I have shot the .375 H&H a bit and really enjoy it. I do not find the .270 gr loads uncomfortable at all. From the bench sighting it in can be a bit uncomfortable (when runnning 20-30 rounds through it). Hunting with it I flat enjoy it. I am wondering if I am ready to move on to something bigger. No earthly reason to need to. I would just like to get something bigger. Thinking of a CZ in .505 when they hit the market.

I have shot a 10 gage pump shotgun and like it pretty well. Although 25 rounds is about my limit in one session. My question for those who would know is "how does the 10 ga compare in recoil to the big thunder boomers"?

I believe that you will find the 10 ga. to be a much slower recoil than large rifle cartridges. While the 10 gas gives a big slow push, rifle cartridges tend to recoil much faster giving you a jab instead of a push. Hence felt recoil will be much greater. The 505 will feel sort of like 2 375's going off at once.

I assure you that there is a huge difference between a 505 and a 375 H&H....I find the 505, 500 Jefferys, 500 N.E. to be a hard caliber to shoot with confidence..

I really have to concentrate not to flinch with a 505 and off the bench it takes a dip of snuff right out of your mouth and deposits it in you scope lens...

Some claim there is nothing to it, and to some with masochistic tendencies that may be true, but 95% of those claims are pure BS.......

I have shot the 505 a lot and I have hunted with it and killed Buffalo with it and the 500 Jefferys...I just don't enjoy hunting with them nor do I need them...I have not seen anything the 416 and 404 or .470 wouldn't handle, and I have to confess I load the .470 down to about 2020 FPS....

It depends on what 10 gauge you are shooting. I have 3-- a Reminton SP-10 autoloader that is gas operated and weighs 13 pounds-- kicks like a 30-30. A Elbar double barrel that has been sawed off at 20" and still weighs 10 pounds-- kicks like a 30-06 and a H & R single shot that has no recoil pad and weighs 6 pounds -- kicks like a .458 Winchester.
My suggestion to you would be to purchase a larger rifle if you want and start with the lighest bullet weight at as low a velocity as your manual lists. Shoot this load until comfortable then up the load a bit and continue. At some point you will work to maximum loads or come to the point that you have all the recoil you want. By practicing with light loads and hunting with full power loads -- you will not become uncomfortable with the gun or develop "bad" habits. You will never feel the recoil when hunting.

I found the .375 H&H to be no problem, which I suspect helps explain why so many do such good work with it. The .458 Win. Mag. with 500gr bullets is really not much fun and the .460 Weatherby is no fun at all. The idea of loading down until you get used to the catridge is a good idea and is exactly what I first did with the .458. Works great on deer loaded to hot 45-70 levels. As for the .460, forget it. If you can't get it done with a .458 - RUN LIKE HELL!

WyoJoe,
now you are talking, on the 10 ga..

Okay, a 375 doesn't kick.... honestly.. it's not even a player in the world of big booting rifles... What is it? 45-53# depending on the gunweight?

a 416 rigby has about what, 72# at 9.5# gun, 400 at 2400?
A 10.5# 500 jeffe has about 95# of recoil...
my 58 caliber double front stuff has about 54#... long and SLOW recoil.

a 10ga pump is probably about 55-60#, with a super stout gooseload. or in the 40s with dove (heh heh, that's a FUNNY thought... dove's with a TEN) loads

Give this a whirl, shoot, standing a mixed mag of 375, with 270 and 300 grain bullets... and see if you can tell the diff in recoil.. you can, every time, i bet

recoil wise, in "normal" weight guns, you go 505, 500j,500 ne 470 mbogo, 550 (either one) then 577 nitro

you are certainly at the limits of what a fella can train to take... or like the STC members, what you are willing to learn to take.

Ole Ray's a good fella.. but me no thinks he takes recoil too good!!!

elmer keith jr

My 5.5# 10 ga. single is a kicking b-------d, but fun at the same time. I have never been able to finish a whole box. As for doves, with the imp choke screwed in, reloads with 2 1/2 oz. of 8's throw a visible patter which looks about the size of a basketball! Don't miss many doves with it.

My 375 with 300 grain bullets at 2550 fps kicks more mildly than my Remington 870 shotgun with 3" 1 oz. slugs or 3" turkey shells. I took them both to the range, and the shotgun is decidedly more unpleasant than the rifle. The 375 is at the upper end of what I consider fun and enjoyable, and the shotgun with slugs is about the upper end of what I can shoot accurately and quickly.

I also brought my shotgun with some slugs to the range the day my friend let me shoot his 470 double (500 grains, 2150 fps). The shotgun's recoil was quite a lot milder than the 470's, and the 470 kicks hard enough I can't just mount the gun and get off a good trigger pull. I kind of have to screw myself up to it.

That said, I am saving up my allowance money to build a 458 Lott that will likely hurt me more than the 470, but it's something I can work at being able to shoot.

H. C.

Jeffeoso,
Me thinks you may be correct, but that is because I did shoot the big bores most of my life and that resulted in chronic bursitas in my neck and shoulders, but hey I am only slightly punchy and only forget names that I have not used in probably 2 hours...also I hate it when my eyes unfocus, its a bit distracting!

Now other than that, I have no problem at all shooting a 700 N. E.....which I can by the way, just don't have a passion for it..did when I was young and stupid and just after my balls dropped..now that they have shrunk back up I prefer the mild maidens carress of my 375, 416 and 404 and if I get a shot of testosterone I will grab my .470 and slay the black beestes with aplomb...Have a good un!

Babu aka Ray