I have been following AR for a year or so and enjoyed the forums but never really had much reason to post so I am new at this but one thing keeps coming up that I have a question on. People keep commenting that there is a way to shoot really big bores and I wondered if I could be enlightened. I have owned a ported 378 weatherby that I loved and stupidly sold, no problem off the bench 10 rounds or so and no problem in the field. I do own a factory breaked 460 that I shoot and a 458 win that I shoot. The 458 win is quite tolerable for 30-40 rounds in a day and the 460 I will not shoot off the bench anymore but is great offhand.

I shoot by holding on tight and keeping my cheek down then just rolling with the recoil but how do the experts here do it? How can I do it better? I love shooting the big bores and would like to become more proficient and maybe move up in caliber to some of these fun things guys here talk about. 550 here I come!

Mark

There are some short videos on the Heym web site that show a rifleman shooting a big bore bolt action.
4 shots at a moving cape buffalo target as fast as he can work the bolt and fire.

http://www.heymusa.com/index.htm

videos are at the bottom of the home page.

Wow, that looks fun. Thanks for the info but can people do this with 550's, 577's 600's etc? Is there a different technique for the bigger guns?

Mark

Well I hold the rifle very tight so as not drop it. And I lean into the rifle not noticeable.
Then I fire it. You'll know what needs more tighter holding or lean into it more. I'm Thinging this is a standing shot.

First, don't shoot it off the bench.

Shoot it off sticks. You're not trying for bench rest accuracy.

Second, hold it very tightly with your right hand, your left hand, and your cheek. Pull it bafck into your shoulder. (Assumes you are shooting standing offhand).

Third, wear a lot of shooting protection. I have a special coat for NRA High Power and I stuff a folded towel inside of it as well.

Fourth (if not obvious), wear hearing protection when at the range or you'll develop a flinch.

Fifth, mount your scope as far forward, and as low, as it will go.

Find someone who really knows how and ask them to teach you. You can sort out the experts from the poseurs by getting a peak at their trophy rooms and finding out what rifle they used.
I practice at 50 yrds offhand and dont ever use sticks. When you can keep all your shots on a 6"inch paper plate at 50 yrds, your shooting good enough. The bigger guns leave less room for error in recoil management, then a .375 H&h for example. Otherwise the technique doesnt change much. Hold tight, feet spread, head down on stock, use your arms like shock absorbers.Death grip the pistol grip and roll with the recoil. Develop some good upper body strength as well as hand strength so your gripping hand wont be hammered by the triggerguard.-Rob

I began shooting 458 and calibers and larger about one year ago. What RGB said about gripping the pistol grip tightly is paramount. I got a few wrapped knuckles but no longer.
You might also pay attention to the position of your trigger finger with a bolt action. Have had a few instances where the bolt handle caught me on the trigger finger knuckle.
I have always began shooting off the bench to get the rifle sighted in. I just a folded up towel and place it between the recoil pad and my shoulder in target sessions. I also shoot off some sticks and free hand stumps and dirt clods at my farm. Pigs are also great practice for your off hand shooting.
There is a lot of information to be gained off this forum.
It also helps if you hand load. Buying these big boomer cartridges is expensive!
I really do not qualify as a BIG, BIG bore shooter. The 458 Lott and 470 Nitro are my upper end.
It has been fun!

Thanks for the info guys, I do not have anyone around who has shot anything in Africa and only know a couple guys with 375's. It sounds like I am doing the right things now but will keep working on it.

Mark

Also and foremost only shoot while you are having fun with it. I find when I am forcing myself to continue it is time to quit for the day.
You mention already shooting a .460 and a .458 so you are mostly already doing it.
I haven't man-ed up enough yet to try the 600 and 700 rifles but they are definitely in the future. There will be a significant step up to the heavy 50's but with my van horn .510 and wells the rifles are well made and luckily fit me well so I have not really been uncomfortable when shooting them.

dont ues a tight grip, just have it firmly against your shoulder so it cant jump and ring you. i shoot my 416 with full house 400 gr standing offhand, i can hit clay pidgeons at 200 meters on the backstop, so relax shoot it likea 22 target rifle dont try to hold it like a fire hose.
the heaviest recoiling gun ive shot this way was a 500 A square 600 gr at about 2400

Also, try not to get damage to your retina:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=820103306#820103306

anukpuk,

quote:

dont ues a tight grip, just have it firmly against your shoulder so it cant jump and ring you. i shoot my 416 with full house 400 gr standing offhand, i can hit clay pidgeons at 200 meters on the backstop, so relax shoot it likea 22 target rifle dont try to hold it like a fire hose.
the heaviest recoiling gun ive shot this way was a 500 A square 600 gr at about 2400

Your kidding right!

I would pay good money to watch you shoot a magazine full out of my 500 A2 while holding it like a "22 target rifle" with 600gr bullets doing 2400fps.

458fun,

Your description of your shooting style sounds about right to me.

pull back with the left (forward hand) and PULL down with the right, turn with recoil, slightly bend at the waist and let yourself RIDE the recoil

as for "like a 22 target rifle" .. i think I understand what you mean .. what I tell people is "you've already decided its GOING to hit you, now make the hit worthwhile" and squeeze the trigger like a target gun, don't jerk it sideways...

whatever you do, keep your cheek(or jaw) on the stock, depending on the stock design and shooting style and sighting system... you right thumb should stay in FIRM contact ...

best of luck
jeffe

quote:

How do you shoot really big bores

Pretty well, if I do say so myself.

