.

The worst thing to do is let the gun "free recoil", where it just hammers your body. You have to hold it firmly, and make your body move with the gun as much as possible, if that makes sense.

Here are too many articles about it. Despite Chuck Hawks' ability to get people PO'ed, there's good stuff here. Just use your own judgment; it's not Holy Scripture, or anything, just a collection of nice, short articles. http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2d.rifles.htm

All of that said, 40 rounds of a big game centerfire round, through a bolt action with no pad, is as much as I'd generally enjoy shooting one way or another, or more. Less if it's a magnum round. A lot less. While the 8x57 is less punishing than a .30-06 or heavier round, it does fall somewhere between 7mm-08 and a .308.

That, along with inherent accuracy and lower cost, is why die-hard paper punchers like the .22 centerfire cartridges.

 

[DnPRK]

Shoot a lighter weight bullet. a 150 grain bullet has 20% less felt recoil than a 198 grain bullet.

I also use a PAST shoulder pad.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

Thanks Bear. One medium sized recoil pad is on the way. Can't wait. Thanks for the link and all the information you gave me.

BTW I'm in Palmdale, CA. North of LA, about a 1 to 1.5 hour drive.

 

[Kurt S.]

I shoot Yugo and Turk Mausers, and a Mosin-Nagant with all kinds of milsurp. I don't get bruises easily (6'0", 220 lbs of relaxed muscle) but you are doing good at 25 rounds sans recoil pad. Now that said I have friends who fire 50-100 rounds from a Yugo at a session, make no complaints but bitterly complain for 2 days after.

I have found any old recoil slip on pad that fits reasonably well suffices. YMMV.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

I'm 5'8'' and 140 lbs... but surprisingly I heard from more than one person the lighter you are the less you hurt from higher recoil weapons? It doesn't make much sense to me but he claims it's all true! The logic behind this is the fact that there's less of you to stop the rifle from slamming back, so you go with it as opposed to a bigger guy absorbing more energy. I am neutral on this point because I have no idea feel free to poke at the suggestion

 

[270Win]

I have been shooting .30-06, .270 and other medium-to-stiff recoil calibers for years... but two weeks ago I shot a 24/47 Mauser (8mm) that had the worst stock fit of any rifle I think I've ever shot. 5 shots, and I was done.

I shot 10 shots with one of my K31s (7.5x55) without a hitch.

I think the limbsavor or similar pad is a great idea. If the stock doesn't fit, there are things you can do to make it bearable anyway.

 

[nplant]

The Mauser's stock has a bit of an inverted design, in my opinion, and although mine don't bother me, I've seen smaller people get injured by it. If you look at the plate on the M48 and compare it to a plate from, say, a Garand, you'll notice that the teardrop shapes are roughly reversed, giving the Mauser a larger radius in the toe, where shoulder pocket is in contact. I suppose that this could be the source of the trouble.

Try the recoil pad and get back to us.