Recoil and automatic watch movements?

[H Richard]

Remember the old Timex commercials with John Patrick Schwaze? "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking". They put one on a outboard propeller and ran around a lake, and all kinds of torture, and they always kept on working. And that was a $10 Timex back then.

 

[Scrateshooter]

I've not taken the watch off to shoot, but did/do while hammering or chopping stuff; if I remember to. I did break a Seiko diver in Afghanistan:

 

[devildog81mm]

The rolex winds itself with an oscillating weight which is designed to spin, you probably do more damage taking it off and letting it sit than wearing it. Just make sure it is fitted to your wrist, a loose watch band will allow the links to pull, stretch and distort.

 

[ralphtt]

I've been wearing an Omega Seamaster daily for over ten years. During that time I have fired a few thousand rounds of .38/.357 mag ammo, several thousand rounds of .45 acp and several hundred rounds of .44 magnum while wearing the watch.

All they ever did for my Omega was keep it wound. Probably the same for a Rolex.

 

[Super Dave]

The recoil really is pretty minor. Still ticking. If there's an issue the watch has a solid warranty through a shop I've dealt with for 20 years. No risk / no worries.

I like the targets hanging by the smiley face. Nothing like nailing them in double action. Bang, bang, bang.

 

[stantheman86]

The $10 Timex I bought at the Ft. Drum Px in 2007 is still running fine on the same battery after 1 deployment to Iraq and many range sessions afterwards lol

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Wouldn't the designers of these high end watches anticipated handgun recoil? It's not like we're the only ones who shoot. The Swiss love their watches.... and their guns.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Never had an issue with my Wal Mart Casio .

When a $30 dollar watch keeps time as well as a $5000 watch , the difference is just male jewlery. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Laketime]

Wouldn't the designers of these high end watches anticipated handgun recoil? It's not like we're the only ones who shoot. The Swiss love their watches.... and their guns.

No , in fact golf,tennis,racket ball and other high impact activities to the wrist are cautioned against.a mechanical watch movement is composed with hundreds of small delicate parts all working together to keep time within a level of accuracy.To better understand what I'm referring to google videos on the Valjoux 7750 or Eta 2824 to see what goes into making these movements.Swiss movement makers using microscopes to see the parts,and wearing mask as to not blow them off of the work station.It is almost unbelievable that so many here have posted using a Rolex or Omega for decades shooting without a problem.Rolex's movements at 32.000 bph is very delicate and needs service every five years to keep within COCS specs.Regardless this thread is making great discussions for a Saturday night at one of my Watch forums LOL in fact those guys can't understand why you shouldn't wear a registered magnum on your hip while water skiing in the ocean.LOL

 

[gsm73]

The Rolex 3135 movement runs at 28,800 bph has Kif shock system and is more like a heavy truck engine than some of its competition. I have had better timekeeping with my sub than various other ETA 2824, 2892, 2894 and VJ 7750 powered watches.

 

[NYresQ]

I have worn my rolex deepsea, my submariner, a few breitlings and an omega at various times shooting handguns. Never had an issue with any of them. If I think of it I will take it off and drop in my pocket, but that normally only happens if I am wearing short sleaves and notice I have on one of my nicer watches...

I wouldnt worry about the rolex action, mine has never skipped a beat with several thousand rounds of recoil from some stout calibers.

And as I had been told by my father years ago, "If you cant afford to fix it, then you probably should t have bought it in the first place..."

 

[chief38]

Been shooting with my Rolex on for 23 years now and no ill effects yet. I do shoot a lot so it can't be doing too much harm.

 

[7shooter]

If you sold the Rolex and bought more guns you would likely be happy and not care what time it is.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

No ...high impact activities to the wrist are cautioned against....

So the designers DID take recoil into account by cautioning against it. Much easier than building a delicate mechanism to be recoil proof.

 

[InigoMontoya]

I wear an inexpensive Seiko automatic to my weekly range sessions. No ill effects so far. If the watch stops working, I doubt it's worth repairing. I don't wear my nicer automatic watches when shooting.

Sent from my Galaxy Note II

 

[Laketime]

So the designers DID take recoil into account by cautioning against it. Much easier than building a delicate mechanism to be recoil proof.

Marathon who has a GSA contract to sell the Military automatic dive watches ,had been looking at offering a digital shock resistant Quartz for combat troops but have held off for now do to cut backs.The military does not issue wrist watches for the troops.This is a project that I had been looking into with the DOD for the past three years myself having my own contract offering.

 

[nipperdog]

My 12yr old Automatic Omega has endured countless rounds of full house S&W 500, and has held up better than me. I like shooting big Guns and I never remove my Watch to shoot. I have often wondered if heavy recoil was bad for the Omega, and it's re assuring that the majority of posters have has no trouble with their Automatic Watches.

 

[Comrad]

I had no idea I was hob nobbing with the higher ups here. Lots of fancy watch owners around here.
I wear a Seiko, looks like a Datejust.
A real Rolex is on my bucket list.....some day.

 

[Laketime]

My 12yr old Automatic Omega has endured countless rounds of full house S&W 500, and has held up better than me. I like shooting big Guns and I never remove my Watch to shoot. I have often wondered if heavy recoil was bad for the Omega, and it's re assuring that the majority of posters have has no trouble with their Automatic Watches.

It's been very interesting to see members here posting of doing everything short of jackhammering with no ill affects,while the members of the watch community with the same watches are suffering damage while just playing a round of golf.More interesting is that most here have not serviced their watch routinely as required,yet are keeping perfect time.While servicing is normally required to keep running within + or - 2-4 seconds per day.

 

[Kid44]

That may seem like a lot of ammo but it can go pretty fast. If I'm shooting well I'll burn it off at the 50 yard silhouette targets. Those are the first row of targets in this photo.

And a different perspective.

Those 10 round speed loaders are sweet.

If I'm not shooting as well as I should I'll go put the paper targets up on the 25 yard line and work on the basics.

See ya at the range.
Dave

*** does this reply have to do with the OP's question??