quote:

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Originally posted by Ola:
I think I am at least average in handling my weapons. But in spite of relevant training I have experienced to shoot bad shots on game. (Im fact I think it some times happenes due to the lack of respect for the given situation)

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After reading all of Ola's comments here in this thread it strikes me he is saying one thing but actually meaning another. He talks about flinching...but in comments like above it sounds to me he is describing what we always called "Buck Fever." Which is NOT the same as flinching from recoil.

As for how to get over painful recoil, the first thing I would suggest it get the hell OFF the bench! There's no better way to make a gun hurt you than shooting off a bench where you are braced INTO the shot at about a 30' angle. Shoot the rifle that is terrorizing you in the normal positions you will hunt with it. Don't go get on a bench where it can really hurt you and condition you to flinch every shot.

Frankly, I don't see much harm at all in shooting SLIGHTLY reduced loads. In a real hunting situation most people don't feel the recoil anyway thanks to the excitement of the moment. The only danger in shooting reduced loads IMHO is that it can teach you a false trajectory and velocity scenario. With the full house hunting ammo, your rifle would likely shoot flatter and faster, so you could fake yourself out if you were used to lesser loads.

To me, the bottom line is if a person has a rifle that just beats the piss out of them and they can't get over/under or around the problem, then they should get rid of the gun and step down a notch to something that they can shoot good.

Chip it in stone, my friends, "A well placed bullet is worth 1,000 ft/lbs of energy."

I think all too often shooters let themselves get pushed up into rifles they can't handle or shoot well just because they are trying to keep up with someone else. If someone else thinks the greatest rifle is the .490 Earthsplitter, I could care less. I will hunt with what I can handle and shoot well...whatever that may be.

[ 06-11-2002, 00:59: Message edited by: Pecos45 ]