I am new to big bores. Last weekend I shot my Ruger #1 in 458 lott. I used the hornady factory 500 grain loads.
The recoil felt "brisk maybe even refreshing" but not that bad to me.
Where does this calb come in with some of these other beasts you are all shooting? I realize the gun has much to do with it. But I thinks mine probally is worse that some other 458s. The recoil pad sucks and it isnt all that heavy. I want to start putting together one myself. Doing all the work. Just working on the details.
Dean

Your 458 Lott is at the bottom of the recoil ladder. Of course, felt recoil is a very subjective thing and is different from one rifle to another. That Ruger No. 1 can be very annoying to shoot with a full power 458 Lott load. I would replace that factory hard rubber pad immediately if you are gonna shoot it a lot. Good luck and have fun.

Tonto-Mingo is right about getting a good recoil
pad.Also if you add only 2 lbs to the #1 you will reduce recoil by a third,from about 95 fp to
about 63 fp.Ed.

If you can stand the recoil in No 1 in 458 Lott you should be able, with suitable modifications, to shoot anything. Get a decent pad and andd some weight and your rifle should be great.

I see some have said to add weight to the rifle. What is the best way to do this? I have a project that may come in too light for caliber and looking at options that may reduce recoil. Thanks.

You can install mercury tubes in the butt or you can bore holes in the butt and fill them with lead shot immersed in epoxy. You could also add shot to the forearm and you can install some kind of muzzle brake. I'm going with an internal brake on my #1 that is not quite as effective as the others but isn't noticable and helps some. And yes, replace the factory pad.

I found the #1 recoil not bad. Now I had a winter coat on and shot offhand and kneeling. I think without the coat i would want a better recoil pad. But i didnt even bruise.
Last year i shot my winchester 12 gauge turkey gun with 3 1/2 inch nitro mags with an extra full choke about 20 times and was black and blue.
Thanks for your answers just was curious how it would feel to shoot a 416 rigby or others. As i will be looking for a buffalo gun soon.
Dean

Tonto,
Now try 40 rounds off a bench rest!
Kemo Sabi

ScottinPA-Lead shot and epoxy is the easiest.You can fill irregular shaped places(holes,channels,
etc)easily.Tonto-add 2 lbs to the turkey gun also.
If it is good pointer and a little muzzle heavy,
put it in the butt.This idea that guns have to be
super lite with skinny barrels is too much pain.
I shot 2000 rounds developing my wildcat; And a
good pad, extra weight, and hearing protection made it enjoyable.No black and blue, with loads
doing 7-9000 fp of energy.

Ray
40 rounds! not for awhile first the recoil, 2nd Id have to take a loan out for ammo!
Dean

The Lott off the bench is a whole nother ballgame then shooting it offhand! I used to pop off 10 full power loads offhand at lunchtime, and it was no big deal. Then I made the mistake of shooting 6 off the bench one day, it knocked the crap out of me.

Suprisingly the 500 Jeffrey off the bench wasn't nearly as bad as the lott I had, but the lott was considerably lighter, 9# lott vs 10+# Jeffrey. Then again, every time I shot the Jeffrey off the bench, I'd have to pick up the sandbags and forend rest after every shot, as they would somehow find themselves knocked of the bench.

I have a ruger #1 in a 416 rigby and have found a heavey mercury reducer in the butstock does wonders. not only for recoil but it makes it balance very nice not like the extremly muzzel heavey factory rifle it is