Understanding RAD Recoil Reduction Systems
Recoil is the bane of all shooters. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that we can never fully eliminate, but that’s not to say that we don’t try. We all spend a great deal of time and practice to find the best ways that we can reduce recoil, whether it’s through a new shooting technique or a new product. Every little bit helps!
We might be dating ourselves here, but there was a time when we used the word “rad” to describe something that was cool. Don’t worry, we put away the hairspray and parachute pants a long time ago.
Calling things that are cool “rad” may not be hip anymore (whoops, there we go again), but there’s one thing we can all agree on that is certainly not rad, no matter what decade it is, and that’s recoil!
Shooters spend a lot of their time trying to mitigate and reduce the recoil involved in shooting so that they can be better shooters and have more fun. There are a bunch of ways to go about this, but one of them is known as the “RAD System.” So, what is it?
What Does RAD Stand For?
In this instance, RAD isn’t a word, but rather RAD is an acronym, and it stands for Recoil Absorption Device. The name is pretty simple, straightforward, and says exactly what it is going to do: it’s a device that absorbs recoil. Okay, cool, but how does it work?
How Does a RAD System Reduce Recoil?
As you know from the name, a RAD System is designed to reduce recoil, but the way it does this is much more involved than, say, a shooting shirt with a big quilted patch, a device that uses springs, or even an extra-thick rubber buttplate on your gun.
Here’s how a RAD System is different and how it works:
- Uses hydraulic fluid to deal with the recoil
- Hydraulic fluid is a pressurized liquid that is designed to transfer power from one place to another, in this case from the power of the recoil.
- Reduces kinetic energy produced by the act of firing a gun
- Kinetic energy is the energy that an object – in this case, a bullet – has when it is in motion, and that energy is felt through recoil.
- Kinetic energy is dissipated during the motion of recoil
- The hydraulics in the RAD System absorbs the kinetic energy that creates the recoil and dissipates it before most of the energy reaches the shooter’s shoulder.
There’s no way to outright eliminate recoil, but a RAD System does a pretty darn good job at mitigating and reducing it down to a much more comfortable level.
Never Miss a Blog!RAD Systems vs Spring Based Methods of Recoil Reduction
RAD Systems and units that use springs are both used by people to reduce recoil, and a spring system is generally easier to build, so why not just go with one of those?
The answer is actually really simple. Spring systems don’t really dissipate the energy from the gunshot. Instead, they act as a temporary medium for the shot’s energy. The stored energy from a spring system cannot stay in the spring because of the very nature of how a spring works. As a result, that energy will be transferred back to the shooter after the recoil period is over. This means that the shooter is still going to receive the majority of the energy produced from the recoil, but they’ll be getting it indirectly from the spring instead of directly from the firing of the gun.
With a RAD System, the hydraulics dissipate, or disperse, the kinetic energy produced from the recoil instead of just temporarily storing it. This means that the recoil’s energy is sent elsewhere instead of being directed back to the shooter.
Where to Buy a RAD Recoil Reduction System?
So you’ve decided that you want to try out one of these rad recoil reduction systems! Awesome! Well, where do you get one?
The answer is that there are actually quite a few different places where you can pick one up, but you’ll want to go to a place where they can install it for you so that you get the absolute best results.
Hart Systems LLC
Hart Systems introduced its first RAD System more than a quarter of a century ago, way back in 1996. You know, when it was still cool to say things were rad. Anyway, suffice it to say that they’ve been doing it long enough to really know how to get the optimum performance out of a RAD System.
You can work with them directly to be put in touch with a stocking dealer and experienced installer.
Alternative: Use a Suppressor
Another good way to help mitigate some of that recoil happens to be our favorite one and our specialty: using a suppressor. That’s right: suppressors can help reduce recoil. When you’re ready to really give recoil the boot, then pair a RAD Recoil System for a suppressor and be prepared for a whole new level of shooting fun!
Don’t Fear the Recoil, Add a RAD Recoil System
Don’t Fear the Reaper. No, no, that’s not right.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. No, that’s not it either.
Don’t fear the recoil. Yes, that’s the one!
The first one is a Blue Oyster Cult tune, and the second was from a speech by President Franklin Roosevelt. At any rate, we promise, those two are our last attempts at making rad cultural references.
If you’re fed up with recoil, it might be time for you to try a RAD Recoil System. Really and truly, the only thing you have to lose is recoil.
Give us a call and let’s get you started on your journey to suppressor ownership and less felt recoil today!
Shoot With Less Recoul