A topic I'm sure has been discussed here many times but here goes. My only big bore rifle is a 416 Taylor I put together by screwing an Adams & Bennet barrel onto a Savage action a couple of years ago. This thing seemed absolutely brutal off the bench so I never got any kind of real groups with it,but the action ended up with a sharp shooters supply trigger set to pop around 1 1/2 pounds. Out of bordom I decided to put the "Bubba Big Bore" back together and fire off a few rounds. Much to my surprise the Speer 350's that I loaded to 2,520 fps. didn't feel to bad and I managed to get some pretty good groups. Not sure what changed over the course of time that has elapsed since I last shot the rifle but I believe most of the credit could go to the new trigger. It was easier for me to hold steady and quickly "snap" the light trigger than to squeeze, knowing full well what was to follow!

O.K. I'm sure many of you here would laugh at my troubles with such a small caliber but I would like to know what works for you. Anybody else have trouble shooting big bores off the bench? How did you learn to do it?

It's kind of like boxing. The first time I got into the ring (as a teenager) and got punched in the face I thought it was a pretty awful situation to be in. I got used to shooting big bores by shooting a lot over a period of years. I remember my first 300 WinMag, I thought it would break my shoulder. On the bench I would stick a sack of lead pellets between the butt and my shoulder when trying for good groups. After a while you get more consistant in holding the rifle firmly to your shoulder and you start to ignore the shove back. For really big recoilers like 458's and above, I first shoot them from a standing position to see how they fit me, how they react in my hands, and I try to shoot them first without a scope attached if possible. I now frequently shoot my .375 H&H from the standing position the classic target shooters stance with my left hand fingers spread under the action and have no sensation of any significant recoil at all. After awhile you just ignore it. Some rifles will always be a pain to shoot, poorly designed stock shape, too light for the caliber, cheap recoil pad, etc. Today, when I want to see what my 416 rigby or 404 Jeffery will really group, I use the Caldwell Lead Sled rifle rest and load it up with lead. My girls can shoot a .416 Rigby with that rest with no problem.

I shoot my .500 NE off the bench first. Everything after that feels like a .22.

Hey, it works for me.

For the Lead Sled and shooting lots of big bore ammo from the bench.

Hog Killer

shooting at prairie dogs a mile away with a 50BMG is a pretty good teacher

All you have to do is put a cheater pad of some kind between the butt of the rifle and your shoulder and, if you have one, screw on a muzzle brake.

I've shot my .500 A-Square with 600 grain bullets at nearly 2,500 fps (about 107 ft. lbs. of recoil energy) all afternoon with that kind of set up--sometimes without the muzzle brake. Same with the .458 Lott and the .416s and the .375.

It's not painful at all, at least with a well designed and well put together rifle.

Each shot is a bang, a blast, a slam against the shoulder and an all around shock to the nervous system, but hey, you just have to do it enough times to be able to get used to it and ignore it.

I guess it ain't for everyone, but it can be done and even enjoyed!

A CZ550 SM with the single set trigger sure helps too!!!

When shooting big bores from the bench, the more vertical your upper body remains, the easier it is to absorb recoil. This requires most to bag up the rifle up higher off the bench than they usually shoot, but makes a world of differance. The "sissy pad" a'int a bad idea either.

I've done 40rds at one sitting w/ my .404j & survied. I find like lee440, sit as vert. as possible, I also use a Past recoil shield & hold onto the forearm on the front bag. After that, your 06 will be childs play.

I've done 40rds at one sitting w/ my .404j & survived. I find like lee440, sit as vert. as possible, I also use a Past recoil shield & hold onto the forearm on the front bag. After that, your 06 will be childs play.

I made a "stand up" bench out of a wooden step ladder. The older type that has the fold down platform on the opposite side of the steps. Then I fastened a larger piece of plywood on the platform when folded out. Make it large enough to hold your bags or rest or what ever you shoot from.

Almost as stable as from a sitting bench and a lot nore comfortable to shoot as you are verticle. Even works for left anded shooters as you can just turn the ladder around to offer obstruction free shooting either way.

Good luck.

Mike

Guys,
while there's folks that shoot bigger and shoot more big bores than me, well, they are usually my hunting buddies!! (Bubbas and STC)

Shooting from a lead sled, at least in my experience, is the best way to bench a big bore... put 50# of shot on it and it takes over 50# (the sled weighs something) out of the shot.

Scoping a 458 lott? sure enough.


Besides, I've broken too many stocks with them FIRMLY on the bench, and not being able to flex.

jeffe

Thanks for the replies! Ultimately, I would like to master shooting full house loads with the 400's off the bench. Not sure why, just like making a lot of noise and leaving realy big holes in stuff! This could be addicting!

You'll get used to it in a hurry. A 416 from the bench is easy really, if you have a decent pad. I shoot mine free recoil (ie. no hand on the forend) with no problem.

