Several discussions at HA and on other threads here about recoil levels and a recent event at the range prompted me to bring up recoil.
I was at the range with an acquaintance and he was complaining about the "awful kick" his Ruger 77 7mm Rem Mag was giving him. He thought that since it had Magnum in it's name it surely must be way more powerful than my century old .30-06.
I couldn't help myself. I stuck a max handload 200 grainer in my old Rem 700, which is at least 2# lighter than his Ruger, and has a checkered aluminum buttplate, handed it to him and said to try this one. He closed both eyes and jerked so bad he missed the paper at 50 yards, dropped the gun and started howling that his shoulder was broke. I was howling with laughter. He later had to admit his 7mm didn't kick at all.
I've never owned a big bore, but I have shot a few. At our gun club in Omaha quite a few years ago the Weatherby rep would bring a bunch of guns for us to shoot. When he brought out the .460 with a brake maybe a dozen guys lined up to shoot it. My buddy was first and I was second. I leaned into it like I would at the skeet range and got a big shove that stood me upright. About like shooting both barrels of my 10 gauge. The guy behind me was huge. That rifle looked tiny in his hands. He stood upright with his feet together, failed to pull it in tight to his shoulder, yanked the trigger and --- I caught the rifle. The first thing to hit the ground was his shoulders. Only one other guy wanted to shoot it after that.
I've shot a .338 Win a bunch and couldn't tell it was much more than my 06. The .375H&H was hardly more and the .458 Win I shot about 15 times wasn't bad at all - not much more that the .460 with the brake.
There have been two guns I absolutely DID NOT enjoy shooting. One was a .340 Weatherby. That thing was light, had a real crooked stock and kicked the daylights out of me. At the first shot I had my mouth open. It slapped me so quick I chipped a tooth. Gave me whiplash. If I shoot one again It'll have a decent stock and be of proper weight.
The only other gun to hurt was - get this - a .30-40 Krag. It was a real lightweight rolling block with a crescent steel buttplate about 3/4" wide and loaded with 200 grainers and black powder. OUCH!!! ^%$@^%$@! Much pain!

Felt recoil is relative!

Recoil is always lighter when it is someone else's gun, especially with a bit of offhand rock or tree shooting

Don't know about America but a common advertisement for a gun for sale in Australia is:

375 (or 458), as new, 23 cases and 37 factory rounds.

Mike

I'm not a big bore shooter!
But I have tested out data for two Wildcats together with my brother in law.
A 366IH Magnum and a 9.3IH Express the 366 loaded with up to MAX loads 80gr Vith150 behind a285gr bullet- 83gr V550 behind a 270gr speer.
The 9.3 Express with up to 103gr MRP behind a 250gr Swift.
I have 111 data to the 366 and then it's at least 3-5 shoots in a bench and chronograph behind each data.The same for the Express.
I think the recoil it's more up to the type of rifle.I have an old BRNO ZG47 original with a light and real crooked stock and nobody wants to try it.My cousin has a light 458Wich.Magn. he tried my rifle and wasn't impressed.My brother in laws 366 and express is both with an other stock and to compare mine and he's is like night and day.
Christer

[This message has been edited by Christer (edited 06-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Christer (edited 06-10-2001).]

Recently, I purchased a Winchester 1300 Defender, and wanted to get refamiliarized with it.

So, I sallied forth to the nearest store, and looked for slugs and buckshot. Since they had no 2 3/4 inch, I said, what the heck! Those 3-inch magnum slugs and OOO buck look right to me.

(I conveniently forgot that the last time I fired a shotgun I was wearing body armor.)

Took these things to the range, and decided to light off three slugs at the 100 yard gong.

I assumed a good standing offhand position, took aim at the gong, and squeezed one off. I remember a brilliant white muzzle flash, and the shotgun ended up pointing straight up, and me rocking back on one foot. I did hit the gong, though.

I then thought, "Okay, okay, okay........first, clear the weapon........now set it on the bench........now CUSS!!!!!!!

Which I did with great fervor and right good will.

THAT DAMN THING HUUUUUURRRRRTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

I have since procured a quantity of 2 3/4 inch slugs and buck; the 3 inchers are being saved for the stray grizzly that might come in the door.

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Happiness is a 200 yard bughole.

Powderman,

Sorry to enjoy your discomfiture, but that gave me quite a laugh! I've done the same thing in an H&R single shot that weighed about 5lbs using 3 inch magnum slugs. Thats the second worst kick I've ever felt.

If you're only using that blunderbus in the house you might consider some normal field loads. Per the late Mr. Capstick they will work wonders on dangerous varmints at close range and are far less likely to penetrate through double drywall construction and imperil family members. Capstick blew the head off a lioness (if I recall that correctly) at close range with No. 8 birdshot.

Ol' Sarge, my original .340 Wby sounds like your experience, although I was fortunate not to chip any teeth. I had it rebarreled, restocked and MagNaPorted and it shoots as pleasantly as anything now. The worst kick in a handgun I ever received, surpassing my .45-70 handcannon with 500 grainers, was a S&W Centennial Airweight loaded with +P .38 Specials. At least thats how I remember it.

I wonder what it is about the .340 Weatherby. I shoot .375's, .416 Rem and stiff 45-70's in little No 1's or Marlins, but the .340 always wakes me up and reminds me to pull in tight. As long as it doesn't get a running start, I enjoy shooting it, and does it shoot, but if I let my guard down, it bites me every time.

I have been told that the 378 Weatherby has the worst felt recoil of the factory rounds below 50cal. While I haven't shot a 340 in many years I have shot 378 Weatherby improved and couldn't really tell the difference between it and the 416 Weatherby improved I shot at the same time.

The worst felt recoil I have experienced was a 450 Ackley but I think it was more to do with stock design than actual recoil ftlbs.

I have not shot anything bigger than the 450 Ackley, but the videos of the Trex make it look like worst for recoil.

I think the worst recoil that I can recall was a .378 weatherby that I owned. I keep it about a year and was glad when some one wanted a alaskan bear rifle. I was glad to see it go.
George

The only gun that scared the bejesus out of me was a 9 lb. 505 Gibbs Imp.

The first shot hit the 50 yd bull center, the 2nd hit the dirt half way to the target, there was no 3rd shot..I was actually punchy for about 20 minutes...Sold it to a poor soul who could handle recoil, he sold it to another...It was a beatifull gun to look at.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Three factors effect the sensation of recoil more than any others:

1. The gun's gotta weigh more than the bullet and powder, 'cause the relative velocity of each in opposite direction is directly related to the weight differential.

2. The butt has to be larger than a pencil eraser.

3. The line of the bore must be as close to the horizontal center of gravity of the gun as possible.

The effect of the relationships of weight in number one is obvious. The area of the body over which the recoil is absorbed is the issue in number 2. And how much of your cheek bone the muzzle rise takes with it is determined by number 3.

Regarding number 3, almost NO standard factory stocks are built "straight" enough for best eye-scope alignment and recoil (muzzle rise) reduction. Seems like after 40-plus years of the scope being the standard sighting apparatus, this would have changed.