Hi

I�m considering to buy a new double rifle, a Krieghoff Classic "big Five" .470 NE but I�m worry too about the recoil. Someone told me about "Heavy" recoil in Big Bore double rifles. My heaviest recoil rifle is a Heym bolt Rifle .460 Weatherby. I�m worried about the fact of 470 has more recoil.

Howdy and welcome

Unless the 460 weighed about 15# with 3 merc tubes and a muzzle brake... the 470 wont even be close

let's say the 460 weighed 11# and threw a 500 at 2600 fps

96#

and the 470 weighs 11, and throws a 500 at 2150...

63#...

WAY eaiser

jeffe

Stock design and of course weight of the gun have an enormous effect on felt recoil. Generally if you can comfortably fire a 460 WBY a 470 NE should be no problem. However, IMHO my Searcy 470NE kicks harder than my 460 WBY. But not enough more to matter.-Rob

Ditto what Ron said.

My 10 lb. 470 with a Decelerator pad and lots of drop kicked worse than the 9.3 lb. Lott with a straight stock and a Pachmayr 990 pad.

Golly, The perceptions of recoil given by different views here are fascinating!

I think my Searcy 470 NE doesn't kick as hard as the CZ 550 Safari Mag in 416 Rigby. The Rigby is lighter and sharper in recoil. Difference is in the character of the shot to the shoulder not so much in the magnitude.

I'd think your Weatherby has probably prepared you well for the 470 NE ... if the double rifle fits you any where near reasonably well. If it doesn't ... get it fixed or don't buy it!

Pedro, the perceived recoil of my Krieghoff 470 is less than my M70 416 Rem Mag. I perceive the recoil of the 416 to be a "sharp hit" while the 470 is a "big push".

Recoil is a matter of perception, shape of stock, cartridge, and weight of the rifle! There is no way one can say how the 470 Krieghoff will effect you Pedro, but my guess is the 470 K will be a pussy cat, comaperd to the 460 WBY. In the first place the single barrel rifle recoils in a different way than a S/S double rifle, even if both are chambered for the same cartridge, and they weight the same! The double recoils back, and rolls to the right, when the right barrel is fired, and vice-versa for the left barrel. This takes some of the "HIT" off the felt recoil. The single barrel rifle recoils straight back, and up, and IMO, the felt recoil is felt more with the single barrel, no matter if magazine, or single shot. Here again, cartridges like the WBY 460 have a very sharp recoil, because of the very high velocity with their 500 gr bullets,and generally lighter rifles, while the 470NE is developing a lot less velocity with the same 500 gr bullet. Top that off by the fact that the double rifle, as a rule, is heavier than a bolt rifle, and you have a much milder recoiling rifle, that,IMO,is more efficient in the 470NE double!
Tests have determined that the 500 gr solid, @ 2150 fps, is more effecient, than the same solid @ 2600 fps! This tells me the extra speed is only wasted powder, and more recoil for no gain!

It is my opinion that the 470NE is a far better designed cartridge, for what it is made, than the 460 WBy, even if in the same rifle!

If you shoot a bolt rifle chambered for a 460 WBY,don't worry about the 470NE double rifle, you'll love it! I predict the 460 will either be sold, or will simply gather dust, after you get the 470NE double!

Hi Pedro,
Welcome to the site and you posted pictures of some nice rifles ealier. I only have one suggestion and that is to find and fire a Kreighoff before you buy one to make sure it fits you. I tried a friends 500/416 and it hit me in the cheekbone every time which I found very distracting.
Take care,
Dave

I have shot a number of Searcy .470s, as well as a number of other brands, and cannot fathom one kicking as hard as a 460 Wby or a 378 Wby, which are too of the cruelest recoiling rifles in the history of practical rifles IMO...

Hi, friends

Thank you very much for the help!

I have a Kreighoff 470 NE and was also concerned with the recoil before I fired it, so I had the factory install one of their mercury recoil reducers. The results were amazing. The rifle kicks less than my 12 gauge shotgun with magnum loads, and is extremly well balanced. The best advice is to take a trip to one of the distributers and try one before purchasing.

I can't think of many calibers more unpleasant to shoot than the .460 Wby.......you should be just fine with .470.

Pedro,

There are much more experienced big bore shooters here than me. Still, I thought I would share my experience with my .470 Merkel double.

Here's a photo of me firing the left barrel of my Merkel from the bench. My left hand was resting on the small sand bag on the stand before I fired. Maybe the photo will help give you some idea of the recoil level as compared to your .460 Weatherby.



The recoil is heavy (for me at least) but not unbearable. I also shoot Ruger M77 Magnums in .375 H&H and .416 Rigby. I have never fired a .460 Weatherby and I don't want to! If you can handle your .460 then I think you will have no problems with a .470 NE.

-Bob F.

Bob,
is that at carters? We need to get together and shoot!!!

jeffe

Hi

Thanks for your words

Bob

You have a nice double rifle. Here in Portugal, I have many friends who hunt with double Merkel... But in 9,3x74R caliber.

I have to agree with atkison, the 460 wby and the 378 wby are some of the most insane rifles to ever shoot. Neither are fun, and I can't believe people buy them. There are plently of rifles out there that do the same job with out the recoil. I've never shot a 470, but I bet it would be more fun than a 378 wby, which will make you believe in God. An un-muzzlebraked 378 or 460 wby will make you think twice about shooting for a day or so!!