Now, once you go much bigger it does start to get uncomfortable. Still manageable, but not the kind of thing you enjoy (unlike shooting them standing up which is always fun).

Check out http://www.470mbogo.com for some video of Dave and I shooting his creations from the bench and offhand. These are un-braked 470 Mbogo's with recoil close to double a 416, and scoped to boot. The idea was just to show that its not as bad as people imagine.

Cheers,
Canuck

I have a sand bag that I put between me and the stock of my 416 Rem when shooting from the bench. It asorbs all the recoil. I just sling it over my shoulder and fire away.

Canuck, The stock I have on the rifle now is a synthetic Sharp Shooters Supply Varmint stock. It has held up well (120+ rounds) so far but definately not designed for what I am using it with. The recoil pad, if you could call it that, is about 1/4 inch of hard rubber but the stock is well built in that it will probably handle the recoil better than other stocks I have to use. I have tried shooting the rifle free recoil but it does end up beside the bags sometimes. Probably due to stock design and the rifle just don't weigh much. Like I said, it is a true "Bubba Big Bore" and the only thing it has going for it is good eye relief provided by an old Leupold VariX-II. It is looking like this rifle will be a precurser to something nicer, I just aint a gonna sink alot of money into the Savage.

BTW, thanks for the link, realy liked the clips!

The standing bench is really the easiest way to get comfortable with your big-bore. I use a camera tripod with a piece of 5/8 plywood on top using the 1/4-20 thread of the tripod to hold it down. It must be rigid enough to hold your arm weight and the rifle without flexing.
It is how the english regulated the big guns of the past. I am now to the point where I can handle the .416 Taylor on a sitting bench I bought from Cabelas without much problem but I agree you have to be very conscious of your shooting form and not make the mistake of getting too sloppy. Especially if you scope. I have been tagged by my little 30-338 because I got sloppy on a couple of occasions and it is more than a little embarassing shoing up with that brow bruise that everyone recognizes immediately. We have all done it.
When I shoot the Lott and even the .375 Rum I also use a Lyman rest and sometimes even a shot bag for my shoulder but I like the idea of the sled just to cut down on the extra stuff I have to carry from the car to the shooting area.
Frank

Steve,

It would definitely be worth your while and $$ to install a Pachmayer Decelerator pad. If your rifle is as light as it sounds, it would be a good idea to go for a Pachmayer F990 Magnum pad. It takes a lot of the bite out. The 470 Mbogos in the videos are all fitted with F990's.

Also, don't be scared to use a Past recoil shield. They extend your range sessions considerably! If anyone pokes fun at you for using a "pussy pad", just let them try a few rounds without it.

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
Steve,

It would definitely be worth your while and $$ to install a Pachmayer Decelerator pad. If your rifle is as light as it sounds, it would be a good idea to go for a Pachmayer F990 Magnum pad. It takes a lot of the bite out. The 470 Mbogos in the videos are all fitted with F990's.

Also, don't be scared to use a Past recoil shield. They extend your range sessions considerably! If anyone pokes fun at you for using a "pussy pad", just let them try a few rounds without it.

Cheers,
Canuck

True on the pussy pad. Most of the guys at the local range dont shoot anything over a .300, so they see me strap on the Bob Allen pad, and they all step up to see what I am shooting. They stick around to watch me light one off, then I offer for them to take it for a spin, and they say no thanks and walk away.

quote:

Originally posted by gixxer:

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
Steve,

It would definitely be worth your while and $$ to install a Pachmayer Decelerator pad. If your rifle is as light as it sounds, it would be a good idea to go for a Pachmayer F990 Magnum pad. It takes a lot of the bite out. The 470 Mbogos in the videos are all fitted with F990's.

Also, don't be scared to use a Past recoil shield. They extend your range sessions considerably! If anyone pokes fun at you for using a "pussy pad", just let them try a few rounds without it.

Cheers,
Canuck

True on the pussy pad. Most of the guys at the local range dont shoot anything over a .300, so they see me strap on the Bob Allen pad, and they all step up to see what I am shooting. They stick around to watch me light one off, then I offer for them to take it for a spin, and they say no thanks and walk away.

I'll 3rd or 4th or whatever the inclusion of a "sissy pad" at the bench. I'm still awaiting the arrival of my first big-bore rifle (an 8 1/2 lb. .375 WBY). But I've run bushels of hulls through a customized, lightweight Browning 10 ga. pump from the bench. It figures into the 70's of lbs. of recoil. I'm too cheap to spring for a Bob Allen or PAST. I took abot 2 feet of carpet padding 6" wide, folded it in half then in half again. Cost me about 5 cents for the duct tape that hold it together. There's no other way to sit behind that gun for very long.

Yes well, I'm only shooting a 458WM, with an ordinary looking Pachmayr. I get no pain at the sholder at all. I just get concussed in the head, each sitting shot.

Mostly I've coppied the stand-up shooting sticks idea and rest my elbo against the side window of the wagon, (equv. to a Trooper 11) in slip mode.