Just do what jeffe said.

Keith

Interesting and useful advice being offered here.

How do you guys shoot the big boys off a rest when sighting them in?

quote:

How do you guys shoot the big boys off a rest when sighting them in?

A Lead sled, with ONLY about 20 - 25 lbs of lead. Seems to work pretty well. You do NOT want to stop all of the recoil, just slow ut down. Just put some wheel weights in a bag and on the sled.

After sighting the rifle in, get on your hind legs and shoot it.

Keith

While you are giving advice, When I shoot my 458, I bash my teeth together unless I clench them beforehand. I assume its something in the way I'm built, I also get a bruised cheek. I can handle the shoulder recoil no problem, but the punch in the face is what makes me reluctant to fire the first shot. Any technique to get the recoil off of my face?

quote:

Originally posted by bja105:
While you are giving advice, When I shoot my 458, I bash my teeth together unless I clench them beforehand. I assume its something in the way I'm built, I also get a bruised cheek. I can handle the shoulder recoil no problem, but the punch in the face is what makes me reluctant to fire the first shot. Any technique to get the recoil off of my face?

It may be that your stock doesn't fit you right, i don't know of a technique that can compensate for it. My wife's 450/400 Ruger #1 is more uncomfortable for me to shoot than my 416 rigby, her length of pull is a full 1" shorter than mine, feels like I am getting punched rather than being pushed. She can fire that thing all day, after two rounds I have to take a break.

John

Measure your Length of Pull (LOP), or have a local gunsmith do it, then measure your stock. If it's short (like mine was, it will beat the crap out of you). A cheap but good solution is a Limbsaver slip on recoil pad over the existing one. It adds about an inch of LOP which was exactly what I needed (I have knuckle dragging arms ...)

Chuck

no im not kidding, if the rifle is in the correct spot on your shoulder and cant catch air or slide you dont have to grip it tight with either hand ,i dont hold any gun different. i hunt with a 416 all the time.
i make all of shots without thinking about anything like gripping or feet planting, in the woods ive shot standind sitting kneeling or leaning against a tree, but i will say that with a gun with heavy recoil if it dosent fit you right it wont be fun to shoot, i had a sako 375 hh that the cheekpiece seeemed to whack me , wasnt real hard just was annoying,
if you are new to bigger guns shoot a few standing befor you shoot off the bench, i do use a recoil pad most of the time sighting on the bench, but standing your length of pull will be wrong with a pad.
and the 500 asq stock was designed to soak up recoil so even tho it moved you a lot ive shot a lot of 458's that were more brutal

I dont understand ! You have to shoot with your big bores in the required position for a good shot placement ! If you have to kneel down or may be to laying down, do that or use a smaller one ! It's arrive that the buffalo lay down on one side and i on the another side!

quote:

Originally posted by bja105:
While you are giving advice, When I shoot my 458, I bash my teeth together unless I clench them beforehand. I assume its something in the way I'm built, I also get a bruised cheek. I can handle the shoulder recoil no problem, but the punch in the face is what makes me reluctant to fire the first shot. Any technique to get the recoil off of my face?

Sounds like you are not planting your cheek against the cheekpiece and with recoil it is rising and giving you a whack. Do you have to lift your head up to sight on the target? Even a little bit? As RGB and others will tell you, you have to plant your cheek, have a good grip on the forend and and roll with the shot.

Grab your rifle, shoulder it and look through the sights without thinking about it. Then pay attention to where your cheek is in relation to the stock. That might give you the answer.

Good luck,
Paul

To shoot the reeeeeelllly big bores the best hold is with the outside of the right thumb and the absolute tips of the left hand as seen in the pic below.

Happy New Year Rich

You the man

What is a good shooting stick to use for the big bores? I have been thinking of getting the Safari Stix II by Stoney Point. Any opinions?

Two reeds of bamboo and a strap of leather....

John

Three reeds of bamboo, surgical tubing, and a leather strap. IMO all take-down sticks are too flimsy. If you are not real tall you can make them short enough to fit in your long gun case and still have them work....Tom

The pic of Rich gives me a chuckle, as that is exactly what happened the first time I lit off a .458 Lott round in the old Ruger No. 1. Glad I managed to catch the rifle! I've pretty much concluded that a 9,3X62 will do most of the work I need done with less wear and tear on my aging corpse. I tip my hat to all of you who shoot the big bores well.

I will add that placing a sand bag between the butt, and your shoulder does wonders for managing recoil when shooting off a bench. My sand bag weighs 10 lbs., and essentially makes the rifle weigh that much more when fired.

Guys- If your losing control, smashing your fingers, bashing your teeth etc. Heres a hint! Your doing something wrong! You dont need shooting sticks either. Just shoot offhand! Once you can keep everything on a paper plate at 50 yrds, your done! Good ENOUGH! Now build speed! Try building upper body strength the old fashioned way. Lift the gun to your shoulder and DRY FIRE 25 times/day. Practice with a Garand they are heavier than most of our DGR's. Here is another news flash, you aught to be able to shoot 2" groups offhand or better at 50 yrds with that same Garand. If you cant see that far get a scope on the ol girl. This is good advice follow it. Its my favorite exercise plan too! It made Chuck Norris the man he is today! -Rob