My 500 nitro is on a Ruger No1.
It is not a heavy/thick barrel, far from it.
The whole rifle weighs in at 7 lb 9 oz. Shoots a 540gr @ 2200fps and I have a deccelerator pad on it.
Bench rest/load development is an emotional experience! In the bush it is light and fast handling, and the recoil shoves the barrel up about 30-35 degrees. I open the action on the way down out of recoil, and in the same motion pull one of the two fresh cartridges I wear in a carrier on my left wrist and thumb it into the chamber. As my hand goes back to the pistol grip my fingers pull the lever up and the second shot is ready and waiting. The stock barely leaves my shoulder.
Note that during my school years we shot Martini Kadett .22 rifles for competition so I have an edge

An emotional experience....I think you are a master of the understatement. It's hard to image almost 6000 ftlbs of energy in a rifle under 8 pounds. I knew you Kiwis were tough but you redefine the term.

500Nitro,
That's just about how my buddy does it and I have to be at my very best to beat him with a bolt action when using heavy calibers.
How's that for a can of worms?

Ah but how do you do when you're both at your worst which is when it might matter more?

1894,
Ya know somethin? I sometimes wonder which is more likely to err first ... my buddy or my CRF action! It really appears to be a valid question ... as he is that good.

You will pay for your sins when you reach the 60 to 70 mark, Mr. Bursitas in the making. But, what the hell!!

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

OK Ray, I've been waiting for a chance to ask and this is it! I'm 41 and have had a bit of trouble with my right shoulder for the last 15 years. If I wanted to play with the larger calibers for a long time without accelerating the aforementioned Mr. Bursitis, how should I go about it?
404, 416Taylor, 416Rigby loaded light, use of a PAST pad at almost all times,what?
Thanks, Bill

DB Bill,
Kiwis are New Zealanders, I come from South Africa, you know, the country that beat them in World Cup Rugby and recently the Super 12 rugby, heh heh, that oughta open a can of worms. OK OK Australia took the Super 12 in the end but between us we knocked out all the opposition including the NZ teams
I use a PAST pad for bench/load development, and have built a rest that allows me to sit completely upright while shooting, imitating the standing offhand position of the arms and trunk.
This helps tremendously with felt recoil and also accurately replicates POI of a heavy rifle under field conditions.

Nickudu,

That's pretty impressive shooting, maybe the muzzle climb from a biggy negates the advantage a well fitted bolt gun has of being able to keep your cheek on the stock and eye on the sights as you cycle the bolt. I thought with a no1 the round kicked into your face which meant having to take face away, remount and reaquire target. Maybe your face is taken away with a 500nitro anyway....

With your run of the mill 30s etc I just plain don't believe a single shot is even in the same ballpark but that is only based on how quick I can cycle an Enfield not on watching a practiced single shooter.

500Nitro...sorry about that. Another case of brain-fade.