Well, I shot my new Big Bore yesterday, with my previously discussed, medium loads. I will admit, I was a little nervous.

It wasn't that bad. It was pretty stout, compared to anything I have shot before but not too bad. I fired 8 shots and my

buddy fired 6. All shots taken off hand. We were shooting at half size Rino targets. All shots but one each were in the

kill zone. We quit while we were ahead and then shot a .22 for a while. I think that will help from getting a flinch. I

am going to make me a set of shooting sticks, this week, and practice as much as I can. I do have one question though. I

don't think I want to shoot this off the bench so I am wondering how you guys go about developing loads for your

thumpers? Do you have standing benches or just shoot from the sticks? Do you use a lead sled or something simalar? Okay,

so that is more than one question but I apprieciate all answers.

Why not just develop loads off hand or kneeling ?? Thats what I do ... Can you post a pic of your rifle , see how its set up ????...A straight 4x Leupold scope is as good a bench scope as you will get for a heavy , the reason is it has long , 4" plus eye relief but a short eye piece ,.so it shouldn,t protrude beyond the cocking piece of your rifle .....Lead Sleds will break the stock of a big bore quite often ....A 416 Taylor is an easy to shoot rifle....if any thing just a 10 lb bag of shot between the pad and your shoulder ......What load did you shoot ????? ..You did well , not shooting it too much ......If any rifle needs to be your close friend it is your heavy ..........Rifle fit is the most important with a heavy , and while the 416 Taylor isn,t that HEAVY it works very well when the poop is about to hit the fan ........How long is the barrel ?????The 300 -350 gr bullets are very nice in the Taylor ....The 300 Barnes TSX @ 2650 ...is easy shooting and qualifies for a 1 rifle 1 load round for every thing but elephant ...

Another cherry busted.

Just sit tall at the bench. Pile up enough sandbags for front and rear rest as needed to give erect shooting "sit."

Use a recoil shield on your shoulder, PAST is great for me. Firm grip with both hands on the rifle and rifle snugged tight against shoulder. Do not let it get a running start at you. When I really get sore, a bag of lead shot goes between the rifle and my shoulder, simple as that.

The lead sled is a bad idea.

I assume by developing loads you mean sighting-in your rifle. Depending on what you intend to do with your rifle, the light loads off the bench will no doubt be close to everything else you load up. Once you get it "sighted-in" with the weanie loads, only a few more from the bench with full house loads of different powder/bullets, or whatever your intention, will be all that is required.

You can also sight it in from the sticks for a more non-traditional approach.

I have never seen a lead sled (used properly) break a stock. That is what they were designed for not .22RF.

i have a slip-on galco recoil pad that i use if im going to shoot much from the bench... my .416 taylor is a pussycat to shoot... full house 350 gr cast boolits at 2260 fps is a pleasant load to shoot.... make sure that your gun fits, and you won't have any problems...

This isn,t very good shooting but , it is because it wasn,t . from a bench ....100 yrds this afternoon during dusk , Snowing , temp 16 Deg F Kneeling .Express sights If I can do it ANYONE CAN .........

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I will try some of your suggestions.


jimatcat, where are you getting your 350gr cast boolits and what load data are you using?I have found some 400gr but no 350s or 300s.

see the video of Boomie shooting my 505 and 550 Gibbs rifles...not the lack of recoil...note the McCoy pad on the butt of the rifle. Look Tom McCoy up here and PM him for details on the pad system(s) he sells for under $100. I swear by these, and I shoot the Gibbs brothers off the bench. Boomie says he could break me, shooting all I could afford to load off the bench.


Rich
DRSS
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