The recent thread about the 505 Gibbs & the photo of �Elmer in full recoil� that accompanied it reminded me of a comment I�d read of John Taylor�s regarding the .600 NE.

Taylor wrote that he found the muzzles of his 600 double only raised something like 6�.

However I�ve also seen one or two photo�s taken on various ranges of what were described as experienced people firing 600 doubles & the rise was far more (to put it mildly!).

Now I�ve no experience with a .600 NE & probably never will have but at the milder end of the scale I�ve shot .450-400�s in the past (sadly only on ranges) & found the muzzle jump was really very little � a pleasant experience all round � but of course it�s not remotely the recoil of a .600

I�d like to know if it�s possible that an average weight .600 double would only lift 6� as Taylor wrote? Or perhaps he just didn't notice quite how the rifle moved?

Often I�ve seen a beginner shooting �sporting clays� � perhaps with success but judging by the recoil of their 12 bore it�s actually looked more like a 10 bore. Seeing them a few months later they shoot that 12 like a 20 bore! Same 12 bore same load; same shooter but a different technique.

Perhaps Elmer had more of a �rock & roll� technique compared & Taylor�s �Hoover Dam� type of solidity.

with an experienced shooter...
577 nitro FULL house loads - 4 to 8" 14.5#

58 cal muzzle loader 2-6" 600@1400 lousey stock design

500 jeffery 2 to 10 (depends on shooter, i keep it 2-4") 10.5#

470 mbogo (500 @2300)3-8" 11# with merc tube

458 win 405's at 2500 2-6 8.5#

416 rigby 2-6 10#

416 rem 2-6

416 taylor 0-4 (with tube, 0-2)

376 steyr 1-2

375 hh 2-4

12 ga, stoeger coach gun (me) 2

just what i've seen

In my experience the two key factors to muzzle lift are:

stock design, and

muzzle brake.

With the right stock design (little or no drop), muzzle lift is greatly minimized. A brake further reduces muzzle lift.