S1, using one of your muzzle breaks and a 3.5-15x or 5.5-22x scope at what range does spotting your own hits become difficult with the different common LR cartridges?

How much easier is it to spot your hits with a .30cal versus a 6.5mm, 6mm, or .223?

How much harder is it to spot your impacts with an AR10 compared to a bolt gun of the same weight in the same chambering?

I can spot hits through the rifle scope with a 15 power NXS and a .223 from as close as 100 yards and as far away as 600 yards in very wet conditions.

On the other end of the spectrum is Utah, two years ago with a 30 Wolf and a 22 power NXS, we could easily see hits past 2600 yards because it had not rained in 25 days, and it was very dusty. We even fired 4 shots into a lake from 12600 ft. asl into a lake at 9500ft. asl they traveled 3600 yards, and if my memory serves me correct, I was 155 MOA up from a 600 yard Zero. We had the scope dialed down to 5.5 and used the reticle to get the extra minutes.

It is actually easier to spot hits with an AR-10 because the recoil is softer than a bolt gun, with or without a brake. In New Mexico two years ago, we could easily see hits on a cliff face at 1760 yards with some AR-10's in 300 wsm and a 15 power NXS.

I guess when comparing caliber to caliber, hits with the .223 can be spotted at very close range if you are a strong fellow who can hold his weapon with significant shoulder pressure. Certainly inside 100 yards, depending on the power of your scope. The real advantage my brake offers is the ability to shoot from a bipod off a hard surface, most small guys can shoot the 30 Wolf off concrete and spot their hits at 200 to 300 yards with good follow through.

With a 8-32 I can see hits @ 500 yds with a 244 Ak.
db

How would adding or removing weight from the bolt carrier or buffer affect the recoil impulse? David Tubb seems to think that adding weight to the bolt will reduce recoil. JP seems to think that lowering the mass of the bolt carrier will also reduce recoil?

How would using a heavier tungsten, lighter carbine, or hydraulic buffer affect the recoil impulse?

It varies (LR)with conditions for me and my partner without ear protection and a Wind River spotting scope at 25x.
Sometimes we can hear the thud and the spotter see the hit at 500yds.
Beyond that, the game is tracked with the spotter until it drops or keeps moving.
If the game keeps moving outa sight, we drop a waypoint and locate a sight bearing, then move to high(er) ground and scout a bit before moving in a mile at most looking for blood.
Since we BTDT enough, we'll always try and get within 500yds for sure.